The Beach
The surfing tournament turned out to be a resounding success. The boys did well, and I managed to enjoy myself just watching from the shore. The waves and the wind were more than I could stand even on the beach. I looked for shelter each day, but I went and I watched. I rooted for my guys and nursed the injuries that went with banging around on a board in rough water. Scrapes and bruises mostly but I tended all of them and got to know them as well as the circumstance allowed.
Saturday night it ended, and I stood on the boardwalk watching as the winners took the trophies and the professional surfers got checks. Trey won $150 for his efforts and finishing in the top ten for his class. Two of the other guys got checks for $100 and all in all they collected enough money to make the trip self-sufficient.
We started up the coast about midnight with Trey behind the wheel. Darren, one of the better surfers said, "Why don't we stop off in Nags Head and catch the tail end of the storm before we get back to the Beach?"
One of the guys expressed a hesitancy about going over to the ferry because of the storm and all agreed to keep it on the land side until we could drive onto the barrier islands. Ocracoke could be another day, nobody wanted a ferry ride in the storm. To my amazement, they would get out in the storm on a board but not in a big ferry boat, who knew? The boys had all ridden the Cedar Island Ferry at one time or another and even though Pamlico sound was protected by a barrier island but there was still plenty of water to navigate and the wind was really howling. No ferry ride today.
We traveled most of the night, taking turns at the wheel and making our way up the inland coastal roads. We arrived at Nags Head about mid-morning and stopped in a Shoney's for some breakfast. The wind was still up, and I could tell they were all on edge about the surfing. I stayed quiet and just listened to them talk about waves, where to launch and where the breaks would be. Fascinating to the novice in me.
I finished up my coffee and made ready to see the sights. We piled back in the RV and headed for the beach. There were a lot of people around, mostly surfers doing what we were doing. Trey found a spot almost on the beach to park and we sat and looked at the waves.
"Wow, that looks rough out there. It's almost closed out."
"Do you think we should try it," I said.
Trey looked at me and said, "It's way too rough for you unless you grew gills overnight."
One of the guys in the back said, "Me too I think."
We checked the weather service and according to them the storm would back off all day as it moved away from North Carolina and up into New England.
"I think we will be okay this morning and by afternoon maybe we can let the girl get in the water."
I slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Thanks," Sarcastically.
Everybody changed into wet suits, even me, and we carried the boards and beach equipment down onto the sand. I perched myself on a cooler and watched them head for the water. I felt glad to be sitting on the beach at that point.
The waves were big for the East Coast and the boys enjoyed a great morning of surfing. The wind died down, but the surf didn't. The waves were still around eight feet when they came in for lunch. I could tell all of them were exhausted. Surfing in competition for the last three days in heavy surf and then driving all night. They were a tired crew.
We all sat around in the warm sun, on the beach for a couple of hours and Trey finally announced it was time to surf or go home.
They talked about it for a while and the decision to go home disappointed only me. I never got wet and really didn't want to.
We loaded the RV and drove out of North Carolina and up into Virginia. The boys designated me the shotgun seat and I sat up front next to Trey as he navigated the heavy traffic. Sunday was a busy day for the outer banks.
Several hours later we pulled into a parking lot at the south side of Chesapeake, Virginia. This is where the gang left their cars parked before they went to Myrtle Beach. Trey found his spot near all their cars and everybody commenced unloading and one by one they all split for their respective homes.
I sat in the co-pilots seat when Trey pulled the door closed and we made ready to go to Richmond.
"Are you ready to ride?"
"I guess so, I still have a week of vacation to use up, I could stick around if you wanted me to?"
"Do you want to?" He said.
"Yes, I am enjoying this."
"OK, then we should go to my place and unload the RV. I don't need her to take you home whenever we do that."
We drove up into a residential area with lots of single family houses. Trey pulled into one of them and parked the RV up close to the side of the house. We plugged it in and he dumped the holding tanks then filled the fresh water tank. "Well, she is ready for the next trip."
We went into his house and it looked barren. Lots of beach stuff, surf boards, scuba gear and foul weather gear hanging everywhere. I only saw a couch, a TV, kitchen table and one easy chair. He opened the fridge and found it empty too. We brought all the food in from the camper but there wasn't much of it left.
