Ernesto

Latest resports from the National Weather Service says that Ernesto will probably be upgraded to a hurricane as it passes over the Carolinas' shore.  Let's hope the Island Jewel is sturdier than its successor, which was completely destroyed by Hurricane Isabelle.  If memory serves me correctly, the area where Hatteras Island Estates is now located, was the victim of a wash over during Izzy.  Hence, all of the new construction.

Check out the Rodanthe S-Curves web cam, once Ernesto hits.  The S-Curves are often submerged during storms.  It is already looking rather ominous.  Just think .... whoever is staying in the Island Jewel right now, may become stranded on Hatteras Island for an indeterminate amount of time, if the S-Curves go under.  Geez, that would be ..... uhhhhhh ..... someone remind me to stock up on beer if there is a storm approaching during our stay.  I'm thinking that would NOT be a bad thing.

Lodging

This year, I hope to make the trip to the Outer Banks in 2 days. Being a conservative motorist, I can comfortably drive two 8 hours days and one 5 hour day. However, I am throwing conservative out the window in 2006 and will leave the Mid West on Thursday, arriving in Nags Head on Friday. This way, I can crunch in a bit more beach time and won’t be so rushed when we check in to the Island Jewel on Saturday.

This leaves me with a dilemma. Where to stay Friday night? Since we are taking a slightly different route, in hopes of bypassing routes 168/158 south of Norfolk & the traffic, we’ll arrive smack dab in Whalebone Junction, the southern part of Nags Head. Two of my favorite restaurants are located in the Whalebone Junction area -  Owen's and Sam & Omie's. But, what options have I for lodging?

Okay, if you know me really well, you know that my idea of standard lodging consists of a high rise hotel, with room service, mini-bar, pillow top bedding, on site day spa, four star dining, valet parking and a handy concierge. So, where am I staying Friday night? The Sea Foam Motel ….. in all its turquoise and pink splendor!

The Sea Foam is one of the few remaining Mom & Pop motels on the Outer Banks. Unfortunately, due to the real estate boom, many of these great old places are being torn down to make room for 12 bedroom McMansions. Quite honestly, it’s difficult to watch these old motor courts fall by the wayside …. I haven’t been going to the Outer Banks all that long (only about 20 years), but I recall the days before the bypass and traffic lights were there and the beach road was lined with motels that were NOT national chains.

Maybe I’m looking at the Sea Foam as a last hurrah for the old time beach vacation …. or maybe I’m just cheap and looking to stay close to my favorite places to dine. Even though it’s only a night there, I’m actually looking forward to spending one night at the Sea Foam, as much as I am spending fourteen nights at the Island Jewel.

Who knows?  Vacation 2007 may be spent in a Sea Foam efficiency!  ........ I doubt it, but ya never know!

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie (pronounced "body") Island Lighthouse has been the bane of my photographic career.  To start with, it's in the middle of a large, grassy, flat field.  No water can be seen near the lighthouse & there are no distinguishing land formations.  In other words, other than the light & keeper's quarters, it's a boring composition.  The only way to get a good photograph of this place is if there is either a good sky or dramatic natural lighting, neither of which I have experienced. 

Thanks to my OBX Connection buddies, who have been blessed with such conditions, I can share with you their pics of BI Lighthouse.  Thanks JamesW & Steph

 

Outer Banks Photos from Friends

I have told many of you about what I consider to be the best Outer Banks board there is - OBX Connection.  I recently asked OBX members to contribute their favorite photos to my blog.  As usual, the members responded promptly and with enthusiasm!  They are a great bunch of people.  So, enjoy their photos and I'll post more tomorrow. 

(I'm still learning how to post albums, so be patient.  Consider this a test, as there is a way to label them ..... I'll figure it out eventually ...... I did it before, but can't remember how.)

Edited entry:  If anyone knows how I captioned previous photos, please let me know.

Edited entry:  Jeesh, there must be an easier way to add photos with captions!

Edited entry:  Okay!  I got it!  I think.

 

Outer Banks Lighthouses

I like lighthouses okay.  I don't collect lighthouses and except for one print, I have no lighthouse "stuff" cluttering up my home.  Basically, I think that they are good photo ops.  And, they are probably handy for sailors. 

Here are 3 of the 4 lighthouses that I've visited on the Outer Banks.  I've yet to shoot an adequate Bodie Island picture.  Maybe this year.  The first two photos are of Currituck Beach Light, number 3 is Ocracoke and the last is good ol' Hatteras Light.

Reading at the Beach

There is nothing better than sitting under an umbrella at the beach, with a cold beer in one hand and a great novel in the other.  I love to review books - be they excellent or awful.  Hence, on occasion, I'll toss some thoughts out regarding my recent reading material on here.

Since our vacation will take place in Rodanthe, it's only fitting to have "Nights in Rodanthe" by Nicholas Sparks as my first review.

"Nights in Rodanthe" was highly recommended and touted by the members of the OBX Connection board.  A couple of dozen board members all raved about how wonderful this novel was - they were wrong.

