Wordless Wednesday

And, We're Back!

North Carolina was wonderful. Though we had more rain than usual, the family still managed to have a nice time. We went to the beach, ate some great food, and finally took the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island, where we walked around the village area. We stopped by the Ocracoke Preservation Museum, checked out the British Cemetery, enjoyed ice cream at The Slushy Stand, and visited the Books to Be Red bookstore. If you're on the island, you really need to check out this neat bookstore. It's much larger than it looks from the outside and has a slew of interesting titles and gift items, as it shares space with Deepwater Pottery.

I picked up a journal for each of the girls and treated myself to Portsmouth Divided: Portsmouth Island and the Civil War by James E. White, III. This is just one of a series of books the author has written about Portsmouth.

We had never been to Ocracoke in all the years we've vacationed on the Outer Banks, so this was a nice day trip. Next time we go, we'll rent a golf cart to travel around. The island isn't very large and it's much more peaceful than Kill Devil Hills, where we stay on the mainland. I would love to visit one time with just the hubby and take the boat out to Portsmouth.

In addition to this day trip, we visited Manteo a few times. The first was to take in the fireworks on July 4th, but toward the end of our first week we stopped at the Island Gallery Christmas Shop, which is probably my favorite place on the Outer Banks. I usually buy myself a new Christmas ornament, but this year books were on my mind. At a 60% discount I picked up a copy of Tom Wolfe: A Writer's Life edited by Ted Mitchell. I recently heard of this book, even though it was released in 1999. It was a recommendation, so I figured I would check it out. The editor is an authority on Tom Wolfe.

As for books from my TBR Pile, I reviewed Anasazi Intrigue by Linda Weaver Clarke here on July 1st. I also started The Queen's Vow by C. W. Gortner, and I am almost done with Strong Rain Falling by Jon Land.

Wordless Wednesday

OBX News - Cape Hatteras Make Dr. Beach's Top 10 List for 2012

Now I know summer is right around the corner. Dr. Beach, Stephen P. Leatherman, has just named his Top 10 List for 2012.

Cape Hatteras, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, claimed the number 10 spot. I was thrilled to hear it. The Outer Banks, or OBX as it's often called, is near and dear to my heart. I can't wait to return at the end of June.

We haven't been all the way out to Cape Hatteras since 2009, when the girls and their father climbed the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Cape Hatteras was the first National Seashore. Though I'm not a surfer, there are always tons of people surfing or Boogie boarding when we visit the OBX in July. Their beaches are so pristine. It's why we keep driving down each summer. And unlike many state owned beaches, the majority in the OBX are free. I've never seen a beach with a fee for parking or entrance in the areas we've visited, but that doesn't mean they don't exist somewhere down there.

We take Route 12 over to Hatteras from where we stay in Kill Devil Hills. It's the only way out there. Last summer during Hurricane Irene, residents of Cape Hatteras were cut off when the road washed away in multiple places. You can see photos here.

This is part of why I am a bit anxious to visit the OBX this year. Some of our favorite places sustained damage from Hurricane Irene. Some have reopened. Others were not so lucky. When The Christmas Shop and Island Gallery--a place we visited each summer--closed for a couple of years, it just wasn't the same traveling out to Manteo. Knowing some of the only haunts or places I've seen as we are driving around have closed, leaves me with an aching heart.

My dream is to live in North Carolina--maybe Charlotte or Raleigh--and have a house in the OBX. If you're looking for a great vacation spot, you can't go wrong with the OBX. There is tons to do for children of all ages.

Counting Our Blessings Again!

Hurricane Irene blew through here today. We were fortunate not to need the provisions we purchased or the gas powered generator that we couldn't find anywhere. Our area of town is very soggy, but we didn't lose power. Our basement took on some water at one end, and some large branches fell, but that was the worst of it for us.

Other areas of Massachusetts weren't so lucky. Flooding is a major concern right now. The Berkshires took a big hit. Also, the swollen Deerfield River flooded Route 2, which is reportedly closed, as are parts of Route 20 in Westfield.

