Corolla visit

On Saturday we took a ride up to Corolla village. I had not been up there to look around in years. In the late roaring eighties, when Corolla was just being discovered and developed, I was in the real estate appraisal field, and had the rare opportunity to appraise many of the first homes to be built in Corolla Light, which was the first large upscale development to go into Corolla. Riding around in there this weekend we picked out many of the orginal homes. Many were even at the time being remodeled and updated. I was riding down memory lane remembering when homes a couple of lots back from the ocean were selling for the unheard-of prices of $175,000 to $200,000! The one that we stopped at and had the chance to revisit on this Saturday sold in October for $950,000 and was apparently in need of a major facelift at the time, which was occurring on this Saturday. Go figure.
While in Corolla, we took the opportunity while the place was not over-run with people to stroll around the grounds of the Corolla Lighthouse and the Whalehead Club. I took a few pics and have compiled a new album for your viewing. Link at the bottom!


The Whalehead Club


The Currituck Beach Lighthouse

To see more photos visit my photosite:

A New Photo Album of Corolla Village

S. Nags Head today

Took a ride down to S. Nags Head to see what punishment the beach was taking in this nor'easter. The yellow house at the end of Seagull St is still hanging in there, although some more of its supporting dune has been washed away. Seagull street is again awash with a bit more encroachment westward. The area which was once the roadbed of Surfside Drive was completely awash. The last I read on that particular street was that the town was seeking to have the property owners which once used the street as their access, to now find a way to collect an easement from the rear of the property for access. We'll see how that works out.


The former Seagull Drive.


Watch that last step!


KuKoos' Nest at the end of Seagull Drive Feb. 28th.


South of KuKoos' Nest, the dune and walkover take a beating.


Former Surfside Drive area, Feb. 28th.

Your turn to tell a story....

I saw a post this week on Traveltalk.online that inspired a thought. How about everyone out there telling us all how you first came to learn about the Outer Banks, and about your first time here. This could be fun! Looking forward to any responses. Memories from way back, impressions of your first trip here, what keeps you coming back for more. Your turn! Add a comment.

Va.Pilot article about Pirate's Cove fire

Here's a link to a story in the Virginia Pilot.


Pirates Cove boat fire

Boats burn at Pirates Cove Marina

Apparently very early this morning two sportfishers burned to the waterline at Pirate's Cove Marina. Both boats appear to be a total loss, and some damage was noted to the smaller vessel in the slip to the east of the burned vessels. I inquired of a Pirate's Cove employee tending the site as to the names of the boats, and the names I was given were "Zone 4", which is a 1988 model, 47 foot Davis Yachts, and "Mikaria". Not sure of the spelling on the last. The fire must've been very hot as several of the closest fire departments were called to attend. At the time I was there the pilings were still smoldering! The condos to the north of the vessels were unharmed except for massive smoke. Many hands were busy with water hoses washing off the sides of the buildings. I heard no cause for the fire. Containment efforts were underway of the diesel fuel and debris floating in the water. The NC Emergency Management Crime and Safety Dept. had personnel on the scene.

It must've been really cold...

It must've been really cold up north last weekend, because I got LOTS of rental reservations. For me at least, it is turning out to be a super good season. I've got more reservations confirmed and paid than ALL the weeks we had rented last year. I was curious as to when you folks up there in the frozen north typically make your reservations? When it's really cold and snowing outside does it prompt you to think of the Outer Banks and the warm summer?

Oregon Inlet

While we out for lunch yesterday at Darrell's in Manteo, the restaurant was filled with locals and the bits and snatches of conversations we heard were quite interesting. Many were local fisherman, both commercial fisherman who sell to restaurants and wholesalers, and charter boat captains, who depend on tourist business for their living. Most of what we heard was that the Inlet is filling up very fast, and apparently no efforts are being made right now to dredge it. The common complaint was that all this massive effort to protect property on the S. Nags Head beaches by dumping sand on those beaches over the last few weeks, has directly impacted the Inlet, because now all that sand is no longer on the beach, but washed south into Oregon Inlet. Apparently also the Park Service is bulking at allowing dredge pipes on its property to transport the sand back onto the beach where it's needed. In the recent commissioner's meeting during the public comment section, Mikey Daniels appeared to represent the fisherman to ask the commissioners' help in resolving the issues concerning the Inlet.

