ON THE ROAD ON ROUTE 12
Below is a selection of short videos giving you more of a feel for the Outer Banks.
DRIVING NORTH ON ROUTE 12
To get a sense of the Outer banks you should drive Route 12 which runs almost the length of the Islands.
I have pieced together about two minutes of drivin' route 12 available to see at the right of this text. In most cases you will not be able to tell where on the road you are as the hundred mile stretch of road is at times very similar. This video takes you to points between Kitty Hawk and Southern Shores. While we drive you can see a very beach oriented community built on sand. This road is the only main thoroughfare that will get you everywhere. The area is dotted with businesses and beach houses built on sand dunes through the entire stretch of land with a selection of unusual trees and plant life. It is interesting to note that a lot of the trees are misshaped because of the almost constant wind on the Islands. You will find the ocean to the right and to the left is Currituck Sound. The area is a very narrow stretch of land. The trip up and down the Island is a pleasant one and the time I was there traffic was not heavy. I am sure it is much heavier during the prime summer months. If you have not been there, sit back and enjoy the sights. This is what it looks like for a hundred miles.
SEAGULLS COMPETE
I captured this video mostly because it was so unique. The pier which is closed to the public is located along route 12 in Duck next to the Sunset Grille. What was so unique about it was the seagulls continually knocked each other off the posts of the pier. It was so fascinating watching them compete for a spot on the pier. Don't they all seem to be lined up looking the same way? It's like they are in formation. They competed for the spots like it was a contest. So I thought I would share this interesting ritual with you.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CALM OCEAN AT SUNRISE
Sometimes it seems the ocean is just a bit too calm. This is sunrise and on this morning it is so unusually calm that the water almost doesn't seem like the ocean. It could have been a lake, or even a river, but the ocean it is with the sun coming up from the east and rising on the Outer Banks.
One thing you must watch on this shore is the undertoe. It is very strong here and if you let it, you will find yourself out at sea quickly.
Another thing I noticed about the Outer Banks compared to other more northern shores. The smell; it is so much cleaner here. Other shore resorts to the north tend to smell fishy while the Outer Banks had little if any smell. Now one exception was in the Sound area where water stands or is caught in shallow pools. A very few places did at times have a stale odor.
This day however was absolutely beautiful and warm and the weather was perfect. Does it get any better than this? .
ROUGH SEAS
By contrast this is the exact same ocean on a different day. In fact the second video was shot at the same location as the first. It is amazing how one day can change a whole ocean.
The one thing that seems to be always present is the wind. On this day it was blowing strong and you can hear that in the video. Hold on to your hats because the wind will take them for a ride.
For much of the week I was there the ocean was rough. There were no storms in the area although it did rain for a couple days. I guess it just depends on how the currents are running and I am sure it has a lot to do with the wind. From calm to choppy, the ocean does provide many moods.
One note about swimming in the ocean here. I saw no lifeguards anywhere although beach patrols do ride up and down the beach. You mostly swim at your own risk. The water was a balmy 74 degrees Fahrenheit but I saw few bathers venture out in the waves. There was a surf board or two, many fishermen and it is a great place to bring your dogs. I had my dog there and even though she is 13 years old, she loved the beach. However it was the middle of September and the population was mostly adults. Remember this is the off season and as I said in my opening page, it seemed like sometimes you had the beach all to yourself. It was simply delightful ....Frank*
More video to come .......