It is discovered......

I finally know, the mean low tide is where NPS jurisdiction ends.

know I know why it is sooooo important!!!!!  Any why we have to be

Below the mean low tide line!

Willet in violation

Please give kindly to Hatteras Island

Everyone knows my feelings about the Outer Banks and especially Hatteras Island. I am more than obsessive about it, :)

When Hurricane Irene rolled through her initial punch was not to bad as hurricanes go in the Outer Banks but her back side kick was devastating, especially for residences on the Island. The sound storm surge broke records beyond the previous super storm. Houses were inundated with water and muck from the sound, vehicles were under water. Many homes are not livable and if they weren't destroyed or severely damaged by the surge from the sound they will have to be renovated extensively and many have been and will be demolished. The residences vehicles are not drivable and is questionable if they can be restored.

Their only road to the mainland RT 12 was severed by the formation of new inlets that has blocked any ability to get on or off the island except by long ferry ride. Rt12 just opened this week!!  Reliable electrical power to the mainland was severed and after days without, power was re-established with generator running the islands with limited capabilities until power could be established from the north. And residences that had evacuated were not allowed to return in a timely manner adding to the stresses of their families and to the need to return to clean up. Over half of the island population does not know what is in store for them when they return to their homes.

Right now many of the people that live on Hatteras Island are not only without their homes in a livable state, possessions damaged and or destroyed, vehicles that do not run, and no jobs until life returns to the Islands. They really need just a little help with the basic necessities until they can get things cleaned out, and cleared out and they can return to work. This is not a long term hand out as you can tell by the list below.

Many of the wonderful people of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands have lived here for many generations dating back to the first settlers in the late 1500's and beyond to the Native Americans that inhabited this Islands thousands of years before. Many of these people are my friends and distant relatives of my family. They are not a wealthy people, but they are a strong, hard working, kind people that I have seen them give the shirt off their backs even when it was their only shirt. When we were their last April and NC suffered their biggest record Tornado outbreak in history, Bertie Co just a few counties over was devastated. I was talking with a gentleman on the Island who with not much of his own was going to gather what he had to give to the folks of Bertie Co. This is what the people are like on the Islands, I love and care about the people.  Another example was a gentleman walking in waist deep water with his own home flooded, was being asked if he needed help; stated, “Nope I’m fine need to check on my neighbors and help them out”.  This is Hatteras Island!

There are so many trying to help others it is just amazing!!!! Kaia's Kitchen & Market who has been preparing meals for those on the Island, incredible!! you can find them on FB. Be sure to stop in and give them your business when on the island. The Really Really Free Market is open for all who need the necessities. I have included the Free market list for those to help out if you would like to help. It is set up just around the corner from where we stayed in Salvo. The Address is there to ship and it will be delivered.

Also if there are items for the food pantry you would like to send, please non perishables, the pantry is running low. Or to save shipping a donation will do, 100% goes to the food pantry!  

I know many of us have a lot of these items as extras at home and all it would cost is the shipping of UPS/FEDEX. Every little bit helps and goes so far!!!

When we visit Hatteras Island... we will be bring less of our normal things and more for Hatteras Island.

Please help it would be so appreciated !

Thanks bunches!!!

Hugs to you all

Jacque

COMPILED RESOURCE LIST FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO 'HELP'

This is the most recently posted needs list, and what I have been told by others, that important items are in great need are :

**First aid Items: Neosporin, alcohol, peroxide and band-aides. Anything like that that can be donated travel well and I can take with me and saves you on shipping!!!!!!

**Bug spray especially with DEET!!!!!! I already purchased all that the target at 116th street had ...on clearance and sent down there, you might check others and see if there are any and I can take it with me also!!!!

**socks all sizes and underwear was last week, I am sure it is something I would want!!!

**Coats, Jackets, sweatshirts new or gently used. is always a high priority!! It does get chilly, and with the wind in the winter it can get down right chilly! It was in the 30's and 40's last dec. when we were there last year. I have a few jackets and sweatshirts I'm taking with us.

I have collected some seeds for the seeds for Salvo project, just wish I had more...

