the outer banks through a vacationer’s eyes

A wild mustang grazes on dune grass in Carova. The horses are direct descendents of the mustangs of the Spanish Conquistadores.
A wild mustang grazes on dune grass in Carova. The horses are direct descendents of the mustangs of the Spanish Conquistadores.

A Love song to life on a sandbar.

It’s always good to get an outsider’s view of the Outer Banks, and this article by Emma John writing for the Guardian is one of the best we’ve seen.

A wild mustang grazes on dune grass in Carova. The horses are direct descendents of the mustangs of the Spanish Conquistadores.
A wild mustang grazes on dune grass in Carova. The horses are direct descendents of the mustangs of the Spanish Conquistadores.

There is no horizon: only the odd hint indicates what is water and what is sky. A dolphin shows its back, just for a second. A pair of oystercatchers draw two cursive Ms against the blue. Otherwise, the water of the Pamlico Sound is so still, and the silence so complete, it’s a disembodying experience. Slick cam, they call it.

From his kayak, Bob Chestnut could reach down into the shallows and pluck out any number of treasures. Through the water he can see the dark ragged outline of oyster clusters, a shimmering of scallop shells and mussels pre-opened by the birds. In the summer, families come out here with long rakes to dig for clams.

To read the complete Guardian story click here.