Monthly Archives: January 2010

Outer Banks is a Favorite Resting Spot for Seals

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The Outer Banks has a wide variety of wildlife, and from time to time a walk on the beach can turn up some fun surprises.  This weekend, during a walk along the beach in Carova (northern most tip of the Outer Banks), we were lucky enough to find a young harbor seal enjoying a rest on the beach.

Last year around this time (Feb. 1, 2009 to be exact), the PilotOnline.com ran a good story about seals along the OBX, and the article makes some great points about safety.  The seals sure are cute, but please give them their space; as wildlife biologists confirm, they can be cranky. 

Seals will bite, and not only is the bite painful, but they have the potential to carry harmful bacteria as well.  If that’s not enough to keep you away, it’s also illegal to harass marine mammals, and if it turns out that a seal does bite, it’s mandatory to put the seal to sleep, even if it’s a healthy seal.   

The Outer Banks is the southernmost point of the harbor seal’s habitat.  It’s most likely that the seals are just taking a break from enjoying their time in their ocean playground.

Outer Banks Local Surfer Heads to Volcom Pipeline Pro

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Update 2/1/10:  Brett scores a ten!…and moves into the Quarter Finals.  Keep charging Brett!  Some more videos of Brett below, including his 10 at Pipeline.     

You can stay updated on the Pipline Pro and watch heats on demand here. 

Pipeline is one of the, if not the, most legendary surf locations of all time.  Volcom, a well-known surf company, is proudly taking the reins as sponsor for their first-ever ASP event, the Pipeline Pro, at the legendary spot, and the OBX is proud to be sending local surfer Brett Barley for his first-time appearance at the event.

Brett is a young, hard-charging surfer that honed his wave sliding skills on the Outer Banks.

Here’s how Brett describes himself on his newly designed website:

“I Grew up in Buxton, North Carolina my whole life.  Since this place is the “Wave Magnet” of the East Coast, i was bound to go a path of surfing.  I started when I was 5 and never stopped.  I was lucky in high school because I was able to travel and surf and still get my work done.  I started surfing in the ESA (eastern surf association) contests when I was 10 and did that until I was 17.  I spent a few years doing the junior pro events but never had a lot of success. So, I have moved on and I am spending time focusing on traveling and doing some QS events.”

Here’s a fun video from Brett’s site that highlights some great Outer Banks surf and sick OBX barrels.

Outer Banks: 2nd Annual Jockey’s Ridge Oyster Roast & Recycling

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Jockey's Ridge Oyster Roast

Jockey's Ridge Oyster Roast

Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Located in Nags Head, it is one of the most significant landmarks on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Always changing, always beautiful

2nd Annual George Barnes Valentine’s Day Oyster Roast & Recycling: February 13, 2010. 10-2 p.m. rain or shine. Eat oysters and help the local ecosystem by planting & creating new environments for the oysters.  Bagging of Oysters for a new reef will be taking place; you are welcome to bring gloves join in.

2010 Events at the Whalehead Club on the Outer Banks

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Whalehead Club

Whalehead Club

The Whalehead Club Events for 2010
Currituck Heritage Park, Corolla NC

February 9 – Tuesday at 9:30 am
Currituck Heritage Park Winter Educational Series
Corolla In Retrospect – Getting Here.
Location: The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education
Experience life in the past from a panel of local experts.  Come prepared to participate!  This third and last of the series is ‘Getting Here’.  Learn about boats, carts and automobiles.  Refreshments served.  No cost to attend.  Donations welcome.

Reservations Required.  Please call 252-453-9040 ext 3.

March 20 – Saturday from 4 pm to 9 pm
Corolla Island Epicurean Evening at Piney Island Hunt Club
An intimate evening inside the private working hunt club at Piney Island in Coinjock, NC.
Experience the sporting heritage of Currituck County with a traditional five-course hunt club dinner reminiscent of the 1920s waterfowl hunting era.  There will be an auction of rare and unique treasures as a fundraiser for the ongoing preservation of the Whalehead Club.

Call 252-453-9040 ext. 3 for more details.

April 2 – Friday from 1 pm to 3 pm
Easter EGG-stravaganza
Join the Easter Bunny and the Currituck Duck for a traditional egg hunt in Currituck Heritage Park.  Lots of fun children’s activities like Balloon Art, Face Painting, Egg & Spoon Races, Bean Bag Toss, and a Jellybean Counting Contest!   Snacks & Refreshments.   Admission and Parking are free.

April 17 – Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm
Coastal Antique Appraisal Fair
Location: The Currituck Cooperative Extension Building in Barco
Find out the estimated value of your antiques from professional appraisers.  Shop for collectibles from local dealers.  Learn some tricks to keeping your treasures beautiful at the educational workshops.  Silent auction and refreshments too!

Sponsored by the Outer Banks History Center Associates, NC Cooperative Extension, Currituck Center and the Whalehead Preservation Trust.

