THIS is MY idea of beach nourishment!

While recently relaxing at On Da Beach bar in the beautiful Abacos, I was doing a bit of photogging and a tiny bit of reflecting on the problems back home. Making light of the situation seemed very appropo. So here's my version of beach renourishment!

What a beautiful weekend!

Well yesterday and Saturday turned out to be just beautiful days here on the Outer Banks. After all the rainy cool weather it was really nice to see some sunshine. Today has started out very foggy, but it will be clearing up.
Our group of tenants for the week are all nicely settled in. My very first maintenance call of the season was that the battery had died in the clock and they would like someone to come replace it! Go figure. Nothing better to do on vacation than watch the clock, I suppose.
Speaking of time, I am still on island time, having just returned from almost three wonderful weeks in the Bahamas. It's really hard to TRY to get back to work now. Just sorting through the three cartons of mail is a real chore. So I'll be a little slow to get back into the groove of blogging and posting pics, so bear with me.

Applebee's update

The new Applebee's at the Outer Banks Mall is progressing along. I was glad to see a bit more architectural appeal added to the building, which I thought at first glance was really going to be plain. Have not heard when they are to be open yet.

Milepost 5, a mile north of Avalon Pier

For the reader who was wondering about the beach conditions about a mile north of Avalon Pier, here are a couple of pix from that area. Once again, the beach does not look too bad, all things considered. It will get better and better as the summer time approaches and the sand bars move back in to the beach.


Looking south from the access near Milepost 5, in Kitty Hawk.


Looking north around MP 5.

Milepost 19 beach

For the reader who was interested in the beach area around Milepost 19 in S. Nags Head, here are a few beach pix from the beach access there. The beach actually looked pretty good considering the overall state of things down that way.


Looking north at Milepost 19.


Looking south at Milepost 19.

That weather last Friday

I have been hearing tales from others around the banks about that severe storm that we had blow through last Friday. I read in the Coastland Times that the Ocracoke ferry dock station reported a wind gust of 115 mph. Also a friend was returning home in the height of the storm from west of here, and experienced the NOAA reported gusts of 110 mph on the Wright Memorial bridge. He said it knocked the car down to 30 mph and they could drive no faster! I do hope that all the severe spring weather is behind us now, and let the summer begin!

Foggy out last night

Yesterday afternoon the cold sea air started rolling back onshore, and it got right down cool! The fog rolling in off the ocean was really surreal. I walked over to the beach to see if I could get some kind of pic which might show what it felt like. I don't think the pic does it justice, but it was really neat. These very large pelicans were just lazily riding the thermals just over the duneline along the beach. It was awesome seeing them just appear out of the fog and then fade away into it down the way.

New webpage with S. Nags Head pics

Here's the new page of pics taken May 7, 2005 in South Nags Head.


SOUTH NAGS HEAD PICS WEBPAGE

S. Nags Head today at Indigo

Someone asked about the Indigo Beach access in S. Nags Head and how the beaches fared during this latest battering. There was some loss of beach and the newly built and planted berms. The usual hotspots of Surfside and Seagull were the worst. A lot of water line and some electric cables were broken in those areas. These two pics were taken at the Indigo beach access for the requester. To answer your question, no, the access has not been repaired. The parking lot has been planted in beach grass so I assume that means no vehicles. The walkover still has no stairs and is marked closed. There is no beach there at high tide anyway.

I am working on a webpage with many more shots of this morning in S. Nags Head and will get that up sometime today. Not sure when as I have to go do another job in just a few minutes! Stay tuned.

A bit quieter this AM

Still blowing steady 15 from the NW, with gusts to about 30 mph, but it seems a lot quieter. Last night it was just a steady roar. We are finally clear of all the rain. Later this morning I'm going to try to get over to the beach to see what damage has been wrought, so be sure to check back later in the day for some pics.

Tidal rush is on!

