The last time we went to Cape Hatteras was in 2003, just after Hurricane Isabel that had taken out part of the road between Frisco and Hatteras Village. This time we follow Hurricane Irene which took out part of the road around Rodanthe and Pea Island. I also realized that I've been going to that part of the world since 1990, which was just after a barge took out a span on the Bonner Bridge and messed up our travel plans a bit. Irene is also making us have a plan A and a plan B regarding which way we will get to our destination. Plan A is we go the regular way and the road has been reopened. Plan B takes us by ferry from Swan Quarter, NC to Ocracoke, then another ferry from Ocracoke to Hatteras. That will add a few hours to our trip but at least we won't be driving. The only ferry reservation we could get at this time is for October 17th so we will miss a few days of our cottage rental. But we are there for two weeks!
Hurray! The road has reopened on October 10 so Plan A is in motion! Leaving Saturday, October 15 to arrive in Avon in the afternoon of October 16. We are traveling with Anne-Claude and Julie in another car.
All went well and we arrived in Avon, North Carolina on Sunday afternoon. The weather is nice with light winds. So we empty cars and trailer and settle in our house for the next two weeks. Keep visiting the blog as I'll probably update it once in a while and also put some pictures.
Monday, October 17
After a good night rest, we are ready to conquer the wind. I start rigging the Kona sail and go out before lunch by myself. The girls are rigging 6.5's for their midsize boards. I am able to handle the 7.4 Kona sail in about 18 knots of wind and get both feet in the footstraps for the first time. After lunch, I put a 6.0 on the Kona and rip the rest of the afternoon. All is well for our first day of sailing!
Tuesday, October 18
Nice and sunny day but the wind did not materialize. Dave and I went to pay our respect to the majestic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and to the ABC Liquor Store in Buxton this morning. The afternoon was spent playing with our equipment (adjusting footstraps on the Kona, changing harness lines on the Kona boom) and for me, a little SUP exercise. The next two day forecast promises a lot of wind so we are hoping...
Wednesday, October 19
This morning we woke up to a lot of rain and not much wind. It rains so much that the streets are flooded. I get to wear my long raincoat and my wellies to go out shopping. In some places I have water over my ankles. The wind picks up mid afternoon but it's too much for me for my first time in a couple of years on a shortboard. Anne-Claude is overpowered on her 4.2 and 75 litre board so I don't even have the equipment for that kind of wind.
The forecast for tomorrow sounds perfect so let's hope...
Thursday, October 20
Today the wind is blowing on average 30 knots. In the morning I decide to rig my 4.5 that has not seen the light of day in years and for which I have a new small mast for. It takes me forever to rig it. So after lunch I take the 4.5 and my 103 L board out but I am way overpowered. I don't last very long before I quit and take pictures instead. Dave goes to the beach instead of trying to windsurf.
This is our cottage view from the canal and below view from the street after the rain yesterday.
The ocean today.
The proof that I did try to windsurf in 30 knots of wind!
Friday, October 21
Today the sun is shining and the wind is light. Dave and I sail our longboards in the morning for a bit over an hour. After lunch, we head north to Nags Head to do some shopping. I go crazy for shoe stores! Tonight the four of us eat out at the Diamond Shoal in Buxton. Great dinner!
Saturday, October 22
Woke up to a cloudy day with average winds of 15 knots. I went out on my Kona for about one hour in the morning and another hour after lunch. I quit when the wind picked up a bit and to give my body a break. Went to the beach with Dave to find some shells then did a bit of shopping around here. Julie sailed her 6.5 and Anne-Claude was on a 5.5 on her 120 liter board. I don't have a mid-size board so glad the Kona works in high winds. Anne-Claude is cooking some pork for the meat eaters and we had some bloody ceasars as appetizers! All is good in the land of windsurfing!
Sunday, October 23
A bit cloudy today but winds perfect for my Kona and for Dave to sail his gear. We go out after lunch and stay out for a few hours. I think I finally have the footstraps in the right place on the Kona. So glad I bought the Kona as I can sail it in winds when the others are on medium size boards (which I don't own).
