In particular, my favorite place in OBX is Corolla (pronounced cuu-raw-la). I have stayed in the many towns in OBX, such as Corolla Light, Duck, Nags Head and Kitty Hawk; however, Corolla remains my favorite. Why, you might ask? It's the GLASS!!! Yes, those of you who know me know about my terrible addiction to collecting sea glass. I think I may need a 12-step program of some kind. (Hi, my name is Julie.... hi Julie)
I recently had the opportunity for a quick jaunt to OBX and even though the weather was cool and windy following a big storm, there was still glass to be found on my secret beach in Corolla. It was fun to bundle up and walk the beach each morning. I'm like a bird, craning my neck, fast walking searching for those glowing gems I so adore. People who observe me must wonder what I'm doing as I have a certain "technique" to looking for glass. I weave and bob, fast walk and slow walk - to the unwitting beach goer, I am sure I look like I am high on something.
When I spot a piece, I actually almost hurl myself to the ground with excitement (and I wonder why my body hurts after a long day of hunting). Also, when I am hunting with someone, it is a competition of sorts to see how much glass each person can find. I remain undefeated in this category simply because I am crazy enough to walk for 3 hours in one direction on the beach starting at 6am. Others have enough sense to realize they must also walk back an additional 3 hours to get home. Not me! I'm on a mission. I'm probably one of the only people in this world who actually loses weight while on vacation from all that walking!
Here is a pic of me yesterday sitting on the beach with some of my beautiful finds. It was about 68 degrees and very windy. Be it rain, sleet, snow or hail, nothing will stop me from getting my fix. I'm like the postal service.
I promptly went inside the cozy, ocean front rental yesterday afternoon, brewed a cup of hot tea, and turned one of these glowing green beauties into a pendant for myself. The piece I chose is thick and smooth and a beautiful kelly green color. Stunning! It's amazing how nature can turn trash into treasure. I wore this piece to dinner last night and I found I could not stop touching it. It has in indentation on the back where my thumb fits perfectly. Some chicks like diamonds, you can give me an old, weathered piece of glass any day!
During my visit, the waves were wicked high and the ocean was a milky olive green color. I actually saw some kids swimming in it on Thursday -- I thought they were crazy. I was freezing my tail off just walking on the dry sand that day. Kids are really amazing with their tolerance!
As I walked the beach, I saw flocks of chocolate brown pelicans flying low as they fished the waves. Also, there were these tiny birds called "Sanderlings" which are so darling. They are tiny round speckled balls of feather with long, but tiny, jointed legs. They walk so fast you can't really see their legs at all. One time, years ago, an older gentlemen I met on the beach told me Sanderlings were known as the "ball bearings of the beach" because they "roll" instead of walk. No matter what you call them, they are so cute. If I could catch one, I am pretty sure I would grit my teeth as I squeezed and petted the poor thing. (LOL, no seriously...)
It is Saturday night and I am back home in PA ~ wind-burned, tired and sad that I am so far away from the soothing sounds and sites of the Atlantic Ocean. One day I hope to own a home there, it's always been a goal of mine. Until then- I will have to settle for the occasional visit which never quite seems long enough. Wonder how I'll fall sleep tonight without the sound of the crashing waves to lull me?
3 comments:
awesome post! Its so neat that every piece of Sea Glass was discovered by you... one question, where does this stuff come from? what is it made of? what makes it those certain colors?
Sea glass comes from ancient shipwrecks in the Atlantic! Also, a not-so-glamorous source can be a landfill or people littering glass bottles and objects into the ocean. The glass gets broken and starts tumbling around in the water where the currents eventually bring it into the beach. It washes up on the shore along with pebbles and shells and is deposited onto the sand. I read that it takes 75 years of tumbling around in the water for the glass to become smooth and frosted. Neat, huh?
that is so neat, thank you for that! I learned something new today :)
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