Friday, the 23rd of October was a nice looking day. I was just about to start painting my house (an ongoing project) when I got a phone call. It was my friend, Steve The Dream Thomas, with a live surf report. He was at the Lillian St. beach access (aka, the Laundry Mats) and he informed me there was a nice little swell that only a couple of stand-up paddleboarders and longboarders were taking advantage of.
I was in quite the dilemma. Paint the house or go surfing? Duh, I’m going surfing.
Air temp was about 70, water temp in the low 60s. There was a very gentle, slow rolling swell with a knee high wave you could ride for quite a long ways. On top of that there was no wind and the waters were very calm.
I actually needed a day like this to build up my confidence. The waves were easy to catch and I got good practice staying on the board as I finished out and turned around. In addition, I was able to paddle along with a pod of dolphin that weren’t too far away. Always a thrill.
The swell eventually quit around high tide so headed back home to see if I could get any work done. That didn’t last long because I soon had to pick up my son from elementary school which leads me to my second beach getaway.
I decided to take him, a friend, and my 4 year-old to the beach to play. Just in case I was given the opportunity I brought my fishing rod.
The kids went immediately to building a sand fort at the base of a washed up tree. If there’s one thing I can rely on with my kids at the beach is that they’ll find some old flotsam and start creating something. That distraction is just what I needed to start fishing and it went relatively smooth for 3 hours, which might be a record for us. I even caught a speckled trout, but not a keeper.
Once again it was a good day to be alive on the Outer Banks.
There’s nothing quite as exciting as embarking on a memorable water sport adventure in the…
When planning a Nags Head beach vacation, there’s a lot to consider, especially if you…
If you’re looking ahead and planning your summer vacation to the Outer Banks, you’re probably…
The Outer Banks is a prime destination for watersports enthusiasts, and stand up paddleboarding (SUP)…
When you're soaking up the sun and sea breeze in the stunning Outer Banks, there's…
Chances are that if you're planning a vacation near the Outer Banks, you already know…