I'd like to begin the review with the positive aspects of the novel;  the book was marked down from $22.95 to $4.98.

That said, I was incredibly disappointed in the predictable plot and even more predictable outcome.

By page five, I knew that the hero, the love of the heroine’s life, would expire in some very noble way. The only question was not when he would kick the bucket, but how? And even that was disappointing. (Hello Paul! You are 54 years old and can’t drive a Jeep?)

Two people, Paul and Adrienne, both devastated by earlier loves, find each other at a bed & breakfast on Hatteras Island, specifically Rodanthe. (Hence the title. This is the only legitimate reference to the Outer Banks in the book.) There are no other guests at the inn. Even the innkeeper is gone, leaving only Adrienne and Paul. How handy.

But wait! There’s a huge storm brewing off the coast during their stay. Hmmmm … let’s see, nor’easter and anticipated sexual relationship. Anyone making a stormy connection? Because the author sure didn’t. Neither event was little more than a rain shower.

There were at least 3 other subplots within the book, all of which could have added to the overall theme, but none were as well defined as they could/should have been.

I think there was supposed to be some type of mysticism with the conch shell - long known as nature’s image of a certain part of woman’s anatomy. However, in this case, the creature who had resided in the shell had died and started stinking up the beach long before Paul and Adrienne found it.

In their first two days together, there is absolutely no way that the couple could have realized they had found their life-soul-mate when their conversation is so trite, stilted and corny.

Adrienne: “Paul … don’t … “
Paul: “Adrienne …,” he whispered.
Me: “Oh, puhleeze.”

This book captures none of the magic of OBX. It easily could have taken place in any location. Not even the storm generated any excitement. In preparation of the storm, Adrienne did remember to pick up ice at the local general store.

And in preparation of the inevitable boinking, Adrienne did remember to shave her legs.

Many of the OBX board members said they wept whilst reading this. Did I? Yeah. I wept because I actually paid money for such schlock.

Where was the passion? Where was the love? Where was the storm? More importantly, where was the editor?

This read was about as flat and unappealing as a Weeping Radish brew that’s sat out for a couple of days.

Thoughts from 2004

I wrote this at the beach on my last day of vacation in October 2004.

Top 15 Reasons I love the Outer Banks:

1. The sound of the sea cannot be duplicated. I don't care if you buy a tape of ocean sounds, it is NOT the real thing. Ya gotta smell it, to hear it properly.

2. Nature has her own song - the singing of the shells as the surf tosses them onto the beach & then as they wash back to the sea. Their music is as sweet as any choir.

3. Cheese sandwiches, with Miracle Whip, taste best with a little sand for fiber. After the sandwiches have been smushed in the bottom of your beach bag, unrefrigerated, for 4 hours, they taste so good, you don't care that you'll probably contract botulism.

4. There is nothing better than watching little kids dancing to the ocean’s music on the water's edge.

5. Even when you're a grownup, you can still build sand castles, look for shells & fly kites on the beach, & no one thinks you're weird.

6. As long as the beer is cold, who cares if the last swallow is gritty?

7. Your personality undergoes a change at the beach. You become the person you should be in everyday life. You either say "hi" or nod & smile at everyone who passes you. It's like you are sharing a secret with complete strangers ... they know exactly how you feel - because you know they feel the same way.

8. What passes for annoying weeds at home, suddenly becomes beautiful landscaping when they're growing along the beach.

9. Tanned cellulite is more attractive than white cellulite.

10. Five women in a cottage kitchen can cook a gourmet dinner with only basic foodstuffs, 1 pot, 1 pan and a cookie sheet.

11. A rainy day at the beach is better than any day at work.

12. Vacation cottages all need bouquets of fresh cut flowers. They make you smile.

13. Some of the most unusual (& delicious) omelets are created with leftovers on the last night in your cottage.

14. Who cares if the best selling novel you bought for $29.95 & now has sandy, water-logged, & wrinkled pages from reading it on the beach? As long as you enjoyed it, it doesn't matter.

15. You never know how many friends you have until you rent an ocean front cottage. Just make sure the only friends you invite are the ones you love.

T-minus 36 days & counting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my first entry into the blog.  I hope to have some fun with this and also keep my friends and family informed regarding the upcoming trip to Rodanthe! 

The cast of characters for the trip includes:

Susie:  My cousin from St. Joe, MO.  Her first trip to the east coast.

Jeff & Carrie:  My cousin & his wife from Davenport. 

Jen aka "J-Yo":  One of my best friends.  She works across the hall from me.

Harry:  Another cousin - lives in a 'burb of Washington, D.C.  Harry's friend, Henry, will also be joining us.

Christopher:  My only begotten son. 

Soren og Birgit:  My friends from Denmark.  Their first visit to the USA!!

Me:  'Nuf said.

Our beach headquarters will be "Island Jewel" located in Hatteras Island Estates, Rodanthe.  In comparison to the other cottages shown, Island Jewel is a mutt.  Oh well, we will just have to suffer through 2 weeks staying there, regardless.