Jimmy Buffet in Hatteras

Yes, it is true. The one and only Jimmy Buffet was in Hatteras last week!

I was not fortunate enough to have met him but I know several people who were. Some of our fellow Hatteras Island Kiwanis members met him at Real Kiteboarding in Waves and one even hung out with him while surf fishing. How cool is that!

I had the pleasure of attending my first Jimmy Buffet concert in Bristow, VA this past Labor Day. I can assure you a fun day was had by all and we even have the pictures to prove it! There is nothing quite like the experience of all day tailgating with people who quickly become old friends. I look forward to our next road trip to see the one and only Jimmy Buffet.

Those of us Parrot Heads who missed him hope to catch a glimpse next time he's in town. Didn't I tell you Hatteras Island is a great place to visit in the fall? You never know who or what you'll see! :)

Cape Hatteras Hurricanes

We are so proud of our boys on the CHSS football team. Of course my son is one of them so I may be a little biased. :) The team has done exceptionally well this year under the direction of Coach Mickey Irving and Coach Ted Eskildsen. These coaches have tirelessly shown their dedication and devotion to our team and their success is greatly attributed to their outstanding leadership. Of course Woody Skudin's infamous Hoo Ra! chant always gets the boys fired up before the game and provides a pick me up during the game.

As I understand it, we have placed 2nd in overall standings for our division. This Friday, 11/14 at 7:30PM we will play in the playoffs. Go Red & Black...GO 'CANES!

Number 62...That's my Baby! :)

Fall on Hatteras Island

Well the good news is fall has finally arrived! The weather is perfect, the fishing is getting better each day (direct from my sources) and Hatteras couldn't be more inviting. People are bustling around the island with their hip waiters on in search of the "big one that got away" or with their binoculars around their neck or hoping to discover a new feathered friend. The fall is a special time on Hatteras and is sure to make you fall in love with our pristine beaches, perfect weather and quiet lifestyle.

Combing the beach for shells is a favorite past time this time of the year when the shells are abundant as well as an occasional piece of beach glass. In my existence I have found red, blue, yellow, green, brown and of course clear. Many creative islanders and visitors interested in the art of jewelery making create the most unusual pieces of jewelery with wire and beach glass. Each piece is truly unique and is coveted. Beach glass in general is coveted. You have to have to look carefully as the colors often times blend in with the shells and the pieces can be quite small. I have a large clear vase filled with my prizes. Each piece with its own story.

My friend Grace that I mentioned in an earlier posting comes to Hatteras many times throughout the year with a group of spear fishermen/women. They are actually here now doing their last dive of the season. Thankfully our seas calmed down and they were able to make the trip. Even though it's the last trip of its kind for season she'll be back for Thanksgiving and will be spending the holiday with me and my family.

Fall is a time to be thankful for all we have. It's a nostalgic time of the year and one that should be enjoyed to the fullest. Hatteras Island brings it all together and I am so thankful I live in this paradise...

Southern Shores by Robin and Linda Williams

How cool is this?

SOUTHERN SHORES
ROBIN AND LINDA WILLIAMS
I can’t take this town anymore
Gotta get down to the Southern Shores
Pack the car, honey let’s drive south
Where the pines grow straight and tall
And life is slow as daddy’s drawl
We’ll be there by dark if we go now
Way out where the mainland ends
And the waves roll out and the waves roll in
Take the back roads from Richmond down
To the Southern Shores
Through the cotton fields to the peanut
towns
To the Southern Shores
Come on baby, let’s ride
Across the bridge to the other side
Hear that ocean roar
It’s the sunny sound of the Southern Shores
Throw away your watch, forget the news
Lose the list of things to do
The tide is out and the blues are running
Out to sea and out of mind
We’ll be cutting bait and dragging line
Standing in the foam tomorrow morning
We’ll cash in all our overtime
Swap fishing poles for the daily grind
CHORUS:
Wilbur and Orville they were right
Just like them we’re taking flight
We’ll kill the devil by those sandy hills
We’ll rob the kitty and hawk our cares
Nag the blues and head down where
We can warm our feet and cool our heals
Past the harbor point to the briny blue
Where’s there’s nothing much important to
do
CHORUS:
Southern Shores – (Robin and Linda Williams) - Songs For Dixie, BMI – Robin Williams –
vocals, guitar; Linda Williams – vocals, banjo; Tim O’Brien –mandolin; Dennis Crouch – bass;
Jeff Taylor – accordion; penny whistle

I love it when people use their talents to sing about our beautiful Outer Banks! This song is on the new album release Buena Vista just out September 16, 2008 by Robin and Linda Williams and their band Fine Group. A guest turned very dear friend, Grace, shared these lyrics with me and I wanted to share them with all of you. Grace and I are kindred spirits, no doubt and I would have never met her if it wasn't for Vacation Traditions! She loves the Outer Banks, specifically Hatteras Island and comes as often as she can. She usually comes with a group that spear fishes and free dives off our world renowned waters. That's actually how we met was by them renting a home in Salvo. Thank you, Grace, for your support. Big hugs! :)

Robin and Linda William and their band have been entertaining for over 30 years. They are not only vocalists but amazing instrumentalists as well. Their music is deeply rooted it the country/bluegrass/gospel tradition and speaks to all of those who have the pleasure of listening to their message. Their music is as heartfelt as it comes and nothing speaks more to my heart than to hear a song about our Outer Banks...our home.

For more information on their CDs, tour dates or in general please visit their website: http://www.robinandlinda.com/.

