Short Hiatus

It's a boy!

My grandson decided to make an early entrance today, so I'll be on a short hiatus as I help the new parents around the house. Wherever you go this weekend or next, enjoy your Carolina adventure!


Grammy...I mean, Kimberli

Beaufort, NC: Resting Grounds

Magnolias, thick and leafy, and gnarled limbs of ancient oaks join, forming a protective canopy for those sleeping beneath a blanket of fallen leaves. Granite and marble mark the graves of some, while slabs and shells, others. This is the Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, North Carolina.

I first learned about the cemetery three years ago, shortly after moving to the eastern plains. The story of a soldier buried upright intrigued me, but our previous, too short, visits to Beaufort were spent dining or strolling along Front Street. But on this visit, we set out to find the cemetery.

Bordered by Ann, Craven and Broad streets, the cemetery sits behind the towering white fortress of Ann Street United Methodist Church. Tall trees and thick azaleas that bloom pink in the spring form such a protective barrier, we would have missed the resting ground if not for the wrought iron fence and sign marking the entrance.

Once inside, we walked leaf-covered paths, visiting gravesites of those interred from Beaufort's earliest days. Reportedly, those sleeping include a privateer, the aforementioned upright soldier, the crew of a ship that wrecked off nearby Shackleford Banks, and, according to several accounts, a child supposedly buried in a barrel of rum. While capturing the sights with my camera, I used settings I felt would better portray the feel and mood of that historic place.

A must see for those who love North Carolina's beauty and history. We'll go again in the spring, when the azaleas are exploding with color.

The Old Burying Ground wasn't our only stop that day. During our visit, we discovered another sanctuary, one we'd previously seen across the waters of Taylor's Creek, but somehow missed that it was the home of the Rachel Carson Estuarine Research Reserve. More on that in my next post.

For more information on The Old Burying Ground, go to www.beaufort-nc.com/history/old-burying-ground.shtml

Coming Up...

I'm still here (though the Carolinatownsandtrails domain was down for several hours yesterday) and will be posting soon. Coming up are photos and information on the Old Burying Ground and Carrot Island in Beaufort, NC, and on Petersburg National Battlefield near Richmond, VA.

But first, the next adventure. With lower temperatures and humidity, it's time for a walk in the woods. Finally.

On another note, if you received several posts containing gibberish, you'll understand why I'll never again blog by phone. My apologies for that.

Tracking Earl

Skies above us are blue for the moment as Category-4 Earl churns toward the North Carolina coast. The eye is expected to kiss Cape Hatteras, home of the famous lighthouse, early Friday morning before moving north along the eastern seaboard.

The NOAA satellite image below shows the hurricane as it appears about the time of this posting:

For more on the storm, go to Storm Pulse's Atlantic Hurricane Tracking page.

One Visitor We Hope Will Change Its Mind

Hurricane Earl is barreling toward the North Carolina coast. Warnings have been issued for the entire North Carolina coast. As of this morning, Ocracoke and Kill Devil Hills have been evacuated, and The Weather Channel is reporting from the beach.

I pray Earl changes his mind and swings east, merely skirting the Carolinas. If it doesn't, I pray everyone in the warning cone evacuates in time. Either way, coastal friends, our prayers are with you.

To follow the storm, go to the National Hurricane Center or The Weather Channel

For a local perspective, go to WRAL.