This is the school I attended until fourth grade in a little town just South of the New York State border
in Eldred, PA. In the midst of the Alleghany Mountains and the Alleghany River.
It was a small town – perhaps 1000 people – most I knew and most knew me.
This at that time was grade 1 thru 12 – made of wood constructed sometime in the 1800’s I believe.
The windows in the front first floor where I attended first grade – and those trees were huge when I was there.
It was then that three towns and the township combined to form the Otto-Eldred school district –
a new elementary school was built and I attended fifth and sixth grade there.
The new elementary school – right across from the ballpark – tennis courts and playgrounds,
I rode my bike to every day during the summer.
The school is still there to this day – 60-plus years later and looks much as it does here.
Here is the town as it looked during the Hurricane of 1972 which became known in our area as the FLOOD OF ’72!
Twelve feet of water on the main street – we were trapped in the area for almost two weeks as no way in or out.
The little town is also known for its WWII museum – and has bus tours – put it on your bucket list as something to see out of the way in a little town where everyone knows your name.
Otto-Eldred High School – located in Duke Center some 7 or 8 miles away.
Today – the population is way down – we had over 100 kids when I graduated in our senior class of 1967.
Today I believe there is far less than that in the senior class.
But my four years here are full of memories – childhood friends some of whom I still see and are in contact with.
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IN THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS in the valley sits a little town called Eldred, Pa.
MY SCHOOLS GROWING UP IN ELDRED, PA. PAOA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Ella Myers – number 10 – junior at Randolph College – Co-Captain – Midfielder – our granddaughter!
This is the third season for her – the only Freshman to start every game and almost every minute and continued through her Sophomore season.
She sustained a nerve injury during Spring practice to her left leg from the back of the knee down to the ankle. Casing 24-7 pain – during many doctors – physical training – x-rays and MRI – she has chosen to continue her soccer playing.
The coaches are easing her into playing time – this game she played 30 plus minutes – limping off the field but knowing this is her choice and she excels at it while in the game.
Ella – number 10 at her midfield position after an out-of-bounds play.
On the throw-in-in – she took the ball and dribbled toward the box – seeing her teammate, she sent a bullet pass – the teammate broke free and went one-on-one with the goalie in the box –
firing a shot that went wide by inches – should have been a goal.
They ended up losing – 1-0 – the first loss of the season – from a perfect corner kick that curved into the far corner of the goal out of reach from the goalie.
A tired Ella – with her leg still bandaged – and holding bags of ice – with our family who came to cheer her on!
Ella is climbing back to that mountain top – painful as it is – living her dream of college and soccer.
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A sense of humor – our “WHY” we moved South – snow – ice – now sand and surf!
Equality among men and women – equal pay – equal rights – humanity – law and order – great military strength here and abroad – freedom – voting rights – respect – all I believe in.
I have always seemed to improve – learn – history – believe in God – be myself – loving – human!
Life is short – now in my senior years – living life to the plus one day at a time!
If I am going to play golf – I need patience and humor! LOL
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Never walking alone for he is carrying me! PAPA’S WORLD!
It all started for Sherry and me on June 25th. 1982 when we were married – the second time for the both of us – combining my two sons with her two daughters!
Today – both daughters are married with families of their own – living in NVA where we moved from.
My two sons still live back in NWPA and have come down to visit last summer.
The rest of the family has also visited and we look forward to everyone returning!
We still explore and do different things – dressing up for Halloween – driving new roads and seeing as much as possible!
Our friends visit – Bob and I went to grade school and then graduated from the same H.S.
Lifelong friends and now with Pam – his second wife – fun times!
Our only grandson from Sherry’s side – Bode – going to follow in the footsteps of his cousins whom both play and played soccer in college – Bode is going to be another soccer player!
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PICTURES TELL MEMORIES OF FAMILY – and now we are living our dream near the beaches!
Here in Cameron Woods Community – we have fantastic sunsets – this is the view from our driveway
And yet you turn 180 degrees and you have the same in fantastic sunrises!
We also can go out to the same spot and see STARLINK come across those same sunset sky’s!