Were taking all sorts of others items including Halloween candy, kids need some sense of normal, and folks won't have the extra funds to purchase Halloween candy. I know it is not a necessity, but from a kids standpoint, it is!!!!!

I am sure we won't have enough room but I saw where there are teachers I believe, that are collecting Christmas decorations. I had not even thought that far.

We have food for the food bank. towels, blankets, as I said we are filling up the car as much as the little Toyota will hold.....this is when I wished I had a lead sled to drive!!!!!!!

Thanks all that have helped, and those who have yet
CURRENT MOST NEEDED/REQUESTED ITEMS:
(Gently Used) furniture, especially beds - refrigerators, stoves **Any
homeowners, especially part time property owners, who may be trading
out furniture or appliances, please let us know so we can arrange for
someone who needs them to use your "tradeouts"
FLEA and TICK medicines/collars/shampoos/treatments for pets (the
fleas are particularly fond of our post-hurricane conditions right
now)
Halloween Candy and small toys for Trick Or Treat
New pillows
Plastic storage totes with lids (for people without permanent
accommodations, to store their belongings)
Waterproof Tarps (to cover up people's belongings that have to be left
outside until their homes can be rebuilt).
Cat Food/Kitty Litter
Rubber Boots
Men's Shorts - new or gently used
Non-perishable food items
Soccer cleats, shin guards, basketball shorts (kids 5-17 years old)

Shower Gel (liquid bath soap)
Sweatshirts (especially "hoodies") and jackets/coats, all sizes
Toasters or Toaster ovens
Fans
New Underwear - all sizes
Blankets (new or gently used)
Bug Spray
Band-aids and Large Ban-daids, peroxide and rubbing alcohol

toys *New Toys will be saved for the Hatteras Island Angel Tree,
trash cans, laundry baskets
mixers, bowls
work boots and "sneakers"/tennis shoes
Tools (many tri-village and Avon residents used their tools to make a
living, and lost them in the storm)

Bookcases or display racks (for Really Free Market to borrow and return)

Clothing in good condition will be welcomed, but is not as urgently
needed as the other items listed above.

SHIPPING ADDRESS FOR DONATIONS OF 'ITEMS' for the Really Really Free Market
Hatteras Island Family Medicine
Attn: Alex Hodges
50204 Water Association Road
Frisco, NC 27936

MONETARY DONATIONS FOR THE FOOD PANTRY, THAT WILL HELP TO SUSTAIN
EVERYONE THROUGH THE WINTER: Monetary donations can be made by check
to United Methodist Men and sent to Hatteras Island Food Pantry at
P.O. Box 1591, Buxton, N.C. 27920. Your donation is tax deductible.

To donate ONLINE, through PayPal, to buy tickets for Hatteras Island
CHILDREN to be able to enjoy the Community Fair, celebrating the
Spirit of Hatteras Island, visit
https://www.facebook.com/HICommunityFair look for the red box to
"Give". Your donation is tax deductible.

I found it so difficult to write during Hurricane Irene, I just chose to be quiet and watch with a heavy heart.  The track of Irene took the sound out then brought it back with a vengence.  Many homes are inhabitable, and so many more are damaged from water.  My heart goes out for those on Hatteras Island.

Sorry I didn't document the name of the person who took the photo, but you can see the aftermath of the lives of those who live there lined up along RT12.

Time to watch Irene web cam central

I am glued to my computer, cell phone and anything that will show me the Outer Banks.  Yes I know I am a bit excessive.

So you can join in with my insanity here are some of the web cameras I follow and will until the storm takes them out. 
So take care and be safe out there.


http://www.frf.usace.army.mil/frf.shtml     Duck Research Facility Pier 

this am

Just a little heads up it is running a little slow right now, but a great site showing the Norther Outer Banks.


http://www.avalonpier.com/wavecam.html  Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills

last night

It is wonderful to watch in good and bad weather.

http://www.obxcams.com/webcams.html    You can follow streaming all up and down OBX.  My personal favorites are Mirlo Beach and Frisco.

yesterday at the S curves

The sign is right there where we stayed last fall at Green Lantern Light at the far North edge of Rodanthe.  It is right across the road from the beach where Serendipity used to sit.  Luckly she was moved down the beach to south.

