Warm year ending

The temps have been rising all evening, and it looks like this year will end on a warm note:

Manteo Christmas Parade pics 2006

Here are a few pics from the 2006 Manteo Christmas parade:


Manteo Christmas Parade pics

Wright Brothers celebration 2006

Here are a few pics from the celebration December 17, 2006:


Wright Brothers celebration 2006

Record high temperatures set on the Outer Banks

Yesterday we set a new record high temperature of 72 degrees for this day in history. The previous records was 71. Today we are also on track to break the standing record of 74 set in 1998. High temperatures today are expected to be 76! Of course tomorrow it is supposed to be 20 degrees colder! Enjoy it while you can if you are here.

Thanksgiving Storm pics album up now

I have posted over 100 photos into an album showing three days of history of the Thanksgiving Storm 2006 on the Outer Banks.
See the post on the Outer Banks Board for the link.

Outer Banks Board post with picture album link

Winding up tight

The Outer Banks is experiencing a rapidly developing nor'easter' right now, that is expected to hang out for a few days. I took a ride as far north as Southern Shores today, and got a few pics. Winds gusts have been as high as 56 mph here at the Manteo airport and reportedly higher further south. The Ocracoke ferry suspended operations early today, and left many stranded there. Some minor power outages have been reported. The rain did not start in earnest until close to dark, but has been steady and heavy since. Six inches is predicted. Thank goodness it is not freezing weather or we would be in blizzard conditions! Ocean overwash is expected all up and down the Outer Banks before this is over. Tides are higher than normal due to the moon cycle, and the next high tide is at about 7:30 am Wednesday.

See the pics taken on Tuesday before the rain on the Outer Banks Board here:

Outer Banks Board post

Another blow and heavy rain expected tonite

Another hard south wind will be blowing over the Outer Banks tonight into tomorrow, with heavy rain predicted through tomorrow afternoon. It doesn't appear that this wind will have any west component to it, so perhaps it will not be the soundside flooding event that we had Sunday night into Monday morning.

A shot from above

Last weekend the weather was beautiful on Sunday and we took this pic from the plane showing the Wright Brothers site as seen looking north to south. What struck me in reviewing this photo is that there is still quite a lot of "wooded" land on the Outer Banks as shown in this photo that is in a "protected" state, as in either the National Park Service or Nags Head Woods. This is a good thing. As developed as parts of the Outer Banks seem from the ground when riding down the bypass in the middle of summer, there is still a great deal of it left in its natural state.

New webpage of pics up

I have a new webpage of pics up now on the Elizabethan Faire which was held in downtown Manteo this past weekend October 7 & 8.


Elizabethan Faire in Manteo

Kitty Hawk Heritage Festival

Friday and Saturday, Kitty Hawk held its annual Heritage Festival. There was something for everyone, of all ages. The weather was great, and a good time was had by all.

Whalehead, Ocean Sands flooding aerial pics

I put up a new page of aerial photos today of the flooding in Whalehead Beach, Ocean Sands, and Spindrift up in Corolla. Lots of homes uninhabitable and renters are having to be moved. It is a real nasty mess for some to clean up.


Flooding Aerial Pics

Ernesto update Sept 1

Lots and lots of rain as elsewhere in the state, but otherwise not too damaged this time! Whewww!!!!!!!



More photos over on the board at:


Outer Banks Board

Morning after Ernesto

Rainfall in the area amounted to about 10-12 inches and is not over as of this writing. Channel 13 news is reporting that Dare and Currituck County schools are both closed for Friday. The center of the storm at the moment is just about directly west of us inland about 100 miles. The heavy rainfall is the biggest problem. Once daylight gets here, I will be out with the camera.

Ernesto/ocean pics

I put up a few pics taken Thursday afternoon around Nags Head and S. Nags Head over on
Outer Banks Board

Field of flags

This "field of flags" flies along the bypass in Kill Devil Hills, NC, as a tribute to the fallen soldiers in Iraq.

Light east winds, clear blue water

There have been some very beautiful beach days this week at the Outer Banks. The light east winds have brought in the clear warm extra blue waters.

"Pelican" winner of Pirates' Cove Tournament

The 56 foot Paul Mann built "Pelican" based out of Oregon Inlet took top honors at the Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament this past Friday. They took home prize money of more than $584,000 for the 10 Whites and one sailfish hooked and released in this tournament.

First day of Tournament yields slow results

The first day of fishing in the Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament was a slow day. Out of 131 registered boats, 101 fished, 29 laid in. The top point getter was the 60 foot Point Runner based out of Oregon Inlet, with three releases, for a total of 210 points. Hopefully the northeast wind of today will produce a better day of fishing for day two. There was one nice catch of dolphin and some proud guys.


A few more pics are here on the Outer Banks Board:


Pirates Cove post

Pirates' Cove Billfish Tournament underway

Well, today is registration day for the 23rd annual Pirates' Cove Billfish Tournament. There must be a record number of boats here this year, because the marina is chocked full. All the brand new dock space is full. The energy level is high as all the boats are rigging and getting ready for the fishing which begins tomorrow.
The new tournament building looks really good. It was being filled with all the vendor exhibits today when I visited. With the concrete floor and solid roof it is so much nicer than the large tent and dirt floor of tournaments past. The dinner area is still under a tent, but there are significantly less tent stakes to impale oneself upon after several trips to the Bacardi bar!
Sunday was the day for the Alice Kelly Memorial tournament. Eighty boats fished with a total of 129 fish released, 122 of those being white marlin, 4 blues, and 3 sails.
Stay tuned for updates throughout the week.

Nags Head Speed Wash torn down

Noticed today as I was passing that the Nags Head Speed Wash building complex (across from the Tanger Outlet Mall, MP 16) was being demolished. Three buildings are being torn down. The small round building was gone last week. Today it was the laundramat building, and the office building to the north was gutted. That will be next. The land is owned by IG Holdings, the Wings people. No word yet on what is planned for this block of land.