We can google STARLINKS and see the time and direction that it will appear in a cloudless night sky!
What you see here is a straight line of dozens of space internet satellites known as STARLINKS
which are launched by Space X – and Elon Musk!
To date, there are some 4500 hundred of these circling the earth bringing internet service to remote areas and the vast amount of the population on this Earth!
It is an exciting sight to view them as they cross the sky in a straight line of dozens of White Satellites.
Our sky here is an experience almost every day with white and gray clouds!
We live in a great area for daytime and nighttime views of the sky!
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Our good friends Pam and Bob – whom I went to school with grade school through graduation.
Next month they will stop by on their RV tour and spend some time with us! MEMORY!
Our oldest granddaughter – Maddy – graduated from the University of Lynchburg with a degree in Environment Science – and played four years of soccer – As a Sophomore was third-team all-conference – Junior second-team all-conference and as a Senior Captain of the team –
Two out of four years they made it to the NCAA tournament!
One year was shortened by the COVID-19 Pandemic! Memory!
Our oldest daughter Debby and Mike and the granddaughters – Ella – Maddy and Sarah! Memory!
On one of our adventures of Kayaking on the marsh of the ICW in Ocean Isle Beach! Memory!
Our dream place – a ten-minute drive – sitting on the beach under the umbrella! Memory!
Our twin granddaughters who now are thirteen – Cassidy and Taylor – Memory!
Sherry with one of her best friends – Cindy – Golfing! Memory!
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Us – 1982 – married – PICTURES THROUGH TIME!
My two sons – Troy and Shawn! Memory!
Our youngest grandchildren – Cassidy – Bode and Taylor! Memory!
Over the years we have experienced so many fond memories – family and friends!
The family gathers back in NWPA where it all started at Mount Nebo – a Swedish Lutheran Church built by ancestors in 1886 – in Mount Jewett, Pa.
The church today still holds special services throughout the year and the town has a yearly Swedish Festival celebrating the heritage of the immigrants from Sweden who settled here!
The church is now considered a historical church as it is eight-sided and modeled after a church still in Sweden.
Some nineteen years ago – Sherry and I and her mother Barb and sister Debbie – journeyed to Denmark – Sweden, and Norway for a ten-day bus trip exploring the countries!
Going back to where her ancestors came from was a highlight for Sherry and her family!
Some day we would like to take a trip to where my ancestors came from in Ireland!
Now we have a set of twins – Cassidy and Taylor who just turned thirteen years old!
Here is what they came home to all those years ago!
Cassidy and Taylor with their mother Tammy – all three have the same birthday which was not planned!
At three years old – while selling their home – the family moved in with us – and here they are at our front door – Cassidy on the left and Taylor on the right.
I still remember the time I found them in the downstairs half bath – with the door shut and they had set up house playing in there – so cute!
Today Cassidy and Taylor with Bode who will turn nine – Cassidy is 5′ 4″ and is gaining on Taylor who is 5’7″ and will be close to 5’10 when done growing!
Bode is also going to be tall and all three take after Sherry who is 5’9″ – Ella is 5’9″ and Sarah is the same as our other granddaughters. Maddy is 5’6″.
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Oftentimes we will come to Sunset Beach just to see the Sunset – but – you also can come at dawn to see the Sunrise – above is the Sunset – next to the Sunrise!
At low tide, the expanse of the beach is flat and wide in the early dawn of the day.
Quiet – almost deserted as the Labor Day weekend has passed.
The water is still very warm – and we saw a lot of fish jumping in the surf and a little farther out two Dolphins!
The Sun just peeking above the horizon and a jet plane leaves a white trail across the sky!
Just enjoy the quiet walk – the sounds of the surf and the wide wet sand of SUNSET BEACH AT DAWN!
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WALKING SUNSET BEACH TO SEE THE SUNRISE in N.C. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
On our recent trip to Ashville, N.C. – we booked a comedy tour – including a couple hours of driving and stopping all around Ashville – while being entertained by two comics!
Our tour guide and comic – put on a hilarious monologue – and would be joined by another comic at different stops all over town.