Admission is free.  Appraisal fee: $10 per item or 3 items for $25.

May 9 – Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm
Fun Fly Festival
Watch and learn how to fly all kinds of kites sponsored by Flying Smiles Kites!  Treat Mom and the whole family to a fun afternoon in the park capturing the imagination and harnessing the power of Mother Nature!  Children enjoy making paper kites to keep or bring your own to play with.  Admission and Parking are free.

June 23 & 24 – Wednesday from 10 am to 6 pm / Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm
9th Annual “Under the Oaks” Arts Festival
Enjoy this annual outdoor art show on the waterfront grounds of Currituck Heritage Park.  This show features the unique talents of over 100 quality artists with a wide variety of media plus musical entertainment, local food concessions, an art auction, and children’s activities.  Admission is free! $5 parking donation requested.

July 4 – Sunday from 6 pm to 10 pm
18th Annual Independence Day Festival of Fireworks
Fireworks begin at dusk but arrive early to enjoy food, fun activities, fabulous music and find a place for your blankets and chairs to settle in for the best fireworks on the Outer Banks!  Sponsored by the Currituck County Department of Travel and Tourism.  Admission and parking are free.

July and August – every Thursday evening from 6:30 pm to sunset
Summer Concert Series on the South Lawn
Relax on the south lawn at Currituck Heritage Park and enjoy local musicians performing on the historic Whalehead Club front porch.  Bring a beach chair or blanket and watch the sun set over the Currituck Sound while supporting the musical arts! No alcohol permitted to be brought into the park.  Wine and snack concessions available.  Leashed pets welcome.  Admission & parking are free.

July, August and September – every Wednesday from 3 pm to 7 pm
Whalehead Club Wednesday Wine Festivals
Enjoy a Wednesday afternoon of wine tasting and entertainment under the tents on the north lawn of the Whalehead Club.  With your $20 admission adults can sample wines from North Carolina and around the world; keep your souvenir glass; listen to popular local musical artists perform on the stage; sample food from local vendors.  Children are also welcome at no charge.  Bring your pets on a leash.  Parking is free.

July 6th, 7th & 8th – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Wild Horse Days at Currituck Heritage Park
Come celebrate with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund the presence and significance of the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs living on the Currituck Outer Banks for nearly 500 years.  There will be food, music, games and crafts!  Meet a gentled mustang, enjoy carriage rides and try a mini riding lesson too.

Call 252-453-8002 for more information.

November 26 – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm
Black Friday Porch Sale
The Black Friday Porch Sale is the place to buy all your holiday presents!
Select unique gifts with the message of preserving the heritage of the Outer Banks.
The Whalehead Club’s Copper Collection is discounted only once a year -& this is it!
Enjoy apple cider and home-baked treats while you shop.  Plus you can be the first to see this holiday season’s decorations in the Whalehead Club inspired by Mr. Knight’s etchings from the 1920′s.  Come away feeling festive not frazzled this Black Friday!

Admission & parking are free.

December 11 – Saturday from 3 pm to 6 pm
4th Annual Park Illumination Celebration & Holiday Tour
Gather on the north lawn to enjoy free hot chocolate and sing carols while the giant cedar tree in Currituck Heritage Park and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse are simultaneously illuminated.   The Whalehead Club will open for holiday tours to show off the house museum festively decorated as in the 1920’s.

Admission & Parking are free.

Culinary Challenge on the Outer Banks

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Kelly's Stewz Soupz & Sweetz

Kelly's Stewz Soupz & Sweetz

Stews, Soups, and Sweets  - Bustin’ the Blues Ultimate Culinary Challenge

 Professional, Student, and Amateur/Home Chefs compete for cash, prizes, Outer Banks bragging rights, and Make the Menu Designation for the Kelly Hospitality Group.

Film Honors Outer Banks Surfmen

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Outer Banks Surfmen

Outer Banks Surfmen

In addition to gorgeous beaches and miles of preserved coastline, the Outer Banks has a very rich history; historic lighthouses, the Wright Brothers, the Lost Colony, wild horses from Spain, and a wide array of shipwrecks.  Inevitably, the miles of coastline lead to dangerous coastal conditions, and these coastal conditions become a part of the OBX history. 

Violent storms and dangerous surf are an integral part of the OBX lore; lighthouses and shipwrecks are a direct result of dangerous conditions along the coast.  In addition to lighthouses dotting the shoreline to act as beacons for seafaring vessels, Lifesaving Stations have long been a part of the local culture and have played a significant role in limiting the effects of the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”  A tremendous story of this heroism along the Outer Banks is now coming to the big screen.    

Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Surfmen tells the heroic tale of the all black surfmen crew that worked at The Pea Island Lifesaving Station in the late 1800s. Richard Etheridge, a former slave and soldier from Manteo, was appointed as the station’s keeper in 1880 and built an exceptional all-black crew around him. 