The winds have been steadily backing around so that now they are northwest. Around noon today the report I got on the sound tide was quote "it would be easier to fish your crabpots with a wheelbarrow today, the sound's so dry"! All the water has been blown south and banked up against the west shore of the Pamlico sound all day. Now the wind has shifted and the water is rushing back in one big gulp. Just now we rode downtown Manteo to the boat ramp and the water is already up to the parking lot level with the lowest docks. I'm sure it will get higher in the next few hours. It is still raining and the radar shows one more heavy band to move through here in the next few hours. Some areas just east of I 95 in NC received more than 12 inches of rain for this storm's total. I pity the farmers who just planted crops out there.

Still blowing...

Still blowing about 30 plus steady with gusts to 47 mph at Manteo airport. Still raining pretty steady. My garden is drowned. Limbs have been hitting the house roof all day. At least it is cleaning them out before hurricane season!

Wind Gusts

Gusts to 53 mph in the last hour at Manteo airport. Buxton appears to be off the air.

"Tropical Storm" today!

It is not unlike a tropical storm out there today, except it's a little cooler! The winds are whipping around 40 mph and the rain is heavy. Weather channel says Hatteras has gotten over 4 inches so far. I know it rained pretty hard all night. Looking at the radar this thing even has an eye to it, right off Cape Fear. You can actually see it spinning out there. Last night when driving home across the Nags Head causeway, I haven't seen the tide so low in a while. The shallow shoreline was WAY out there! Winds are to back around to the north and west later today and tomorrow. Could be some soundside flooding from that.

The weather is pretty today

Pretty today but a little cool. Tomorrow is to start clouding up and by Friday the local TV stations are predicting yet another nor'easter. Oh boy, here we go again! I'm so sick and tired of windy cold weather! When will summer finally get here? I know, I know, about the middle of June I'll be wishing for a little cool breeze, and some room on the by-pass to drive! Oh well!

Commishs to consider new BN plan

I just read an email from the Board of Realtors which said the Dare County Commissioners are going to hear a presentation by a company which has patented and is marketing a new type of beach nourishment product. Apparently the structure traps naturally drifting sand at a faster rate and deposits in on the beach.
I consider it a huge step that the Board is now willing and IS actually going to consider OTHER alternatives to the pump and dump method, which is so undesirable. I am very happy to see their minds opening just a little! There has to be a better way to get to a reasonable compromise which will make everyone a little happier and be a little fairer.

Southern Shores beach

I took the opportunity to walk the 65 steps to the beach from Midas Touch (one of our weekly beach rental homes) to see if the ocean was still there. I've been working so much lately I haven't been able to go check. The beach looks fairly good after the winter of storms. The toe of the dune has rebuilt itself with the northeast winds banking up the sand against the dunes and sandfences. Some oceanfront owners have replanted beach grass to stabilize. The beach itself was wide and flat. And Uncle Jack will be happy to know that the birds from S. Nags Head have a home in Southern Shores, as there IS still beach, and crabs, and food for them. Someone had built a sandcastle in an afternoon's well spent frivilous activity.

New Hilton construction

Yesterday as I was sitting in traffic waiting for a person to turn left on the Southern Shores road, I noticed this loud rhymic booming. I ran the window down to see what it was, and discovered the new piling driving project at the Hilton Hotel site at the Kitty Hawk pier. Boy is it loud! Here's a couple of pix. Pity those who are renters near this construction site for the next couple of summers, especially right now!

Hoi Toide

The heavy west winds we have been experiencing since the front blew through here yesterday have pushed up the tides as high as I have seen them in recent times.
First pic is the Nags Head Causeway:


Next two pics are downtown Manteo. Residents were moving their cars to higher ground.

New Applebee's at the mall

The new Applebee's building at the Outer Banks mall is progressing. After overcoming one setback earlier in construcion, when the heavy winds blew down one of the block walls, the building is moving along now, and probably will be open sometime this summer for business.

RV's is open!

If you haven't heard me talk about RV's food before, you can tell by now, this is one of my favorite meals in all the world. Friday night shrimp from RV's. As the TV commercial says, "Outta this world!"

Stormy weather!

We just endured a gustfront passing through the area with 55 mile per hour winds.
Heavy rain, but it's still 59 degrees! Forecast actually mentioned snow showers tonight, but I don't think it will get that cold. The power has been off three times here in Manteo in the last few minutes. Holding on!

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.