Misguided Travel Guides: Roanoke and the Outer Banks

pladd — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:45:05 +0000

Over the past weekend I searched tirelessly for clues that might solve the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. I’m pleased to say that I am once again successful. Honestly, if people would just put me on the case they could saved themselves centuries of doubt.

The first place we looked was Jockey’s Ridge State Park, home to one hang gliding school and one giant sand dune. The signs all said it was easy to get lost there, so I figured the colonists could easily be wandering around in the sand.

It was kind of like that time we went to White Sands. You know, except not HORRIBLE. JOSH. Sorry, I’m still maybe not over the whole losing my keys incident.

My first idea was to follow some tracks in the sand:

Using my Harriet the Spy sleuth skills, I can tell you these tracks were made by 16th century shoes!

Steven, naturally, was skeptical.

"Who cares about colonists? Why can't we go to Sonic? I hate being in natural light."

So I once again had to encourage him onward.

"Steven Matthew Wiggins, do NOT make me come over there. We are RESCUING THOSE COLONISTS and that's FINAL."

When we got to the top of the giant sand dune, it was really quite windy.

Probably why the lost colonists did not simply climb on top to look for the way home.

Everyone knows colonists are afraid of wind.

BUT THEN, in the distance:

Hark! The Lost Colonists! They have somehow acquired backpacks among the sands!

"Hey! You guys! We've totally been looking for you for like hundreds of years!!"

"Yeah, we're kind of busy right now filming a movie or shooting a backpack commercial or something. Catch you later!"

"Okay, ttyl! Call me!"

CASE CLOSED. At the first place I looked. Seriously, I am ace at this solving historical mysteries thing. Look out, Stonehenge, you’re next.

To celebrate, we climbed this lighthouse:

Currituck!

So many stairs right now!

Me: Looking for more colonists I can save

Steven: Auditioning for a shampoo commercial for some reason.

“He’s got the urge to Herbal! On Currituck Lighthouse!” That is definitely going to be Herbal Essences new slogan. Just you wait.

Things That Spell Our Doom: Roanoke Edition!

pladd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:00:58 +0000

I’m not sure if I was the only one obsessed with the Lost Colony of Roanoke as a kid. I found the entire thing extremely eerie, especially since I would stop listening or reading when they got to the theories about Native American attack or Spanish attack or relocation to some other part of the East coast. As a child, I firmly believed that an entire colony of people had just mysteriously vanished without a trace, possibly into some other dimension, like they had slipped too close to the edge space between Life and Death and fallen through. Or something. Whatever, I was a weird kid. Later I decided Lawrence Stager’s theory about cannibals was maybe the most ridic and therefore the most credible.

Anyway, my childhood ambition is ABOUT TO BE FULFILLED! No, not the one where I become a mailman. I am going to solve the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke! As we speak, I am on the Outer Banks, tirelessly searching for clues. I realize that generations of fellow archeologists and crack pots have come before me, but I have one thing they don’t have: a belief in time travel. Armed with that, it should be way easy. Even easier than the time I solved the murder of Merriweather Lewis (the butler did it). So far, here is my list of time traveling suspects on this case:

1. William Marsh Rice

Artist's Conception (on the moon)

I suspect William Marsh Rice, founder of Rice University, whenever there are time traveling shenanigans. After all, it has been definitively proven that he is the World’s Most Powerful Cyborg (this completely researched historical fact brought to you by the True History of William Marsh Rice Campaign and the Woodson Research Center). What would Rice want with the Lost Colony of Roanoke when he usually spent his time traveling finding new and interesting places to drink with Ben Franklin? I’ll keep you posted on further developments but it was probably to cook him Thanksgiving dinner twice a day (Rice loves Thanksgiving, but can’t stand pilgrims).

2. Japanese Spider Crabs

The single most terrifying creature of the sea

Everyone laughs at me when I say I’m afraid of these things, but WHEN WE WILL LEARN? Roanoke probably laughed at them too. “lol Japanese Spider Crabs,” they probably said, “You can grow to be six feet long but you can only survive in the high pressure depths of the sea. Forsooth, we have nothing to fear from the likes of you! rofl” But Japanese Spider Crabs don’t get angry, they get pinchy. It’s a well-known fact that they use every part of the corpse…
I can only hope that I am wrong and they are not the true culprits because it would mean I am putting myself in GRAVE DANGER for your amusement. I will keep a close watch and try to fight them off with lemon butter sauce if necessary.

3. Brian Reinhart

What is he looking so smug about? Feta? OR THE FACT THAT HE LOST THE LOST COLONY??

Watch your back, Brian. I’m on to you.

4. Zombies

This is actually my top suspect right now

I know you think I always blame zombies because I’m a spaz, but it does have historical precedent amongst my fellow crackpots. Lawrence Stager DOES think it was cannibals and Max Brooks, noted zombie expert, listed it in the history of zombie attacks section in The Zombie Survival Guide. Hey, if I can list a page reference for it (197), it must be true. Thanks, English major.

I will keep you posted.

The Plaid Pladd Blog » roanoke

Misguided Travel Guides: Roanoke and the Outer Banks

Things That Spell Our Doom: Roanoke Edition!