The Outer Banks Day 3

     It was warmer this morning than it was yesterday. Natalie and I went north on the beach.  Although there are very few houses in the area, it was where it was happening this morning!  A large school of fish were providing themselves as refreshment for a massive amount of cormorants, a fair showing of seagulls and dolphins. There were lots and lots of dolphins and not a goal post in sight. My camera was on the table in the cabana. I forgot it.

    Ventured to The Dancing Turtle Coffee Shop and I was not disappointed. It has a very quaint and homey atmosphere. Sade playing on the stereo. I think this was the first time that I had handmade espresso shots in my latte. At Starbucks they just press a button.

     Then we headed north for Buxton and the lighthouse except I decided to keep driving and ended up in Rodanthe. It is all such a short distance from Hatteras Village but on the way here on Saturday everything seemed so far away. Turned around in Rodanthe and did a little shopping here and there on my way to the lighthouse.

     The lighthouse is awesome. I wish it had been open so I could have climbed to the top. I went into the visitor center and had a delightful conversation with the gal who works there. We began talking about shells. She collects. I do not but she was interesting and enthusiastic about it. Her enthusiasm bubbled right into me. She told me places to go that are great for finding many different shells. I bought a waterproofed shell pamphlet to carry with me. I’m going to do this! I’m going to collect shells. The weather up to this point had been overcast and a tad breezy. When I came out of the center the sun was shining. It had gotten very windy. I was off on my little adventure. This is how I met the six US Park Rangers. This is how I bought a bumper sticker for $150. This is how I learned that I should always follow my intuition.

     The gal in the visitor center had asked if I had 4 wheel drive. I do not. She told me where to go and that there was an area for me to park. I would have to hike in the rest of the way to Cape Point. I’m driving and turn onto a hard sand road that leads to ramp 44. The sand begins to get loose. I sensed then that I should turn around. I even had a time out moment. But the gal said there was an area to park…. I drove about 50 feet. I decided not to go ahead when the van had an aha moment and sank into the sand. I think I’m going to use my old getting out of snow tactics. I did. I sunk deeper. Oh, cripe! No shovel so I use a cane in  the van to start digging out. I pray. I pray a lot. There is no one around. I’m hungry and I need to pee. Natalie is crying like she has to pee, too.  I need a miracle! That’s when the first four US Park Rangers show up. They were very kind to me. They laughed with me and not at me. They tried to help me get out. They called in two other rangers. By now we are buddies because we are working for a cause. Handy tip to know if you ever get stuck in level sand: let air out of the tires until the pressure is 20. Then I’m putting the van in reverse and they push. Key words “level sand”. I was not in level sand. They call for a tow truck. He won’t use my AAA. He wants a credit card for a charge of $150 to tow. He came. He towed the van out. I followed him back to his shop to pay and get air in the tires. He gave me a receipt. I thank him and turn to leave. “Wait”, he says. He reaches over and rips something off the wall. It is a bumper sticker. “Got Stuck” J

     Nat and I stopped at The Hatterasman for takeout before going to the cabana. I learned something about Natalie today. She likes grouper with and without tartar sauce. The grouper was okay. The cole slaw was probably the best I have ever had and I will go back just to get it.

     After my late lunch on the deck of the cabana we took an hour walk on the beach in fierce winds. Dogs sneeze when they get airborn sand up their noses. I never knew that either.

     Ocracoke tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.

Outer Banks/OBX Day 2

     Nat enjoyed our morning walk on the beach.  The beach provided her with a hound dog buffet of scents and smells. Her saber tail held high she feverishly crisscrossed in front of me every few seconds. I swear she was smiling. She loved chasing the seagulls and really wanted to pick up a belly up dead one. She was not happy with me when I told her no. She did not enjoy our walk into the village this afternoon. Tail down. We walked by the side of the road. I would never attempt to do this at home but people walk their dogs along the road here. Drivers slow their cars down or move over to the other side of the road. She’s one tuckered out PBGV tonight as we had another (but short) beach walk before the sun set.

     I’m enjoying myself here. It’s really easy to fit in. Everyone is friendly – both locals and tourists. Everybody says hi to each other whether you know them or not. I imagine it’s a whole different world when it is not off season. I witnessed somebody leaving their vehicle running as they ran into Burrus’ Red & White grocery to pick up something. That would not be happening in Jacksonville, FL!  I met a charming young Hungarian couple who were down from Washington, DC for their college spring break at Kaia’s Café this morning. After they left I met an equally charming my age couple from Toronto who shared lots of tourist tips with me which I intend to investigate.

     Natalie ventured up the stairs to the crow’s nest when I was up there reading this afternoon. She seemed to like being able to see so much more that high up but the poor gal couldn’t make it down the stairs after I left. Poor pitiful Natty crying like only a PBGV could  tugged at my heart. I had to go back up and carry her down. I doubt she will go back up again.

