New Year's Eve, This is winter?

Mind you I am not complaining! Sixty degrees plus today, what a joy. The wind has died down and the water was beautifully calm and flat for this sunset pic at the Manteo Airport 12-31-04.

Twas the day before Christmas...

and all through the stores on the OBX the shoppers were out in mass. I've never seen so many last minute shoppers, myself included.
Last night headed over the bridge to the beach, the scene was very wierd, almost surreal. The fog was so thick you could hardly see that there was an end to the bridge. But looking straight up, the nearly full moon was shining brightly overhead. Out over the ocean, you could see the Big Dipper among many other stars. But just to the south over Pea Island the lightning was flashing in a massive cloud bank lighting up the sky ever so often. It was quite an unusual sight.
It looks like no snow for us on Christmas, as it is not quite cold enough. Today it is very windy from the north, and cloudy. The ocean is a tempest. Santa better hold on that sleigh tight tonight and watch for cross winds!

Just a dusting of snow last night

We had just a dusting of snow last night but oh, that wind! It gusted as high as 32 knots at the Manteo airport during the wee hours of early morning, all the way snowing sideways. What stuck was fine and dry and drifted easily. The ocean was very angry and a cloud bank hung out there over the water for half the day even though the sun was shining on land. The differential in the air/water temperature created a mist/fog over the water that was spooky looking. I did not venture out in the subfreezing winds to get that picture from the beach since I'm about 3/4 sick, but this one from my deck gives you an idea. I did sent my other half out to the beach for a quick pic. Down to low twenties again tonight, before rising to over 60 again on Wednesday, THEN the weather stations are hinting at SNOW for Christmas day! No wonder we are all sick!

Wright Brother's Day

Today was the 101st anniversary of powered flight and was celebrated at the Wright Brothers Monument in Kill Devil Hills, NC. The crowds were much, much smaller this year than last when we even played host to the President and entourage. The flyover was much smaller too, consisting of only the local Coast Guard planes and a quad of F-15's from Oceana. The weather was much nicer this year, as it was not raining, but still a bit nippy. There probably would not have been enough wind this year either to sail that homemade bird. Some pics are here:

101st First Flight Celebration

A new Outer Banks Christmas page is up now

I had the opportunity this morning while the weather was still clear and bright, sunny, to get a few more Christmas photos to add to my collection for a new web page featuring An Outer Banks Christmas 04. Most of these are taken in and around Manteo, my hometown, but we do Christmas right! Check it out at:

An Outer Banks Christmas 04

Nice this morning, rainy this afternoon

This morning was the perfect morning as the temperature soared to 65 degrees and the sun shone brightly before the rain front moved in. Here it is December 9th and the weather is so mild. I absolutely love it. It's hard to get to thinking about a winter vacation in a tropic destination with weather at home like this.

Manteo's children receive free internet service

Manteo became the first town in America where all its school age children receive free wireless internet service, thanks to Andy Griffith, Charter Communications, IBM, and Seamark foods, as well as other contributors. As long as the child remains in school, the internet service is free. IBM also partnered with the group to provide a free computer to any child who does not have one, as long as they remain in school. On December 3, Andy Griffith and wife, Cindy, presented the gift to the children at the kickoff of Manteo's Christmas celebration. The festivities included a tree lighting on the Manteo waterfront, decorated boats in the harbor, a yule log fire in the street, caroling presented by actors garbed in Elizabethan period costumes, and as a part of "Manteo's First Friday" night all downtown merchants remained open late for the revellers to peruse their wares. Several hundred folks turned out for the celebration. Some photos are on my website, and followed by a page of pix from the Manteo Christmas parade held on Dec. 4.

Manteo Christmas Celebration

Manteo Christmas Parade

Old Coast Guard station to be preserved

In last Thursday's Coastland Times, it was reported that the old Coast Guard station at Oregon Inlet will now be preserved. The station had fallen into ruin over the last decade mostly because of litigation over its ownership. When abandoned more than ten years ago, the heirs of the original family which owned the land claimed that the land should revert to them. What ensued was a lengthy court battle between the Etheridge family and Dare County, with the county ultimately prevailing. The County has since turned the property over to the Coastal Studies Institute to be used as campus for students of marine studies. The State legislature has recently approved a grant of 1.198 million dollars to restore the facility. The existing station will be restored to near its original state. The dormitory facilities will be replaced with a new modern building to house students. These pictures were taken early this spring.