False Cape 7/22/25

We had 13 Tuesday Groupers for our Hike and Swim at False Cape State Park this past Tuesday. We had Margaret, Bill, Ellis, Bob, Ron, Sue, Gayle, Susan, John, Sandra, Cathy, and Dan who had to sit in a chair in the back of the Van. When you only have a 12 passenger Van and you have 13 people you need to come up with one more seat, Dan said he didn't mind sitting back there, he only had to watch out for any bumps in the road or his head would hit the top of the Van. Bill with his wet swim suit traded places with Dan on the return trip and Dan sat up front. We all met there at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge at 9:00 A.M.  and after a few minutes of talking we headed south towards False Cape State Park and the Wash Woods Area of the park, which is about a 7 miles ride. The Wildlife Refuge is a little over 6 miles long and False Cape is 6 miles long, so everywhere you go it is a long ride on the gravel and sandy roads. I parked the Van on the Power Line that runs north and south through the park and here we started our Hike. It was cooler than what it had been a week earlier, and with the cool breeze we had it wasn't bad walking through the sandy trails. We hiked over to the Largest  Platform, we have in the park, which a lot of the Tuesday Groupers help build in 2004 and it is still standing tall and erect after 21 years. It was built so you could stand there and look out and see the ocean and the bay waters, but Mother Nature doesn't wait for anyone, and the trees have grown so tall that the view has disappeared, all except a small hold through the trees to Back Bay Waters.  It is still a good place to visit at night to watch the Stars on a clear night. After leaving the platform we headed south to see some of the old cars that were left from the people that had lived there back before the state brough all the land, which makes up False Cape State Park. Now I hiked the group east across the sand hills,  east towards the powerline and back to the Van. Then we drove out to the beach and the breeze turn into a strong East Wind that felt great after our 2 mile hike. A few of the group walked out into the ocean to cool off and Bill jumped in and swim for about 20 minutes, he said he doesn't get to the ocean very often and wanted to dive in. After we got everyone back into the Van we drove down to the State Line to see some of the million dollar homes built there on the coast in Carova, North Carolina.

We turn around and headed north about 10 miles along the edge of the Untied State, as Bill calls it, and we didn't fall off, making it back to the parking lot where all 13 of us drove to Pungo Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor for our lunch and lots of conversation and picture taking. After eating we all said our goodbyes and headed home. Everyone said it was a good hike and beach walk and all enjoyed their lunch and we were glad to see Sue back hiking with our group.    Van Driver Bruce

***************

Bruce led us on an unusual Tuesday adventure at False Cape. He took us in the van into the middle of the park where we hiked. We had a beautiful sky, bright sun and a marvelous cooling breeze! After all that hiking, we drove to the beach where I flew my kite and swam in the Atlantic Ocean. What fun! When I dried off enough to get into the back of the van we drove on the beach to the end of the park at the North Carolina State Line. Bruce turned around and drove us back to our cars at Back Bay Visitor Center.

Thanks, Bruce and good luck with your next Tuesday adventure...knee replacement!

Bill

https://photos.app.goo.gl/giEDoFWpLo3zNiN2A