Each time he would get on in a different disguise and then at a stop – get back off!
The whole tour was fun – and these two were very good!
I do not know how he made it to stop to stop – and his different parts were in different voices!
We even stopped at a brewery for a bathroom break and could purchase a can of beer that could only be opened and drank on the bus!
The lobby of LaZoom Comedy Tour – very comfortable and they had drinks there to purchase!
The decorations were really outrageous – but also very comfortable.
At the brewery for our rest stop and Sherry with a very good craft beer.
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PAPA’S WORLD – COMEDY BUS TOUR – LAZOOM – ASHVILLE, N.C. PAPA’S WORLD!
To think these magical gardens are over 100 years old – it takes your breath away!
Here is where thousands of trees – plants and flowers were carefully cultivated to bring life back to a land cleared for farming!
I can not imagine the cost of building this and maintaining it; it still functions today!
The arrangements and colors are breathtaking – the entire average surrounding the estate is a result of years of planting trees – shrubs, and plants that flower.
Cindy and Sherry are inside the greenhouse with thousands of plants.
It is stunning that this is still going on all these years.
If you visit – walk the walled-in gardens and visit the greenhouse – you will not be disappointed.
THE BILTMORE ESTATE GARDENS in ASHVILLE, N.C.
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One of our day trips while in Ashville, N.C. was to Lexington Glass Works – where we watched Hand Blown Glass being transformed into beautiful glassware!
In this picture are four artisans working the glass in front of the kilns!
How they shape the glass – blowing it and adding colors all by hand.
I will post some of the finished glass in a beautiful array of colors mounted on the wall and shelf!
The pieces are all hand-done and costly – but well worth it!
All displayed in unique ways – a do not touch or handle sign – asks you to request help and they are very quick to respond!
All pieces were priced and a steady flow of customers was coming and going – the process was very detailed with the employees describing each step in the process and interacting with the customers.
We selected an aqua blue and white pumpkin that matched items we had at home!
Not seen here as these were much larger!
The detail is amazing in this mirror with a wall reflecting back!
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LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS ASHVILLE, N.C.
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On a recent trip with our good friends Cindy and Buck – we scheduled a tour of the brewery –
Sierra Nevada – just outside Ashville, N.C.
Entrance to the lobby and what a sight to behold – really beautiful – well done!
The kitchen is to the left – the bar in the middle is serviced from all sides – and seating is all around.
You had over a dozen on-tap brews!
The draft beer list is on tap! We also had a beer tasting at the end of the tour.
From here you can see into the different rooms and some we were allowed to go into with the guide!
The hops room and as soon as I entered it smelled just like beer!
Five copper vats for each stage of brewing!
There were two of these vats for the final stage. Everything was so clean – their first brewery is in Chico, Calif.
We also could see the plant floor although it was past quitting time – all the cans and bottles were packed by hand – and the whole place was very clean.
We had a great tour and tasted four very good beers – one of which is only made for this brewery here for tasting – that was my favorite – a German brew!
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PAPA’S WORLD – SIERA NEVADA BREWERY – ASHVILLE, N.C.
After dinner, I said to Sherry – “Want to go to Sunset Beach – get ice cream and stand on the deck”?
That is Southern Beach Living!
Living the Salt Life!
Our view of the Gazebo on Sunset Beach where we stood with our cups of small ice cream!
This is where the bathrooms – showers and free parking are!
If you turn around – you are looking at the beach – pier and ocean – we stood here and a bonus – there was live music on the pier we could listen to – that is why all the people faced the pier!
Looking West from this spot – the dunes – the pay-for parking lot – and the first row of houses – oceanfront means long walkways over the protected dunes to the beach and ocean!
Because the coastline here is on a curve – the beach faces almost South and a little bit East!
From Charleston, S.C. to Wilmington, N.C. the coast looks like a quarter-moon crescent!
Sort of like a huge coastline bay!
Most storms come up from Charleston and then make a beeline to Wilmington – Cape Fear River area and then onto the Outer Banks!
I believe the last Hurricane to cause disaster damage was in the 50s!
