BODIE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
Bodie Island, North Carolina
Bodie Island, named for all the bodies washed ashore from the shipwrecks. This was the last lighthouse I visited in a day that began with Assateague Island Lighthouse in Virginia. Got there in the late afternoon. Caught the setting light in a nice time. Dramatic effect with the shadows. I also had the place to myself. One couple was there and left as I began to take pictures. Though I did not get to go inside any of the structures.
There is another problem in trying to see as many lights in a short amount of time. You want to go when the weather is good and I had some great weather, but that is the summer and the Outer Banks is mostly weekly/monthly rental homes. No little tourist motels along the beach. I hade to drive back out of the Seashore area. Camden, I believe and found a late evening place with a vacancy. Then I had to get up earlier to go back in and down to Cape Hatteras. I did stop to take a few more photos of Bodie Island as I drove by on State Road 12 south. You should also plan to make reservations for a space on the ferries as you drive down the OB. I had none, but was very lucky and never waited more than an hour at the two I used.
This is the 3rd tower built at this site. First one was a joke and nearly fell over. So they built a new one, eighty or so feet high and it did okay until it had a run-in with a lot of explosives that Confederate soldiers had packed inside it and ignited. This one stands just two feet shorter than Currituck at 156 feet. They used some of the left over materials from Cape Hatteras. The lantern room housed a massive 1st order lens which is still in use today. They automated the light in 1931.
Here's how I saw it:
BI1
BI2
BI3
BI4
BI5
BI6
BI7
BI8
OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001