I haven't been into the Inlet in a boat in several years, since fishing is not my thing. I am interested in hearing any comments from anyone out there reading this who does have first hand knowledge of the condition of the inlet from "the wet side". Also any information on efforts to get the dredging back on track.

Commissioners pass resolution for easements

At this past meeting of the Dare County Board of Commissioners held on February 7, the board passed a "resolution authorizing the institution of condemnation proceedings for the acquistion of perpetual beach nourishment easements...". There are 554 property owners in the first phase of the project, and of those, all but 31 have voluntarily already signed the easement. This resolution is the first step in legally acquiring the remaining easements so that the project can proceed -- once someone finds the money! The project calls for a dune to be constructed on the easement, which is the portion of land seaward of a newly devised "green line" on a map constructed by surveyors for this project. The new dune is to be 13 feet high, 50 feet wide toe to toe, and also the project provides for 200 feet of "beach" to be constructed seaward of the dune to help absorb wave action. The easement provides the right for the construction of the dune and also the future rights of the public to enjoy that beach. The first phase of the project provides for the dune construction and renourishment in an area from Isabella St in S. Nags Head north to Hawks Nest in Nags Head, and also from Sanderlin St. (approx. MP8) in Kill Devil Hills north to about MP 4 in Kitty Hawk. Information provided also states the project's actual start has been delayed until January 2006.

Wind is quieter, Spring has sprung

It is much quieter at least over here on Roanoke Island. There is only a husky 3 knot breeze from the west, and it is 57 degrees today at 2 pm. A couple of nights in a row you could HEAR the ocean roaring even over here on the Island. Even though the wind had toned down the swells were still rolling in pounding against the coast. It is amazing to stand back and marvel at the awesome power of Mother Nature.

Sorry about the double post below. The servers were telling me it did not post the first one, when it really did! Computers sometimes have a mind of their own.

Aerial photos page on my website

I added a new page of aerial photos to my website of shots taken today of the erosion and other things Outer Banks. Check it out at:


Aerial Photos of Outer Banks Feb 6, 2005

Aerial Photos of S. Nags Head page on website

I added a new page of aerial photos to my website tonight. Check it out at:


Aerial Photos of Outer Banks Feb. 6, 2005

Aerial South Nags Head shots

Took a little jaunt up and down the beach in 16 Juliet (our plane) today to check out the beach erosion views from up there. Boy the first impression when you see all that surf is wow! What big waves and for so far out! The by now famous house KuKoos Nest is featured in a couple of these shots. Other shots are from further north along other areas in S. Nags Head.

Seagull Drive and KuKoos Nest- it's still hangin' in there!



A wider view of the area:



An area a little further north:



A close up I found interesting. Look at how these brisk north, northeast winds of the last few weeks have blown the sand over the walkway to this house. And there's good news! Not ALL of that expensive Currituck clay hauled to the beach truck by truck has washed away. These few piles appear untouched by this week's storm! Of course they WERE half a mile from the watersedge last week-- just kidding!

Surfside Drive (RIP) S. Nags Head

Surfside Drive is completely gone now. I must admit that I don't know for sure if the town of Nags Head rebuilt it in any form, solid or sand. But I believe there had been some access provided along the beach front for those homes which used to be on the westside of Surfside. When these pics were taken on Feb. 5, there is no more room for a road of any sort. I guess if you are a renter in the area, you better make sure you purchase your beach driving permit!

This is looking north:



This is looking south along the beachfront south of Surfside:

Movie clips from S. Nags Head

I uploaded a couple of short movie clips of the overwash at South Nags Head. These are definitely only for broadband watchers. They do take a couple of minutes to download. Enjoy!


South Nags Head Movie Clips

More South Nags Head damage...

Went back today to see what happened overnight. Yesterday where there was an entire dune and a newly built board walkway over it, today there was nothing! The KuKoos Nest of yesterday is probably not long for this world unless this relentless pounding stops soon. It sports a new "condemned" sign posted by the town of Nags Head since it's septic system is now in the sea. I remember going to this spot the week after Isabel and this house was being painted and I remember thinking that it was a waste of good money, unless the then owners were trying to unload it quickly on some unsuspecting victim. I have lived here too long to consider anything south of Whalebone Junction desirable.

Today at the KuKoos Nest: Look at yesterday's pics and you will see the once standing board walkway in the foreground.



And the view is even more profound on the other side of Nest, as this is the rubble of that board walk, or some other one. Watch your step!



