Although I’ve never seen them on the beach myself, I’ve found their footprints often on morning walks.  It’s a beautiful sight as the sun rises over the ocean.

The mystery is now solved!  Thanks to Rick Bennett who got the information for me, to Richard Chandler who identified it as a fish skull, and to Vince Schneider of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science who gave me the following final analysis:

Prionotus:  Sea Robin, Partial Skull.

I don’t know how old the fossil is, but am amazed at my daughter’s find.  This is the second fossil we have found on the beaches of the Outer Banks.  Indeed, my eagle eye daughter found a fossilized shark tooth several months ago on the beach:

On your next walk, remember to take a moment to look down.  You never know what you may find!

When you enter the park, turn right and follow the road to the end.  Our favorite place to crab in the Outer Banks is along the historic bridge to the right of Whalehead Club.  However, you can crab off of any pier or bank and find a good catch.

Here is what you will need to go crabbing in the Outer Banks:

Crabbing Hoop Net

Crabbing Throw Line

You will also need a net to scoop up the crabs, a large bucket or cooler and the cheapest poultry you can find.  We have used chicken necks, turkey necks and fatty pieces of cut up chicken.  If you don’t have a throw line you can make one with a thin rope or clothesline and a clothespin to hold the chicken.

If you are using a hoop net, attach the chicken to the middle of the net before you throw it in the water.  What’s next?  Wait, stay hydrated and enjoy the beautiful sights of the Currituck Heritage Park.  Allow some time to pass for the crabs to sense the chicken and crawl in to the net.  With some patience and luck you will be pulling the crabs out in no time!

If your crab becomes entangled in the net, hypnotize it.  Yes, you can actually hypnotize a crab in order to take it out of the net!  To hypnotize a crab, gently turn the crab over and rub the bottom of the shell.  Your crab will begin to relax, enabling you to release him without causing him harm.

Hypnotizing a Crab for Release

When you are crabbing with a throw line it helps to have someone with you for the adventure.  Clip or tie the chicken to your line and lower it in to the water.  You don’t want to throw it too far or you may lose your crab before you get him within scooping distance.

Wait until you feel your line being tugged and then s-l-o-w-l-y pull the line towards you.  When you feel the crab is close, gently pull the line up and be ready to scoop him out of the water with a long net.  This is where the second person comes in handy.  We always like to have a “puller” and a “scooper.”

You cannot keep a crab if it is less than five inches from tip to tip.  If the crab has eggs, she is called a sponge crab and must be thrown back.  The catch limit is 50 crabs per person.  If you catch this many, I would like to go crabbing with you.  Please?

Do not place your crabs in a bucket of water unless you plan to drown them and make them unsafe to eat.  Rather, store them in an empty bucket that is placed in a cool area.  If it is extremely hot you can put some ice in the bottom of the bucket or cooler and place newspaper over the cubes.

Our last crabbing trip was in the beginning of July.  75% of the crabs we caught were not big enough to keep.  As the summer continues, the crab size will increase.  If you have kids, they will love the Outer Banks crabbing experience no matter what size the crabs are.

Some people steam or boil crabs live.  Others pull off the back of the crab and clean them before cooking:

Cleaned Raw Crab

I love to cook blue crabs in water, beer and Old Bay.  You can dip the crab meat in vinegar and then Old Bay once it is cooked, dredge it in butter or simply eat it right out of the shell!

Do you need a fishing license to go crabbing in North Carolina? No, not if you are using an open trap such as a hoop net or throw line in coastal waters.

What are your favorite crabbing spots in the Outer Banks?

On May 4 lightening struck the refuge, resulting in a large fire.  Currently this fire has spread across 70 square miles with smoke reaching as far as Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Southern Shores.

This video was taken on June 10, 2011 coming off of the Wright Memorial Bridge towards the Outer Banks.  At that time the smoke was overwhelming, causing both visibility and breathing issues for many.

At the end of the video is a shot of the smoke seen while leaving from the same bridge.  Experts say the fire will either burn itself out or could be extinguished by a tropical depression storm.

Within five minutes of swimming, we noticed a dark shadow coming towards us.  And then another.   And another.  We quickly found ourselves in the direct path of many cownose rays.  For hours we watched them glide through the Corolla waves.