Buxton Woods

For residents and locals the fall and winter seasons allow us to slow down and spend much deserved and needed time with family and friends. The spring keeps us busy in preparation for the summer season. The summer of course is hands down a mad dash to squeeze every possible second from every day. Fall is my favorite time of the year and fall on Hatteras Island is absolutely breathtaking.

With school back in session my husband and I are able to do the things we really enjoy that our teenager likely wouldn't. We try to take one day a week to do something for us. We may go to Manteo to visit the Elizabethan Gardens or the North Carolina Aquarium but we often find things to do around the island that don't involve a long car ride. One of our favorite things to do besides going to the beach on a quest to find treasures in the sand is walking the nature trails around the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton. Especially on days where the weather isn't perfect it's a great thing to do to make the most of our time together. This past Wednesday the winds were gusty but thankfully the rain showers were gone by noon. The day actually turned out to be quite nice so we decided to venture out and find a local activity that was cost effective as well.

The Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve was the solution. It is an immense maritime forest that covers 2,500 acres in Buxton. Actually it is the largest maritime forest on North Carolina's Barrier Islands. There are endless trails to explore. There are large sand dunes stabilized by pines and evergreens making it a lush wonderland for those who enjoy nature. There is a uniqueness to the preserve that is unmatched. A maritime swamp forest, maritime shrub swamp, open water interdune ponds, and marshy wetlands referred to as sedges are all scattered in the vast forest that is nestled discretely in our Buxton community.

According to the Nature Conservancy there are over a dozen rare plant and animal species found in the Buxton Woods. For the bird lovers you will be pleased to know that over 135 species of birds have been recorded in the woods. During fall migration the preserve provides an important resting spot for songbirds and raptors. Deer are abundant as are many other furry friends that frolic in the playground nature has provided.

It reminds me of the woods in Manteo where I used to play when I was a kid. I can't wait to find time to go back and walk more of the trails. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to escape to a place where nature surrounds your every thought. Be sure to take your camera to capture those memories you want to last forever...I forgot mine last time. :)

Island Girl

Hatteras Island's very own Caitlyn Gray has recorded her first album! Caitlyn is a beautiful and talented high school senior at Cape Hatteras Secondary School who has sung her way into stardom. Her accomplishments are many. She is a fixture in the weekly shows performed at the Frisco Jubilee. At CHS home games she serenades the crowd with her powerful voice. Many are brought to near tears when hearing her rendition of the National Anthem. She consistently participates in local events such as holiday community gatherings as well as fundraisers. This October 11th she will be singing at the 5th Annual Cancer Foundation Fun Run to be held in Salvo at The Village Conery sponsored by the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation.

The title of her 10 song album is Island Girl. The CD has a variety of songs including gospel. A few of the songs are: "Walkin' After Midnight", "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "How Great Thou Art". She is accompanied by Mahlon Blue and Herb "Speedy" Price (our very own local star who participated in the filming of Nights in Rodanthe). Speedy recorded her album at his studio in Frisco, Beachroad Productions Studios.

Everyone admires Catilyn's accomplishments and her determination. Besides being a very talented singer she is an Honor Student at Cape Hatteras, a highly decorated athlete and an active participant within our Hatteras Island communities.

Her CDs are available at many Hatteras Island businesses including Vacation Traditions for $15.

We are so proud of her! She will always be our Island Girl!!

Day at the Docks

The annual Day at the Docks festivities were held in Hatteras Village this past Saturday, 9/20. It is a day to celebrate the watermen of Hatteras Island where food is abundant, music flows freely and activities of all sorts are scattered from Oden's Dock to Hatteras Harbor Marina. You can reel in a "blue marlin", participate in voting the best island chowder in the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation's Chowder Cook Off and sample all kinds of seafood fare from the most common to the most unique. Be sure to mark you calendars for next year! More information can be found at www.dayatthedocks.org.

This event is one I hold dear to my heart. My family is one of many native Dare County families that have a long history and proud heritage of hardworking men and women who make their living on the waters. My grandfather "Pop" as we called him, Marvin F. Mann, was one of the original Captain's at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. His boat the Playboy was on the west side of the dock and as a kid who completely idolized her brother I used to take as many fishing trips with him as I could. My brother, Bill, was an awesome mate. He ate, slept and drank fishing and still to this day is one of the best fishermen you'll find any where. Often times at night when mom would go in his room to kiss him goodnight he'd often reply "Goodnight, Fish." Seriously.

Bill began fishing when he was 9 years old on Pop's boat. He was sought after by other Captains but of course his loyalty remained with our grandfather. When Pop finally decided to retire he had to move on and with that came much more opportunity and experience. He began fishing off shore and was known as one of the best mates at the fishing center. At 18 he acquired his Captain's licence. He enjoyed being in the action so much it wasn't until later that he opted to take a seat at the helm as Captain. While he loved charter fishing he always had a sweet spot for commercial fishing. He purchased the F/V Knockout to commercial fish in the fall, winter and spring.

He was long overdue for a larger boat from trip after trip of fish overflowing from every crevice. He read about a boat for sale in the National Fisherman magazine that was up in Maine. He went up to see it and fell in love. Knowing a few modifications had to be done to fit his needs from what it had been used for, a lobster boat, he brought her home. He worked diligently to get it right and renamed it Jamie B after his wife.

We grew up in Manteo as I have eluded to before and he now lives in Wanchese. He has three beautiful children, Christian, Ben and Elizabeth or as we call her Bebe. They have two dogs, Sam and Winston and a Seuss the cat.

Bill is a real as the come. His thick scared hands portray the tale of his hard work and love of the water. I am so proud of him and all he stands for. He's my Bubby! :)