What a ride it would be to be at GLL for the storm!!!!

Irene and my OCD???

Well, Boys and Girls it is that time of year again...you guessed it, Hurricane season! 

And Huricane Irene is making a Bee Line for the Outer Banks.  With this event we all know that is happening to me don't you know...OCD, yes I become even more obsessive about the Outer Banks.  Every waking moment is spent on watching the weather channel, checking the web cams, surfing the web for all the local info, checking in on my friends. 

So hang in there with me while you have to endure me talking, ranting, pacing and wishing I was there riding out the storm on the thin ribbon of sand.

May my friends their and their families be safe!

I think they forgot

“When we look up and down the ocean fronts of America, we find that

everywhere they are passing behind the fences of private ownership. The

people can no longer get to the ocean. When we have reached the point

that a nation of 125 million people cannot set foot upon the thousands of

miles of beaches that border the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, except by

permission of those who monopolize the ocean front, then I say it is the

prerogative and the duty of the Federal and State Governments to step in

and acquire, not a swimming beach here and there, but solid blocks of

ocean front hundreds of miles in length. Call this ocean front a national

park, or a national seashore, or a state park or anything you please—I say

that the people have a right to a fair share of it.”

Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, 1938

I think they forgot their mission statement!!!

lighter footprint

I walk the beaches everyday that I am at the Outer Banks.  For me my favorite activity on the beach is not the normal lathering up with suntan lotion and laying out on the beach with a good book for hours tanning.   No, no, with my fair freckled skin all you would see on the beach after the initial blinding glare would be a sun baked lobster out on the sand. 

I love to hike for miles on the beach (lathered with 50 sunscreen) photographing and collecting shells and other unusual goodies that wash up on the beach.  Many of the wonderful gifts that washed up for me to look at with wonder I leave, I just document with my camera. 

I am always thrilled to find something unusual or different.  While I was walking along the water line I saw this wonderful little shell roll up with the tide and thought “Oh my, I have never found one like this”.   I took a quick image of it and picked it up and started to place it in my shell bag.   But before I placed it in there I could tell there was something different, it felt heavy.  I stopped and turned it over and to my surprise there was someone in there!!!   I turned around and placed it back where it was and walked on down the beach. 

I understand that as humans we sometimes leave a heavy footprint but I believe we all can live together with nature if we just be kind and strive to leave a lighter footprint.

Salvo dune field

winter

                                                       late summer and fall

I recall reading a post from a woman who spent a week in salvo for her vacation to the Outer Banks.  Usually when you read such postings you read positive comments of a wonderful experience but this one was different, this poster complained.  The very things she complained about are the fragile, delicate, intricateness that keep Salvo’s beaches wide and more importantly the dune field between the beach and the houses large and intact.  Thanks to the Wimble Shoals off the coast of Salvo is keeping her beaches unlike other areas of the Outer Banks that are losing their beaches at an alarming rate.                                                        spring                   

Her complains ranged from her Oceanfront house was not on (in the ocean), having to “walk” to the beach across this area that I call the dune field, then having to climb up and down a high dune to get to the beach, then having to walk across a wide beach to get to the ocean.  WOW, this is a blessing to have actually and not have your beach house teetering on the edge of the ocean!

                                                               
 
I  love the dune field almost as much as the beach.  The field changes with the time of day,  the seasons; the vast variety of plants and animals is incredible. Each plant has a purpose, an important goal, and that is to hold this barrier island together and feed the creatures that live on it.   If she just would have taken the time to enjoy what was there and why it was there, maybe she would not have minded the walk down the path through the dune field to the ocean.  But then again not everyone sees the world as I do.

                                                                           fall

Isn't it just so beautiful!

“What is Below the Mean Low Tide Line?”

                          low tide

A nagging question that I have yet have answered is “what is Below the Mean Low Tide Line?” 

I am sure you noticed this essential question tugging at my being.  I am not the only one asking this question, what exactly is Below the Mean Low Tide Line?