This is the way Seagull Drive looks today. Yesterday there was a meager attempt to stave off further erosion with a hastily built mini berm and a newly installed sandfence. Check yesterday's pics against this one.

More of the erosion in South Nags Head

A few more pics of the South Nags Head area follow. These were taken today at just after high tide. It does seem that most of the expensive and expansive berm hauled in from Currituck county now resides on the ocean floor, definitely not on the beach.
Wouldn't you just love to rent this house? It's called Kooky's Nest!



This is the new face of Seagull Drive around MP 21 at the south end of Nags Head.



This is the "seagull" guarding his namesake, Seagull Drive, in S. Nags Head.



And this is known as Camelot! Camelot Drive, S. Nags Head. Idyllic, isn't it?

Signs of beach erosion

I rode down to South Nags Head today to see what devastation the ocean had wrought. It always seems wierd to me in a way that we over here on Roanoke Island hardly know there is any destructive weather occurring on the beach but once over there it seems the entire slight sliver of the Outer Banks will be swallowed up by all that power. What became most amusing were the signs posted to warn one of the impending doom. Couldn't you figure it out on your own?





Ah duh? and there's more:

Friday afternoon...

and it is very cold here on the Outer Banks. I've spent too much of my day looking at webcams throughout Florida and the Caribbean. It's driving me crazy. I think some of you out there dream about the Outer Banks when you are not here, wishing you could be here no matter the season. I think if you were actually here in the midst of winter in a nor'easter you would probably think twice about wishing you were here, but I understand the sentiment. So what do we do at a time like this when you really can't just get up and go to your favorite place? You surround yourself with memorabilia of the places you love and try your damnest to simulate the experience. For me it's island music and neon pink glowing flamingoes, and tropical drinks, and beach pix on the computer screen. How about you? Comments are easy to make here. Just click the "comments" button at the bottom of the column and scroll down til you see the "Post a comment". You can post as anonymous if you want. I don't mind. Or join as a member and get a screen name.

Oh and PS... I've just decided I WANT an infinity edge pool!

Current beach nourishment project on OB

I went out yesterday to check out the current beach nourishment happenings on the beach at Nags Head. It was very cold and windy, so the shots are from the truck-pardon the quality. The "sand" is being hauled in by the dumptruck load from a borrow pit in upper Currituck. It is really mostly clay, definitely not pretty white sand, as it does not come from a beach! I have read the rationale is to use the heavier clay based material to keep it there longer. Good luck! The trucks transit thru the parking area of the little cottages south of Jeanette's Pier and back out onto the beach over a clay packed road. They dump their load there and this bulldozer pushes it up into this temporary mountain. Then 4 wheel drive vehicles come to the mountain and get loaded up then transit down the beach to the current working area and deposit their load next in line. The method seems to include being a "dune" area about 15 feet high and about that wide, then sloping in out to the existing beach, or what's left of it.
We are in for some heavy winds this weekend and next as well. I guess time will tell if this stop gap measure has any meaning. Personally I don't care for it. Although it does provide some bit of protection for those structures in danger of upending into the sea, it IS ugly, and nasty. I don't really think I'd want to spend my vacation hiking over such a dune to the tiny little natural beach that may or may not be there on the other side. It remains to be seen if the visting public will vote with their pocketbooks and move to another area for rentals after seeing this mess this summer.

And while we are on "values" of land...

A few days ago we had the occasion to meet some friends for dinner in Nags Head, and we were discussing the Outer Banks and the appreciation in property values. My husband was telling our friends of the time his granddaddy was offered the chance to buy a tract of land that extended sea to sea starting about at the north Kitty Hawk town line and going to about the Wright Memorial. The price was $400. Granddaddy Will actually had the money, but just could not bring himself to sink his very hard earned dollars into such an inhospitable piece of deserted, bleak sand. Nobody wanted it. It was just a burden to have to pay the taxes on it. So he declined the offer. Hindsight! Granddaddy Will would be turning over in his grave if he could see the tax bill on that much land today!

Couple of new web cams

I found a couple of new web cams while surfing around this a.m. Of course, my favorites all involve Caribbean and Bahamian views, but these two might be of interest to those of you hungry for the Outer Banks. The first is down at Cape Hatteras somewhere.

Cape Hatteras surf cam
This second one is labeled Nags Head, but is in reality in Kill Devil Hills, NC, at the Ramada Inn, around MP 9.5.

