Uncle Jack should have checked the weather before he walked up to the beach at 6:30 this morning.  He could have saved himself the trouble. Once again the wind was whistling out of the northeast at a furious clip, rendering the beach unfit for man nor beast nor even bulldozer.  The sun was still 20 minutes from rising so he took a couple of quick pictures and let the wind propel him back down Whitecap street.  (He reached Old Oregon Inlet Road at 6:40 just in time to watch the school bus go by, carrying its precious cargo to Manteo. His heart goes out to all those little people who have to get up at 6 a.m to go to school---and to the parents who have to make them do it).

      He notes that today is the ultimate day of November (not the penultimate day which was yesterday).  This means the official beginning of winter is only three weeks away which will come as a surprise to Uncle Jack's little brother out in Minnesota where the temperature yesterday was zero degrees F.

     He should mention that he returned the terrific book about hurricanes and global warming that he talked about yesterday ("Storm World" by Chris Mooney) to the KDH library in case anybody else would like to read it. It's a good 'un.

     Yesterday's News and Observer article on the CRC's proposal to allow construction on newly renourished beaches reminded him of something he wrote a couple of years ago after Isabel paid her visit, to wit:

  The sun came up this morning and for a change Uncle Jack was there to see it.  It was a balmy 61 degrees at 6:30 so there was no reason not to hang around until 6:50 and watch it emerge from the sea and then disappear again behind a thick cloudbank.  Pretty. Unfortunately the rain moved in again  mid-morning and it looks like it's here to stay.

    The bad weather has given Uncle Jack lots of time to read for the past few days.  He just finished a very interesting book titled "Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics and the Battle Over Global Warming" by Chris Mooney, published by Harcourt in 2007.  Mooney is a New Orleans-based reporter who not surprisingly has a special interest in hurricanes.

     In this book he reviews the controversy raging among meteorologists and climatologists over the extent to which global warming will affect future hurricanes and the extent to which it may have already affected hurricanes of the recent past like Katrina.  2004 and 2005 were record-breaking years in the hurricane department, both in terms of the number of storms and their intensity.  This fact has led some scientists (and many non-scientists) to speculate that global warming is already a factor in hurricane production.  Others say there is no scientific evidence to support this view and the two sides have engaged in some battles royal at conferences and in the media in the past few years.

      The author does an excellent job of examining the evidence and reaches the conclusion (also reached by many scientists) that it doesn't really matter if global warming eventually makes hurricanes more frequent or more powerful than they are now.  The fact is that we will continue to have many hurricanes and powerful hurricanes, just as we have had in the past,  no matter what we are able to do about global warming.

    All scientists agree that there are some things that governments can do to mitigate somewhat the terrible destruction and loss of life that often results from hurricanes.  Building codes in hurricane prone areas can be strengthened, for example.  Steps can be taken to discourage building in especially vulnerable locations such as low-lying islands or beachfronts where the storm surge wreaks the greatest havoc.  Federally subsidized flood insurance which actually encourages building where it might otherwise be too costly should be eliminated. 

      You don't have to be a rocket scientist---or even a meteorologist---to see the merits of this approach to storm damage mitigation so it was distressing for Uncle Jack to read the following article which appeared in yesterday's Raleigh News and Observer. Read it and weep. 

 Plan would allow homes closer to the Atlantic

Wade Rawlins, Staff Writer.  The state's Coastal Resources Commission, which sets rules for shoreline development, is considering a major policy shift that would allow some homes to be built closer to the ocean than currently allowed.

A public hearing will be held today on easing rules for shoreline development in coastal towns that regularly pump sand onto their beaches. The Coastal Resources Commission will take written comments on the issue through Dec. 31 and might vote on the change in January.

The current rule says structures must be a certain distance from the first line of vegetation on the beach. Before a town pumps sand onto an eroding beach, the vegetation line is defined.

Town boosters, developers and oceanfront property owners have complained that the rule prevents scores of vacant lots from being developed and hundreds of older houses from being replaced after beach renourishment has added depth to the shoreline.

Defenders of the rule argue that renourished beaches provide a false sense of security and eventually wash away if not maintained. They say towns should be moving farther from the ocean, not closer to it.

