Outside My Southern Comfort Zone: Week 2 (plus half of week 3) of Summer Vacation

Week 2 began with another beautiful Monday morning ladies paddle.

WE PADDLED UP THE TRUCKEE RIVER AND
TROUT CREEK!

PADDLING IN TROUT CREEK.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PADDLE THIS IN
THE PAST DUE TO LACK OF WATER.

BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE... MOUNTAINS...
LUSH GREEN GRASS... COLD MOUNTAIN WATER...
AND FLOWERING PURPLE LUPINE.

ONCE YOU PADDLE UPSTREAM, YOU GET TO
"FLOAT" BACK OUT TO THE LAKE.

WITH A LOVELY LITTLE VIEW OF
MT. TALLAC AS WELL.

I came home from my morning paddle session to find my husband sanding down the railings on our deck.

The deck is in decent shape overall, but the posts and railings took quite a beating from our metal shovel during the winter. So, we discussed sanding it down, staining it to protect it a bit better from the elements, and maybe protecting the posts in the winter with some plexiglass or something similar that would prevent our shovel from gouging the wood.

So, Mike found a gallon of unused deck stain in our basement (our basement often seems to provide for our needs... it's weird). I will save you some of the details but long story short: a new deck railing project has been born. Stay tuned for the finished project (but please know it may take a while).

After a long day of sanding... and a shower to rid himself of the sawdust... Mike decided to take a nap and he must have laid in "Zephyr's spot."

BY THIS POINT, OUR BAGS WERE PACKED FOR NC...

... MAYBE HE KNEW WE WERE LEAVING SOON AND THIS WAS
HIS WAY OF PROTESTING???

Tuesday evening we attended a memorial service for a friend who lived life to the fullest but left this earth too soon and then we headed to Sacramento. Our flight to NC left the following morning at 6 am and since Sacramento is a couple of hours from the house, we decided to drive there Tuesday night and sleep in the back of the truck in the parking lot. Yep. That's right.

We got to the airport pretty late (11:30ish??) and found a somewhat dark section of the "economy parking lot." We put up our blackout curtains and fell asleep.

I know you think we're crazy.

But, it actually worked out really well.

Consider it "urban camping."

The beautiful thing about the set up in the back of Mike's truck is that we're totally discreet! No one knows we are back there. It's amazing. We just looked like another empty truck in the parking lot.

Anyway, moving on.

We typically fly out of Reno but in an effort to save some money, we opted for the new "Basic Economy" flight which only left out of Sacramento.

(DISCLAIMER: At the time I purchased the tickets I had no idea I was purchasing basic economy... I just thought they were regular tickets that were quite significantly cheaper because Sac is a bigger airport. Later I found out we purchased basic economy tickets).

So, with basic economy you lose some "luxuries" like the ability to choose your seats OR the ability to utilize the overhead compartments.

I felt sure that Mike and I wouldn't be sitting together and that we would likely be at the back of the plane and we FOR SURE wouldn't get a window seat. Luckily, I was wrong.

We sat beside each other every flight. On one flight we got an exit row with lots of extra room. Mike still put his bag in the overhead compartment (how will they know.... I mean, really???), and on the BEST flight we got a window seat (through which we saw the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Lake Tahoe).

But, knowing that I'm too cheap to check a bag... and that whatever we packed had to fit under the seat in front of us... posed a little bit of a packing challenge. I don't boast about many things, but I do consider myself to be pretty efficient at packing.

So....

... this is what I packed:

THAT'S A WEEKS WORTH OF CLOTHES PLUS
A LIBRARY BOOK IN THAT BAG!

AND I ACTUALLY OVERPACKED?!?!
I BROUGHT SEVERAL SHIRTS I NEVER EVEN WORE!

I was pretty proud of myself.

Enough of the petty details - let's get to the good stuff, shall we?

First stop in NC was Mike's mom for a quick dip in her pool followed by breakfast the following morning with Mike's dad before HE left to go on vacation.

Then we headed to the Outer Banks for a day of salt air for my soul.

MY HAPPY PLACE.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

NAGS HEAD, NC

What I love about Nags Head is that some of the public beach accesses have fresh water showers! So we can sit on the beach all day, rinse off the salt water, and spend the rest of the day shopping or driving around etc without feeling sticky and salty.

After a few hours on the beach we got some shaved ice and drove south on Highway 12 to Avon.

ONE OF THE BEACH ACCESS AREAS NEAR AVON

SELFIES BY THE SEA

WAY LESS CROWDED

WE ENJOYED THE SOLITUDE.
WE FOUND SOME COOL SHELLS.
WE FOUND SOME COOL SEA CREATURES
(SOME DEAD... SOME ALIVE).

BEAUTIFUL DUNES AND SEA OATS

When we were sufficiently hungry for dinner we headed back to Nags Head to eat at Fishhead's Bar and Grill.

THE VIEW FROM OUR TABLE.

THE WAVES WERE ACTUALLY CRASHING
UNDERNEATH US.

STUNNING

SINCE THE RESTAURANT IS ON A PIER, WE
DECIDED TO DO A QUICK STROLL TO THE END
TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS CATCHING ANYTHING

Before leaving the OBX we made one quick stop at Duck Donuts RIGHT before they closed.

NO WE DIDN'T EAT ALL OF THOSE...
WE SHARED WITH FAMILY AT THE RIVER.

(BUT WE DID EAT A LOT OF THEM).

Next stop: The Chowan River with my whole fam damily.

UNCLE CLYDE.

The weekend was all about relaxing and playing in the water.

Mike tried wakeboarding for the first time:

We spent all day in the water with the kids. Floating. Throwing each other off rafts. Walking out to the "sandbar."

Everyone brought food and we ate like kings!

MIKE PUSHING JUJU AND LAINEY
IN THE HAMMOCK.

KAYAKS AND PEDAL BOATS AND SAILBOATS...
...oh my.

IT WAS FUN WATCHING THE KIDS PLAY.

THERE WAS MARSHMALLOW ROASTING...

... AND FIREWORKS.

IT'S BLURRY BUT THEY WERE ALL SO EXCITED.

THERE WAS EVEN A LITTLE SPARKLER ACTION.

MY TWO FAVORITE KIDDOS ON THE PLANET.

We had an amazing time! Thank you so much Clyde, Sylvia, Kelly, Will, and the entire Cowan family for allowing us to stay at Mt. Gould for the weekend. And for the food... And for the boat rides, etc. We had a blast!

Next stop: Back to Raleigh for Mike's mom's birthday!

Back in Raleigh we spent a couple days just hanging with Mike's mom. We also got to spend some time with his aunt and grandmother. We celebrated her birthday by relaxing in the pool, eating delicious food, and having ice cream for her birthday dessert!

I SHOULD'VE BEEN BETTER ABOUT TAKING
PICTURES WHILE AT MIKE'S MOM'S BUT I WAS
SOOOO RELAXED!

Tuesday was our last full day in NC and we spent it in Wendell.

My beloved "adopted grandmother" who kept me as a baby, passed away earlier in the week and Tuesday afternoon I attended her funeral with my mom. Inez was a dear friend of my mom's. Mom was good about keeping me updated on Inez and giving her updates on Mike and I. Inez has been a part of my life as long as I've been alive. She made the best bologna sandwiches (always cut into 4 triangles and always served with white grape juice). I will never forget eating my sandwich on her hearth (next to her white porcelain cat) while watching "The Price Is Right." She was a sweet soul and I loved her dearly. She will be missed.