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magidHarkening back unto the beginning of last month... I was on vacation in North Carolina, with 30 some odd family members...
I woke early from a dream about a long-lost college friend. As soon as I was awake, I pulled on clothes and headed out to the beach with my camera. Everyone else was asleep, and this was my morning for dawn (well, a bit post-dawn) photos of the beach [still need to get photos developed....].
The sun shone from behind a huge cloud bank that was the only cloud in the sky. Rather dramatic. There was still a lot of wind from the edges of whatever storm system had been passing through the day before, making the waves bigger than usual, and blowing sea foam from the wave tracks. The beach was covered in sand crab tracks, more evidence of the previous day's higher-than-usual tide. I was surprised to see clear jellyfish stranded, since I hadn't seen any on previous days. It's wondrous that something that is so translucent is actually alive (if on its way out...). I kept taking pictures until, in the middle of a ladybug shot, an errant wave soaked my skirt (luckily not the camera!). I headed back to the house, where everyone was still asleep.
The rest of the day was a lazy one of crocheting, grocery shopping, and assembling salad for the multitudes (which got rave reviews). Dinner also featured a big cake in honor of some cousins' second anniversary (the ones who went around the world, and now live in Evanston).
I had given my cousin's kids Aquarius, and the day started with some games. I was really pleased that they were enjoying it so much (and pleased with myself that I'd brought a good game for them).
And then the parents and I headed out to do some touristy things, figuring it would be nice to see something of the place other than just the beach (nice as it was, much nicer than I expected).
We drove south, along the one highway (sometimes one through road) along the Outer Banks. We went to the Bodie Island lighthouse, the closest of a series of lighthouses along the banks. We had assumed we could climb the tower, but it wasn't open to the public :-(. The odd part about this lighthouse was that it wasn't on the shore: it was about a mile away, making sure there wouldn't be erosion problems. There was an exhibit (and gift shop, of course (which had a book on women lighthouse keepers. I was amazed that there was such a book.)) in the building in front of it, and it was interesting reading. I hadn't realized that each lighthouse is painted differently, to aid navigation. Beside the lighthouse was a short boardwalk that went out to a lake, which was pleasant. (more lighthouse information here)
We headed north again, and stopped at a craft fair along the way. There were more religious items than I'm used to seeing at this sort of thing. I found some bags of freshly-picked figs, which I couldn't resist getting. Another stop so I could get a sun hat (my mom and her twin had gotten cool sunhats (SPF 50), and I wanted one, too.), then back to the house for lunch.
General impressions of the Outer Banks from the drive:
There are far more mini-golf areas per square mile than most places in the country. And each has its own hokey feature, of course.
There are more vanity plates, some beachly, some golf-ly (I tried typing that without a hyphen, but kept thinking of an insect...).
There are interesting things to see, if one can get through the hype, and it's a beautiful part of the country.
Yes, there is a J [lighthouse] Mac. No idea what sort of business it was, no chance to take a picture as we drove by, but it was there.
Prezzies: a map of shipwrecks along the coast for Jon, little crocheted bags for his daughters (shells in each), a bath bunny for Queue.
Down to the beach in the afternoon, after my part of dinner prep had been done, and I got to see cousins boogie boarding, something I don't think I'd seen before. I was impressed with how easy they made it look (but not going to try it myself!).
Dinner for less than the full complement of folks was at our house. It was nice having fewer people, since there was more chance to talk with people for a longer time. I was impressed at the stupid human tricks (how many shapes can you make with your tongue?), and surprised that Aquarius was the featured entertainment of the evening :-).
I still don't feel like I know people well, but I do know I'm related to some pretty cool people who I'd now be more likely to recognize on the street... I wouldn't have believed it, but another vacation like this would be pretty cool.
Up early to get on the road, back to the Norfolk airport. I was surprised to have to take my bag to be scanned after checking in, though the man doing it was very polite. Do they change procedures every week or so to keep the passengers entertained?
The flight was uneventful. Another small plane, and we didn't get so high that I couldn't appreciate the view the entire way. We flew east of Manhattan, and I was unable to see the gap I knew was there. Finally to Logan, get the bag, and meet Queue. It is so so nice to be met at the end of even a nice relaxing trip, not having to negotiate the changes required by T-ing home. We took the new walkway to central parking, and there were cool sea-themed inlays in the corridors, fishes, octopi, squid, etc. Nice - unobtrusive art to be appreciated by the alert.