Our beloved Outer Banks in North Carolina seemed to take the hardest hit from Irene. Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and Collington got a good beating. Below is a picture that someone posted on the Facebook fan page of Miller's Waterfront Restaurant in Nags Head. Believe it or not, underneath all that water is their parking lot. This is on the sound side of the Outer Banks. They have a pier in the back that leads out to a gazebo where you can watch the sun set. They often have live entertainment outside. There is a mini-golf course nearby, and we often see people on watercraft when we stop by for lunch or supper.

I found this video on CBSNews that shows Irene slamming into Kill Devil Hills: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7378522n&tag=mncol;lst;1. We stay in this area when we visit each year. To give you some perspective, this video is taken on Beach Road, which runs parallel to Route 158. These are the houses and business that are closest to the beach. When you cross the bridge into the Outer Banks you start off in Kitty Hawk, then traveling down 158 you end up in Kill Devil Hills, and then Nags Head. So, KDH is sandwiched between two of the harder hit areas of the OBX.

The video opens with a shot of the strip of beach our family plunks down chairs and toys on each summer. At around 35 seconds you can see American Pie Pizza & Homemade Ice Cream on the left. I think we had ice cream there once. At around 2:44 you'll catch a glimpse of the other Miller's Restaurant, which is on Beach Road (actually named South Virginia Dare Trail).  I'm not sure how our friend's house in KDH fared, but we'll check in with him this week.


Our prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Irene. Let's hope Mother Nature gives us a break for a bit.

April 2011 A to Z Blogging Challenge

What is the A to Z Challenge? It’s blogging a letter of the alphabet every day the month of April (with Sundays off for good behavior.) It began April 1st, with the letter A and ends April 30th, with the letter Z. You can click here to see who else is participating in this challenge.




Today's post is for the letter:

Let's talk about water today. Every year we visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We spend one - two weeks at our friend's house in Kill Devil Hills, hang out at the beach, fish on the sound, and visit the local attractions.

None of this probably sounds amazing, except you have to realize I am petrified of water. Have been since I was a kid. If the water is moving--like the ocean--I won't venture out past my ankles. I don't want water anywhere near my face, even in the shower. I hate to be splashed and wet clothes against my body has to be one of the worst feelings.

So, why do we go?

The first reason is that it's so peaceful down there. While it has grown tremendously since we first started our annual visits nearly 20 years ago, the pace is still much slower than here in New England.

Another great thing about the Outer Banks is that I don't suffer from any allergies down there. The heat and the salt water mean that not a lot of green stuff is growing. I'm also away from our cats, so I'm not sneezing all the time. I could even forget to take my Advair one day without risking an asthma attack.

History abounds. The residents are very proud of their history. From the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, to pirates, to Civil War battles, this area offers a lot for the history lover in me. I could get lost for hours in some of the used book shops.

The Lil Diva and the Lil Princess at the top of the Cape Hatteras Light

Lighthouses are another big attraction. We've only visited the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, but we've seen others from the road. My girls and their father climbed the Cape Hatteras Light in 2009. During our first visit to the area, the lighthouse was closed. In 1999, they moved it from its original location to protect it from the encroaching waters of the Atlantic. Open to the public from mid-April to early October, the Cape Hatteras Light is the tallest in America.

My dream is to retire to the Outer Banks and live in a house that looks out over the Atlantic. Not close enough to get totally wiped out by a hurricane, but I definitely want an ocean view. It makes no sense considering my phobia, but I never claimed to be sensible.

What is your favorite place to vacation? Would you rather see the East or West coast? Have you visited any of America's lighthouses?

Author's note: If you visit this link - http://www.avalonpier.com/piercam.html - you'll get a view of the Avalon Pier on the sound side. This pier isn't too far from the house we stay in (though it's on the opposite side of the main highway). Notice that it's 78 degrees there today.