If there’s one thing we’ve learned in all our travels to the Carova area of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it is that the beach is different each time.
Sometimes the sand is so smooth, it feels as though we’re driving on the interstate. Other times, the ride is so rough, it “rattles our fillings”. The width of the beach depends, of course, on the tide.
In this picture, taken last month, you can see the cottage named “Laughing Gull” in the distance. It’s the one nearest the ocean. You can tell that the beach is wide enough for vehicles to park in the middle, and there’s room on the dune side as well as the ocean side for at least two lanes of traffic to pass. The little boy is walking across what is considered to be the highway.
On our most recent trip to the beach (last week), the beach showed the effects of a tropical storm off the coast. There was barely enough room between the cottage and the tide for one lane of traffic. In all honesty, normally, the beach in front of Laughing Gull isn’t quite as wide as it is in the area where I took the previous picture. But, usually, there’s plenty of room for two lanes of traffic between the cottage and the ocean.
The horses aren’t bothered by a storm off the coast. The rough surf just makes for a pretty background for photos.
And on a lighter note, can you imagine stepping outside your door to find a horse under your car port?
So the condition of the beach isn’t the only thing that changes with each trip: we also never know where we’ll spot a horse.
Happy weekend!
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
The changing beach is amazing – so are your pictures depicting it. LOVE the rough surf in the background of the horses. …And I grew up on a farm, but can’t say I ever walked out the door to horses, or any other livestock at the door – does a chicken count?
I remember that cottage and you telling David and me about the changing width of the “highway” depending on the tides. The rough sea does make a nice backdrop for the residents, aka horses!
Pam
We live near a beach on a state park called Honeymoon Island. A few years ago the did a beach renourishment project and hauled in hundreds of tons of sand. Six months later, it was gone. Erosion washed it away. Recently the did it again after putting in some breakers. After a few weeks, I noticed that the area that the tide hadn’t reached was about 8 inches higher. I haven’t been back in many months so I don’t know if there is still a beach left or not.
So you know, I know how to spell “they” but I guess I’m having trouble with the letter Y today. 🙂
Amazing differences…
& I’ll say it again .. it’s so cool that you never know where you’ll find a horse down there !
Sure are differences, wow. I think it’d be awfully fun to step outside my door to find a horse under the carport. Way better than finding a black bear! Oh wait, I did just step outside my door the other day and guess what? There were two horses leaving the field next door and crossing my yard. Of course, they weren’t wild and they had riders on them. 😉
The wonder of nature. It is amazing what it creates. So fun to see it in your pictures.
What an exciting place you have chosen to visit and of course, the horses are a never ending teasure trove of smiles.
I love it when you have photos of the wild horses, they are so pretty. Thank you for the words of comfort you left for me on my blog over the loss of Phoebe.