Biking the OBX
By Gary Picou
In October, Helen and I visited North Carolina’s Outer Banks for some biking and coast-wise exploration. Although we didn’t do as much biking as we wanted (60 mile out and back, max), we were able to gather some opinions of the place to share.
October seems like a good time of the year. The Carolina weather is not hot, but the chill of winter hasn’t settled in. The only hazard seems to be hurricanes; ours was named Kyle.
The outer Banks is a good day’s drive from Knoxville, We arrived via Williamsburg and Jamestown Va. (More on that, later). A direct shot doesn’t exist, so the trip East will take 10 hours +.
W parked ourselves in Kill Devil Hills, because we also wanted to visit the monument to those intrepid bike-making brothers, the Wrights. From that central location, we biked North to the end of the paved road, a distance of 30 miles. Along the way, the riding conditions are fairly good, with at least a clearly marked bike lane, and many miles of separate paved bike path along the way. The biggest hazard is sand dunes that sweep across the bike lanes as it runs along the beachfront. Storms and erosion have moved the ocean considerably closer that it used to be, as evidenced by some nice houses which are no longer connected to the street.
Some places, such as the intersection of Highways NC12 and US 158, are highly congested, and present a challenge to people-powered traffic. All of the vehicles going in or out of the Banks at the end must pass by this point. This is a good reason to visit off-season!
Along the way are beautiful seascapes, but the OBX high points are lighthouses. Helen climbed Currituk Light House, the only one still open for climbing. Bike shoes on metal stairs are a trip. I recommend packing some street footwear for sightseeing!
We discovered a section of the paved bike path north of Sanderling that ends abruptly, without warning. There we were, spinning along at 25 mph, when Helen spotted the end of pavement, She hollered, so I didn’t go off the end into the ditch, bit opted for a sideways exit into a nearby sand dune, thereby ensuring an afternoon of grit and sand burrs in the shorts.
At the North end of the island is a nature reserve, with ponies roaming free. Road Bikes are not recommended, but 4-wheelers can be hired, as well as jeep tours.
Our biking was cut short by Hurricane Kyle’s decision to head for land. We were able to drive tour the Southern end at Okracoke a few hours ahead of the storm. We saw the Hatteras light, as well.
The NEXT time, we will base ourselves in the quaint fishing village of Okrakoke. Accessible only by ferry, it offers more miles of biking, and fewer vehicle hazards.
Colonial Parkway by Bike
On this trip, we also biked a bit in and around Colonial Williamsburg, and down the Colonial Parkway to the Jamestown settlement. This is a pleasant outing of about 12 miles, with a circle tour through the historic settlement area. The Parkway itself is a concrete/pebble construction, with wide expansion joints. This requires some concentration, and it’ll be hard on the hands if you aren’t wearing good gloves.
It is also possible to cycle around Colonial Williamsburg. This presents a unique situation, because the bicycle is the larger vehicle, and it is tricky maneuvering among the milling pedestrian hordes. There are no bike racks in the historic area, but the helpful townsfolk will watch your valuables.
