We were down in Morehead City for another medical appointment yesterday. After finishing we thought about heading to Beaufort, but since I spent three days there last week on jury duty, we opted for Fort Macon.
Fort Macon is one of my favorite spots. There is a covered stand overlooking the beach by Beaufort Inlet. It is a great spot to watch boats coming in from fishing. You can see Shackleford Banks and in the distance Harker's Island.
Beaufort is also visible. As I was picking out different part of Beaufort, I was wondering how many hurricanes Beaufort has waited for in the last three hundred years.
Even when I was growing up in the fifties and sixties, hurricanes could still catch us by surprise. One of my vivid childhood memories is seeing water up to the axles on our car as my mother drove us away from the Outer Banks one summer just as a hurricane was about to hit.
Today we track hurricanes and have a pretty good idea where they will hit. It looks like Earl will be more trouble for the areas from Hatteras to the north than it will be for us on the Southern Outer Banks.
I am glad that I am not still living on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. It looks like Earl might do a direct hit on Nova Scotia with the eye passing over Halifax. We once saw 100 ft. waves breaking on cliffs when a strong Nor'easter hit. Not long ago a hurricane destroyed most of the old growth trees in Halifax's Point Pleasant Park. Hurricanes are not something to be taken lightly even in the north.
No one is ignoring Earl. This morning as I walked out on the dock, I made certain that the lines which I used to secure our boat to the side pole lift were easily accessible. I also fished around for the bungee cords that we use to tie down deck furniture. We also have some water on hand and plenty of flash lights. Today I will get some cash and fill up the truck. I filled the car up yesterday.
While I hope Earl will pass us by, I would not mind it if some of Earl's strong swells cleaned out Bogue Inlet a little.
Beaufort has seen a lot more hurricanes than me, and I suspect the town is ready.
Pictures from yesterday's adventure are on my Picasa Web Albums site.
