Lazy hazy crazy
Yeah, Hatteras. I don't know why I allowed us to ever skip one, much less THREE years. Hatteras is Heaven, my friends.
The thing I love most about Hatteras is the laid back nature of the place. You can pretty much just chill. There are NO fast food places on the island, and very few touristy entertainment-type things around (like go-karts or mini golf). What there is is miles of beautiful beach and the big old ocean.
In years past, all of Rick's brothers and their families have converged at Hatteras and then the kids all pair up and disappear and the adults hang out. That hasn't worked out in a few years as the oldest kids started to graduate high school and college. Two of Rick's brothers made it this year, but one (Tom, accompanied by his girlfriend, Susan) could only stay for the first weekend. The other, Bob, stayed the week in the beach house next store and brought his girlfriend (Kelly), her daughter (Ginny), and Ginny's friend (Dulcey). We were supposed to have Amelia for part of the week, and Sally, Lindsay, Ron, and Lola for the entire time. But then Sally had to be back in WNY for a mandatory meeting about her internship, and Lindsay FINALLY found a summer job and wanted to stay home to make some money, so of course Ron (her boyfriend) stayed behind, too. He really couldn't afford to lose a week's pay anyway.
So it was Rick and Lola and I for most of the week, and it was very relaxing and quiet. We really enjoyed spending time with Amelia and Sally, and took them on a chartered soundside fishing trip on Monday. Caught 14 speckled trout and a bluefish. Then we went out into the blue water and spotted some cobia. We landed and released a couple that were not keepers and then I did have a keeper on my line, but it got off.
Lola loved the beach but didn't like the surf. She was afraid at first and refused to get anywhere near the water, but I finally coaxed her in at a calm little cove and she finally figured out, "Hey -- this is water!" She sat down and then lay down within 30 seconds and let the surf push her around a little. A bonus was that she needed to be rinsed off every time she did that, and then needed to have the sand brushed out of her coat. She was so fluffy and sweet-smelling! We only took her out early in the morning and after dinner. It was way too hot for her during the day.
Then Rick and I went deep sea fishing on Wednesday and had a FABULOUS trip! Even though we didn't catch as many fish as we did three years ago, we still had plenty of fish. AND I didn't get seasick -- was even eating and drinking on the boat. That was probably the best part for me.
Hatteras Deep Sea Fishing Trip - 2007
The ocean was super calm nearly the whole time we were there and the sandbar extended well out beyond the surf. It did get windy on Friday, and I decided that I needed to spend some time on the beach. So I dragged a book (natch), chair, towel, water and water bottle filled with wine (what?) down and hung out on the beach. Then I reconsidered and went back to put sunscreen on (yes, I am an idiot, why do you ask?) and to get more wine (WHAT? I was on vacation!). I read, watched people and kids, stared out at the ocean, and got to see a huge group of kiteboarders fly through the waves right in front of me. It was soooo awesome that I didn't even mind burning my back (oops, missed a spot with the sunscreen). I spent a good three hours down there, which is unprecedented for me, especially since it was too windy for a beach umbrella.
We went out to dinner at Dirty Dick's (hate the name, love the food) that night and then left early the next morning. Had a weird travel day -- Rick left his cell phone behind, and then later on we got caught in HORRIBLE construction traffic in Berkley Springs (WV). But we made my niece's graduation party, where we got to see the remaining two brothers, and Lola got on famously with another dog, so all was well. Crashed at the nearest Red Roof at 11:30 p.m. or so and got right up and came home early on Sunday.
I still haven't gotten much food into the house and basically lazed around on Sunday, but i'm not stressed about it. At. ALL. Hatteras is still with me. :)
Oh, and finally...
Deep Sea Fishing Trip: 2004
Deep Sea Fishing Trip: 2007
The thing I love most about Hatteras is the laid back nature of the place. You can pretty much just chill. There are NO fast food places on the island, and very few touristy entertainment-type things around (like go-karts or mini golf). What there is is miles of beautiful beach and the big old ocean.
In years past, all of Rick's brothers and their families have converged at Hatteras and then the kids all pair up and disappear and the adults hang out. That hasn't worked out in a few years as the oldest kids started to graduate high school and college. Two of Rick's brothers made it this year, but one (Tom, accompanied by his girlfriend, Susan) could only stay for the first weekend. The other, Bob, stayed the week in the beach house next store and brought his girlfriend (Kelly), her daughter (Ginny), and Ginny's friend (Dulcey). We were supposed to have Amelia for part of the week, and Sally, Lindsay, Ron, and Lola for the entire time. But then Sally had to be back in WNY for a mandatory meeting about her internship, and Lindsay FINALLY found a summer job and wanted to stay home to make some money, so of course Ron (her boyfriend) stayed behind, too. He really couldn't afford to lose a week's pay anyway.
So it was Rick and Lola and I for most of the week, and it was very relaxing and quiet. We really enjoyed spending time with Amelia and Sally, and took them on a chartered soundside fishing trip on Monday. Caught 14 speckled trout and a bluefish. Then we went out into the blue water and spotted some cobia. We landed and released a couple that were not keepers and then I did have a keeper on my line, but it got off.
Lola loved the beach but didn't like the surf. She was afraid at first and refused to get anywhere near the water, but I finally coaxed her in at a calm little cove and she finally figured out, "Hey -- this is water!" She sat down and then lay down within 30 seconds and let the surf push her around a little. A bonus was that she needed to be rinsed off every time she did that, and then needed to have the sand brushed out of her coat. She was so fluffy and sweet-smelling! We only took her out early in the morning and after dinner. It was way too hot for her during the day.
Then Rick and I went deep sea fishing on Wednesday and had a FABULOUS trip! Even though we didn't catch as many fish as we did three years ago, we still had plenty of fish. AND I didn't get seasick -- was even eating and drinking on the boat. That was probably the best part for me.
Hatteras Deep Sea Fishing Trip - 2007
The ocean was super calm nearly the whole time we were there and the sandbar extended well out beyond the surf. It did get windy on Friday, and I decided that I needed to spend some time on the beach. So I dragged a book (natch), chair, towel, water and water bottle filled with wine (what?) down and hung out on the beach. Then I reconsidered and went back to put sunscreen on (yes, I am an idiot, why do you ask?) and to get more wine (WHAT? I was on vacation!). I read, watched people and kids, stared out at the ocean, and got to see a huge group of kiteboarders fly through the waves right in front of me. It was soooo awesome that I didn't even mind burning my back (oops, missed a spot with the sunscreen). I spent a good three hours down there, which is unprecedented for me, especially since it was too windy for a beach umbrella.
We went out to dinner at Dirty Dick's (hate the name, love the food) that night and then left early the next morning. Had a weird travel day -- Rick left his cell phone behind, and then later on we got caught in HORRIBLE construction traffic in Berkley Springs (WV). But we made my niece's graduation party, where we got to see the remaining two brothers, and Lola got on famously with another dog, so all was well. Crashed at the nearest Red Roof at 11:30 p.m. or so and got right up and came home early on Sunday.
I still haven't gotten much food into the house and basically lazed around on Sunday, but i'm not stressed about it. At. ALL. Hatteras is still with me. :)
Oh, and finally...
Deep Sea Fishing Trip: 2004
Deep Sea Fishing Trip: 2007