                      NPS sign at ramp 44

   You see it has a great deal of importance in the Outer Banks; if you did not know one could be ticketed, arrested, fined, jailed, the closed protected resource areas could be expanded because of your misunderstanding.  Also if it is my correct understanding that I did not know prior, that a ticket or arrest on National Park property (federal lands) requires you to appear in federal court and if convicted  can carry a felony on your record.  This is something I really did not realize or understand.   So you understand how it is much more important I learn what Below the Mean Low Tide Line is, because a federal offence would be the end of not only my job but my career!!!

     One of the many signs around the protected resource area

Maybe, I should try to go back to the beginning, but that will take pages and pages, and I hope over time I will I will share what I discover, until then let me share what I have found. 

                 On the hike down ramp 44

My love of Hiking to Cape Point started my quest for answers.

To begin with Cape Point is my favorite place I love to explore on the Outer Banks.   

It is so unique, so different; reaching south from the Hatteras Lighthouse out into the Atlantic Ocean.   It is the only place on the Outer Banks where you have the Atlantic Ocean on both sides of you. Sitting at the point with your toes in the sand you can watch the sun rise and set and never have to leave your place.  I have never been there at night but they say here on a clear night the sky is breathtaking!

I love what the point is, the immense beauty of it, abundant with wildlife, it pulls at my soul.  The constantly changing elements play havoc on the point; it is in constant flux, never the same shape twice.   Cape Point is Outer Banks in the raw.

Images above were from December 2010, only time I have been able to make it to Cape Point wen it was not closed.  So fantastic!

 As you hike to the point you can hear the ocean waves change pitch from the hard roar crashing on the beach to a soft gentle roll.  Standing at the point you feel as if you are at the end of the world mesmorized as you are surrounded by the vast ocean.  

One is at peace by the quietness in the air, you marvel at the sea shells , and changes in the sand, I could just go on and on. Whatever the reason, it just sings to my soul as it does so many others who love going to Cape point to sit, walk, fish and just be.

 This video is an example of the ocean waves meeting at the point, do enjoy.  this is not my video but it brings me right back to the Point every time I watch it!

This year was not going to be a year to enjoy the wonders of Cape Point.  In years past  access to cape point closed early to mid May.  This year 2011 ORV access was closed March 18, 2011 just south of Ramp 44 along the beach.  Here is what was stated; “National Park Service staff observed piping plover breeding behavior, which is the reason for the closure.”   
Now last year, access wasn’t stopped until mid-May when the first piping plover nest in the Cape Point area hatched.  They stated that because of the steep beach slope in the narrows, pedestrians will be allowed to walk through the “inter-tidal zone” to access Cape Point.  Couple quick points with further research Piping Plover normally do not nest on steep beach areas, and inter-tidal zones are (is the area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide (for example, the area between tide marks).  Remember this is what was originally stated where you could walk down to the point!

     What is one to think?  It does say closed to all tides!

Now comes the change, we went to go to Cape Point and came to a sign that said shoreline closed to all tides, now that is different than being able to walk in the inter-tidal zones.  With the fear of arrest from going into the protected resource area, even in the inter-tidal zone, we left and I contacted the NPS.  I received an email stating you can walk to the point if you walk below the protected resource area “below the mean low tide line.”  What the heck is that??   Having no clue I did what I normally do when I have a lack if understanding, I searched out further information. And after researching I determined that basically without a PHD or considerable study of the tides over a very long period of time, there is no way I could  determine the correct place to walk without risk of severe consequences. We or actually my Hubby (the one with the common sense) decided we should not to risk it so yet another year without hiking to my favorite place.  The risk of being arrested for not understanding exactly right where the exact below the mean low tide line is and loosing my job was definitely not worth it.

 I wasn't satified, I had to know more; my OCD really kicked in and I decided to research through numerous different resources as to what the Mean Low Tide Line is in detail! I found quite a few definitions, let me know if you think a visitor, PHD or not just visiting for a couple of weeks would be able to figure it out, not violate the resource closure area and remember we have to walk below it:

The average height of the low tides over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observation, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value.

Mean Low Water Line (MLWL): The line on a chart or map which represents the intersection of the land with the water surface at the elevation of mean low water.