And so back to the usual...
"
I woke early from a dream about a long-lost college friend. As soon as I was awake, I pulled on clothes and headed out to the beach with my camera. Everyone else was asleep, and this was my morning for dawn (well, a bit post-dawn) photos of the beach [still need to get photos developed....].
The sun shone from behind a huge cloud bank that was the only cloud in the sky. Rather dramatic. There was still a lot of wind from the edges of whatever storm system had been passing through the day before, making the waves bigger than usual, and blowing sea foam from the wave tracks. The beach was covered in sand crab tracks, more evidence of the previous day's higher-than-usual tide. I was surprised to see clear jellyfish stranded, since I hadn't seen any on previous days. It's wondrous that something that is so translucent is actually alive (if on its way out...). I kept taking pictures until, in the middle of a ladybug shot, an errant wave soaked my skirt (luckily not the camera!). I headed back to the house, where everyone was still asleep.
The rest of the day was a lazy one of crocheting, grocery shopping, and assembling salad for the multitudes (which got rave reviews). Dinner also featured a big cake in honor of some cousins' second anniversary (the ones who went around the world, and now live in Evanston).
I had given my cousin's kids Aquarius, and the day started with some games. I was really pleased that they were enjoying it so much (and pleased with myself that I'd brought a good game for them).
And then the parents and I headed out to do some touristy things, figuring it would be nice to see something of the place other than just the beach (nice as it was, much nicer than I expected).
We drove south, along the one highway (sometimes one through road) along the Outer Banks. We went to the Bodie Island lighthouse, the closest of a series of lighthouses along the banks. We had assumed we could climb the tower, but it wasn't open to the public :-(. The odd part about this lighthouse was that it wasn't on the shore: it was about a mile away, making sure there wouldn't be erosion problems. There was an exhibit (and gift shop, of course (which had a book on women lighthouse keepers. I was amazed that there was such a book.)) in the building in front of it, and it was interesting reading. I hadn't realized that each lighthouse is painted differently, to aid navigation. Beside the lighthouse was a short boardwalk that went out to a lake, which was pleasant. (more lighthouse information here)
We headed north again, and stopped at a craft fair along the way. There were more religious items than I'm used to seeing at this sort of thing. I found some bags of freshly-picked figs, which I couldn't resist getting. Another stop so I could get a sun hat (my mom and her twin had gotten cool sunhats (SPF 50), and I wanted one, too.), then back to the house for lunch.
General impressions of the Outer Banks from the drive:
There are far more mini-golf areas per square mile than most places in the country. And each has its own hokey feature, of course.
There are more vanity plates, some beachly, some golf-ly (I tried typing that without a hyphen, but kept thinking of an insect...).
There are interesting things to see, if one can get through the hype, and it's a beautiful part of the country.
Yes, there is a J [lighthouse] Mac. No idea what sort of business it was, no chance to take a picture as we drove by, but it was there.
Prezzies: a map of shipwrecks along the coast for Jon, little crocheted bags for his daughters (shells in each), a bath bunny for Queue.
Down to the beach in the afternoon, after my part of dinner prep had been done, and I got to see cousins boogie boarding, something I don't think I'd seen before. I was impressed with how easy they made it look (but not going to try it myself!).
Dinner for less than the full complement of folks was at our house. It was nice having fewer people, since there was more chance to talk with people for a longer time. I was impressed at the stupid human tricks (how many shapes can you make with your tongue?), and surprised that Aquarius was the featured entertainment of the evening :-).
I still don't feel like I know people well, but I do know I'm related to some pretty cool people who I'd now be more likely to recognize on the street... I wouldn't have believed it, but another vacation like this would be pretty cool.
Up early to get on the road, back to the Norfolk airport. I was surprised to have to take my bag to be scanned after checking in, though the man doing it was very polite. Do they change procedures every week or so to keep the passengers entertained?
The flight was uneventful. Another small plane, and we didn't get so high that I couldn't appreciate the view the entire way. We flew east of Manhattan, and I was unable to see the gap I knew was there. Finally to Logan, get the bag, and meet Queue. It is so so nice to be met at the end of even a nice relaxing trip, not having to negotiate the changes required by T-ing home. We took the new walkway to central parking, and there were cool sea-themed inlays in the corridors, fishes, octopi, squid, etc. Nice - unobtrusive art to be appreciated by the alert.
And so back to the usual...
"
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Date: 2002-09-10 12:32 pm (UTC)