Monday, September 18, 2017

COROLLA NORTH CAROLINA TRIP - 5TH DAY - 9-5-17 - PART 1 - SUNSET

Corolla, North Carolina Trip - Fifth Day - Part 1
Sunrise 
Wright Brothers' Memorial
Lost Colony
Tuesday, September 5th, 2017



It is now 6.50 p.m. and I am back at the house.  I got up today for the sunrise. Gregg almost had to see it on his own as he left before me, with me mumbling some poor excuse about being too tired.  I mumble things incoherently when I am almost all-the-way asleep.  However, after he left I could not bear the thought of him seeing that sunrise on his own.  I heard the door close and I had immediate regret, so I kicked my lazy butt out of bed and dressed faster than I usually do, literally throwing clothes on, raced down to the beach without any thought of twisted ankles - I have a history - had momentary panic when I couldn't see him, but looked and looked and there he was.  


I snuck up behind him and gave him a big hug, experiencing a few seconds of thought that I might be hugging a complete stranger.  I have been known to rush up to someone - rarely thank the powers - pat them on the back, chatting away for what seems like an eternity,  thinking it was Gregg - that happened not so long ago - only to be greeted by a  strange face in complete shock at being accosted by, whomever he thought I was.  I don't blush too often but when I blush I am my own sunrise, and it was a wee bit dark that morning.  I needn't have worried.  Gregg saw me coming as he had a big smile on his face and he wasn't surprised.  He knows me better than I know myself at times.  A few minutes later here comes the sun.  Surreal!  










"Sunrise offered a very beautiful spectacle; the water was quite unruffled, but the motion communicated by the tides was so great that, although there was not a breath of air stirring, the sea heaved slowly with a grand and majestic motion."

~George Grey~


These are all Gregg's sunrise photos.  I have some of my own which I will share at a later date.



It was a lovely time at the beach in that very special light. There were a few other sun worshippers.   







As it got lighter we could see a familiar figure approaching.  It was Gregg's sister.


We had a nice time chatting for a while....

  
and watched as these two cute dogs trotted by. 


They were certainly enjoying their walk.


Gregg and his sister took a walk further up the beach and I meandered back to the house, taking lots of photos along the way,


 finding a few shells,






I thought this was some kind of seaweed and was very surprised to find that it was an egg casing for a skate.  I would like to spend more time at the beach to improve my knowledge of such things.




I came across the following here and here which gives more information.



I came across the remains of a horseshoe crab earlier.  I look forward to the day when I can see a live one.



I see traces of those ghost crabs again...


and occasionally see them scurrying down into burrows as I walk along the path back to the house.  


The dunes are high and you can't see the ocean when you reach the bottom level.  It is very private and incredibly pretty.  


There is a row of sea oats on the top of the dunes, and I believe this pink flower, quite tiny, is a perennial sand bean.  These and the other fauna keep me well occupied.  I am not sure what the spiky plant is.




I believe these are pokeweed berries.  There is an interesting article at this link.



We have a private entrance and there is no one else to disturb my thoughts, and no one awake in the house yet.  Once I had finished searching for wildflowers and ghost crabs, I found a comfortable chair and sat outside for a while enjoying the peacefulness of it all, looking up at the dunes and the pretty glow that still filled the sky.  It was a perfect time of the day to do this.  I stayed there for a half hour or so, before going in and getting ready for another day of sight-seeing. 


32 comments:

  1. Yes, they ARE Pokeweed berries! We have a lot here, and I have been taking pictures. I am planning a post on them. All the sunset photos are absolutely breathtaking!! Gregg is an awesome photographer. And the first picture, the sun making the sand golden, is so beautiful!! These are some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen on any blog. I love the little crab burrow with all the claw prints and dug up sand around it! So I gather that a Skate is like a Manta Ray, it does look like one. I believe I am enjoying your vacation just as much as you have! We have never taken a vacation in almost 50 years of marriage.

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    1. Thank you for confirming my ID Ginny. I look forward to your photos. Gregg will be happy when he reads your sweet comments. I always tell him what a great photographer he is and I love seeing his perspective on things. It does look like a manta ray this skate. I am also very happy you are enjoying our vacation :).

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  2. That was very worthwhile to get out of bed for. You saw many interesting things to photograph and share with us.

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  3. Beautiful mornings on the beach cannot be beat! Glad you hugged the right person! :) Lovely sunrise shots!

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  4. haha....HUGGING a stranger. That is so funny. Glad you did not do that again. Looks like you are having a great time on the beach. Loving your pics...BEAUTIFUL!

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  5. Wow - those sunrise shots are stunning.

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    1. Thank you LadyFi, hubs is getting a lot of lovely compliments for his sunrise shots.

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  6. Wow that sunrise is unreal, the first 3 photos look like the sun has been stuck in place. I am useless at sunrise or sunset and getting the picture of the sun in it. I have to find a tree that will actually hide the sun so ! can catch the colours in the sky. All lovely photos. Have a fab day Diane

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  7. What an absolutely beautiful start to the day. Please thank Gregg for his stunning photos of the sunrise. I look forward to yours too.
    Loved walking the beach with you, and could almost smell that fresh air.

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  8. How wonderful. I have seen plenty of sunsets but never a sunrise. Your photographs make me envious.

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    1. I am happy you liked this post Valerie. I don't see too many of them myself.

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    1. Thank you Manuel and the same greetings to you :)

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  10. I am totally entranced by the first picture. Great stuff!

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  11. stunning stunning stunning views and pics and so glad you dragged yourself out there to share this all with us. I have done the same thing, in Home depot I was chatting with a man I thought was bob, he was in my side vision where bob had been a minute before, I was shocked when I turned to see why he did not answer and it was a stranger. bob had wandered off. so glad to be back and viewing with you

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    1. Thank you Sandra, me too :) Nice to know I am not the only one who does that, lol! It is good to see you back, you have been missed.

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    1. Agreed :) I should make an effort to see more of them. I have always tended to be a bit of a night owl.

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  13. Oh Wow! What a fun and beautiful time you had at the beach ~ it is a gorgeous place and marvelous photography ~ thanks, ^_^

    (A ShutterBug Explores)

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  14. Denise, your posts and photos never cease to delight and fascinate me. So many gorgeous views and things in your photos! Thank you so much for sharing, my cherished friend.

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    1. It makes me happy that you think so Linda, and thank you for this very sweet comment :)))

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  15. how beautiful denise! i saw horseshoe crabs in coastal georgia...they are alien like aren't they?! interesting about the poke berries...we have a bunch of that in our back yard...i think they are pretty but they do grow very thick stalks and kind of take over!

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    1. Thanks Tanya, the crabs are alien looking. I almost think prehistoric. I see poke berries quite a lot around our area.

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  16. What a romantic sunrise moment aww...beautiful sunrise photos by Gregg. Enjoyed the seaside flora, thought that sand bean might be an orchid.

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    1. It certainly was and thank you, thanks Christine. It rather does look like a tiny orchid, I agree.

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