Hot Day and Stinging things in the Water

Today was quite hot all over the outer banks. We went to the beach at around noon. The water was warm, but after a few minutes we had to escape--things were stinging us! Couldn't see anything. We consoled ourselves by going to get a little something to eat which turned out to be a tasty fresh yellowtail tuna filet. We came back to the villa and did some work, and then went across the causeway into Manteo to go on a sunset sailing trip on the Downeast Rover

We got on the boat


It was chock full of people, but we were in the after area and it was amiable and not crowded. The young woman who was crewing on the Rover said that we had probably encountered a combination of sea lice and dismembered jellyfish. We hope they will be gone in the morning.

Here are some pictures.







How 'bout those old salts. Then we had to get a little something to eat and even though they were out of softshell crabs we found some other fish and consoled ourselves with the homemade key lime pie.

Nag's Head August 2008

Back at our little Ocean Villa. Margaret first came to the Outer Banks in 1959, came back when she was at Duke, and then we came in 1987. Things probably changed less between 1959 and 1987 than they have in the last 20 years. So far, we have had NC barbecue, fresh seafood including our favorite place for softshell crab, and a dolphin sandwich at John's Drive-in. (Note: it's not the flipper kind of dolphin, it's a small fish)

Mostly we have been at the beach.

On the other hand, it isn't all about the food, we saw this line-up of charter boats back from a day off of Hatteras.

The old homestead

One last thing--on the way to the airport, we drove around looking for the house Margaret lived in after graduating from Duke, the year she did community organizing. Here it is.



The shrine is fabulous

Last Day in Durham

We went to the Sarah B. Duke gardens for champagne brunch. Everyone who was anyone was there, although President Brodhead didn't stop by our group for a chat:


Later we drove around the area north of Durham, where the small towns and farms are gradually becoming bedroom communities to the research triangle. Nice statue of the Confederate War Dead:

Cameron, Hog Heaven, Saturday Night

We went to a fascinating discussion of work in Women's Studies in the morning; then a speech by President Brodhead; then lunch at Cameron Indoor Stadium where the group photos were taken.





After the luncheon we made our way back to the Duke Student Coop, which was doing a goldrush business in Duke-branded clothing, bookbags, umbrellas (it was raining), and did our bit with Duke baseball caps. We went to a very inspiring panel on the DukeEngage program which is promoting social engagement among Duke undergrads.

Back to the shuttle bus at Reunions Central near the athletic complex,


to get back to the car, and a drive around the outskirts of Durham before dinner. Guess where?





and back to the Quality Inn for an exciting evening of NCIS reruns and Cubs baseball on the cable.

Duke, Class of '68

Today we arrived in Durham for the 40th reunion of Margaret's Duke University class of '68. We found bookstores, food and classmates:

Last day in paradise

The dive trip I had planned to go on today was cancelled because the weather had caused too much turbulence and impaired the visibility underwater. So instead I drove south, stopped for lunch in Kihei, and kept going. I went as far south as seemed reasonable given the lava flows, and turned in at Ahihi Bay Marine Reserve. There was no beach, just a lava flow running into the ocean.


The snorkeling was usually supposed to be good, but, people coming out of the water said the visibility was terrible. The water was an amazing color.


I headed back up the coast, and stopped at Polo beach. Just my luck, yet another beautiful beach with construction going on in the background.



There used to be picnic tables, but the amenities had been displaced by heavy construction equipment, and Surveyors In Paradise:





I was informed as I was leaving the beach that they were helping in the project of laying fiber optic cable from somewhere to somewhere else.

On the other hand, there was also a wedding pending, with people setting up computer, sound system, and hibiscus corsages, etc. And the wedding party began to assemble. Of course, I felt that these girls were suitably dressed for the beach (evidently the wedding was for standing people only, no chairs)