There is a controversy boiling on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It concerns surf-fishing and driving in beach areas that are supposed to be habitat for plovers, terns, and turtles.
I just sent the following to an online Hatteras Island paper. I thought I'd share it with all of you (all four of you?):
My husband and I have been vacationing on the Outer Banks every year for the past six or seven years. During our first visit, we fell in love with Hatteras Island. Each and every year since then, we’ve found new reasons to appreciate the island.
We’ve surf-fished, gone swimming, flown kites, helped our son learn to wind-surf (by paying and then happily watching from the beach), observed coquinas for hours, read on the beach, walked the beach in the mornings (or afternoons, or evenings), beach-combed (finding some treasured sea glass), pier-fished, tried to paint the glorious surroundings, gone on photographic expeditions, found the remains of countless shipwrecks, watched crab holes for long minutes after depositing food nearby (until crabs emerged and tucked the food away), ferried to Ocracoke to comb its beaches, encountered wild horses on a northern expedition, shelled on Portsmouth Island, enjoyed the gardens on Roanoke, climbed Hatteras Light, visited other island lights, visited the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum (not yet a great destination, but we’re patient), visited the Hatteras weather station, visited the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station (always fantastic), visited even the empty lifesaving stations, walked a few ‘nature trails,’ developed a great love of particular Hatteras markets and eateries, shopped the galleries and bookstores, toured a couple of off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods, been thrilled by the spring storms, been blessed by spectacular sunny days, hot-tubbed in sight of the ocean, consumed glorious seafood (some caught, some purchased), and encouraged friends and family to visit—with some success.
A few years back we increased the length of our stay. This year we hope to bring our kayaks…and we can tell you exactly how many more days until we arrive.
How do we feel about not being able to drive on your beaches? It really doesn’t matter to us. We sure don’t drive on the lovely Gloucester beaches. Every single thing, every empty creature casing and life-bearing egg, that Hatteras (and Gloucester) contains is precious. We just can’t wait to get there.
I really think it's a shame when convenience attempts to supercede nature. When tire tracks invade a natural habitat and compromise the biodiversity of said habitat, isn't that somewhat counterproductive to the reasons one visits and explores beaches, parks, forests, vernal pools and ponds? It's called "natural beauty" and "natural wonders" for a reason. And exactly HOW many days Sarah??
ReplyDelete