Sea oats on the dune – we can be here in 15 minutes – but we have the island – the ICW and the main coastline between us and the ocean.
So far we have experienced a tropical storm and a grade 1 Hurricane, a number 2 is pushing it for me – but could remain – it is the wind and the trees I fear the most!
Living the Salt life – choosing to be here – living life one day at a time!
Thanks for reading and as always HGD!
PAPA’S WORLD – EVENING TRIP TO SUNSET BEACH -ICE CREAM! My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
We had told our neighbors about the “SHAG DANCE” and how we ventured into a dance club while living for nine months in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
You walk through the “JUKE BOX DOORS” into the past – the 40s – 50s – 60s – 70s – 80s – 90s and still going strong in the 2000s!!!!
Over 80 years – a dance was born in this area – from rhythm and blues – swing – jitterbug and rock and roll all wrapped up in one called “THE SHAG”!
You look up at the water tower and a couple is dancing – and “FAR HAROLDS” is THE CLUB!
The past 80 years are on the walls in pictures – plaques – trophies – name plates on the bar top –
a dance floor with one wall covered with ceiling-to-floor mirrors!
And – we arrived at 6:30pm. thinking we could just walk in and get a table!
It was STANDING ROOM only!
A small portion of the people in the club – and another back room and bar was closed!
6:30 pm. WEDNESDAY night and dozens of folks were dancing the night away –
you could not walk on the dance floor!
I took this picture between songs and a break – if you look toward the right side back of the room –
you can see the control room of the DJ and this was being broadcast live on 94.9 THE SURF –
the classics and beach music station on NMB!
We brought our neighbors Bill and Marcea –
and before we left – it was can we come back and take dance lessons!!!!
Papa – Bill – Marcea – Sherry at “FAT HAROLDS”! Note the pictures on the wall – Shag competitions over the years – they have a week of Shag Dancing every four months all over the town –
Live music in all the clubs.
Stay tuned for DANCE LESSONS – learning how to do the”SHAG DANCE at FAT HAROLDS BEACH CLUB”
PAPA’S WORLD – SOMEWHERE NEAR THE BEACH IS A CLUB – FAT HAROLDS!!!!!!
On The ICW – in Little River – sits BLUE DRUM – a restaurant that we have begun to frequent!
Next door to a marina – it opened a few months ago and we have been there three times!
One of the highlights for us is watching the boat traffic on the ICW – while eating lunch –
and seeing them dock and come up to eat!
You can sit on the covered porch or inside at the bar and tables or go down by the dock under umbrellas – protected from the harsh sun!
Peggy and Sherry looking out over the railing to the umbrellas and the ICW and boat docking!
The wind here cools things down with gentle breezes.
Our table is in the foreground – mostly shaded by the covered roof on the deck.
Next door is the boat marina where a neighbor of ours stores his boat.
We left here and went down toward Barefoot Landing before coming back.
We visited with Peggy and Adam Lawrence – who Sherry and I worked with back at the American Olean Tile Company in Olean, N.Y.
Adam was head of the Process – Engineering Department and my boss.
He now runs a very successful consulting business from Lancaster, Pa.
Sherry – Papa – Adam and Peggy – we have met up for the last couple of years when they come back each year to NMB for their vacation which they have done for years!
Great to see friends from WNY and talk about the past and future – at BLUE DRUM on the ICW!
Note the new add-on deck – done since our last visit a few weeks ago!
PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
My very early years were growing up in a little town in NWPA known as Eldred.
Not big – about 800 to 1000 in a good year!
My youth was spent roller skating – playing Kick the Can with neighborhood kids.
Throwing apples at the train cars as they sped past.
Smoking corn silk in a corncob pipe.
Playing in the sawdust hill up the street and sleeping out on the front porch in an old army bag of my brothers-in-law.
I had to walk from our home on North Main Street all the way across town to South Main Street and the High School – grades 1 through 12!
Often I would walk the tracks until the creek and then along the sidewalk.
One day – I was wearing my Davy Crockett Coon Skin hat – I stopped and put it on the bridge railing and then stuck my head through to look down at the water.
And there I was stuck!
