Duck

I woke up this morning in time to see the sunrise at 6:45 a.m., straight ahead across the ocean on this east-facing beach.  I remember attending an Easter sunrise service at the Kitty Hawk Pier many years ago, and a man had played the trumpet - perhaps Wesley's Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia! - as the sun rose.

We had breakfast in the nearly deserted breakfast area, and then drove to the Town Park in Duck for a three-mile run, one of our favorite routes that we have run over the years while staying here.  The Town Park and the Boardwalk which extends in both directions from it is a real gem, and attracts a lot of walkers and runners in the mornings.  We passed NC Coastal where we had just dined the night before, and then ran past several of our familiar landmarks.

 

 

My favorite stop along the Boardwalk is Clinton Chapel, which is part of the Duck United Methodist Church.  Martha's Aunt Lizette actually told us about this chapel, long before the Boardwalk had been constructed, and we had checked it out; at that time, the only way to access it was via a narrow walkway from the church.

What a beautiful little sanctuary this place is.  We walked inside, and Martha noticed that someone had already written in the guest book this very morning.  I wrote, There is much to be thankful for!  I turned 71 yesterday and I am here in this beautiful place with my beautiful wife of 40 years.  And, my apologies Preacher, I turned the pages in the big Bible from a strange passage in Ezekiel to Psalms 23.

 

I have always loved that quote in the center of the stained-glass window, and it seemed especially fitting today.

Everything changes, year after year.  NC Coast opened in November, but one of our favorite places on the Boardwalk, Wave Pizza Cafe, was vacant and a new business was under construction.  I never failed to take a photo of that iconic sign, where we sat many times and enjoyed a pizza, gazing out over the sound.

We had planned to eat lunch in one of our favorite places, but after we had returned and showered we made some calls and discovered that all of them were closed, either for the season or because it was Monday.  In fact, we had planned to stay a second night, as well, but with restaurants and shops closed, we decided to check out early and drive back to Atlantic Beach.  In Manteo, we found everything closed, too, so we ate lunch again at the Blue Water Grill and Raw Bar.  

"Welcome back," our waiter said, the same one we had had yesterday - Marshall, with a beard and a man-bun.  Lunch was just as delicious as it was yesterday, and we enjoyed it thoroughly.  Because we may not pass this way again for some time.