An early Thanksgiving post: Lovely day in Kitty Hawk

Near 60 degrees here today. Just got to the beach with mom after arriving in Norfolk from San Francisco Saturday night.

For all of the economic woes, there is still a sense of fun and energy about Thanksgiving at the beach. The bypass is still busy with cars.  You get here and you just can't help but feel happy.

We immediately drove to Mama Kwan's to pick up a couple of tuna wraps (awesome) for lunch and the joint was jumping. Driving back to the 3.5 Mp from there we passed two major commercial construction projects.

The Outer Banks is such an amazing part of the world...downturns come, and this one will go. And this place will stay as beautiful and vibrant as ever.

Tomorrow I will find a Thanksgiving picture of some kind to post...

Studying the wild Corolla horses

Have you ever been lucky enough to see the beautiful wild horses on Corolla? The Va. Pilot has a good story about a study of the herd ...

Duck Donuts: Awesome, so I am told

 

My brother and mother swear by Duck Donuts. Absolutely fresh and dipped in whatever you like before your very eyes. Me, I don't eat 'em!

http://www.duckdonuts.com/

First day of fall, in Kitty Hawk

Amazing to be here on the first day of fall. It's been a windy week; you can feel the change of pace setting in.

I am here with my mom. My friends Alison and Lisa and Connie came down for a couple of days. We had lunch -- takeout -- from Mama Kwan's and Pigman. They all loved the Mama Kwan's fresh tuna wrap as much as I do (you will dream about it when you are away from the Outer Banks). And they really liked Pigman barbecue too -- yum.

The beginning of fall is amazing here. If you walk on the beach after 5 it is mostly just you and the ocean. Today there was just one guy in the water, kite surfing. The wind lifted him up and over the waves. At points he achieved lift off and was actually airborne.

So cool.

Cool story today in the Norfolk Va.-Pilot about the Bodie Island Lighthouse being in a contest for free repairs.

(Photo from the Virginian-Pilot)

A busy summer on the Outer Banks

The Norfolk Va.-Pilot had a good article this week on tourism on the Outer Banks this summer.

Basically, it said that folks are still coming to the beach in droves despite the downturn in the economy and high gas prices.

Welcome to the beach

My family and I just got back from our first summer week in our new Outer Banks beach house, Carolina Cottage at Milepost 3.5 on the ocean side of Rt. 158, aka "the bypass."

The ocean was as clear and warm as you would ever want it, with just one thunderstorm in Kitty Hawk all week.

We put the house through its paces: I grilled on the pool deck at least three times and wore out the stairs running supper up and down. After swimming in the ocean all day, the pool was a treat at night. We played Marco Polo and listened to Green Day on my MP3 player.

The best place to nap

 

The best place to nap that I have found is on the chaise lounge on the second floor deck near the hot tub. It's the first spot to cool off during the day, and there is a sweet ocean breeze even on a hot July afternoon.