Trail Break Outer Banks, North Carolina

Trail Break
Outer Banks, North Carolina

Our flight home from Zambia was uneventful and we were met at JFK by Harold and Nancy Engle from our church. We probably have experienced more culture shock being suddenly thrust into this fast-paced climate of hype, super-abundance and non-stop consumerism. And then there’s the weather itself one day it’s 100 degrees (in Zambia) and the next 70 in the US!

We took a few days at home to unpack, adjust to jet lag, get our bearings and then headed for two weeks at the Outer Banks where we could unwind after all our journeys and prepare for re-entry.

We've had a great two weeks at the Outer Banks, just relaxing, no pressures, no demands, lots of outdoor recreation - at the beach,

hiking several miles in Nags Head Woods,

canoeing the salt marshes of Roanoke Island, and the swamps of Alligator River and, of course,

windsurfing with hours and hours of steady wind.

On the weekend of October 18 rain and wind built up making the house we rented creak and groan in the gusts which intensified overnight. On Sunday morning the ocean was quite riled up and the wind was gusting over 30 mph.

We went to church at Grace Lutheran Church By the Sea
and were blessed to be part of a VERY warmly led liturgical service with a great message for these times of fear and uncertainty.
After service we decided to drive south on Rt. 12 to the more exposed beaches and to see how much sand was drifting across the road.

Well, the little drive turned into one of our family encounters with EVENTS. Travelling south, we were going with the wind and all was well.

Sand was indeed drifting across the road and the road crews were out with their equipment to keep dunes from forming right on the road.

We made it across the high bridge at Oregon Inlet without difficulty but when we reached the town of Rodanthe, there was a foot of water across the road and north-bound traffic was really backed up.

We made a quick decision to turn around and head back through the deepening water and just in time because the water was beginning to top the dunes and pour onto the road through a gap in the dunes.

A few moments after we turned around, the road was closed as the following weather statement indicates:

Statement as of 1:03 PM EDT on October 19, 2008

... Coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening...
A high surf advisory remains in effect until 5 am EDT Monday.
A coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening.
Northerly winds of 30 to 35 knots across the waters adjacent to Dare County will continue this afternoon as strong low pressure offfshore moves away to the northeast.
Breakers of 8 to 10 feet are expected along the beaches through this evening which will produce dangerous surf conditions... strong rip currents and minor beach erosion.
Additionally... water level rises of 1 to 3 feet above normal will produce minor coastal flooding and beach erosion... with over wash possible.

Reports received so far...
At 943 am... several inches of overwash was reported on Highway 12 near Rodanthe by a Fire Department chief on Hatteras Island.
At 11 am... a report from Frisco on Hatteras Island indicated some minor sound side flooding was beginning across the Road from the Frisco pier but was not over the Road.
At 1120 am... Dare County 911 reported a house on Seahaven drive in Rodanthe south of Mirlo Beach has collapsed into the ocean. T
he house was unoccupied.

This is about the time when we turned around at Mirlo Beach!

At 1235 PM... Dare County 911 reported Highway 12 near Rodanthe was closed due to ocean overwash.
At 1 PM... Dare County 911 reported 12-18 inches of water at intersection of Highway 12 and wilkens street in Kitty Hawk.
Residents in areas prone to coastal flooding should take action to protect any property that may be threatened.

Later in the day we experienced some weird power irregularities at the house and the power company came out to check on it. Turned out that a neutral line had pulled loose at the power line pole adjacent to our house.

We've really been enjoying the unique beauty, history and ocean majesty of this area and the opportunity for some real relaxation before getting back into ministry at EBIC – which we are definitely anticipating.


Next week we hope to post some final reflections on our sabbatical journey.

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