Proponents of a change say that renourished beaches offer some protection and houses built to higher standards can withstand storms better than many older beach cottages.

Under the proposed change, towns with beach renourishment programs would be able to apply for a town-wide exception to the vegetation line if there are lots that can't meet the setback.

Jeff Warren, a coastal hazards specialist with the Division of Coastal Management, said the change, if approved by the Coastal Resources Commission next year, would allow some development closer to the ocean. Structures built under the exception would be limited to 2,000 square feet.

To qualify for the exception, towns would have to show they have a 30-year beach nourishment program and a way to pay for it.

"The effect of this is going to be felt more on the redevelopment," Warren said. "Some towns like this because it provides an economic engine to provide new structures and keep the health of their oceanfront alive."

wade.rawlins@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-

      Uncle Jack is pleased to report that the rain finally went away yesterday morning.  It was too late to get a sunrise picture but at least he and Mrs. U.J. were able to walk on the beach for the first time since Thanksgiving Day.

      The sky is clear again this morning and he did go up to the beach at 6:30 as is his wont but he didn't stick around long enough to actually watch the sun come up.  There's a stiff wind blowing out of the north that might not have discouraged Nelly Myrtle Pridgen from her daily beachwalk but she was made of sterner stuff than Uncle Jack.

      In anticipation of even worse weather to come he and Mrs. U.J. went over to the Y yesterday and renewed their membership. Uncle Jack spent just enough time in the gym to affirm that he has not lost his touch in the 15-20 foot range.  His quixotic goal this year is to hit 30 free throws in a row, thus improving on his previous best, reached last spring, of 28.  To paraphrase his Sam and Omie T-shirt , "Everybody should believe in something.....I believe I'll go shoot buckets".

      He has not lost sight of the fact that football season is in full swing so he rooted around in the archives and dug up this plaintive letter he got from a football widow back in the days when he was an underpaid newspaper columnist. Perhaps this will help you to kill a little time today.

       Uncle Jack regrets to report that it's another damp, drizzly, cloudy day in South Nags Head.  The sun presumably rose this morning but there has been no sign of it yet today. He hasn't been able to take a picture out of doors since last Wednesday.  Blechhh.

       He did read an excellent article about beach renourishment (remember beach renourishment?) to which he has provided a link below.  By an excellent article, of course, he means one that he agrees with completely. 

     Have a nice day.  He will see if he can't do better tomorrow.

     Uncle Jack trudged dutifully up to the beach at 6:30 this morning against his better judgment.  It's so windy, cold and nasty that he didn't even stick around long enough to watch the sun come up. Even so it's better than yesterday when the wind was blowing twice as hard and he didn't bother to leave the house.

     This was o.k., though, because as he mentioned yesterday he had a good book to read, namely Garrison Keillor's newest one about Lake Wobegon, Minnesota.  Uncle Jack has always had an affinity for Garrison Keillor's books because he grew up in a town in northern Wisconsin that is so much like Lake Wobegon it is uncanny.  Sometimes it seems like Garrison Keillor has been reading Uncle Jack's mind for ideas to put in his books.

      In the book he is reading now, for instance, called "Pontoon", the main character is a woman named Evelyn who has a sister named Florence.  Uncle Jack's mother's name was Florence and her sister's name was Evelyn. What are the chances of that happening by accident? Also Evelyn's husband's name was Jack so Florence's kids called him Uncle Jack all the time which was a little disconcerting.

     Another character's name is Lloyd which is a fairly unusual name these days.  Uncle Jack's sister's husband's name was Lloyd.  Sometimes Uncle Jack thinks Garrison Keillor owes him an explanation for all these "coincidences".

     Anyway like all of Garrison Keillor's books this one is drop-dead funny, especially for somebody who grew up in a town like Lake Wobegon and shares his dark vision of that experience.  Uncle Jack chose the adjective "drop-dead" advisedly because Keillor's humor is often as black as it comes.  A lot of folks in the upper Midwest, including not a few Lutherans, do not think he is the least bit funny and they wish he would go back to New York City and maybe take a flying leap off the Empire State Building.

