We arrived in Morehead City on the 5th - a Monday. After eating supper at Texas Steakhouse (it was better the last time we were there, in 2013, but the chips and queso was really good), we went over to the beach in Emerald Isle. We spent a little time there (less than 30 minutes) and then went back to Morehead City.
After eating breakfast the next morning, we drove to Harkers Island, where we saw dolphins swimming nearby, and then took the ferry over to Cape Lookout. We had been there once before and I really wanted to go back. It's so beautiful there. Especially on the ocean side of the island.
We saw some of the wild horses on our way to and from Cape Lookout while we were on the ferry. I've wanted to see them for years and was thrilled to finally get to.
Sean and Kelly went to the top of Cape Lookout Lighthouse (Kelly's first time) and seemed to really like that. Then they met Charlie and I on the beach on the ocean side of the island.
Click on the picture to see Sean and Kelly waving from the top.
We were surprised by the tons of seashells on the beach. We'd never seen so many before. Many of them were quite large. Including a lot of whelk shells. We couldn't carry every shell we saw that we liked, so we had to be really picky. We still came back with a lot of them though. lol
We were going to eat supper that night at Roma Pizza in Atlantic Beach. It's kind of a tradition to eat there when we're in the area. But they were closed for some reason. So we went to a place called Luigi's in Morehead City that had good reviews and 4+ stars. The pizza was really good. The guy running the place had a thick northern accent (Long Island maybe?) - "Two slices of pepperoni with soysage." lol The two guys at the table next to ours had the same thick accent.
On Wednesday after breakfast, we went to Fort Macon. We've been there a few times before. It's a really neat place.
Sean, Kelly, and Charlie.
After leaving Fort Macon, we headed south to Southport, over 2 hours away. It was so nice to be back in my hometown.
We ate at Fishy Fishy Cafe early that evening. We sat at a table outside overlooking the yacht basin, Intracoastal Waterway, and Cape Fear River. Beautiful views and delicious fried flounder.
We then went to the waterfront and watched the sun set while Charlie and Sean fished.
Kelly and I walked down to the waterfront park as it was getting dark. There are several swings for people to sit on and enjoy the view. A lot of people bring their dogs. We stopped to say hello to a cute doggie (some kind of spaniel) and her owners. They were a nice older couple from Pennsylvania who had retired in Southport last year or early this year. We talked for a long time.
Thursday was a day I was dreading. My uncle Mike, my dad's youngest sister Robin's husband of 37 years, had died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism on Wednesday, August 31st (he was only 58) and the funeral was on Thursday, September 8th. Sean didn't want to go and stayed at the hotel while Charlie, Kelly, and I made the trip to Fayetteville. (He ordered pizza from Domino's while we were gone.) Charlie and Kelly waited in the car. I stood outside until just a few minutes before it was supposed to start. It was really hard to go inside. I loved my uncle Mike so much.
After the funeral, we went to the cemetery at Fort Bragg for the graveside service. The whole thing was hard - funeral and graveside. I cried so much. We then went to my aunt Robin's church in Fuquay-Varina for a dinner the church prepared (spaghetti, rolls, salad, desserts) and to spend time with family.
We got back to the hotel after 8:00 PM and then had supper at Atlantic Seafood.
Charlie and Sean went fishing on Friday (after we all had breakfast at Local's - love their French toast) while Kelly and I browsed a few of the shops and antique stores. The two of us also went to a bookstore (mostly used books) that we've been to several times and a clothing store (Peeble's) near our hotel. I got a pair of sandals. I can't remember if Kelly got anything or not. We then went to Frosty's Ice Cream on Oak Island before returning to the Southport Pier where the guys were fishing.
Early Friday evening, we went to Caswell Beach to watch the sunset, enjoy the water, and collect seashells. Always my favorite thing to do on vacation.
Kelly.
We had supper at Famous Subs and Pizza that night. They have really good pizza. :-)
After we went back to the hotel, Charlie and Sean went to the pier again to do some more fishing. It was around 1:45 AM when they got back.
Saturday after breakfast (at Local's, of course), we took the ferry over to Fort Fisher and went to the aquarium. I hadn't really planned on going this year (we've been so many times), but the kids really wanted to go. Especially Kelly. Sean and I busted out laughing when this little boy (probably around 4 years old) said loudly to Sean, "Don't touch it!" when Sean touched a horseshoe crab in the touch tank. The little boy sounded like he was afraid it might hurt Sean. lol
We took the ferry back to Southport after leaving the aquarium and I really don't remember what we did after that. lol
For supper that night, I didn't feel like going anywhere, so I had Charlie pick up some KFC for me (he got some, too) and Sean and Kelly got Quizno's.
The next morning, we packed up the car and were going to eat breakfast at Local's, but they weren't serving breakfast by the time we got there. Made me sad. :-(
We took the ferry over to Fort Fisher, drove into Wilmington, ate at a pizza/Italian place I can't remember the name of (the restaurant we wanted to eat at - Nicola's - doesn't open until 5 PM :-/ ), and then came home.
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I was going to write about a couple books I've read since the last entry and a few other things, but this entry is already pretty long.
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~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
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