Kawasaki, let the good times roll!

This was one of my favorite parts of vacation (tied with the spa package). Portsmouth Island access by boat,short/buggy trip to the village, but the majority of the time: ATVing on 22 miles of beach with the occassional Bones led search for shells.

The guys started out driving, but it was soon time for "I want to drive!"

Photo op as the guys get to drive the ATVs inland and march back through skeeterville while the ladies enjoy some dc (diet coke) with their toes in the water and ...

Portsmouth Island/Village w/ Bones

We went on an excursion to Portsmouth Island. We met Captain Austin and our guide, Bones, at the Jolly Roger dock for a boat trip over to Portsmouth Island

The mosquito population weighed heavily on our group's (hello Mandy and Michael) decision to not explore all of the village buildings. We were satisfied with an aerial view!

At the beach on Ocracoke and Happy Birthday Lori!

3 Mile Beach Road

Ah, life is a beach...

Late afternoon light.

And a Happy Birthday shout out to Aunt Lori! LORDY, LORDY, LORI is 40! Lori and Jerry had 40th birthdays this month and celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary! Yes, I mailed her a bag of black balloons.

Xenia House

Our home away from home for the week. No beach front housing on this treasure of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Bicycles are the primary mode of transportation around the village. 4x4s are for driving on the beach and setting up to fish. This was the first time we had been to the OBX in many years without 4 wheel drive. Someone thought his V8 truck would be fine, but we spent much of our first couple of hours on the beach digging the truck out of the sand. Thank goodness there are no pictures of that scene! We were finally pulled out only to get stuck a second time. Everyone learned their lesson and future beach trips will be at one of the walk over sites!

OBX Bound

The ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke is 2.25 hours long.It was a beautiful afternoon as we caught the 1pm ferry to Ocracoke Island (the southern most inhabited island of the OBX).

Goodbye Cedar Island

Hello Ocracoke

Beaufort, NC

The land of Nicholas Sparks.

I spend so much time in Beaufort (Bufort), SC that it is always interesting to wander the little town of Beaufort(Bofort), NC. We had a great breakfast at an intown diner and Charlotte was able to buy her favorite new hat at the Beaufort General Store.

Destination: Morehead City

Just an overnight visit, but a few sites of interest.

The Morehead City Motor Lodge? Inexpensive,no amenities, but not as bad as the Wilmert ( somewhere off I95 in Virginia.)