I awoke to another chilly, cloudy day. Again, did not even go near the beach and decided to just go for a drive and hit the shops. I visited every junky beach store (Wings, Pacific, etc...) between here and Nags Head. Happily, unlike many beach areas on the North Carolina coast, there are actual salt water taffy shops in the Outer Banks. I stopped in to Forbes Candies and got a box for a friend (I've owed him taffy for over a year now) as well as a half pound of fudge for myself. Many thanks to the lady behind the counter who dissuaded me from the Pumpkin fudge. She made me taste it first...um...not too tasty.
I did go to an antique mall...which was cool to poke about in, but dusty. Actually, it was two malls in the same complex. One was Southern Soldier Antiques the other Mystic Antiques (with no website).
I eventually ended up in a strip mall in Nags Head, which was anchored by another Wings. Happily, I spied a market there and decided that was a good a place as any to get my fish and shrimp for cooking in the condo. I was pleasantly surprised to find they also served lunch. Although it was late, I decided to eat. I was the ONLY patron in the place at the time. I also don't know the name of it, although I find that location as Butcher Block Fine Meats and Delicatessen. I think it may have changed hands recently...all of the exterior signs just say "Fresh Seafood" now. Anyway the owners were very friendly and I decided to try the recommended
crab cake sandwich with tartar sauce, seafood chowder and sweet tea. I'll have to say that the crab cake was fine...but nothing special. I think it really needed a bit more seasoning. The seafood chowder was *amazing* and highly recommended. The family who owned the place were sitting at the next table reading and drinking beer...and teasing me a bit. I got asked how the food was three times, each time when I had just taken a bite. After I was done the matriarch of the family came to sit with me and we talked about traveling. She's actually from Hampton, VA and also knows where Bedford is. Funny that I keep meeting people in NC who know where that is, when I keep having to explain where it is to everyone in VA. From the seafood counter I got some fresh mahi mahi and shrimp to go. Yes, I brought ice packs and a cooler with me.
Hit the road again, and needed to turn around...so looked for the next light. It ended up being at Jockey's Ridge State Park. Since I hadn't done anything really touristy today, I decided to park and check it out. There is also a hang-gliding school at the park, because it is a prime location for hang gliding.
No, you will not see photos of me hanging from the bottom of one of these. Not that I wasn't interested, but the school was not open. Upon arriving at the visitor's center I was pleasantly surprised to find
That the entire complex is powered by wind. This windmill is significantly smaller than the ones I saw in Europe, yet generated enough power for a normal home. Again, I ask...what's so hard about this?
Ok off my soapbox...
I took the trail to the observation deck where you can watch people glide and fly kites from the top of the dune. There are little signs pointing out the local flora and fauna.
I learned that there is another kind of oak tree...this is the live oak, which is different than the oak trees in my front yard at home. These have waxier leaves and grow lower to the ground. Much better suited to the climate here.
I could explain about Jockey's Ridge, but this sign does it so well. I dithered a bit about climbing the dunes, but decided that I was poorly prepared for it. I didn't have a towel or my beach shoes (was not willing to get sand in the sneakers. Still the views from the little observation deck were very cool.
You can see a couple of teeny tiny people flying kites on the dune here.
It was a pretty windy day and if you click this photo to look at it full size, you can see this person struggling to hold on to their kite. I keep debating about buying a kite and flying it as it seems to be the thing to do around here. Well, it looks like fun too.
I headed back to Kitty Hawk. I had briefly toyed with going into the Wright Brothers National Memorial on the way up, but it was drizzling. I want to get some good photos there and hope to have some sunshine to do it. I also want to spend a good chunk of time there because you need to pay to get in. On the way back, the weather had cleared, but the memorial was closed.
When i got back to the condo complex, I saw some work being done on the side of the road. When I arrived back at the condo, I soon figured out it was cable work. I usually put the TV on for background noise while I cook. I decided to use the pan roasted fish recipe I first tried out last year with grouper. I made a few small adjustments (coconut oil instead of butter and dried dill instead of fresh) and used it with my mahi.
Along with some fresh asparagus I picked up at the grocery store Sunday and paired with some Green Fin White Table Wine, it was a delicious dinner (I linked to a blog for the Green Fin reviewing the wine. I actually liked it and didn't find it sweet at all, but the description of the flavors is spot on).
As you can see, I was very pleased with my culinary efforts.
After I cleaned up the kitchen, I tried to get online to do this blog post...but the Internet was down too (unsurprisingly, as the cable was out). So, I did a bit of reading and laundry. And that was it for Tuesday.
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