The average of all the low tide heights observed over the National Tidal Datum Epoch. For stations with shorter series, comparison of simultaneous observations with a control tide station is made in order to derive the equivalent datum of the National Tidal Datum Epoch.

You got it? Clear as Mud?
Just a week after being told by the NPS we could access Cape Point by walking Below the mean Low tide line the closed it to everyone. You could not place one foot on the sand anywhere on the beach at Cape Point. Wonder if there was a bit too much confusion for all??I

                              Graph on the tide levels

Searching deeper I found on the NOAA site below, where it had the Mean Low tide levels, and the 19 yr data etc, but to be honest even with that data, I’ll be darned if I understood!!!  Closest ocean side I found were for Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier and Duck Pier.  Maybe others understand it, but I was unable to determine where in the heck was a safe area to walk without causing issues.

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/datum_options.html

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/data_menu.shtml?stn=8654400 Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier, NC&type=Bench Mark Data Sheets

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/data_menu.shtml?stn=8651370 Duck, NC&type=Bench Mark Data Sheets

hiking down ramp 44 some areas of both sides of the road were closed off

Again I know most are much smarter than I, obviously I was not able to determine with the information I gathered where exactly I was allowed to walk without being in violation.  And with all that were found  in violation of the protected resource area, I can understand there is not a clear understanding as to where "BELOW THE MEAN LOW TIDE LINE" is.

                 confused, ya the Royal Terns even seem confused!

Hopefully there will be another time I will have an opportunity to hike to Cape Point, and others also.


  With all the unintentional violations into the resource protected areas maybe, just maybe there needs to be a little more education out there on behalf of the NPS and others on the Island.  It should not be an us vs them.  So much of the beach is OOS and we all have to do our parts to educate others to understand that WE JUST CAN'T GO THERE right now and just stating it is because NPS are *#@&%  does not help with  anything.


  But explain that the Island is a beautiful place, with vast wonders, wildlife, history and right now we have Sea Turtles, Sea Birds nesting, How cool is that!!!  Talk to them about the turtles and the birds, say hey there is a nest over here and show them and explain they cannot go there, but you can go over there though. With all the cut backs there will be less and less NPS employees and there will be less information  passed on to the public.   I bet if people/visitors understand there would be less violations, less hassles from the NPS and less restrictions!   You can still explain the struggles about access because it is not just about the piping plover, it is far deeper than just about the birds.  Just my thought

                     hiking down ramp 44

passion or obsession

All who know me understand my passion or obsession as my friends would call it, for the Outer Banks.  It is a love that runs deep, deeper than just a nice place to visit; it is as deep as blood.  You see that beyond my love and desire for the welfare of those that live on and around the Outer Banks; the stewardship of the barrier islands; the childhood dreams of the Outer Banks long before I had ever visited there;  is a bond of blood, family blood. 

  Following my family linage, a direct line of my family are from the very eastern part of North Carolina dating back to the 1700’s.  Some as early as the late 1600’s and possibly earlier if I can make the connection to my Grandma’s  story passed down that we are descendants of Algonquin Indians.  Algonquin Indians lived in and around the Outer Banks long before the first settlers arrived.   But if you have ever researched family linage records are sketchy at best the further back you go.  

Beyond the beauty of the Outer Banks, the history that is sometimes not known or so little known is simply amazing.   If you ever have the opportunity to visit go ahead and visit the normal spots but then look further, search out the history, talk to the locals, it is amazing what you will learn.

It will be very quickly understood why I am so passionate.

magic of the morning light

Morning light, that mystical and magical light that welcomes the day.  One cannot appreciate it enough.  Mornings are my time, out before sunrise, before others have made their mark in the sand.  Before human noise inturups the sounds and life of nature. Before all the unique, unusual, ordinary, beautiful and devistating finds has washed up on the beach and been disturbed.

Morning when questions are asked and answers are sometimes found.  Life makes sense, less complicated when one is walking miles on the beach.

Morning when such profound beauty is witnessed by so few and yet it is so unlimited.

I hope to bring beauty, the questions, the answers, the love of the Outer Banks within the images, poems and stories as I journey up and down the banks.  enjoy and stay a while if you like.

Image taken at sunrise on the beach at Salvo NC