Things I love About NC: The Beach

I have decided that every week I am going to do a post on things I love about NC and about the summer!

This, I suppose, is both of those things.

Holden Beach dunes

I love North Carolina beaches. I think there is nothing like them. Every summer I go to the beach at least three times and every time it's so peaceful/grounding/fun! Usually said beach trips involve three or four friends, a Frisbee, some good tanning and catching up and a great time.

Our beaches are so family friendly and relaxing. There is no competing for sand space, no cars on the beach and there are still a lot of beaches in NC where there are no ugly, huge hotels lining the shore.

My favorite beach experience was in high school when I went with my youth group. We stayed at my friend's beach house seen below (or at least the stairs of it).


The beach house was just a block from the ocean. We played games on the beach (at night and during the day), we rode bikes and watched the sunset, we relaxed, tanned, swam in the warm ocean, went out to the shore at night and watched the stars, we watched many episodes of Freaks and Geeks, went to go see the second Pirates of the Caribbean, made mud pie, played poker with skittles and laid out on a hammock we found on the beach (see photo at top). There were also banana pancakes, putt putt, ice cream and lots of fun. AKA best trip EVER!

Those are the best beach trips- those in which you can go for a full week!

I also went to the beach for Senior Beach Week where we stayed at another friend's beach house. This was the view from the back porch.


That trip involved a bit more consumption of illegal liquids than the first. But there was also fishing, crabbing, grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, group singing and guitar playing out on the pier at night, my first trip to a club, some really good pizza and tanning that ensued.


And then there are the day trips where we just ride down to Wrightsville beach.

This trip was truly a spur of the moment trip. We were all hanging out the night before and then at around 11 o'clock someone ( I think it was me) suggested that we should go to the beach- the next day! That is what I love about the summer- most of the time (except for this summer when I have an internship everyday) you can just pick up and spontaneously do something fun!

So that is why I love North Carolina beaches. It's truly like you are just living a Jack Johnson song.

Wrightsville Beach pier

Well, off to watch Giada on the tele!
Until then,
Cara

The Lake and other things

Sorry I have not blogged for a few days- I was sucked into the Lost world. Really. My phone is broken, I have not been on Skype or fb chat or ashamedly many other places than on my bed watching Lost for the past two or three days.


Last night when the final was on I was still catching up on the last few episodes so I literally would check fb with a hand over the screen, seeing if I had any notifications and then exiting out (I didn't want to accidentally see any spoilers)

So I just finished watching the last episode. And yes I cried. That had to be one of the best stories (let alone shows) that I have ever heard/seen. You get so emotionally attached to the characters. What an ending. It wasn't even disappointing. It's just sorta like you knew that was what needed to happen.


Anyways- I don't even know if any of you watch Lost- so I will talk about something you can understand!

Partying!

Went to my friend's lake house (if you thought the last party was in the country- this one was an hour long drive out into the country... literally you are on like 6 different long, country roads for an hour getting out to this place). There the whole gang from Cedar Ridge got together and had a pretty good time, I would say!

Lake Mayo!

It's always really great going back home and seeing all of my friends from home. Not everyone was there- but that's okay, there will be more lake gatherings in the future.

Key aspects of a lake house party

1. Log cabin

This should give you an idea of where we were.

2. porch sitting
3. camp fire (over which hotdogs were cooked)
4. bunk beds
5. morning trip to Bojangles (20 minutes away. Yes- it took us 20 minutes to get back to somewhere that was even close to somewhere)
6. boat outing (duh- why go to a lake if you don't use the boat)
7. fishing on said boat

Look! It's me fishing!

8. Usually there are jet ski's and tubing involved but it was cold this weekend
9. There is also usually tanning but see activities 5 and 8 for why we were not willing to put on bathing suits.
10. A damn-good time


Side note: Once again the girl-guy ratio is significantly improved once I go home- 10 guys to 4 girls.

Anyways, so that was Friday and Saturday! Don't know quiet what I will be up to this week- but whatever it is I hope it is fun!

Until then,
Cara