     Uncle Jack hopes he stays in St. Paul and writes another book about Lake Wobegon.

     Uncle Jack is not ashamed to admit that he slept in this morning. A severe attack of heartburn in the middle of the night (no doubt brought on by the piece of dark chocolate cake and the slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream with which he topped off the mammoth plate of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, asparagus, carrots and gravy he had demolished a few minutes earlier) seriously interrupted his sleep.

    It was just as well that he slept past his usual wake-up time of 6 a.m. because the sun did not show this morning and the wind is blowing 25 knots out of the north and making the beach uninhabitable anyway.

      The sunrise pictured below is from Uncle Jack's sunrise DVD (105 of his most striking sunrise photos on one disk) of which he still has a few copies left if you're looking for a good stocking stuffer.  Just send him $10 at Box 554, Nags Head, N.C. 27959 and he will be happy to send you a copy toot sweet.

     For those readers who enjoy a good "deja vu" experience now and then you might want to click on the link (below) to an article about the Palm Beach, Florida beach erosion referendum which is coming up soon.  Any resemblance between Palm Beach and Nags Head is purely coincidental. (Or is it?)

       Uncle Jack will eschew shopping today in favor of sitting in his barcalounger and reading his anniversary gift from Mrs. U.J.----a copy of Garrison Keillor's most recent Lake Wobegon saga, called "Pontoon". An altogether salubrious way to spend "Black Friday" if you ask him. 

      Have a great day.

     What a difference a year makes.  Those who were here at Thanksgiving last year will remember the great storm that descended on the Outer Banks the day before Thanksgiving and made a terrible mess.  You can relive the whole thing by going to Uncle Jack's archives for November of 2006 and scrolling through several days' entries before, during and after Thanksgiving Day.  If it does rain later today as predicted it will seem as nothing compared to last year's hurley burley.

     Thanksgiving is always a very special time for Uncle Jack because he and Mrs. U.J. got hitched on Thanksgiving Day---thirteen years ago to be exact.  He is so thankful for Mrs. U.J. that he doesn't even mind that she invited twelve of her relatives over to celebrate with us. Happy Thanksgiving from both of us.

      It's another beautiful day in South Nags Head.  The sunrise was not spectacular but it happened and that's a good in the great scheme of things.

      Uncle Jack made a short video of the surf as it was behaving just before sunrise.  You can see and hear it by clicking on the YouTube link below the pictures.

       And now it's time to get to work.  With twelve guests coming to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow there is not a moment to lose.  Now where did Uncle Jack put that vacuum cleaner last year.....

     This could have been called "the morning of a dozen sunrises" as the sun worked its way up through layers of clouds and mist, presenting a different aspect every couple of minutes.  Fog is rolling in from all directions but it will probably burn off as the sun gets higher in the sky.  Should be another glorious day with temperatures in the high 60's by noon.

     Uncle Jack and Mrs. U.J. couldn't go walking until late yesterday afternoon by which time the wind had picked up, the temperature had dropped significantly and the surf was much rougher than earlier in the day.  They walked the mile from Whitecap street down to the O.B. pier with the wind at their backs and returned via the magnificent South Nags Head Multi-use Pedestrian Facility which offers some protection from a north wind. It was invigorating to say the least.

     Only one reader took a shot at identifying yesterday's mystery creature but Uncle Jack remains unconvinced. They are all gone this morning, probably not to return.

     What looks like another spectacular fall day on the Outer Banks has dawned. Lucky are the folks who are able to spend the entire week of Thanksgiving here because the weather people are predicting more of the same all the way through Thursday.

      Uncle Jack and Mrs. U.J. strolled the beach in the 19-21 milepost area yesterday afternoon.  This includes the section fronting the late Surfside Drive and the area just north of it which could be called "Sandbag City" at this point as the pictures suggest.

     The beach in that area was littered with round, translucent, parchment-like objects of a kind Uncle Jack has never seen before.  He has no clue as to what they might be (or might have been) and he is hoping the pictures below will enable one of the polymaths among his readers to tell him what they are (or were).  Some kind of denizen of the deep no doubt.

