The Apprentice's Trail
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I took a week to 10 days before I started at Barr's to go to the coast.
August ended with Hurricane David scrafing the eastern seaboard before finally wearing down over the Canadian Maritimes. 
David's track 
My summer after highschool, I had hitchhiked out to Cedar Island to catch the state run ferry & cross the Pamilco Sound to Ocracoke Island, where I spent the summer. |
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Three years later, in 1979,
Ocracoke was a habit. With August waning, I made my annual trek across the state for fish, shrimp & a wave or two. |
Ocracoke Island, August '79
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South Point - Ocracoke Island, August '79
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South Point - Ocracoke Island, August '79 Watching for David
David chased me off Oracoke, up the Outer Banks & into Virginia. Just south of Norfolk I turned west on Hwy 58 & headed for the hills. The storm had spread out over North Carolina & Virginia, so, unbeknownst to me, turning west was heading into the fray. |
The hurricane tracked NNW up out of Savannah, Ga. We met as I crossed the Blue Ridge hours later. |
Making my way through the mountains towards Piney Creek, the rain was hard & steady. The heavy air smelled of long rains & muddy water. |
I finally reach the low water bridge at dusk. The water had risen & was running a few inches above the bridge. It spilled over the downstream rail, creating a muddy, watery impression of a bridge, that moved in a straight line across to the other side. Easing the bus into the wash, I snuck back across the river just before dark By morning the bridge was impassable. Driving on to Jefferson, I arrived at the Barr Shop in the pouring rain. . . . and so began my service under the Colonel. |