It’s a “Shore” Thing

My first fieldtrip of 2012 took me to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The trip began with a ride across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. This transport across the bay is 17 miles long and is considered the largest bridge-tunnel complex in the world. The history of this structure is one I had to stop and read about at the tourist center and learned it took 42 months to complete and opened for traffic back in 1964. It truly is an engineering marvel! While at the visitor’s center, a volunteer suggested I head up to Cape Charles. What a great suggestion!  Brochures referred to Cape Charles as a modern-day Mayberry and as I walked Main Street, I could picture Andy, Aunt B, Opie and Barney feeling right at home.  Cape Charles is a quaint town with small shops and a beautiful view of the bay.  While there I met the mayor who runs a printing shop, is an active beachcomber and is a dumpster diver for Eastern Shore treasures.  She had made some creative pieces from sea glass and old bottles. She was a pure delight to talk to about the town, her Greek background and her love of beach glass.   I had a yummy turkey bacon Panini with a cold beer at Kelly’s.  Come to find out this building used to be a bank and had been renovated to be a tavern.  I actually sat in the vault to have my lunch….kinda neat!  Every good small town has a hardware store and Cape Charles was no exception.  Watson’s Hardware had a plethora of items and was the one place in town that I made a purchase.  I got a coconut cup holder for my bike. The fellow at the store said folks come from all around to get these coconut heads, so I will proudly sport mine in my small hometown.

                                                 A glimpse of downtown Cape Charles

                                                              Kelly’s Tavern & Pub

                                                      Coconut cup holder for bike

While riding along the coastline of Cape Charles, I read that 35 million years ago, a meteor/comet two miles wide crossed paths with Earth and crashed in the very spot that is now the town of Cape Charles.  The meteor created the 6^th largest impact crater on earth. Who would’ve known?  Finally, on the way out of Cape Charles, I passed a museum that had a 1923 Farmall tractor sitting out front.  This redheaded beachgirl could not resist climbing onto the tractor to pretend to be a farmgirl for a second.

                                                      Antique Farmall Tractor

Before leaving the Eastern Shore I traveled as far north as Keller, VA where I spent an hour or so at the Blue Crow Antique Mall.  It was a large place and I chuckled as I walked past booths and thought of that old saying, “some folk’s junk is another’s treasure.”

My day trip to the Eastern Shore made me yearn for more.  I want to go back when it’s warmer and venture to Chincoteague Island and see the wild ponies.  I want to visit some of the wineries I passed along the way, and would love the chance to clam and kayak in the bay.

Looking Back at 2011

A new year offers a chance to reflect and the opportunity to start fresh.  2011 was a rocky road for me personally, but there were many milestones, new adventures and memories that will last a lifetime.  2011 brought me to the Outer Banks Voice. I thank Russ Lay for giving the Redhead Beachgirl a chance to have a “voice” and share my thoughts and feelings about life, news and of course the OBX.  As I looked back over my blogs, I am amazed at all the places I have been and all the things I was blessed to see.  Last year I explored a lot!  For instance, I took fieldtrips to Nags Head Woods, Buffalo City, Pettigrew State Park, Cape Hatteras and Rodanthe.  I hit the road and headed to Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, New Bern, Topsail Beach, Edenton, Mount Vernon, Washington DC, Lake Gaston, and Elm City.  I rode nearly every ferry in North Carolina, and I was able to visit landmarks and attractions like lighthouses, Elizabethan Gardens, the Smithsonian, Jockey’s Ridge, Tyron Palace, Fort Macon, the Roanoke Island Aquarium and much more.  I met new friends, went to new restaurants, listened to bands, sang karaoke, went to a Jimmy Buffett concert, and saw a bear, alligator and canebrake rattlesnake.   I witnessed the destruction of Hurricane Irene, the building of Jeanette’s Pier and learned a lot about crabs.  I cooked a whole pig, and even got to visit Albermarle Beach Medical Care for a broken arm and head injury.  WOW! What a year! I hope that 2012 offers many topics to write about and I can’t wait to see what’s waiting around the corner to explore. Happy New Year, friends! May this year be one of your BEST!

