Outer Banks 2011

I went to the Outer Banks for Labor Day (which was a few weeks ago, but I'm finally catching up.)  It was such a fun trip!  I was able to stay the whole week for the first time.  It was so awesome!!!  Julie Palmer and I went paddle boarding.  It's a sport where you stand up on the board and paddle.  The wind was so strong that it just pushed us out to the bay.  Julie was smart enough to suggest we turn around at one point--before we got out too far.  It was SO hard coming back.  I was paddling with all of my might and wasn't going anywhere.  I kept telling myself that I was a strong women and could do it.  It was so incredibly difficult!  I started having short goals like--get to that red boat--then I would move onto the next short term goal.  We ended up on our knees for less wind resistance.  I think it took us about ten minutes to get out there and a good hour and ten minutes to get back.  We did rest for a few minutes, but it really did take all the energy I had.

I don't think I would paddle board again.  It was kind of boring just standing there in one place for so long.  No music, no nothing.  Going back took so much concentration and energy it was not boring, but quite a challenge.  I'm glad I tried it once.

We arrived on Friday, but by Wednesday everyone except Amanda and I had left.  There was another house of friends who did stay so we went and hung out with them for the rest of the week.  They were in Corolla so they had a much better beach!  Front is Jen Anderson, behind her is Amanda Morgan, me, Tiffanie, Palani, Suzette, and in the back Brian Schilling.

Palani is from Hawaii and suggested that we create the words with things on the beach.  It turned out really good.  The 'o' is made out of shells and the other letters are twigs and straw.  Left is Palani, Tiff, Jen, and me

We also went jeeping to find the wild horses.  It was fun to drive on the beach and wander around the sandy roads.  There are some enormous houses down there!  One of them even has a ballroom.  The remnants of the hurricane that had been there the week before were on the beach.  A lady from there said that other storms had brought up old pirate ships.  I thought that was pretty cool!

We went to see the sunset one evening.  It was beautiful!  I had seen several sunrises while I was there.  I was really energized by being there at the beach.  Our house was right on the ocean.  I would head out and go biking and then I would come back and run and then do weights.  I was eating a ton of sugar so I needed to exercise as much as I could.

We stayed up really late each night with the other house.  They did a bonfire on the beach and even sang a little.  Then they decided that we should all get into the ocean at 11:30 at night.  I had already showered and changed, but I couldn't miss the opportunity.  Jen loaned me a suit and we headed into the water--all of us.  It was so much fun!  The water was ok at first.  I didn't want to get my hair wet so I wouldn't go too deep.  I should have just gotten in because I ended up getting so wet that I had to wash my hair again anyway.

After awhile Tiff and I went in and skinny dipped while everyone was in the ocean.  Our friend Craig was watching the fire at the beach (not in viewing distance).  We told him to yell 'Killers' (his favorite music group) when someone was coming up.  Tiff and I just laughed the whole time we were in the pool.  It felt so 'something'--I can't think of the word.  Like we were doing something deliciously wrong.  There was a public walkway next to us, houses, and the people from the beach.  We could have been caught at any time.  We were both at the one end of the pool when we heard 'Killers.'  We both screamed and 'ran' for our towels.  Evidently Palani had started running up the stairs and Craig asked him to wait--he had to stop him.  Palani asked if we needed any time, but Craig said no he could go ahead.  He claims he didn't see anything, but I'm not sure. :)

I left early on Saturday because I wanted to miss traffic.  It was such an amazing trip!  I'm now headed to the Bahamas on Saturday.  I'm so excited!  I am so excited to have my feet in the sand, body in the ocean, to see beautiful fish.  So excited!!!!