Friday, June 15, 2018

Friday, June 15, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2003. Mattie was a year old and this was his first trip to the Outer Banks, NC. As it was Mattie's first trip, he was very cautious and I would say intimidated by the ocean and sand. So instead of having beach time, we went around sight seeing. We took Mattie to all the lighthouses. The one we posed in front of was Bodie Light. Last summer was the first time Peter and I actually climbed Bodie Light. In all the years we went down to the Outer Banks, we never climbed up this one. That of course changed in  2017. 




Quote of the day: Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul. ~ John Muir

Given that we are driving back to DC tomorrow, which will be 8-9 hours (if not longer,) there was NO way, I wanted to spend any time in the car today. So we ventured in the other direction today by bicycle. Bicycle riding on sand is an experience. If you are peddling with the wind, it is NO problem. If you are peddling with the wind blowing at you, it feels like you are biking up a steep hill. You can't even see where we rode from in this photo. That is how far away it was. We bicycled all the way to the Kiawah River, and it is at that point, that the river separates the beach, making it impossible to cross. So in the last two days, we have rode about 20 miles and have seen the entire stretch of beach on Kiawah Island. 

It was such a feat to get to the Kiawah River, that when I got there, I had my hands up in the air for victory. Vicki vs the wind, and I won! I kept asking Peter as we were riding, how close we were to the river. As I knew the river meant we would turn around and be able to ride with the wind.... which makes peddling a breeze!

While peddling to the river, I had Johnny Cash's song... "I walk the line" in my head. Do not ask me why!!! 

Peter was standing right in front of the Kiawah River. I think it is a sight to see a River separate the beach! On one side of the River is Kiawah Island and on the other Seabrook Island. 

So between Wednesday and today's bike adventures, these are the incredible shells we collected. I am telling you.... intact whelk, giant Atlantic cockle shells and sand dollars. But you won't find such wonderful shells just anywhere on the beach, you really have to ride down to either end of the beach.  

We found this fish swimming right by the shore of the River. 

After bicycle riding, we re-grouped and then went out for an early dinner on the Island. This is what a typical street looks like on the Island. 

The drive up to the entrance of Ocean Course clubhouse. There are at least four golf courses on this Island and each course has a lovely and well appointed club house with restaurants. I am not sure who planned this community, but they were brilliant. 

Sitting at the Ryder Cup Restaurant at Ocean Course Clubhouse. From our table we could see the Atlantic.

Our view

The flags blowing in the wind....... The Ocean Course flag, the American flag and the state flag of South Carolina. 

I end today's posting with my deer friends. I have nicknamed them Bucky. There is also a female in the bunch that I have seen and I have named her Daisy. Daisy and Bucky visit outside our balcony every night and when they are not there, then we have found them in the parking lot chomping on bushes.