    We made a trip to Frisco and Buxton late this afternoon. My cell phone came alive in Buxton! J I touched base with my parents. Then early in the evening I began talking with a cabana neighbor who told me he can call out on his T-Mobile phone from the beach or at the top of the beach access walkway. Best yet, he gave me the password to his wireless internet to use while I am here. Yippee!

     I bought a hound dog kite from Liz at the Kitty Hawk Kite Shop this morning. Tomorrow I will attempt kite flying. It’s been many, many years. Do you know there is a protocol about flying kites based on wind speed for the day? I didn’t. It’s an art. They have 2 hour kite lessons and 4-6 hour kite camps here. I’ll pass. I never read directions anyway.

     Tomorrow Sonny’s Restaurant opens for the season and it’s a big deal here. It’s the beginning of all the ‘closed for the season’ restaurants to come back to life. I will have to check it out before I leave. I do have to hit Dinky’s. I have been hearing that it is the best restaurant.

Outer Banks Day 1

     Can’t remember when I started feeling this pull to the Outer Banks. The odd part of that ‘pull’ was that the weather had to be cool. Last fall when I was over the hot weather in Jacksonville I put a deposit down on the ocean front cabana called Lost Shaker of Salt located in Hatteras Village for a week beginning on my birthday.

     I left the Starbucks parking lot at 6:16 this morning with my faithful dog child, PBGV, Natalie. Pretty uneventful trip traveling up 95 except for plentiful beautiful red buds and long unseen blooming forsythia and then maybe the Pepto Bismal limo (hope I remember to check the spelling before I post this. I have no internet. I knew it before I got here. Thought I could live with a moderated “unplugging” from the world for a week and use the wifi café once daily).

     The new direction onto 264 East provided some amusement. I slightly missed my exit for Washington, NC and found myself at a Hess station near the campus of East Carolina.  To make a long story short, this adorable flirty, tall, muscled young man offered to wash my van windows for $5 as a joke. He and his friends are college students and were on their way to ride bikes in Raleigh. To his surprise I took him up on it. He said for $10 he would take his shirt off. I was tempted but I didn’t. L When I retire I want to become a house mother at a college fraternity.

     The last part of the trip was tedious with intermittent two lane highways.  I   was inpatient. I wanted to get here. I loved the scenery even if everything is still brown. Water, water everywhere! So inviting to a Pisces! I see the ocean in Jacksonville on occasion but I wanted to see it now on the Outer Banks and it just wasn’t happening for miles and miles. I felt drawn to getting to the Atlantic Ocean. I likened it to all those people who had to get to the mountain in Close Encounters of The Third Kind.  But first I see a sign that I have never seen before. Watch Out for Bears. What?? And the next sign says Watch Out for Red Wolves. On that one I look over at Jacob Black (the blanket Meredith gave me last year for my birthday which is draped across the back of the passenger seat) and winked before I asked him if they were kin.  Finally I was on Roanoke Island!  I was in Nags Head – awesome! But it was pretty empty. It’s off season. All the way down was pretty much the same way. And then I finally saw the Atlantic Ocean via an Outer Banks sighting. It was dark blue, It looked cold but I saw people wearing wet suits in the water flying kites. That is insane!  I thought there were going to be more bridges/causeways then there were. Hello Rodanthe and Avon! Then there was Buxton and Frisco and at last Hatteras Village at 6:25.

     Lost Shaker of Salt looks like the pics I saw.  I unloaded the van before taking Natalie for a walk on the beach. It’s chilly but we brave it. Nat poops on the beach. No problem – wait – where are the bags I stuffed in my jacket pockets? Find two tissues and manage a balancing act to the van where there are plenty of bags but no! Somebody has their dog off lead and …. All turned out well. The lady wanted to talk and talk. She’s leaving in the morning. I finally excused myself to find the dumpster and go upstairs to call my parents to let them know I arrived safely.

     My phone has no bars. Nowhere in this town can I call out with my phone. I drove around to find a place. By now it’s dark and I can’t see for crap because I live in a haloed night of lights with contacts.  A waitress at the pizza place (the only place open – remember it’s off season) was so sweet to let me call my parents from her phone as they don’t have a pay phone. Out of politeness I order a small pizza which costs almost $20. Yikes!

     Nat and I end up back at The Last Shaker of Salt to eat pizza (I didn’t know she liked crust but then again I don’t let her eat people food nor do I eat real pizza) and I open a bottle of Moscato. I make my way up to the crow’s nest and toast the huge moon that God has sent my way on my birthday, Thank you, God!!

    Nat is sleeping on the gigantic bed. I helped her get up. Time for me to join her so we can have another day of adventure tomorrow. (Word is making these inappropriate indentions and I can’t correct it)

So now I'm going to try blogging...

In anticipation of my upcoming sabbatical to the Outer Banks with my wonderful companion PBGV, Natalie, in three weeks I am setting up my site so I can learn how to use it and tweak it the way I want it.