The shrimp boats sure catch a lot of seagulls! We are two miles to Cape Lookout

Warm day, clear water, long stretches of shell covered beach dotted with dunes, dinghy in to the beach and step into water; sounds much like the Bahamas to me. Ignore the very deep water (we dropped the hook in 26ft), the lack of rocks and coral (both in and above the water) and you could easily be convinced that your wish to “just get there!” had miraculously occurred. We joined a handful of other cruising boats who appeared content to admire the shore from the comfort of their vessel.

Looking out toward the Atlantic at Cape Lookout

Armed with my usual tools of the beach combing and photo-taking pursuits, we headed ashore with plenty of beach exposed near low tide. How many is a bazillion?  Ok now double that. A veritable shelf of shells lined the beach on the inside (bight side); the ocean side even more.  No trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks should skip Cape Lookout; sitting at the end of the line so to speak. Part of one of world’s last natural barrier islands, Cape Lookout offers something for everyone; from PWC-ers to hikers and cruisers. Small boats spent much of the day net fishing close to shore. They looked successful.

Sand, shells, toes on the beach- life is good!

For one day we’d be in the groove of sun, sand and beach; zooming over flat calm waters in Bunting, our only concern being how could we see the most in one day?

The lighthouse and Ass’t keepers house which is now a museum

The lighthouse area contains a boardwalk through the dunes and out to the beach

Bunting rests on a small sandbar while we (me!) beachcomb

The day ended with a gorgeous sunset