It’s mostly been a windy, stormy week here on Cape Hatteras, presented as a series of storms that brought some rain but mostly a fierce and unrelenting wind. As the clouds rolled in early on Saturday, I took this shot at Ocracoke. It was the last time I’d see that yellow orb until Sunday afternoon.
Earlier in the week, however, it was a much warmer beach and I actually took my shoes off and walked in the water. With shorts on. And a t-shirt. Yes, the good old days of summer felt like they had arrived.
I was wrong. The gale warning on Friday night made me put away all thoughts of summer clothes and warm weather and I listened to the rain on my roof and felt the wind buffet the trailer all night long. Turns out not many of us in the campground slept well, the wind battering all of us, regardless of our rig size.
Sunday, once the sun reappeared, I made a run up the coast. Which also involved a ferry. And two hours of waiting for room. It’s a free ferry that continues Route 12 in North Carolina, so the catch is that you just wait till there’s enough room for your particular vehicle. I was in the “you have a long vehicle aka trailer” line and, predictably enough, this line went much slower than the “you’ve just got a little car” line. Still, 45 minutes of bobbing like a cork on a ferry isn’t a bad way to spend the afternoon.
Since I got to my new campground, still on Cape Hatteras, the wind has been my constant companion. Yesterday’s beach walk was an exercise in determination: mine to keep walking, the wind’s to try and blow me over. I won this round.
Maybe it’s too early in the season or maybe it’s that wind, but right now, I am literally the only camper at this place, sharing it with the two camp hosts. So I have my own bathroom (no heat) and my own shower stall (no hot water). But it’s got that long sandy beach and I have hope that things will warm up tomorrow. I’m an optimist when it comes to weather, obviously.
Today is my Grandma Clara’s birthday memorial (born 1907, died 1994) so this quotation is for her.
We should all have one person who knows how to bless us despite the evidence, Grandmother was that person to me.
Phyllis Theroux
Photos are especially beautiful this week, Annie!
Of course there is nothing more beautiful than a beach in my opinion!
A good time to reread Gift from the Sea (Anne Morrow Lindbergh), perhaps? Striking photos, as always.
Stay safe, and lovely tribute to Grandma. ❤️