Vacation Day: Still Day 12

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Jen & I finished up touring the village and decided to head back to Hatteras. We were hoping to make the inlet crossing at sunset. Before we reached the landing, we pulled over to check out the beach.

I know that I've said this ad nauseam, but if you haven't visited the beaches on Ocracoke, put it on your "Things to Do before I Die" list. Seriously. Below is a photo of Ocracoke Beach.

No! Not this picture, silly! This photo was taken at the beach in Santa Monica, CA. According to the Santa Monica Board of Tourism, "For many the single greatest reason to visit Santa Monica is to enjoy the ultimate Southern California beach. Santa Monica has 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of well-maintained California beach locations and enjoys on average 340 days of sunshine a year plus a nearly constant gentle ocean breeze. Santa Monica Beach in particular is a natural asset that we take great care to preserve; the city of Santa Monica cleans and rakes the sand daily, and even offers a “trash valet” service on Fridays, weekends and holidays. Nothing beats simply sticking your feet in the fine sand, sitting in the sun and observing the ocean swell, or watching your kids frolic. The simple pleasures."

Simple pleasures? That's just wrong. It looks more like a cattle feed lot than a beach.

This is Ocracoke Beach! It looks pretty darned empty compared to Santa Monica Beach. And, that's the way I like it. But, I guess to each his own.

The next pic is by Dan Carmichael. I hope he doesn't mind that I've "borrowed" his work, but it conveys how magical Ocracoke beach is.

I even got Jennifer to pose for an "official" portrait while we were at the beach.

We stopped at one more shop before boarding the ferry. Most of you have heard, or heard of, the Ocrocoke Brogue. Jen encountered it first hand at this shop. As she was paying for her merchandise, I could see her looking at the clerk somewhat askance ..... Once in the parking lot, Jen said, "Did you hear her?" I replied that I hadn't ..... why? Jen thought the clerk had an Irish lilt, but yet it wasn't quite Irish ..... she was confused as to the origin of the accent. It just so happened that I had just that day purchased the book "Hoi Toide on the Outer Banks," a book explaining the Ocracoke brogue. As we sat in line for the ferry, I read aloud some passages from the book. Jen stated that was exactly how the clerk had spoken. Darn. I wanted to go back and listen. I'll explain in a later post about the brogue - after I read the book. I'd hate to mommuck any o'cocker and git 'em all quamish if, as a dingbatter, I'd make mistakes.

We loaded onto the ferry just as the sun began its slow descent into the sound. This was the first time I'd been on the ferry during sunset .... it won't be the last time. All of us tourists ooh'd and ahh'd at the glorious colors ..... first deep blues and purples, highlighted with gold tints. Just before the sun disappeared, the sky flamed bright orange. I swear, you could imagine hearing the sun sizzle as it hit the dark waters of the sound. Incredible.