All of us Outer Bankers thank you, the Bikers, for making the 8th Annual Outer Banks Bike Week the most successful ever! I am going to miss the “thunder” of bikes passing non-stop by our office on the 158 bypass. I used to ride – on the back of a boyfriend’s bike. I know, to most of you that’s not riding at all, but it sure was fun.
The Outer Banks is a special location to bike as you have so many choices of places to go to actually “ride.” You can go from North to South on NC 12 from Corolla to Hatteras. You can go from the Currituck Mainland on Hwy 158 through Kitty Hawk to Nags Head and over to Manteo and Manns Harbor via Hwy 64. All of those rides include crossing over bridges with breathtaking views of ocean, sound, marsh, and marinas. If you happen to be on one of those bridges at sunrise or sunset – well – that’s a special bonus.
Yes, when you come here you can ride for miles and miles and not just be on a “busy commercial strip” rolling along in traffic, often with your feet on the ground. I am going to share some of the great rides you might want to take while exploring the Outer Banks.
The heart of the commercial area on the Outer Banks is the 17 mile area from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head, with the town of Kill Devil Hills nestled in the middle. There are 2 roads through this area: the five laned 158 bypass with a speed limit of 50 MPH and parallel to that a few blocks toward the ocean is Hwy 12, better known as the beach road. Hwy 12 is actually the original road before the bypass was built. The speed limit on the beach road is 35 MPH.
From this heart of the Outer Banks you can branch off in four different directions. First, if you go north on NC 12, you will ride from Kitty Hawk for 20 miles on a 2 lane road through Southern Shores, Duck, and Corolla to where the road ends at Carova Beach. That is where the 4 wheel drive area begins and you would find wild Spanish mustangs. I don’t think you can ride a motorcycle in that area though some may have tried. This ride from Kitty Hawk is a beautiful ride through live oaks and outer banks windswept bushes. The speed limit varies from 45 MPH to 35 MPH. The Village of Duck has a 25 MPH speed limit for a couple of miles. There are many S curves in the Corolla area that you must respect when biking. This is not a high traffic area and allows for an enjoyable journey. For that person on the back of your bike, there are quaint shops and restaurants all along the way.
The second expedition you might wish to take is the southern route on NC 12 from Nags Head to Hatteras. That is about a 60 mile trip on Hatteras Island through the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and the town of Hatteras. At the end of the road in Hatteras is the sound. You can take a ferry over to Ocracoke Island if you wish. The speed limit on Hatteras Island varies from 55 MPH through unpopulated areas to 35 MPH through the villages. The greatest thrill of this ride is over the Oregon Inlet Bridge which is a high span with a view of ocean, sound and a strip of island for miles and miles. Once you cross the bridge into the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge you will ride for miles through nothing but nature and get a feel for the real beauty of this Outer Banks landscape and wildlife.
The third excursion you would surely take is on 158 north across a bridge to the Currituck Mainland to farmland and wine country. There is also a large Harley Davidson franchise which has lots to do and see during bike week. The speed limit on 158 through Currituck is 55 MPH. By the way, that area is home to the famous Grave Digger Monster Trucks and they have a shop and diner there as well as truck rides. Highway 158 North takes you to Virginia.
Bike Week would not be complete without traveling from Nags Head on Hwy 64 over a bridge to Manteo and then crossing over the 5.5 mile bridge to Manns Harbor. At the foot of the bridge, turn left to Vertigo Tattoo. This is the birthplace of the Outer Banks Bike Week. There are bands, vendors, and bike acrobatics to be seen every day throughout the week. You might want to get your latest, greatest tattoo here. Say Hi to my daughter Gigi who is one of their tattoo artists. Highway 64 West takes you to Rocky Mount/Raleigh.
If you missed any of these side trips during your last visit to the Outer Banks – come back and see more of our area. We appreciate your visit and hope we can assist you with your vacation plans next April or anytime between now and then. Until then, ride hard and be safe!
No comments:
Post a Comment