We fully loaded our car inside and out (in addition to the clam, we had our three bikes strapped to the trunk) and left home just before noon for the four hour drive to Manteo, on Roanoke Island.

We made a short detour on the way in Creswell to see Somerset Place plantation. Its mansion was built in the 1830s by the Collins family however, we declined the opportunity to take the one hour tour (they wouldn't let us in the house just to walk through it). There are a few outbuildings that we poked our heads into (smokehouse, kitchen) but all that remained of the slaves' quarters and church (the latter was used to help the slaves accept their roles) were outlines of foundations. There are intentions to reconstruct several buildings of the slave community. This 100,000 acre plantation once held more than 300 slaves. Descendants of those slaves still gather here for reunions and to help in the maintenance of this historic site. Eric found a toad, frog, and two bird wings (about 100 feet apart). For reasons unknown to us, the place hosts many large bumblebees.

In Manteo, we pitched camp at Cypress Cove Campground. This is a very nice campground (indeed there was a large wedding party staying there that first night) that's "fifteen minutes from everything." The campground includes trails for hiking or biking, an observation deck overlooking a nearby marsh, not so wild wildlife (rabbits, squirrels, and geese live there), a batting cage, a stocked fishing pond, a playground, and hot showers. While Curt and Missy set up camp, Eric biked and made friends with a couple of girls whose campsite was nearby.

Before dinner, we headed to the waterfront in Manteo. We found the boardwalk there to have a delightful, unhurried atmosphere, perhaps because this was off season and by early evening most shops were closed. We would return the next day to partake in its pleasures, but for this day we returned to the campground for biking, eating and sleeping.
 

© 1999 frantzs@geocities.com