Nags Head surf cam

Dare County re-evaluation

Well, all property owners in Dare County should by now have received their re-evaluation notices. Now that the shouts and cries and sharp epitaphs of disbelief have died down, we can get about truly analyzing how this affects each of us. In our personal portfolio of real estate holdings in Dare County, we saw a wide variety of upswings, ranging from a low of about 2 times to a high of over 8 times the previous valuation. The lows were on the improved properties with rental homes on them. The highs were on the larger tracts of unimproved land. In general vacant lots in already platted subdivisions went up about 6 times. The county has published its "revenue neutral" rate at 22 cents, meaning that if the commissioners adopt a 2005 tax rate of no more than 22 cents the overall county budget will receive no more money than last year. However, no one has yet mentioned the other components of the tax bill that could have a far bigger impact on the bottom line of the tax paid. Those are the rates paid for fire districts and sanitation in the unincorporated areas and the municipal rates for those pieces located in a town. No mention has been made publically that I have seen as to proposed rates on these items. For instance last year, we paid 7 cents and 16 cents respectively for fire and sanitation. Unless these rates drop down to 2.8 and 6.4 cents the average taxpayer will pay more. I sincerely doubt that the commissioners will adopt a rate of less than a whole cent number, so we probably can expect to pay 3 and 7 cents, which will increase taxes. Also for the municipalities which I am familiar with, those being Southern Shores (previously at 20 cents) and Kitty Hawk (previously at 38 cents) those budgets will be set individually by each town, and their rates remain to be seen. It should be interesting to see if this is used as an opportunity to increase revenue anyway, and blame it on the "whole cent" thing.
Personally we will definitely pay more tax next year, because the pieces we own rose more than the 2.47 average. I suppose one should be glad that a solid outperforming investment was made. One thing is for sure, there are many more millionaires in Dare County now, at least on paper. They were here all along, but now they know it.

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.

What a storm last night!

Last night it seemed like it rained and blew hard most of the night. It was still raining this morning early. A little later in the day the sun came out and warmed up the air. The mist rising off the wet earth and decks looked like smoke. The ocean is stormy today. The east wind of yesterday has the rollers coming in strong and tall. One lone surfer to be was trying his luck in this mess, but he was unable to even paddle out through the strong surf.

They're STILL shopping!

There's still not a single parking space to be had at the Tanger Outlet Mall today either. I still did not brave it, but went for a short walk on the beach instead! It is windy from the east and the ocean is a bit rialed up today, and the clouds are rolling in, but at least it warmed back up to around 60 degrees. Many, many footprints on the sands today from all the visitors here this week. I guess not all of them were shopping. Maybe they couldn't find a parking place either.

Thanksgiving Day, 2004

Woke up to rainy and very blustry skies, but it soon turned out to be sunny, very warm, and slightly windy. It was a high temp of about 70 degrees today, and there were people on the beach in swimsuits! Many of the "cottages" are full of people and it seems to be very busy down here this year. I'm sure I'll see them all tomorrow morning at 5:30 at Belk or the Outlet Mall shopping!

Cloudy but warm

It is the day before Thanksgiving and the roads down here are once again packed. There seem to be many visitors in town for the Holiday. This morning we woke up to heavy fog over the ocean but it soon burned off and became gloriously sunny and warm. This afternoon the clouds have rolled in again, and the wind has started. Predicted gusts up to 50 mph tonight!

The beach and the beautiful weather

Today dawned a little gray but quickly cleared up. We are having superb weather on the Outer Banks right now. It is in the sixties and to be in the seventies by Wednesday. A little rain on the way, but we need it. Right now it is sunny and warm with little wind. A quick look at the beach this morning before work--it was gorgeous. You can tell by the amount of footprints on it that it was enjoyed by many over the weekend.

Treasures from the sea

Yesterday I spent a while on the beach at Southern Shores since the weather has been so warm and beautiful. The sky was alternating between cloudy and partly sunny and created a beautiful show of light when the sun peaked through the clouds at times.

I was amazed at the number of skate egg cases washed up on the shore. We used to call them Devil's Pocketbooks when I was little. The sea was pretty calm and the pelicans were diving and feeding, then soaring on that gentle current of air just above the water's surface. There were lots of shells washed up also. Their color, texture, and variety always catch my attention.


Even those of us who live here should take time out to walk the beach and marvel at nature's bounty occasionally.

ANOTHER new stoplight!

