Autumn on the Outer Banks

Autumn is officially here and the weather on the Outer Banks is typically exquisite. Not a cloud in the sky, almost no chance of rain for the entire week, temperatures in the mid to upper 70s and the air is dry, crisp and clean.

The Outer Banks has become a mecca for an active outdoor lifestyle–and as good as other times of the year may be for all the things there are to do here, fall is in a class by itself

The surfing has been typically varied this September, ranging from outstanding to good. A little bit of chop today, but things should be smoothing out later in the week with a good possibility of swells by the weekend. It’s all courtesy of a series of tropical, subtropical and surface lows that have very courteously remained out to sea.

There’s a wonderful northeast breeze today and and conditions should be ideal for kiteboarding or windsurfing throughout the week. The winds are predicted to be a bit soft on Thursday, but then should be picking up again by the weekend.

Bicyclers have been out everywhere, taking advantage of the perfect temperatures for riding and a breeze that is manageable.There are interconnecting bike paths from the Currituck County line at Sanderling in Duck all the way to Bodie Island Light in South Nags Head.

For our visitors, the paths are often an eye opening window into a side to the Outer Banks that many people never knew existed. The ride through Kitty Hawk Woods in Kitty Hawk is more like a ride through a hardwood forest in the mountains. That bike trail continues to a little used side road–Moor Shore Drive–in Kitty Hawk, and then becomes a beautiful four mile ride along Albemarle Sound.

Autumn seems to be the racing time of year. We just completed the Outer Banks Triathlon this past weekend and it all culminates with the Outer Banks Marathon Weekend, November 9-11.

In between, there are outdoor activities every weekend. There are a couple of bike rallies this coming weekend (5th Annual Outer Banks Bike Fest and the 2012 NC State H.O.G. Rally) complete with poker runs, pig pickin’, live music and bike shows. Both run Wednesday through Saturday.

The weekend also brings the 10th Annual Outer Banks Charity Classic at a couple of area tennis clubs and finally the WRV Outer Banks Pro Surf Contest is this weekend at Jennette’s Pier.

And we’re not even to October yet, which may have even more weekend activities scheduled . . . although most of that is music–outdoor venues, of course.