Coast in Autumn -

AUTUMN SCENES FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST

Yes, I did dip my toes and the water was quite warm.

It was a fun time, peace and quiet before the Christmas rush!

Visit to the seaside. . . . . . . . .

    Popular British music hall song from the 1900's. . . . . .  

Oh! I do love to be beside the seaside.
Yes I do love to be beside the sea.

Visiting the beautiful North Carolina coast for a couple of days - in need
 of some seaside time and will have a quick visit with friends who live there.

North Carolina - The Atlantic Ocean - 2016

Today, heading east to the North Carolina coast.

No invitations to any exotic watering places this summer so
 we're off on another road trip within our lovely home state. 

Not complaining though, North Carolina really has a stunning

 coastline, perfect beaches, historic towns, great fresh seafood,

and nice people who roll out the welcome mat.

We headed east to the shore today. . . . . . . .because I do 

love to be beside the seaside, and I can't get home to England this summer.
Must say we hit it right - sunshine all the way through green and gold
 farmland, not too hot or humid. 

Today's catch was grouper and shrimps in a lobster sauce on tonight's
 menu at the restaurant we picked. Located in quaint  Floyd's 1921 beach house
 near the sea, what could be more perfect as the sun went down.

Coastal call. . . . . . .

Atlantic Ocean at daybreak ~ Carolina Beach, North Carolina 2015

This morning I'll be on my way here again - for our annual Autumn beach weekend.

Weather promises to be perfect for beach combing, boardwalk strolling, sunset
 watching, fresh seafood eating. . . . .and the lighting of the Christmas decorations.

More later. . . . . . . . 

Dawn to dusk at the shore. . . . . . .

Early morning. . . . . . sun coming up over the Atlantic.

View from the hotel balcony.

A few fishermen and beach strollers already out on the sand.

One lone fishing boat trawling just off the shoreline. . . . . 

fresh catch, and breakfast for many gulls and pelicans.

View south toward Kure Beach and pier.

Lots of surfers enjoying the winter waves.

Looking across the pond to my homeland.

Afternoon beach walk to gather some shells.

Sunset came early after beautiful warm days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday were close

 to perfect weatherwise, perhaps the best beach weekend ever for us this late in the year.

By the sea, by the beautiful sea. . . . . . . . . .

Atlantic Ocean this time last year. . . . .

Leaving our footprints. . . . . .

It was such a fun weekend. 

The beach in November is still fabulous. . . . . . . . . .

when the sun shines and you have a granddaughter along to get you out 

and walking in the brisk air, while you in turn give her driving lessons on 

shoreline roads…..what more could two senior citizens want! 

Sunset as only sunset can be at the coast.

Jasmin's senior school chorus, of which she is Student Director this year, is 
named the Sanderson Sandpipers. It seemed quite fitting that her beach 
companion was the sandpiper, wading elegantly, unbothered by 
the cold water of the Atlantic Ocean. . . . .

We left our footprints in the cold sand. . . . . Bob, Jasmin, Mary

We wished we could be on a fishing boat, close to the pelicans and gulls.  

Instead we enjoyed the catch - ocean fresh flavorful shrimp and 

flounder cooked to perfection that evening, sitting in a restaurant with the 
ocean lapping the sands outside the window. . . . . . . . . .

We braved the icy water and foam - taking pics and looking for shells. . . . . . .

If sunset was lovely, sunrise was fantastic.
Pelicans already hunting for breakfast - later dolphins were playing
 in the ocean right outside our hotel windows.

Keeping up the annual tradition - a photo of us in the beach hotel room closet doors!

Hope you enjoy these 'postcards' from the North Carolina coast.

Do you like to visit the beach in the off-season?