Video Collection – Year in Review 2011
Music by, The Last Goodbye – “Pictures of You”

Let There Be Light – Lots of It

It just wouldn’t have been Christmas without one last trip this year to the OBX to see the holiday lights.  I was able to have a wonderful dinner at the beautifully decorated Owen’s restaurant and couldn’t miss the chance to drive down Ocean Acres to see the Poulos’ house.  This family goes all out when it comes to Christmas decorations and it seems to become more elaborate each year.  There are no words to accurately describe the plethora of lights, blow-ups, Christmas trees, Santas, snowmen, trains, etc.  We had to park down the street and walk up to the house where we joined a hundred or more people taking in the scenery.  Things are displayed on both sides of the road and I was probably there 30 minutes walking the grounds in amazement.  Take a look at this short video and imagine how beautiful this looked on a starry night.  Also imagine how long it must take this family to put up and take down these decorations.  There is no doubt the Poulos’ love Christmas and want to bring smiles to the faces of those who come to visit.

Music by, Bobby Helms – “Jingle Bell Rock”

Merry Christmas OBX

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The Other White Meat

Last weekend I went to Elm City, NC to visit a friend’s family. While there, I went on a “fieldtrip” to the Nahunta Pork Center.  I had never heard of Nahunta nor it’s famous pork center, and I couldn’t wait to see what all the talk was about.  Come to find out this pork center was established in 1975 and has the largest display of pork in Eastern America.  Upon arrival, I could not believe the amount of cars waiting to park.  I hear that the closer to Christmas, the crowd increases and cops are needed to direct traffic.

When I finally got out of the car, I heard pigs.  Across the street from the center were many pigs.  Once mature, these pigs are marched across the street where they are slaughtered and the pork is sold.  I don’t think there is a part of the pig that is not used by the folks at Nahunta.  As soon as I walked into the store, I saw a whole pig head for sale, which I understand folks actually eat.  The Nahunta pork center is an incredibly clean place and has every cut of pork imaginable….along with some things I couldn’t imagine eating like pig’s feet, souse and chitterlings.  I did leave with some ground sausage, semi-dry sausage links and some cracklings, which cost more per pound than filet mignon.  The prices at the pork center are great. There is no middleman since all meat is raised and processed in-house.   Needless to say you can’t go anywhere and get fresh pork like you can here.  I think I will be venturing back to the Nahunta Pork Center for more sausage, a boston butt and maybe try my hand at cooking my very first ham.  Nahunta Pork Center is located in a rural community, has super friendly people to help with your pork selections, and like to remind you that Nahunta is the “King of Pork”….the other white meat!

One Thankful Redhead

I love Thanksgiving…family, food, football and a chance to reflect on blessings of the last year.  For the first time, my family was spread out on Thanksgiving Day, so I packed the car and headed to the OBX to spend the holiday with my “beach family.” The weather was terrific and I went to Owen’s for their Thanksgiving buffet.  Oh my….what a treat!  The food was incredible. We were lucky to get in since they had over 1,100 reservations for that day!  I ate until I could hold no more…had to take my carrot cake in a to-go box… and ended up falling asleep early with a satisfied tummy and a feeling of contentment. Being at the beach always relaxes me and I am continuously thankful for the memories and friends I have made at this special place. I had not visited in the last month, and I yearned for this stress reliever… the smell of the salt air and time to laugh with my beach buddies.

I tackled Black Friday sales at Belk, the Outlet Mall and the Cottage Shop.  I got some gifts for my family and friends, as well as one or two for myself. I don’t believe I have ever seen so many folks at the Tanger Outlets.  It took forever to find a parking place, but some of the deals made all that driving around worth it.  I ended that hectic Friday of lines and traffic at a friend’s house where I tried steamed oysters with cocktail sauce on a saltine cracker.  I can’t say that this country gal thought a whole lot of the oysters.  The texture was weird (slimy) and they seemed a little gritty to me; however, the taste was mostly camouflaged by the cocktail sauce.  As usual, saying goodbye to the OBX was hard, but I know my sweet escape is only a two-hour drive away. I hope to venture down to take in the holiday lights before Santa comes my way in VA.