The great state of NC in all its infinite wisdom has decided to spend tons of money to provide the Tanger Outlet Mall in Nags Head with a new road cut complete with stop light. This has to be the most expensive stop light in the town, because it required the state to build a bridge over wetlands and install a massive drainage system in order to pave over the area, which forever has been a large drainage ditch in the middle of the mall. Apparently the two road cuts into the mall at either end of the parking area have become too dangerous recently with the increasing traffic. Just this past summer both driveways were limited to a right turn exit only, making a mess out of traffic that wanted/needed to go back north on the bypass. So the solution was to fill in the wetlands in the middle of the mall property and build a new road cut over it, and add a new stop light. Guess who owns the property on the east side of the bypass at that light? WINGS! Look for yet another huge Wings store coming to a corner near you! I used to know how many stoplights there were between Manteo and Southern Shores. I think it was 27, but now there are at least 3 or 4 more. I lost count. So much for a "bypass"!
Pix of the new road cut and light follow.

When to abandon a street?

That is the question being considering at tomorrow's meeting of the Nags Head Commissioners concerning Surfside Drive in south Nags Head. The northeaster' of Oct. 23-34 left the road destroyed and in worse condition than it was after Hurricane Isabel. There are 14 homes which have their only access from Surfside Drive. Most of Nags Head's commissioners believe that it is foolish to repair the road when there is no dune left to protect it. Once the formal declaration of abandonment is issued, the property on the oceanside of the homes fronting Surfside vests in those property owners. They will then have to find their own way of granting easements to one another to access the properties in the middle of the block. According to the Coastal Area Management Act files, the erosion rate in that area is between 7 and 10 feet per year.
The following photo shows Surfside Drive after Hurricane Isabel in Sept. 2003.

Winter is coming

I have a feeling today was one of the very last pretty days on the Outer Banks for this year. It turned out to be 65 degrees and no wind. Later in the day it got to be hazy and moist, a precursor of things to come tomorrow and Friday night into Saturday. I love it when it is this warm this late into the season. It is not always this way. Some years we have had freezing nights before the first of November, and others not until around Thanksgiving, which seems to be the case this year.
Although this week seems to have been fairly quiet, we have had visitors here in record numbers later into the season than ever before that I can remember. I wonder if this place will become more and more year round as the years go by.

Windy and cool today

Another northeast wind is upon us. Temperature is 54 but it feels much colder. Tonight is to be the coldest night so far this fall. I don't know how much more the beaches can take this winter. Someone recently asked me if this weather is unusual and were we having more rough ocean days this year. The answer is no. This is fairly typical for late Oct. early Nov. Also spring time. There's usually two really brisk several-days-long northeasters' a year, if not more. I've been watching houses fall into the ocean in south Nags Head for two and a half decades now. I've seen complete lots lost and taken off the property tax records. I've seen the lots behind those lost as well. This may well be the year of the "third" row oceanfront losses.

Another new Wings store is coming

Yet another new Wings store is coming to Nags Head. At the most recent Nags Head town commission meeting a new 15000+ foot store was approved for construction. It belongs to the same group (I. G. Holdings) which owns all the other Wings in this area. The town has been trying to get some kind of consensus together to change the zoning/planning rules to keep these types of stores from being built, or at least to make them look a little better, but did not get the rules in place soon enough to stop this one. A whole new class of law practice has sprung forth from this type of construction and the growing opposition to such. Property rights attorneys are the new hot thing in the legal profession.
I have yet to learn exactly where this large store will be, but as soon as I do, I'll post the location.

Election day

I was reviewing the sample ballot in the newspaper today. I know, I should have been paying attention much earlier in the political season, but I finally got around to it, and was actually surprised to learn that there is only one contested county commission race in Dare County this time around. In my opinion it is a slam dunk for the incumbent, so that means no change at all in the board for next season with the exception of Mac coming back on representing Hatteras. I guess you could say that means "Politics as usual". I was reading the profiles of the two candidates running against each other, and I could not tell a whole lot of difference in either. What did strike me is that they both are FOR everything! Sometimes that means being on both sides of the fence. Not a very good way to get anything accomplished in my opinion.
There will be some tough issues coming up in the next couple of years. Beach nourishment, population increases, re-evaluation of property values for taxation, "affordable" housing, new schools, traffic concerns. It should be interesting to watch this board at work and see if they can indeed stay on both sides of the fence. There is no making everyone happy!

