Clouds...

December 19th...39 degrees, clear and windy, which I'll take, compared with "feels like 6 degrees" back on Windy Hill. 

Not a good sign.  JJ's fighting it.  Hope she wins!  (And doesn't share it...!!!) 

Likely picked up Tue when we ran to Duck, Corolla and other points north.


Rule 10: Stay away from people.

...just say'in...




Speaking of rules, be up before sunrise ranks right up there with staying away from people.

This morning while drinking the first pot, the sky was still dark, with stars showing nearly everywhere. 

And anyone in the know is aware that clear skies produce relatively unexciting sunrises. 

The sky simply blushes brighter and brighter as the sun finally peaks over the horizon.  But that term "relatively" needs to be put in context...any sunrise is a remarkable blessing with the promise of the new day and a new beginning.  Substantial in meaning, even if not spectacular in viewing. 



With the cloudless sky and 39 degrees, there was strong cause to stay inside and enjoy the second pot.

But the first measure of a man is his principles - and the second is how closely he lives them...




... So as I walked the beach in the early dawn cold, waiting to greet the sun - seemingly from nowhere, a bank of clouds flew in from the north.  And it was a valuable reminder of how important clouds are for the splendor of a sunrise.


Just knowing the sun is there, hidden behind the clouds, and catching glimpses of light peeking through the curtain of shadow puts perspective on life.

Clouds happen...

...And often one has to look to see the light, and have faith it is there, even when it is not seen.  Clouds are needed to see the full beauty of the sun.

But oh the glory, when that light shines through... 

Yesterday, the 18th, was a "Blue Northerner"... Sunny, cold and wind from the North in the high teens with gusts up to 25.

So of course, I HAD to take out the power kite...all 310 cm.  For those challenged with metrics, that makes it like 40 feet long and 20 feet wide...(well, not really, but it felt that big with the 25 mph wind!)


I chose...poorly :) 



Even with rocks in my back pockets, my butt left drag marks to nearly the end of Hatteras Island.  I managed to finally collapse the kite just as we were headed to Ocracoke.

Thought for a time I was off to visit the Florida Jumpers! 

Kindly brought to mind a great nephew Aaron channeling his best Superman and Ron, his "try anything once" Dad on a previous trip to OBX, but that's another story! 

Seems the two line Delta was a safer choice!  Great time flying...amazing that someone could design a kite to perform so well in a wind so strong...



And the birds were smarter than me...look closely at the roof of the Rodanthe Fishing Shack.

The wind was so strong, even they were in hiding...

The wind even blew the loose sand from the beach, carving out  tiny mounds where the shells were sitting...






With the wind at it's back, truly in awe of the power of the sea...the land stands no chance.

Let the adventure continue...