One of the highlights for Pam on this trip;...

The roaming horses of the Outer Banks are legendary, dating back to the earliest civilization of this country.  They are protected and can roam just about anywhere they want in the confines of the island.  Human's are not allowed to touch them, certainly not feed them , or bother them in any way.  The laws are pretty strict and ignorance of them won't get you anywhere.

So what's the big deal about them?  Well you can read about them and the history at this web site.  It is pretty good reading and when viewed in conjunction with the ocean, the location, the beaches and the proximity of man to all of this, it makes you appreciate these creatures even more. Click on this link and see what I mean. OBX Wild Horses

The horses pictured below are grazing in the front yard and the lane of one of the houses on the island.

 OK.  So what is really so important about some wild horses?  Well, there are not many things that would pull my wife away from the ocean and the beach for a whole day.  But viewing horses in the wild would do it every time.  She loves them and likes to take walks down one of our country roads to a horse farm where she is able to feed them apples and and talk to them.  I told her once that I would get her a horse if she wanted, but she said she didn't want to own one necessarily, just liked to be around them.

The best way to see the horses if you do not have a Jeep 4x4 is to take the guided tour.  Not only do you get a lot of the history of the horses, you also get the low down on a lot of the rest of the island.  Well worth the money, which, by the way, helps in the preservation of the horses' habitat and protection.  Those folks do a nice job.

Here is a picture of one of the tour trucks.  Have you ever been at a swimming pool and gone out on a diving board that was only meant to support a 100-pound child and you happen to weigh 210 pounds.  That sinking, whippy sensation is what we got while riding over the sand and back in the trails.  I think I mentioned somewhere before that it was a lot like riding in a 2 1/2-ton Army truck back in the day.  Nobody ever gets thrown out of the back, but some come close.  Looks like a lot of weight on that back set of springs.

Overall, this was a great side trip and well worth the time.

The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.  (Sharon Ralls Lemon)

Hooah