Kitty Hawk Road overwash

We rode up to Kitty Hawk yesterday afternoon to check out the overwash situation. When we were there about 5 pm, the road was scraped clean and passable, but the tide was not high. By the time we left the tide was rolling back in, and overwashing the road once again. The surfers were out in mass. A few pix at:

Surfers and Beach Road

Where's the sun?

Boy am I ready to see the sun again! The weather is windy, cool, and cloudy, and the ocean is very rough. The massive low pressure system sitting off the east coast just seems to not want to move. The beach is taking a beating. There are many places where the high tide comes right up to the base of the dune and you can't walk on the beach. From what I saw on the weather sites this am, this will hang around thru Wednesday. I am definitely looking forward to the return of the calm warm fall weather.

Dreary day here today

The weather is dreary and I stayed home today. No news from the Outer Banks to report today. I think the whole world is consumed with baseball, and I just don't see the attraction. So I can't join in the major discussions happening out there right now.
Even the Coastland Times was boring today. No intriguing headlines caught my eye. The most interesting thing was continued arguing over the Slash Creek Condos having received some significant state approval to move ahead.
Oh well, tomorrow's Friday, and another day. Maybe with more news!

Baum House is gone!

Yesterday we turned down Baum Street in Kill Devil Hills, and were shocked to see the old Baum estate home on the oceanfront just about reduced to a pile of rubble! That happened quickly! The property just closed its sale to its new owners on October 14th. They are a local builder and someone from Pennsylvania. According to the story in the Coastland Times, the buyers had been denied a permit to demolish the structure four times. The article also said that the buyers were interested in trying to work something out with the town to preserve the structure, but eventually decided that the tone the town had taken was hostile and sought only to delay them. Payback for the town's attitude was mentioned as the reason for going ahead with the teardown.
While a great deal of our income is derived from the real estate and building industry, I was appalled at this situation. I believe both parties to be seriously at fault, and the worse part is that this injustice is totally irreversable now. History is gone.

Rain today, Manteo busy!

Today is raining and dreary here on the Outer Banks, but we do need the rain actually. It has been very dry for several weeks. The dogwood trees in my yard are getting colorful with their leaves and berries turning red. The days have been just slightly nippy and the nights a little cool but nothing to complain about. Manteo was SO crowded today! I guess even in the off season, rainy, cloudy weather brings the touring public over to shop and site see away from the beach. It appears to be a very good year for the merchants of the downtown Manteo area. There are more neat little shops there now than ever. One night in the late summer we went downtown in the evening after dinner just to walk around, and were amazed at the number of people there just milling around. There were two musical groups playing at eating establishments close to each other. It was interesting just to sit on the bench in front of the courthouse and people watch. What a different time it is in my little town!

Rental season is over

Well, our rental season is over, and so now we get to rest some. I must say again I've been amazed at the amount of traffic still here on the roads. I'm coming to realize that more and more this is a product of an increasing year round population. That is evident by the lines in the grocery stores even in the winter, by the traffic on the bypass, by the unbearable line at the DMV, by the long, long court news columns in the newpaper! Not all those moving here are "desirable" upstanding citizens. It is evident in the increasing tax burden residents face for building more schools to educate the new residents. It is evident in the search for vacant land. We must face the fact that we no longer live in a small town.

Today is a beautiful day on the Outer Banks...

It is classic fall weather here today with the temp about 75-78 degrees and mostly bright blue sky. The leaves are just getting a hit of color. I have been surprised by the amount of traffic still here for this late in the season. I guess it goes to show how long I've been watching the population here grow, and the touring public added to that. We no longer live in a small town. In some ways that's good, some ways bad.

Back from vacation

It's been a while since I've had a chance to write any entries into this log, since I have been out of the country for most of August and part of September. We finally got to take that vacation of our own after seeing to the many guests we've had here on the Outer Banks. Unfortunately hurricane season has haunted us at every turn and we are just plain weary of it. Not only for worrying about our homes here and the potential threat to them, but to our many, many friends we have in Florida. Of course our vacation travels took us south, right into the path of several of these storms. We have seen many sobering things and reminders of the power of a hurricane's fury in the past month. My heart is heavy for the many who have suffered damage at the hands of Charley, Frances, and Ivan.
The sheer force of the storm surge and its ensuing devastation along the Florida/Alabama coastline is truly unbelievable and heartbreaking. While we did not see the devastation along the Panhandle first hand, we have seen pictures and can definitely empathize with the good folks who live there.