My ears popped out and I could not pull my head back through.
Needless to say, the fire department came to the rescue – embarrassing my older brother by ten years who was in H.S. then.
Pictured here is the OLD HIGH SCHOOL where I attended until the end of grade four!
They built a brand new Elementary school for grades K thru 6 –
And combined three communities – Eldred – Duke Center and Rixford and Eldred Township.
The front windows were first grade – taught by Mrs. Shields.
It was a grand old building – I think built in the late 1800s.
In the winter we would sled ride down the hill to the right which also was a large cemetery.
Eldred, Pa. was before the movie “STAND BY ME”!
What you saw in that movie was exactly as it was in our little town where everyone knew your name –
and if you did anything wrong – your parents knew all about it before you got home!
Today – we live in the South – near the border of N.C. and S.C. – by the beaches!
My childhood memories have followed me here along with contact with friends I grew up with.
I do not get back there often – staying in touch with the few relatives I have left.
My family I grew up with are all gone and are in the cemetery up in Barden Brook.
We are 12 to 15 hours away – a long drive and no close airport other than Buffalo which still requires over a two-hour drive and a rental car.
Sherry – Papa – Pam – wife of my childhood buddy – grade school until graduation – Bobby!
We had many adventures that I can not put on here and today see each other about once a year.
We played sports together all those years – and now we have memories we talk about!
We are seniors in our sunset years yet living life to the plus – they RVing and us living our dream of the Salt Life.
My other best buddy along with Bobby – Jimmy – played years and years of softball and now golf!
Staying in touch – sharing good times in the NOW of my life!
Jimmy is also from that same little town!
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The “THEN” of the start of our life together – 6-25-1982!
The “NOW” of our life together – on the ICW off OIB in N.C. living life to the plus one day at a time!
In my many nights of Turtle Nest sitting – I came to the conclusion that it is about much more than protecting Sea Turtles!
One week in particular – a young boy – 12 years old – would always seek me out when he came to the nest!
His name was Henry – and even though I might be on the opposite side of the nest – he made it a point of walking to the shoreline and then coming back up the rope to where I stood!
He would talk to me – ask me questions and ask if he could be an intern next year.
I gave him the information – and answered all that I could to his questions.
He reminded me so much of our grandson Bode –
he had that inquisitive nature.
He was polite – and after a while would say I have to go now – but I will be back again
and so he did – each day – searching until he found me.
I met his cousins and siblings – he would go into the water as I watched and body ride the waves.
Each day checking in to see if anything was happening to the baby turtle.
On his last night of vacation – he came up to me and said he would be leaving in the morning –
I said to him it was a pleasure meeting you and if I do not see him again – good luck and follow your dream of being an intern here at OIB.
He looked at me and said, “You won’t be here next year”?
I said I would be here and he said then “I WILL SEE YOU”!
Yes HENRY – I will look for you for this made my day – a young person looking up to me –
This is a bonus in NEST SITTING for me – A YOUNG BOY NAMED HENRY!
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PAPA’S WORLD – A BOY NAMED HENRY! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
DISCLAIMER: The work for protected Sea Turles is authorized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission – PERMIT ST020232
We now go to the beach at dusk – joining other teams in helping where ever we can!
So goes our Senior living years!
Below is a beach sunset at Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Warm – water is warm – crowds have gathered –
and we are assigned the edge of the water – keeping people informed and back from the trench!
The beachgoers line the ropes and peer up the trench – which was made for the baby turtles to make their way to the ocean – LOGERHEADS!
The nest was being opened after 75 days!
It was colder than usual in Spring and early Summer with lots of rain.
This formed a crust at the entrance to the nest making it hard for the little turtles to break through.
Being not hot also made the hatching go up to day number 75 which at that time the OIBSTPO is given permission by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to “OPEN” the nest!
When this happens the team goes into training mode – each with duty and as in our case –
lend a hand and foot to help out!
They emerge from the nest and head for the Ocean – sound and sight guide them – the ocean WHITE CAPS – their instinct is to go toward the light!
The White Caps represent that.
Heading toward the ocean along the trench made just for the reason to get them to and into the surf!
