Salvo Salvation

Family Barnes comes to you now from the village of Salvo in the Outer Banks, NC. It was only a few weeks ago (six?) that Hurricane Earl drove us (in a heap of despair and depression) from our vacation home in Hatteras. Heartbroken (and pissed), we vowed to return -- even if it meant missing some work, missing some preschool, missing some of the glorious Fall in DC.

After four days of bliss at "Hunt and Gather, a small house that is neither on the beach nor stuffed with our friends and family, all we have to say is "Frack you Earl, we're having a grand time."

This afternoon we enjoyed a picnic of steamed shrimp on a nearly deserted stretch of beach we've on the Pea Island Reserve. It has a super-low tide with gentle waves for the kids and tide pools for safe water play.

Paul, who is muy macho, body surfed in 3-foot waves on an inflatable Dora the Explorer kick board (he wants me to tell you the ocean was a brisk 65 degrees, so give the man his due). I flew a kite (thank you Holly). I buried my family in sand. My crushing stress backache I've had for two weeks....gone.

Back at our well-appointed bungalow (French Press coffee maker? check. Champagne glasses? check), we opened a bottle of prosecco (thank you Eliza) and I dove into the hot tub while Charlotte napped, Harry honed his Foozball skill and Paul put the finishing touches on tonight's dinner: Boeuf Bouguignon, ala Julia Child (we're plowing through her cookbook during this trip, definitely not good for the waste line, but good for the soul. On Monday it was Filets de Poisson Bercy aux Champignons. I counted; two sticks of butter.

I'll upload some photos from our camera when we return (if you really want to loathe us more), otherwise, you can ponder these iphone shots. God Bless America, and in case I wasn't clear the first time, Screw You Earl. We just wish our other refugee travelers were enjoying it as well.