Three separated from the group and began to swim through the trough and directly to the water’s edge.  In perfect unison, they seemed to dance and fly along the shallow waters, coming within feet of onlookers.

Moments like this leave me breathless, and forever in awe of the beauty of the Outer Banks.

Last weekend I caught a gray fox on video roaming around while a bird dive-bombed it from behind.  Unfortunately, it was not very close but I was able to sneak a picture of this beautiful animal as he (or she) walked by.

Chances are you have run across these delicious looking berries while visiting the Outer Banks.  They look so good, but are they safe to eat?  Absolutely!

We have been picking black raspberries in Corolla for years, starting as early as May.  Each year we find more plants, although some years the fruit is larger than others.

If you go black raspberry picking in the Outer Banks, be careful of the sharp thorns as you reach for the fruit.  You should also watch for ticks, as we have come across both adult and nymph ticks throughout the brush.  And finally, “leaves of three, let it be.”  Be sure you don’t brush against any poison ivy as you pick this wonderful fruit!

This weekend my daughter and I were saddened to find a dead Gannet on the beach in Corolla.  These beautiful sea birds have white bodies with black-tipped wings, yet stand out with their unusual golden heads and large feet that have lines of vivid sky blue.  Their wingspan can grow to 2 meters.

The Gannet normally nests in colonies, often on rocky islands or on cliffs along the ocean.  They can be found in Canada, Greenland, Ireland, Iceland and Great Britain.  When the temperatures drop, these migratory birds fly south to stay warm.

We can find northern gannets in countries around the northern Atlantic Ocean, such as Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, and Great Britain.

Gannets are known for their spectacular dives from up to 100 feet in the air, crashing down in to the water at nearly 60 mph, diving deeper than many ocean birds.  The Gammet has air sacs on the face and chest that offer protection from the impact of a high dive.  Furthermore they have no external nostrils and also have “binocular vision” which helps them to judge distances accurately.  And the splash?  Up to ten feet!

We were sorry to see this beautiful bird washed up on the beach.  I used the opportunity to teach my daughter about the Gannet and how it lives.  She is now on the lookout for live Gannets, anticipating a spectacular dive when the time comes!

My oldest memory is that of Parker and his Dad.  Parker had special needs and was being raised by a father whose name I do not even remember.  At this point, we still rented the beach house and stayed for only a few weeks each summer.  Parker’s family happened to rent the same week we stayed during August.  We would look forward to seeing them each year; finding out how they were and watching how much Parker had grown.

After a few years, we began staying the week of July 4, just missing our favorite family.  I have not seen them since and often wonder if they still rent in our area, and can only imagine how much Parker has grown.  It was an honor to know them, although casually, for a week of laughter, sand and sunshine.

We have met many people on the beach since.  Some people almost feel like old friends once the formalities are complete.  “Where are you from? “  “Oh, you have a house here?”  “Look how our daughters are getting along!”  From there, the conversation can go anywhere.  From stories of life changing moments to funny anecdotes of children and grandparents, you never know quite where your talk will lead you.

Even the quick moments of calling out to the house next to you, “What are you grilling tonight?”  “Do you see the baby deer?”  “Can you believe that sunset?”  Each and every one is a brief encounter with someone you would never have met, had you not been in that very place at that very time.

I’ll never forget speaking with a woman on the beach about her best friend who was near death after a long battle with cancer.  We talked about my own father’s death from cancer, about the pain, the process and the heartbreak.  This woman and I had met only ten minutes before.  After our discussion, she turned to me and said, “There are some things you can only talk about with the sun on your back and your feet in the sand.”

Indeed.  So to all of you planning to visit the Outer Banks, I hope you have a wonderful time in this beautiful place.  Just remember.  The person on the beach blanket next to you has a story to tell.  If the opportunity arises, introduce yourself.  Smile.  Share.  And remember – there are indeed some things you can only talk about with the sun on your back and your feet in the sand.”  I hope to meet you soon.

Imagine yourself running on the Wright Brothers Memorial Trail, admiring the beauty of the nearby Albemarle Sound.  The race continues around the Wright Brothers Monument and turns in to a beautiful maritime forest.  This gorgeous scenery beats pounding the pavement any day.

Visit the Outer Banks Marathon website for more details.  You can also watch a live demo of the Outer Banks marathon, giving you an idea of course length and conditions.

If you love running, you won’t want to miss this challenge, Outer Banks style!