I am a lucky, thankful redhead who is blessed with one of the best families in the world.  Even though we could not get together Thursday, we made plans for Sunday, as Mom filled our tummies and take-home boxes with the traditional feast.  Two feasts within four days equals extra treadmill minutes for this beachgirl.  Until next time….take care of one another and enjoy the holiday season.

What a Difference a Year Can Make!

A year ago, I went on my very first OBX fieldtrip.  I went to see the Bodie Island lighthouse and at the time rejuvenation was underway for this historic landmark.  Scaffolding surrounded the entire lighthouse and workers used this to climb the 156 foot tower.  The restoration was to remove pieces of corroded iron from the balcony, as well as restore the 1871 Fresnel lens that used to guide ships. The restoration was suppose to start in 2005, but was stalled many times because of budget shortcuts.  It was estimated that the National Park Service of the Outer Banks was to use approximately $3 million to repair damaged areas, repaint and replace electrical equipment.

                                                Bodie Island Lighthouse – October 2010

However, when I went back to the Bodie Island lighthouse recently, I saw no scaffolding and heard that the restoration process had been abandoned because of a lack of funds and unforeseen repairs. Guess that would make the lighthouse like most home improvement projects.  It never fails once you start one, you always run into something else that costs you more money! Anyway, it was sad to learn that the restoration had seized for the Bodie Island Lighthouse, but there is hope that a new fiscal year may provide money to restart the process.  Until then, it’s comforting to know that the valuable Fresnel lens from the lighthouse has been cleaned, refurbished and is now stored in the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society Museum.  The Bodie Island lighthouse is a beautiful structure! Even though a fence keeps you from going up close, and you can see it’s in desperate need of repairs, the Visitor’s Center is still open, on the same grounds, 8AM – 5 PM.  This is a national landmark and an important part of Outer Banks history.  May we one day read that the restoration process has again begun, and may we see in the future folks on the balcony taking in a spectacular view.

                                                Bodie Island Lighthouse – October 2011

Destruction, Mosquitoes and Spirit

Last weekend I was able to go to Rodanthe for the first time since Hurricane Irene. I traveled by the emergency ferry from Stumpy Point and enjoyed talking to homeowners and workers during the two-hour ride. I wanted to see first hand what I had only heard about on the news or from friends who owned property on the island. I could never have imagined the amount of debris that lined the streets and the destruction of homes and businesses. I saw swimming pools that had floated out of the ground, a jet ski that had drifted from the sound into Highway 12, as well as someone’s boat in the middle of the road. I saw houses near the entrance of Mirlo Beach that were leaning into the ocean. My heart ached for owners who had beautiful cottages surrounded by water and falling into the earth where the breach in the road had made a huge crater. By the way, I also saw the biggest mosquitoes I had ever seen in my entire life and I saw a lot of them!

A glimpse of the side of Hwy 12 in Rodanthe

Debris from roadsides are taken the one location.
It’s a huge, long mound of metal, wood and people’s belongings.

Someone’s boat that floated from a home or the sound

In the midst of the destruction, it was inspiring to see the spirit of the people. Many were working diligently to restore homes, rental property and businesses. Others were still cleaning up or coming down for the first time to see if they had any damage from Irene. It was impressive to see that the breach at Mirlo Beach was nearly paved and I was excited to hear that the temporary bridge at Pea Island would soon be ready for travelers. Irene was a mighty storm that caused a phenomenon by flooding from the sound. It’s mind boggling to imagine that much water coming from the sound, and it never ceases to amaze me the damage water can do. It was humbling to visit Rodanthe and I left feeling thankful for what I had, as well as grateful for the spirit and pride of the OBX people that suffered the wrath of Irene.

View from ferry – heading from Rodanthe to Stumpy Point

Wanted to mention, after getting off the ferry, on the way home, I saw a canebrake rattlesnake. I am happy to say that this poisonous one had earlier met the tire of a vehicle, but it was the first time I had ever been close up to a rattlesnack. Check it out!

Canebrake Rattlesnake also known as a Timber Rattlesnake