Jockey’s Ridge State Park North Carolina

Welcome and big hello! 👋 Waving from the top of Jockey’s Ridge. The largest living sand dunes on the Atlantic Coast. The funny thing is I don’t have as many pictures of the dunes to equal out the times I have visited. My dad took me for the first time that I remember (as we have been coming to the beach since I was born or before.) It was a cold winters day the wind was blowing and a fine ocean mist in the air. The smell of salt becoming the only aroma in the air. We headed up to the top now this is time frame 1979. The dunes move continuously. This particular year it seemed like they were massive in height. This was also the year my dad took me to the putt putt right on the side of the dunes. You know supposedly (this is things I have heard) plus seen some pictures. There is a motel buried under the dunes. You can read it here https://www.northbeachsun.com/buried-treasures-what-is-under-jockeys-ridge/

The funny thing is I see Liz Corsa on the watercoloring art and I know her. We used to go and sit down at the pond behind the Baum center and sketch. Lovely. She is a beautiful lady. She adopted a cat named Buddha one of the her stories she has shared over the years. I have her Oracle set and several of her art works plus her book. Fabulous lady. I can’t say it enough. She was always so kind and thoughtful to me. I have not heard from her since I moved here so I went to look her up and here is what I found…… https://gallopfuneralservices.com/obits/elizabeth-marge-corsa/

RIP E.M. Corsa I love you! I will always have your kindness and love in my heart. Like I said she was an amazing person and I have always enjoyed all her art pieces. I am crying now as I can’t express the friendship we had over the many years. I must of just met her not long after she moved to the OBX. I looked for the pictures of her and I sketching but I couldn’t find them. Perhaps one day I will be able to find them. 

Even as I child I loved rolling down the dunes, however as one knows that never changes. Children love it. You can even use a sand sled to go around. 

Running down, sometimes this pond hole is there and other times it is not. Depending on how hot it’s been. 

You just might see lots of wildlife there raccoons, turtles, fox, deer and many more I am just thinking of the what I have seen over the years. When Bruce and I were first married we even watched the fireworks up there and of course we were told to leave along with a lot more young people. We were like 18. 

The sea oats are so beautiful do not pick them they are there to help sand and erosion. I have always enjoyed seeing them. 

This is a beautiful site as well if you are lucky enough to see these, persimmons. Yes! Persimmons are one of my favorites. We had two trees at our NC house. They are not ready until they just fall in your hand or on the ground. They are super sweet. Have large seeds and make great bread and persimmon butter. However if you don’t know….. if they aren’t ripe the tannins are so strong they will make your mouth pucker. Your tongue will feel dry. It’s an odd feeling but as I child I did it many times over and over. Why didn’t I learn it was too early. Like the grapes I would eat that weren’t ripe either. 

These here look pretty ripe and tasty makes my mouth water. 

These trees are beautiful. 

The castle I talked about last night…. http://creationsbydawn.blogspot.com/2026/03/obx.html

 You will find so much to do at Jockey’s Ridge State Park… they have a museum, picnic tables, bathrooms and you could even do the hang gliding school. You can see the ocean and the sound at the top. It’s incredible! A must to add to your places to visit. So do check it out. 

Sending much love and positive energy, 

Dawn Gallop 

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OBX

Hello and warm welcome. I welcome you to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, USA. Here is this picture you are crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge. We were leaving there. Bruce and I both grew up here and have been visiting this place since we were both babies. My mom and dad would come here at any chance they could. My grandparents on my dad’s side owned a cottage on First Street in Kill Devil Hills. Later on my dad would own a house back on the water on the sound side of First Street area. My mom and stepdad bought a house on Phoebus Street 2020 to be exact. That was a long time ago. It was so long ago that in the winter almost everything was closed and there were only a few gas stations open on the whole strip. Tumble weeds would cross the roads. I would go to the skating rinks on Saturday nights. I was a really good roller skater. I thought I was the best as I had spend many many years rolling skating from the time I was four or so my parents would drop me off at the all night skate nights. I loved it. The teens would take care of me and we make the s drinks from the fountains and have nachos or pizza. When I met Bruce I told him I was a better skater than him so be prepared. Aaaaa take those words back……. Rrrrrrrr like a broken record! He was better!! We had picked his skates up after I had Jr.as we both had professional roller skates with the white wheels for me and the blue ones for him. His were boots and mine were low tops. He was better head hung low. I couldn’t believe it. Bastard! Haha 😂 We both laughed and laughed about it. Also today is day 60/100 of the 100 day project. 

Hi this was in 2024 after Coltens wedding 

Big foot is like what are y'all doing? 

I’m like Colten did you get it? 

I have always loved the trees of the OBX I could just paint them all day. 

