 |
| At the intersection of two great world currents |
 |
| Sort of says it all |
 |
| Lighthouses |
 |
| Early life-saving organizations |
 |
| Survivors |
 |
| Escorting convoys |
 |
| Model of a WWI German submarine; many active then off the Cape waters in 1918; of course it was in WWII that most of the sinkings occurred here...1942 was the "Happy Times" for German submariners, attacking many ships, particularly tankers, coming up from the Gulf of Mexico... |
So we set forth September 4th on our summer/fall road trip, stopping first to see Rebecca, Jeremy, and Penelope in Cary, and then proceeding on to North Carolina's Outer Banks, and specifically Cape Hatteras. We camped a couple nights on the beach at the Oregon Inlet, drove as far south as possible, saw the Graveyard of the Atlantic museum (separate post), then north to Kittyhawk and the Wright brothers museum there (ditto), and then to Duck for a stroll on its boardwalk. All of this are was new to us.
 |
| Welcome to Cape Hatteras! |
 |
| The dunes and beach beyond our encampment; note cars parked all over the beach, a National Seashore |
 |
| Surf; at this point we are beginning to remember that we are not really beach people, despising a) the sand, b) the wind, c) the scorching sun, d) the icky sticky water, e) the stinging/biting insects, f) the sting/biting denizens of the deep (and shallows), not to mention the ones that want to eat you... |
 |
| Our encampment |
 |
| Cape Hatteras lighthouse |
 |
| Tiny (rental) houses |
 |
| So one of the sights to see are all the houses at risk of being washed away...many have been lost in recent years... storms, current changes, rising seas... |
 |
| Efforts are underway to rebuild some of the beaches and dunes in order to save the houses; note dredge off shore...of course, dredging out there is just going to further change the currents in soon to be discovered ways... |
 |
| Needs a lot more sand |
 |
| One of the sleek curvy bridges in the area |
 |
| At the Oregon Inlet "fishing center" |
 |
| Important information |
 |
| Fixer-upper bird house on the Duck boardwalk |
 |
| At an impressive glass store on the boardwalk |
 |
| And the usual tourist fare |
Continuing our account of the summer of '26...
 |
| Marie |
 |
| Ken, Susan, Vicki and me |
 |
| Ken and I have remarkably similar tastes |
 |
| Rebecca and Penelope at one the favorite shoot-'em-ups |
 |
| The grandparents' scores reflect their not having adequately studied Disney game strategies |
 |
| According to Disney, Halloween begins in August and continues into November; sort of like Christmas elsewhere |
 |
| More rain |
 |
| Food truck at Animal Kingdom |
 |
| Penelope does ears, Rebecca doesn't; did you know that the official Disney ratio of ears to face is a variant of the Golden Mean? |
 |
| Our culinary creativeness continues...Vicki's blue scones...it's a long story, originating in Paris |
 |
| Local sentiment |
 |
| Having sworn our loyalty oaths and signed the non-disclosure forms, we are now residents of the "Free State of Florida"; note extremely memorable license plate |
 |
| Wildlife at our apartment complex; not animatronic |
 |
| Map of my still-favorite ride; at least three Jungle Cruise captains live in our complex |
 |
| New pride and joy...a Roland piano graces our solarium...and I am returning to my youth (musically), although now preferring Cole Porter to Bach/Beethoven/ Brahms; but not Wagner; the stained glass pieces are from Czech churches the commies took down in the 50s; acquired in Prague |
 |
| My Tom Yum shrimp and grits creation...reflecting a new dietary regimen; recipe to appear soon at https://artificialartifices.blogspot.com |
 |
| It was indeed a rainy summer |
After returning to Winter Garden from the UK in late June, we spent the summer entertaining guests, continuing to outfit and decorate our apartment, and planning and preparing for our next trip, a sort of cross-country from Florida to Maine and back. The visitors were daughters Rebecca and Rachel, Vicki's sister Marie, college friends Susan and Ken, and Rebecca and grand-daughter Penelope.
 |
| First time we've been together, just the four of us, in a while... |
 |
| The usual fireworks from our apartment |
 |
| With my new classic Disney shirt; their visit included presents and repasts and treats for our birthdays |
 |
| On the grounds at one of the Animal Kingdom resorts |
 |
| There, during one of the daily torrential rains |
 |
| Bread course at the Sanaa restaurant |
 |
| My curry course; it was a birthday dinner |
 |
| Dessert |
 |
| Moving right along, a lunch, with entertainment, in EPCOT/Germany |
 |
| About to embark on everyone's favorite, Guardians of the Galaxy; thanks, girls for a great visit |
