Saturday, July 23rd Raleigh N.C. to Nags Head N.C. (Outer Banks)

Note – If you click on any picture, it blows it up for more detailed viewing.

Up early but leaving never matches up to plans.  K and I left around 8:30, destination the much talked about Outer Banks. The O.B. is a series of long narrow islands that hug the coast of North Carolina.  It’s about a 3 hour drive from Shelley’s house.

It was a scenic drive.  Interesting to see the difference in fauna and flora from the Northwest.  Interesting, old towns and farms filled with character and charm, polite, hospitable people whose southern accent is soft and melodious.  Clear skies and vast vista’s of rich farmland growing corn, beans, tobacco and hay framed by rolling hills.  Heat and humidity that can cause grown men to scurry between their air- conditioned car to any and all air conditioned business’, their eyeglasses fogging during the interim.   Beer is their one major weakness – no dark beer or microbreweries – just lot’s and lot’s of Bud and Bud Lite.   Lot’s of local color and humor, one build board proclaimed, “Get your Crabs at Dirty Dicks.” – makes me feel that Dick’s is one place I won’t be going to.

This is NASCAR Country

Crossing over to The Outer Banks

We got to the Nags Head Inn around 1:00, checked in and then headed out to Mulligan’s, the local fish house.  Shelley and David joined us shortly there after.  I never had a soft shelled crab sandwich before but I know I would definitely have to say that there will be more in my future.  After lunch our rooms were ready and my mind was ready for the beach but my body said, “What are you crazy man, that heat will kill you, at least shrink parts of you that may never grow back and that’s a promise!”  Well, my body won this particular argument and we stayed in to nap, read and solve the problems of the world.

Around 7:30 it had cooled down to the low nineties so we were finally able to stroll, (I actually just walked) out to the beach.  K was finally able to put her feet in the Atlantic which actually has a different color and smell then the Pacific.  David cautioned us about Sharks saying how you can get bit in as little as six inches of water – we scoffed and continued our stroll/walk.  It was a beautiful sunset.  Overcome by the beauty of the moment, K and I indulged in a warm hug followed by a lip lock that a locksmith would have a difficult time with.  We actually received a round of applause from some fellow strollers/walkers.

Back in my element

Our stroll/walk

We saw a number of couples and groups walking down the beach and enjoying the night air.  There were 2 men and one nine year old boy fishing in the surf and we stopped to watch.  Suddenly, the little boy gives a jerk and starts reeling in something big.  Dad is running around encouraging, instructing and just being a Dad.  The kid manages to land the fish which really started some excitement  - a four foot, 20 pound Banjo shark who is none to happy to be the star attraction.  Lots of teeth flashing as Mr. Jaws does his strange dance of life v death in the surf.  Dad took enough pictures to fill a memory card and then gave the shark back to the sea.  Suddenly, no one and I mean no one was walking in more then 4 inches of ocean.

Blurry due to Shark would not hold still

We lit some fireworks on the beach to celebrate our arrival and the turning point of our adventure.  Shortly, a very proper elderly British lady came down to the beach inquiring as to who had lit off fireworks as it is illegal.  I gave her a description of several large Hell’s Angels who seemed to have a chip on their shoulder – she decided not to pursue the neer do wells.  Tomorrow we begin to head West.  Around 9:30, we went to Sam and Omie’s for another terrific seafood dinner that tasted even better with the large sides of conversation and laughter.