Bruce and I grew up with this putt putt castle. My dad had carried me to this putt putt place and at the time back in the late 70s we were in the Ford Galaxy 500 and Susan was pregnant. Ashley was born in December 1980. Susan’s baby brother went with us I think his name is Jeff. I can’t remember I haven’t seen any of the Sherman family since probably the early 80s. They lived in this mansion and I loved going there Susan’s mom was the best! She was the mom anyone would want. When they built the mansion. They built each child a room for their families to come. Susan had her babies there and it was lovely. I’m taking you guys way back and down an early time frame. The Sherman’s had a cottage at the beach too. 

I’m going to be sharing more pictures of the OBX. This was when Coopers class went to the beach. It seems like yesterday. We got home and turned around and came back as by this time we had a camper down at the beach. It was a park model so we had it fixed nice. This was the day we bought the Slurpee’s with the mustaches. 

Here we were at the castle again in different season probably around 2020. 

2016

My granddaughter Skylar spent so much glorious time with us. A true gift! She is an amazing teenager now. So smart and beautiful. We are so proud of her!!! 

This was when Amanda came to the OBX and she lost her phone that day. It was right after Aubrey was born. Our daughter Amanda is our third daughter and fourth child. She lives in Oklahoma now. 

I see Cooper and Dusty were thrilled to be at the Bodie lighthouse. There are so many stories to tell you about the life- houses. 

One of our favorite places to eat is the Kill Devil’s Custard you have to visit there everything is so damn good!!!!! Yesssss a must! https://www.killdevilscustard.com/

https://northernouterbanks.com/visitors-guides/

More posts to share http://creationsbydawn.blogspot.com/2019/06/obx-tiny-house-festival.html

http://creationsbydawn.blogspot.com/2018/01/happy-new-year-writing-blank-page-for.html

More pictures to come. I could write a book on the memories this place holds for the both of us. From the years of our childhoods to the memories of the years cleaning cottages. To the years at the campground we had our park model camper in it. Joe and Kay’s were we loved being there with great friends. So many books I have read from the OBX locals. Too many to tell. I enjoyed every one of them. Once again I hope you enjoy the photos and words I have shared with you. Sending all the positive vibes and hugs your way. More love and strength!! 

Happy Times, 

Happy Sunday, 

Dawn Gallop 

 

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World Tattoo Day

Hello and welcome if you have a love of ink 🫟 then I know why you’re here. Being an artist I have had this complete fascination with tattoos and body art. Of course as you may have experienced this is your life…. You were told they were terrible and only the bad people got them. Well yes that’s the same thing I heard too. Of course my husband was against them as well. This will blow your mind but as a young adult I was told I could not have one. Yes I was grown and married and had children. Finally around 1995 I convinced him I was getting one no matter what. I would do it after work if he didn’t go along with it. Does this sound ridiculous? Yes it was… no one wants to be in a relationship and the significant other wants to control what you do, I mean to a certain extent for sure. You don’t want to do anything wrong or anything that makes them upset with you. I’m saying all this from experiences. I did get the first tattoo in 1995 a skull. 💀 YES! you heard correct. I was working at the hospital on the third floor of med-surg and I came home and told him I had an appointment in Carrollton Virginia. Well we went and it cost like $30 bucks. I know right!! Way to cheap. Then of course my family told me I would get aids, hepatitis, you name it. So I had those worries along with the fact I was the mom to four children and a husband who had got hurt at work when a backhoe had come down on him while working. Like I needed another thing to worry about. I had even worked 16 hour shifts and would crash into these vivid dreams. 

Colby has got both his tattoos with girlfriends involved and he even has a tattoo gun. He even had one of his girlfriends trace over the tat, not a great idea when you’re not experienced. However one must learn……… you decide. What do I know. 

Colby and his friend Carly 

This is one of my son and dil friends she had sent this to me. 

My son Colten 

This is my elephant I had done in 2020

This is in Carrollton Virginia. David at Primal Tattoo he has done two of my tats. I highly recommend him. He has a lot of back pain like me and doing the tats are hard on the back. 

This is what I got for my 50th birthday. 

Peace love and bees 

My daughter Crystal has a lot of tats reminds me of what I thought as a teen I would be. 

This was my Thermofax I owned for making screen prints of sold it years later for a good amount. 

I still have those shoes lol. It was 2020 and when we got there we didn’t have to wear the masks. 

I love her tattoos she was at Amelia’s and Cody’s wedding. 

I didn’t think I would make it today for the a blog post. I have been so tired lately and having been doing the 100 day project which is been a bit overwhelming lately. I know it’s supposed to be no stress but the paintings and the comprehensive part of the project is really difficult but rewarding. Nothing comes easy! 

Well better go. We have been watching Ghosts series and it’s very entertaining. I have laughed a lot. Good vibes. 

Much love, 

Dawn Gallop 
 

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