Team members are there to guide them by placing a gloved hand down on the sand to direct them if they try to climb the edge and go in another direction.
If they flip over – do not help them – they are ingrained to right themselves.
Bright lights from outdoor lights can draw them to that direction so we ask that vacationers turn out the lights outside.
Most accommodate – as foxes wait in that direction.
Getting them to the water and into the surf is what volunteering is all about –
being educated along the way – three to four nights of information from the training leader.
Going down the trench – heading for the water – the crowd is now in the hundreds – lining the trench and
spread out along the beach –
we now have eight volunteers lateral along the dry sand spaced out to keep the people back and to keep everyone calm as the surf washes the babies back among their feet!
“FREEZE – DON’T MOVE we calmly say together!
We keep our eyes glued to the babies – and they make it into the water and ZOOM out to sea!
One more baby SEA TURTLE makes it thanks to volunteers – the satisfaction of being a help in the protection of an endangered species!
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PAPA’S WORLD – WE HELP ANOTHER SEA TURTLE NEST TEAM ON OIB!
I have known Bob since grade school – all these years and still friends!
PJ is his second wife and Sherry is my second wife – we have been married for over 41 years!
Here was last fall when they visited in their RV and we went on a Kayak tour of the marsh along the ICW!
Best buddies since middle school and Senior H.S.
What can I say – for 35 to over 40 years we have been friends thick and thin – from family vacations on the beach to travel over the world – to golfing and to parties –
Friends the entire time – and get-togethers a couple times a year –
to now living 35 minutes away from one couple to soon one other couple 3 hours away.
FRIENDS FOR ALWAYS!
Three very good friends – always laughing – singing – sipping wine and beer – doing shots –
but just being friends!
Watching BILLS games together – we are all from the WNY and NWPA area – BILLS COUNTRY!
Time and time again – the three ladies – smiling – laughing – FRIENDS!
PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
We are living our dream – living on the N.C -S.C. border – close to so many really fine golf courses!
Our close friends live 35 minutes away and we get together often – golf and dinner.
We are so close to a couple beaches – 15 minutes and we are on the sand at either one.
We get to watch the change over every weekend – much as we did in our younger years when we vacationed at the beach – now we live it every day.
The footprints disappear only to be made over and over again each day.
No more snow and ice – yes it does get cold – but by midday, it is bearable to be out and about.
Living life one day at a time!
We have now watched our oldest granddaughter graduate from college – sad that soccer has ended with her – but happy that it continues with her sister in her junior year at college.
We have volunteered at the memory care unit and now the SEA TURTLE PROTECTION program for N.C.
Ocean Isle Beach – walking the beach and sitting at nesting sites.
WE ARE LOVING LIFE IN OUR NEAR TO BE MID SEVENTY!
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The sun sets for this day – one of many – many we have enjoyed in our new life in retirement!
Disclaimer: The work for protected Sea Turtles by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission –
PERMIT – ST020232
The storm was building while we were there at the beginning of 7PM.
The clouds drifted in and you could see the front coming from the West.
Because of how the coastline curves – OIB almost faces South!
The sky to the North West was getting dark.
The clouds are moving in and behind them in the distance is lightning!
View down the beach toward the West end – the wind picked up and radar showed lightning strikes some 13 to 15 miles away!
Sherry still talking to folks but we were watching the weather on our phones!
Around 9PM. the team leader said it was time to go – so we picked up – packed everything up and got the trench smooth in case they hatched when no one was there!
Safety first – be off the beach if lightning strikes are within 10 miles!
Thanks for reading – we were off the beach and had reached home by 9:20 PM. and it opened up with a downpour – wind and lightning!
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PAPA’S WORLD – STORM MOVES IN WHILE SEA TURTLE NESTING WATCH!!!!!
Ocean Isle Beach – Disclaimer: The work for protected Sea Turtles by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Oermit ST020232.
We have joined not only the WALKING GROUP – but also the NEST PARENTS group starting on day 55 after the Sea Turtle has laid her eggs – of “Watching the nest ” until they have hatched.
