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Laura Thieme

Bizresearch President – 11 years - 2008

Fisher College of Business Lecturer on Search Marketing

OSU Russian Studies Grad – 1993

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14th June 2008

Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras & An Escape

I departed for Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras yesterday, Friday, June 13th.  The only bad thing on Friday the 13th was my hotel room, but otherwise, the drive through West Virginia, South Western Virginia and North Carolina was absolutely beautiful.  I find most moms are incredibly endearing when we talk about something related to being pregnant.  I found moms on the road to be no different.  It’s amazing to see how many Ohioans are on the road to North or South Carolina on a Friday evening.  It was 77 south for most of trip on Friday.  The trip Friday ended at a Wytheville VA Red Roof Inn, which was not so fun.  More on that later.

Off I went this morning at 7:30 on 77 South into North Carolina.  The trip was great until the wild fires of North Carolina prohibited easy passage with great views of the Outer Banks area.  Smoke was so dense that you could not see anything other than the truck ahead of you on the bridge heading into the wildlife refuge and visitor’s center in Manteo, NC.  I could only wonder about the wildlife.  I am pregnant and was concerned about the smoke - would it lift before I got to the beach?  Would I spend two weeks on vacation in dense smoke?  That couldn’t be good for me or baby, right?

Luckily, when I arrived on Sea Vista Drive in Waves, NC - the sun beat down on a clear road with blue skies overhead.  Visibility was great.  I arrived at my rental house and took in the views, and the dunes.  It’s not Laguna Beach, CA where unobstructed views at the Inn at Laguna Beach is where I was this time last year.  However, it’s a house where friends can join together, celebrate a birthday or two, and share stories, tea, coffee and fellowship.  And this year, that sounds better to me than a hotel.

Depending on which way the wind blows, hopefully the smoke will not dampen the environment while I’m here - however, more important are the locals and wildlife that are in danger as well as overwhelmed by smoke inhalation.  My eyes hurt, not to mention my throat felt dry after driving an hour or so through the smoke. 

More news on the North Carolina wildfires

In case you’re wondering what caused the fire?  Not arson - instead, a lightning strike struck land about two weeks ago - it has burned as of this article’s publication a few days ago, 41,000 acres in their report. 

Hopefully my escape can be a healthy one - that is much desired - from the stress of work and teaching, and to take care of baby and me.  There are many sights to see, if possible with the smoke, including wild ponies in Corolla, and Shackleford along the Outer Banks, Jockey’s Ridge which offers a very tall dune, lighthouses including the nation’s tallest lighthouse in Cape Hatteras and many other historical lighthouses.

I’ll be posting pictures and videos as time permits in the coming days.

Wildlife and wildfires in North Carolina story - shows map where fire is, which is exactly south of the area I drove in - which was the Albelmarle Sound.  Talks about black bears - little fact to remember - more black bears per acreage in this refuge than any other documented place in the world according to this article.  Interesting reference to the importance of fire for species to perpetuate themselves.

Smoke and North Carolina wildfires cause health problems story

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