RE: Tybee Island Day 3

Monday 12/18/17

     Though I still had another day off and would have liked to stay one more night, I decided to head for home.  Yes, a rainy day at the beach is still a day at the beach, it’s just not the same. The weather forecasters were calling for the rain to begin around 8A and be off and on through much of the day.

      In all honesty, I wasn’t even expecting anything for sunrise.  Considering the impending rain, I would have been happy with just a little color on thee horizon, I never expected what would manifest over the course of the next hour. 

      Years ago, I took my first trip to Las Vegas.  My first time walking the Strip was a damp, gray afternoon.  When it started to rain, I ducked into the Paris Casino.  The ceiling over the gaming floor is painted sky blue with small, puffy clouds randomly scattered.  For a few seconds my brain registered that I was in an outdoor casino on a sunny day.  Having come in from the rain, it was a little trippy.  

       I mention this because it happened again on my way to the beach.  Above me was a thick mass of clouds, with a bright swath of muted colors off in the far distance.  As I crested the walkway over the dunes, my brain registered that I was in a very large, dark room with a low ceiling.  It was a little weird.  

       After a couple of seconds, my head cleared and I regretted not bringing my camera tripod.(I keep one in the trunk of the car so I had no excuse) I put the camera down on the walkway since it was the only level, stable surface I had.  This is a four second exposure of what I was experiencing.

    Yeah, I should have brought the tripod.  But, you get the idea.  Over the course of the next hour, the clouds broke up and I was treated to another gorgeous sunrise.  It was extra special since I was convinced I'd get little or nothing out of it.  

        With the sun finally peaking over the horizon, something made me turn around and look behind me.  The travel gods were smiling upon me...

    As I stood and watched, a second rainbow started forming, with vague hints of perhaps a third.

     For the next few minutes I alternated watching the sunrise and seeing the rainbow grow and enlarge, coming to life before my eyes.

     It was finally time to call it a day when the promised rain began to splatter.  I didn't care if I got a little wet.  I just didn't have anything to cover the camera.  The weather gods were kind and the heavy stuff didn't start until I had pulled out of the motel and started for home.  

     The drive home was easy and I managed to made it home in record time.  The back roads brought me back to Fayetteville with one more stop to make.  There are two Kroger grocery stores in town.  The one further away is the nicest and largest.  Being close, I stopped in for some basic necessities.  That's where I ran into Akil.  He was an audio op for CNN for a long time and left the company three years ago.  I hadn't seen him since.  We had a long talk in the aisle catching up.  Just a perfect ending to a great weekend getaway.

David 12/17

PS: While late November and all of December can get busy, January us generally fairly light since not many people take vacations then.  So, after covering New Year’s Week, I have another four day weekend.  My shift that Friday ends at 6P.  At 8P I’ll be on a flight out to Jersey.  I’ll be getting together with good friends Saturday night, then taking the train into the city on Sunday to visit with my Sis.  Monday I’ll be off exploring and heading home Tuesday.  Can't wait!