Outer Banks

I think I'll just post a whole bunch of pics instead of taking you through a play by play of the trip. Let's just say that Outer Banks is quickly becoming my favoritest place on the planet. It's beautiful, laid back and full of local culture and hospitality. When I win the PowerBall, I am so buying a beach house there. Hope you enjoy the pictures. :)

(Oh! I should also mention that I went as a mini girls' retreat with my friends Tina and Hanna. Love those girls!)


Getting Settled in the OBX

Kill Devil Grill
BEST. FOOD. EVER

Hanna

Tina

Bodie "Body" Lighthouse

Aren't they cute!

Love the sky in this shot.

Though a bird watcher, this man reminded me of a lighthouse keeper.
He could have walked right off the set of an old movie or even Pete's Dragon!

These bird watchers were CRAZY (excited) about their hobby. 

I am glad I'm not the person who had to screw in each one of these.
That was a LONG walkway! :)

I can't resist a good fence with a winding path. The color version is below.

Random Beach (near the Bodie Lighthouse off the Old Oregon Inlet Rd)

Hoping to live on beach someday. This =  heaven.

Check out the abandoned beach chair in the lower left corner.
It's just calling for a reader to occupy its space.

Elizabethan Gardens

Loved my walk through the gardens. Worth the admission and
a treat I'll give to myself every time I go to OBX.

The garden has something blooming almost year round.
The receptionist said the only dead months are October and November,
and the best month (most colorful) is probably June.

Queen Elizabeth statue. I can't imagine
wearing all that heavy cloth!

Cool to see naked animal sculptures. Always thought they were carved
AFTER the foilage grows. Now I know they create the shape first and trim later.

A very naked (and kind of creepy) deer.

This tree was here when the colonists first landed back
in the 1500s. It's branches are supported with lines tied back to the trunk.

Love the "Alice in Wonderland"-y path ways.
So want to go back in costume and get some really awesome pics!

To me the place seemed magical. Like a white rabbit in a waistcoat
might pop out at any moment. Or maybe perhaps I might
walk these steps and end up in a fairy tale.

Another place that felt surreal. A magic gate to a secret kingdom,
locked to keep humans from trespassing.

This bush smelled AMAZING! (Daphne Adora, I believe).
Hoping I can grow it in my backyard.

Fort Raleigh Earthworks (worth skipping when the theater is closed)

Our Crusade to Capture Signage (seriously, we drove all over getting these!)

Well.... what more can I say. When it's a big sale, it's a big sale.

I like a guy who'll just tell you like it is.

In case you're wondering, I was going for the "Try My Nuts".

So naughty!

Jockey's Ridge State Park & Sand Dunes

I'm doing a push up on this thing!

Love this Hanna face!

Somehow we waited for the coldest day ever to do our outdoors stuff, lol.

Working replica of the Wright Brother's airplane. So cool!

Currituck Lighthouse

My sexy red flip flops. So sexy I should call them thongs!

Bowling (We spent our last night out of the rain and in a bowling alley. Good times!)

For some reason my camera wasn't working in here.
But I bowled over 100 both games! Woot!

Loved this trip. Love these friends! I'm so grateful to have people in my life who love me as-is. Who can help me escape from the stress for awhile and help me enjoy living! Thank you Tina & Hanna!!!! I had a fabulous time! I'm looking forward to Nashville and the tattoo we were never able to find for me, hehe. ;)