Photo Gallery: Beautiful Calm Before the Storm

"Red sky at night...a sailor's delight," explained longtime sailing enthusiast Barry Steinman of Westport, enjoying a beautiful crimson sunset. 

It's important to know how to read the sky (to discern sudden changes in weather patterns) when sailing,  because it may save your life.  It would appear that Westport is filled with expert sky readers if you took a look around town before the storm.

The kids were at play, runners were running, cyclist were cycling, fisherman were fishing, golfers were golfing, and there hundreds of folks enjoyed a balmy late summer evening sunset at Compo Beach. 

Oblivious? Arrogant, you say?  This was definitely not the case.  Oh sure, there were references to the storm that hit the area in March leaving many residents without power for a week, but by and large people were out enjoying simple pleasures; a great book, Webb Pierce and Hank Williams on a portable MP3 player (yes, country music at Compo), a wineglass of your favorite beverage, a slice of your favorite fruit. 

Hundreds of miles south of Compo Beach, hammers, nails and plywood were the tools of choice as coastal communities prepared for Earl's impact.  Bob Karl, who came to the beach to see the dramatic tides reported by local TV news, was "unimpressed." 

"Yeah they're choppy, but not like what I saw on TV."