This requires a team of 10 individuals to go through hands-on training while at the place nest for four hours in the early evening – each night until the Sea Turtles have hatched.
Hatching usually occurs between Day # 70 to Day # 75.
The team gathers as the Team Leader explains a phase of Sea Turtle Nesting – always reminding them that this is a public beach and part of the training is to educate people on just why we do this.
Everything you see in this picture has been installed by the Sea Turtle of OIB Protection volunteer organization.
At the beginning and end of each watch session – the volunteer team cleans and smoothes the trench from the nest to the water line.
Installing a rope barrier for crowd control and to make sure the baby turtles have a clear path to the water.
Team members place their chairs between the rope barrier and the trench to have easy access when the hatching begins.
Past history has been the babies will hatch after it cools down for the day and the sand is not so hot.
Those hours are generally 7Pm. to 11PM.
Team members interact with the spectators and encourage them to watch and ask questions.
There can be upwards of 200 to 300 people who stop by or bring their chairs to wait for the hatching!
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PAPA’S WORLD – NEST SITTING FOR SEA TURTLES ON OIB, N.C.
Disclaimer: The work for protected Sea Turtles is authorized by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission – PERMIT: ST200232
The Sea Turtles Protection on Ocean Isle Beach is a volunteer organization.
Many – many volunteers dedicated to the Sea Turtles hatching and as many as possible reaching the waters of the Ocean.
Also – to protect TURTLE NESTS along the beach from predators and educate the public on the survival of the Sea Turtles who come to the beach to lay their eggs.
Nesting is usually done overnight – leaving huge TURTLE CRAWL TRACTS on the beach – digging a hole and laying the eggs.
The SEA TURTLE ten covers the nest, slowly crawls back to the ocean – the mother never sees the little turtles – and can lay eggs several more times.
The beach is patrolled by an ATV every morning before 5:30 am. and Beach walkers at 6am.
Nests are called in and a response team comes and verify the nest and sets up protection and takes GPS coordinates.
Female Sea Turtles only start producing eggs at the age of 25 years old –
Through DNA testing of eggs – they can be tracked all up and down the coast of N.C. – S.C. – Ga. –
and the Northern part of Florida.
They have the DNA of a daughter Turtle – its mother and its grandmother which would be at least 75 years old!
The Sea Turtles return to lay eggs all up and down the coast and sometimes come back to the same beach.
Thanks for reading and here are some pictures of the preparation to protect the nests.
Here the nest has been prepped for protection – the mesh rolled back to bury a microphone to listen to the babies moving around in the nest.
The sounds they make are then compared to several recorded sounds on an app on the leader’s phone.
You then compare the sounds to the app to try and pinpoint how many days are left before they hatch.
The team comes each night at 7PM. and sits for four hours – they will do this each night until the nest hatches.
Past data collected shows that the nest will hatch within this time frame but it can occur outside of this,
these are dedicated volunteers – it could stretch into weeks of watching and waiting!
Installing the microphone by burying it next to the nest at the same depth – it records people 50 to 75 feet away talking and moving about.
This is put down to keep foxes out of the nest – when they hatch this will be moved out of the way.
Team members listening to the sounds from the nest Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD –
livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – SEA TURTLE NEST PROTECTION – ON OCEAN ISLE BEACH
Our SENIOR years are here – we are close to the middle 70s. Yet we are still active – always exploring!
Here we are on the marshes of the ICW – near OIB N.C.
We moved here for the weather ( we both hate snow-ice and cold) close to beaches and golf
and our dear friends are only 40 minutes away!
Have a sense of humor – be kind and share a smile!
When family visits – the sunsets but rises to begin a new day with them!
One of our walks on the beach brings us a Turtle Nest – so we became involved – walking early mornings on Turtle Beach Patrol – looking for signs of turtles – protected by the state of N.C.
Disclaimer: The work for protected SEA TURTLES is authorized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission – PERMIT ST020232
We now walk and nest sits – all volunteers – dedicated people – to help Sea Turtles survive.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – LIVING LIFE IN OUR SENIOR YEARS! THANKS FOR READING AND HGD!
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