On vacation this week (actually since July 31) at Emerald Isle, NC. We’ve been having a great time, but this is the first time we’ve been here in August in a while, and the first time we’ve really paid attention to the hatches of sea turtles. Over the many years we’ve come here, we’ve seen turtle nests, several each summer. However, we actually saw several turtles extracted from nests that had boiled (hatched) three nights previously, and we invested several hours sitting, waiting at two nests. We missed one, as it boiled several hours after we’d left the beach one evening.

Tonight, though, we got lucky! First, we saw 16 turtles dug out of an earlier nest. Cool! This was about 6:15PM. Then, we settled in for the evening watch. It’s really not bad to sit and wait, as the beach cools, and the surf pounds a few feet away. At about 9:30PM, seasoned volunteers began to see signs of impending hatching. This continued for the next 45 minutes, until in one push, the whole nest (count was 118 turtles) “boiled” up and headed down a causeway constructed by the volunteers. This path is needed to keep the turtles from fanning out on the beach and ensures that most will successfully reach the water.

I’ll do it again next year, but I’m glad I don’t have to sit up tomorrow; I’m losing my beauty sleep 😉

We’re now a few days into our 2 week beach vacation, and beginning to be very mellow. Even the dogs are mellow 😉 . Arrived at EI late evening on 7/31. Somewhat hectic as cleanup by #1 son from previous weekend left a few gaps 😉 . Windy with some t-storms over the weekend, but the plants were all happy to get a good soaking. Our neighbors came down for a few days, arriving Sunday. Enjoyed fellowship, good food and good wine. Jan cooked shrimp cakes (think great crab cakes but made with shrimp) on Sunday, a paella on Monday, and Galen cooked a great venison roast on Tuesday. Sunday evening we saw the “Turtle Patrol” clearing out the last few baby loggerheads from a nest that hatched last week. Took the boat to Bear Island (aka Hammocks Beach SP) on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, we saw the tracks where a turtle had come up the night before to lay a late season nest. Perfect weather. Tuesday, there was one other boat at Bear Inlet. Wednesday, we had it to ourselves in the morning. In the early afternoon, though, a flotilla arrived, and we decided to come on back to the house where more wine was chilling.

Galen & Sandra have headed back home today. We’ve done a bit of cleanup around the house this morning, after having a 3-latte breakfast. Plan to go down to the beach in a couple hours when the tide is low and go for a nice walk with Jan. Probably swim some today as well, after Jeff gets up.

More company this weekend, as Jason & Jenny are coming for a few days. My sister is fixing dinner (her famous crabcakes) at her house in Swansboro on Sunday. Will probably go to Bear Island on Sunday, and then a couple days next week as well. We’ve got a new 2-person float that we’ll use to pull folks down the ICW 😉

I could get used to being on vacation…this is good stuff!

What a fantastic April weekend! Temperatures in the 90’s in the piedmont meant 70’s at the coast. I took a couple of hours of vacation and left town early enough to beat the traffice through Raleigh. We arrived at Emerald Isle about 6:30PM in time to get oysters at Jordan’s for dinner Friday. Spent the day Saturday at Bear Island. Put the boat in at Island Harbor and ran down the ICW to the Bear Inlet cut. It’s shoaled up a lot since last October, but we still got in and out (the tide was very low when we left in early afternoon). The Carolina Skiff doesn’t draw much water. Water temps in the upper 60’s, southwest breeze about 10-15 knots, air temp in the mid 70’s. Doesn’t get much better than this! Lessa sure liked it. Heading back again Sunday morning. Gee, can I call in sick Monday?

Another weekend escape…yeah, the weather forecast was for rain and the weatherman delivered! However, we were able to get out for a walk when we got to Emerald Isle on Friday night, and while is was pouring rain first thing today (Saturday) the rain stopped for several hours and we got two good walks on the beach. Temperature was about 60 and virtually no wind, though the surf was rolling and the fog was thick. The dogs enjoy the beach in winter, as they can run and have a great time. Steamed oysters at Jordan’s on Friday and Saturday. The Tarheels clobbered Georgia Tech today; the cable guy put a temporary fix on the line (until they bury a new cable) so Pandora can happily stream tunes…a good day! Snow back at home Sunday? Have to watch the weather and maybe head back early…