May 18 - 25, 2002
"Our eleventh year - we had good weather, a little windy and cold, but sunny. Thanks for the strawberries and nuts. We had a good time, this is like home away from home. Thanks for keeping the house so nice. See you next year!" An eleven-peat, from DEJune 8 - 15, 2002
"Our first time at Byrd Sanctuary, and it was wonderful. This house is beautiful, clean and spacious. It was a beautiful week for the beach, not too hot, just right. We will be back again next year...Thank you again for a pleasant stay, God Bless." From Pa and OH. When this family arrived home, I received the following e-mail: Dear Bryan, My family has been traveling to the Outer Banks for about 12 years. One of the most exciting and also nerve-wrecking parts of the trip is when we see the inside of the home we have rented. Most of the time we are pleased, some times have been very disappointed....I just had to write to you to let you know how thrilled we were when we walked into Byrd Sanctuary! It is by far the nicest home we have stayed in yet! Every year we spend the first day of our vacation cleaning...this is the first time in 12 years that we did not have to clean! We actually got to sit down and relax right away! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us. It kicked off the best vacation we have had yet! You obviously take great care of your home and it shows. Thank you once again...we are hoping to return again some time. Take care and God Bless!June 22 - 29, 2002
"We had a relaxing week here at Byrd Sanctuary. Your house is beautiful. The nicest we have stayed in so far. This is our 4th trip to the Outer Banks - 3rd at Duck. The weather was warm and sunny except for a thunderstorm we had on Friday. A family puzzle kept us entertained. We enjoyed the reading selection. Even our children (ages 13 + 10) found something to read. The screened in porch was the best! We ate all of our "prepared at home" meals there. The kids definitely loved the hammock + so did the parents! It's a great place to take a nap if you get a chance. We plan on returning to such a peaceful vacation!" From PA
July 6 - 20, 2002
"We had another wonderful two weeks. The weather was awesome. The ocean was calm enough for everyone including Grandma to get in. Our daughter Kara got married on the beach on 7/14. She was surrounded by her new husband John and all of our families. What a memory. There were thirty-eight of us there, not all at this house, of course! :-) We had four houses plus hotels and Inns. We will never forget this vacation. Thanks for the memories. We are looking forward to many anniversaries." Signed, but no states listed. A repeat guest, though.
July 20 - August 10, 2002
"Yet another gray day of soft summer rain, and this Sanctuary lives up to it's name. It's oddly empty, the rooms silent, yet full of busy memories of my past visits over the decade now gone. The witty little blond boy who used to blast water guns off the deck at his sister below dances through my mind's eye as I wait for the phone to ring. Hundreds of miles away he and his laboring wife are bringing their first child into the world. As I stand at the surf's edge, the rain tapping me on my shoulders and the foamy tide hugging my ankles, I am the fulcrum connecting my seafaring ancestors to the little boys yet to come. My present - this beautiful pregnant moment - is my father's future, and I am this new baby's living past. Generations roll in and ebb out as steadily as the surf, and seemingly as fast. We have only moments to touch each other's lives. The phone rings, my little blond boy (now 32) announces the birth of his son, and as we are rejoicing together the rain ends, the sun bursts and a vivid double rainbow canopies the Outer Banks. Is there a more perfect day at the beach?" A guest/friend from VA.
Isn't that note a nice gift to leave behind?
From the same weeks' guests
"Dear Brian, We again have dearly enjoyed our stay here. This house is so wonderful. We had such a fantastic time. The weather and the friends were perfect, as well. Wish we could have had more time to visit with you. This vacation is sooooo relaxing. I really enjoyed the hammock and the new chair in the den. Hope we get to see you often up our way.... " Another guest that became a friend, from VA
August 24 - 31, 2002
"Dear Brian (sp) - What a wonderful place to "Duck" into when it rains! And rain it did, all week. But it didn't dampen our spirits or spoil our fun; it just created a change in plans! With your sister Wanda as guide, we wandered from Corolla to Ocracoke, from the "Lucky Duck" to the "Rag Picker" - from the shore to the sound. And when we needed to be alone, we had your Sanctuary. It lived up to its name - a haven of relaxation and a quiet place for inner reflection. Thank you." from OH
September 28, 2002
"Our first trip to OBX (stands for Outer Banks, ed.) It was my son's 12th birthday and we had the best time. Your house has been fabulous, we wore out the Die Hard movie and the baseball playoffs each evening after we had spent all day at the beach & early evening roaming on Highway 12. Thank you for the love and care you put into your home." Father and son from Boise, Idaho
Owner's note: For the most part, that is a summer at the Byrd Sanctuary. Some guests of a couple weeks were not so inclined to write eloquently in a guest book, but there were no comments about the house omitted. Comments from guests of all years are similar if not more effusive, and a prize I cherish. Rest assured that the pleasant emotions reflected in the writings of those that chose to do so, are similar to what you will experience if you choose the Byrd Sanctuary for your beach vacation. This information has been included here to help assure you that, if the configuration of the house fits your needs, the condition of the house surely will. I cannot guarantee the birth of a grandson, however, but I wish you well in that and all other regards and dreams. Bryan Byrd
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