This crew was known for their unmatched bravery and countless rescues. In a hurricane in October 1896, two of the Pea Island crew tied themselves to each another with a line and, while clutching another line held by surfmen on the beach, plunged into wild surf to bring nine sailors safely to shore.

Allan Smith, the president of Dream Quest Productions, decided to make a movie about these men of valor.  After reading the book Fire on the Beach, a chronicle about the station written in 2001 by David Wright and David Zoby, Smith was instantly hooked.  

The film is to play on the History Channel and be shown at national and international film festivals.  The premiere is scheduled for next month on Roanoke Island.

Annual Chili Cook Off on the Outer Banks

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Outer Banks Chili Cook Off

Outer Banks Chili Cook Off

Chilli Peppers 16th Annual Chili Cook-Off is set for noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28, at Stripers Bar & Grille, in the Shallowbag Bay Marina.

  • Admission is $10 per person, children 7-12 are $5, and children 6 and under are free.
  • Cook-off competition is open to individuals as well as restaurants.
  • Entry fee is $25 and deadline for submission is Feb. 19th.
  • All competitors will receive a Chilli Peppers Cook off T-shirt. Entry forms available at Chilli Peppers at MP 5.5 KDH, Stripers Bar & Grille, Manteo or by calling 441-8081.
  • Prizes will be awarded in four catagories, Meat, Other Meat, Vegetarian, and Home Kitchen.
  • A portion of proceeds will benefit First Flight High School and Manteo High School scholarship programs.

Nights in Rodanthe House on the Move

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The house from Nights in Rodanthe, “Serendipity,” was recently sold and is in the process of being moved.  There were some delays on Friday that forced the move to be rescheduled for today.

Here’s a neat photo of the house on the move:

Nights in Rodanthe - Serendipity Move

Nights in Rodanthe - Serendipity Move

 Here’s a great video of the move from IslandFreePress.org:

Spring Half Marathon on the Outer Banks

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Flying Pirate Half Marathon on the OBX

Flying Pirate Half Marathon - Outer Banks

Flying Pirate Half Marathon - Outer Banks

 Description:
Outer Banks Sporting Events is pleased to announce the Inaugural Flying Pirate Half Marathon! Many of you have heard about the beauty of the first half of the Outer Banks Marathon course, and now you can run it!

 Fees:
$65-$80

 Online Registration Closes:
April 16, 2010 12:00 AM Pacific Time

 Registration: www.support@active.com
Event: www.obxmarathon.org

 Fee Scale:
$65 until 2/14/10
$75 2/15/10 – 4/11/10
$80 EXPO

Race EXPO:
Friday, April 16, 2010: 12PM – 7PM
Saturday, April 17, 2010: 9AM – 6PM

 Pasta Party:
Oceanfront Pasta Party
Saturday, April 17, 2010
5PM – 8PM
Tickets: $15 Adults; $10 Kids 12 and under
Tickets may be purchased online and at the EXPO

 Race Day:
Race Day Start – 7:30AM (wave start)
Course Time Limit – 5 Hours

 Post Race Party:
Sunday, April 18, 2010
8:30AM – 1PM

 Transportation:
Shuttle buses to the Start will be provided for race participants. Shuttles will also be available from the finish line back to shuttle parking areas. Shuttle schedule will be posted on the website closer to race day.

 Timing:
The Half Marathon will be timed by utilizing the Chronotrack Timing System.

 Awards:
Prize Money by Division
Open: Top 3 Male & Female and Top 3 Male & Female Masters
NC USATF Half Marathon Championship: Top 3 Male & Female overall and masters 

Age Group Awards
Age group awards will be presented to the top 3 male & female finishers in the following age groups:
15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74, 75-79, and 80+

 Registrants under 18:
For 2010, Outer Banks Sporting Events permits runners under 18 to participate in the half marathon, but recommends parents to review RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) guidelines:
Children up to age 5 = dash
5 – 11 yrs. old = ½ mile – 1 mile race
12 – 14 yrs. old = 5K
15 – 17 yrs. old = 10K to ½ marathon
18 yrs. old and older = marathon

Puppy Drum Blitz on the Outer Banks

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Over the past few days there have been a growing number of fishing reports describing the amazing red drum “blitz” that is happening on the Outer Banks.  Apparently, the cold temperatures over the past few weeks have driven a tremendous amount of puppy drum to the OBX shores.

Here’s a link to a first-hand account from a surfcaster at Oregon Inlet this past weekend.  To quote the blog:

“We caught fish. Not just a few fish, but numbers of fish that would stagger the imagination…We left after nearly eight hours of catching and it was still going on.  Never could I have imagined such an experience.”

If you are looking for once-in-a-lifetime fishing, now’s your chance.

Great vacation rental homes available.