Enough wind for Dave to be hooked on and planning.
There is nobody in the cottage next door so we are using the amazing storage space for our sails!
Monday, October 24
This morning the wind is up so I go out with my 4.5 that is already rigged. I am underpowered a bit but stick it out until lunch. After lunch, I want to rig my 5.5 but both my booms are seized up in one position. Anne-Claude, Julie and I tried everything to unstuck them before I decided to go to the store and buy a new one. Glad I did as I had a nice session after that and I did not fight with the boom. My old one is about 20 years old so it does not owe me anything. I was a bit overpowered on the 5.5 but I was having fun. I stopped when my arms could not hold on anymore. Dave went to the beach for a few hours to listen to the wind and the ocean.
Anne-Claude and I in a funny pose after our session this afternoon!
Tuesday, October 25
The wind is way up this morning (20-25 knots) but I would need to rig a 4.5 to go out so I wait till after lunch to go out on my 5.5. Big mistake as the wind shut down.
I stay out for about 45 minutes before coming in for my Kona and the 7.4. Even that is not moving very fast. Oh well can't have it all. Julie and Anne-Claude did go out in the morning and seem to be having fun. Dave went for a drive and ended up at the lighthouse again. We had margaritas and nachos a few houses down from us where some people that Julie and Anne-Claude know are staying. Dave is making hamburgers tonight on our camping barbecue that we brought from home.
Smiling even after a crummy session!
Wednesday, October 26
Today the wind is light in the morning so I go out on my Kona with Dave on his equipment. After half an hour, he heads for the cottage so I follow. He is pooped. The girls have gone to Ocracoke so we follow suit and head there after lunch. We take the 2 p.m. ferry to arrive on the island 40 minutes later. It is very windy during the ferry ride. First order of business is to go to the lighthouse. Dave has never seen that one but I have. Picture below. Then we drive around the village and stop at an ice cream place on the water. We see the girls walk by there so we yell at them so they see us. Dave wants some shells and some sand so on the way back to the ferry, we stop at a parking lot and go to the beach. We take the 6 p.m. ferry and this time it takes just over 30 minutes to cross. We eat in Buxton at the Diamond Shoal restaurant, then make a stop at the Food Lion before heading home. The girls came back earlier than us to go to a windsurf clinic at one of the stores.
A boat surrounded by sea gulls during our ferry ride.
The Ocracoke Lighthouse (sorry about having to twist your head to view!).
Dave picking some shells at the beach on Ocracoke.
Thursday, October 27
Another sunny day and somewhat warm for us! The wind is up but not enough for my shortboard. After lunch, I decide to go out with the Kona and I do not regret it. I stayed out about three hours when the others were on shore waiting for wind. After that I hose everything down because we have to pack as we are leaving tomorrow. The girls are staying till Saturday. Dave went to the lighthouse again and saw some deers. The girls went out for a late session and were happy with it. Now it's time to empty the fridge and eat leftovers and throw out some old food!
This is me on the Kona today. Not a good picture but the proof of the proof!
Dave's deer sighting!
Friday, October 28
Today, we hit the road to home. Left Avon at 6:55 a.m. and it was howling out there. We left a day early in order to have Sunday at home to unpack and recuperate from the road trip. When we got to Pennsylvania, road signs were announcing a winter storm for Saturday morning. So, since we were doing good time, we decided to keep going and make it home Friday night. What a long drive! We arrived home at 11:55 p.m., unpacked a few things and went to bed.
All in all, I am pretty happy with my vacation. Got to sail 9 days out of 11 and out of those 9, 7 days were on my new Kona with a 7.4 sail, except one afternoon where I used it with a 6.0. Did not use my shortboard as much as I would have hoped but the Kona made up for it. I can use it in about 18 knots and have both feet in the straps so it feels like a shortboard or a mid-size board.