     It looks like today will be another fine day for beachwalking.  Who knows what Mother Nature will discard on the next tide.

     The Charlotte Observer had an informative piece on the erosion situation on Figure Eight island near Wilmington the other day.  You can check it out by clicking on the link below the pictures.  Very interesting reading.

     It's a glorious morning in South Nags Head.  No wind.  Lots of sunshine. A great day for beachwalking.

      Yesterday was something else. Uncle Jack and Mrs. U.J. were not about to brave the wind and blowing sand so they took a drive up the beach road to Duck just to see what was going on.  What they found is that at least a few developers are bravely going forward with major condominium developments in the face of the general downturn in real estate activity on the Outer Banks. 

      "First Flight Retreat" on the site of the old First Flight hotel in KDH appears to be well on the way toward completion by next summer.  An artist's rendering puts it smack up against the frontal dune where it seems to be daring Mother Nature to take her best shot. It's a big, three-story building so the "retreat" in the name doesn't seem to have anything to do with moving back at some point in the globally warming future.

     Old timers will remember that the "Croatan Surf Club" replaces the venerable Croatan Inn which later morphed into Papagayo's restaurant and still later into Quagmire's popular eatery and drinkery.  Concrete pilings are in for what appears to be a very large building with all kinds of amenities with units starting at a mere $549,990.

    Meanwhile back in Sonag the battered old Bodie Island Beach Club, a former timeshare, is getting a new lease on life (however brief it may turn out to be) and is returning to the market as the Ocean Palms Oceanfront Condominium.  The buildings sport a new coat of Florida-style pastel paint and a dozen palm trees have sprouted around the parking lot so it looks right at home in the new South Nags Head. Those familiar with this building's history might have suggested "The Caveat Emptor" as an appropriate name for the new venture but Uncle Jack has to admit that "Ocean Palms" has a nice ring to it.   

     Uncle Jack got to the beach this morning before the sun rose but he didn't hang around long enough to actually watch it come up.  He decided before he was halfway there that the icy wind was not conducive to his already shaky health so he took two quick pictures and beat it.  No harm done as far as he can tell.

     Uncle Jack is pleased to report that he finally got to the beach to take a picture of the sunrise this morning.  It didn't amount to much as sunrises go but it was good to see all his morning beachwalking buddies again after almost six months away.

     The beach is wide and flat and showing many signs of the recent passage of Hurricane Noel.  Most of the bulldozed faux dunes of last spring have vanished again so the rites of Sysiphus, South Nags Head style, will no doubt resume soon.  The northeasters of winter will be arriving before we know it. Whoopee.

     The parlous state of Uncle Jack's health prevented him from trudging up to the beach at dawn but he did make an obligatory trip to Manteo later in the day and took a few pictures of new buildings that have popped up during his long absence.  He is pleased to report that he is healing rapidly and is quite optimistic about seeing tomorrow's sunrise with his own eyes. 

     He forgot to mention that the good citizens of Camden last Tuesday voted against the proposal by Wayfarer Marine to convert four waterfront acres, now used for boat storage, into a condominium development.  The vote was about two to one against in spite of a massive propaganda barrage by the company in the weeks running up to the election.  You can fool some of the people some of the time.....

     Uncle Jack has been home for three days now and he still hasn't been up to the beach.  His long walk on a cold, windy beach in Seaside Park, N.J. last week brought on a cold which developed into bronchitis which he is still fighting. He apologizes to all those readers who have been searching in vain for a fresh Sonag sunrise and he hopes that maybe by tomorrow he will be able to produce one---with an assist from Mother Nature, of course.

    Enjoy the long weekend.

      Uncle Jack made a slight miscalculation regarding his arrival time in Nags Head so there won't be a "sunrise in Sonag" quite yet.  Maybe Saturday morning if all goes well. The best he could do this morning was last night's sunset taken from the soundside in Seaside Park, N.J. where he and Mrs. U.J. visited friends for the past couple of days.

     They are in Rehoboth Beach this Friday morning whence they will wend their way down routes 1, 50, 113, 13, 64, 168, and 158, each in its turn, to Sonag today.  Here are a few pictures from along the way.