Last bike ride for 2013

We rode about 23 miles this morning going back to North Myrtle Beach.  Bruce keeps track of his rides and totals so ended this year with 106 rides and 2,358 miles.  Less than last year and I am less than that but I don't keep track!

Another paddle

Today was another nice day so we got another 2 hour paddle in.

 We put in at the same boat launch but went the opposite direction this time.

 Luckily we were familiar with the current so we only paddled 40 minutes going with the current. 

Just past the swivel bridge at Barefoot Landing we stopped and ate our lunch and then paddled back.

To the left is Barefoot Landing as seen from the water.

Missed turtle races again today (That's 3 days in a row!)

Afternoon delight

This afternoon the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.  I had to go to the trailer and get some warmer weather clothes!

After we made the room change and got reorganized I had lunch, made a chocolate pudding pie and then decided I needed to get outside on the beach while Bruce watched football..

 I even walked some in the water...it was a little chilly.

 Hi everyone.

Thought the sky was interesting.

Morning views from our deck

This morning it was quite warm out but windy & rainy.  I entertained myself by checking things out from our 11th floor balcony

 Workers checking pool areas to see if chairs needed to be secured.

Oh oh, there's a chair in the hot tub.

Worker went fishing and got it out.

Look at the trees blowing.

 Doesn't stop some people from enjoying the ocean!

Bruce was content trying to finish his puzzle before we made a room change.  Luckily he builds on a board so it could be moved.

Finally

Now this is what I call a day at the beach!

A paddle in the morning & a walk on the beach in the afternoon followed by the pool & hot tub!

Bruce watched football in the afternoon while I was beaching it!

Sun was bright and still no wind so it was perfect!  People were sitting out, kids were testing out the waters and lots of people were out shelling and walking.   

That's more like it!

Today was sunny with very little wind.  We decided to do a paddle this morning even tho temps were in low 40's.  We knew it would be warming up as we paddled.  There is a new boat launch just about 1 1/2 miles away so we put in there and paddled on the intracoastal waterway.

 The only wildlife we saw were a bunch of vultures.

 What were these cable cars doing going back & forth across the water?

 They were going to a golf course!

 We saw this bridge in the distance and decided to make that our goal before turning around.

 Yea!  We got there.  It took us 1 1/2 hours to paddle there.

We went by an area with some big homes.

Our paddle was 2 hours & 10 min.  Sure didn't take us as long going back!  Luckily we went against the current first and it didn't seem bad.  It was in the upper 50's when we finished.

Yea!!

Finally was nice enough to get a bike ride in.  Went this afternoon from here rode to North Myrtle Beach and back.  Of course we had to wait until turtle races were over!

BRRRR! in Myrtle Beach

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  It was a quiet one here with just Bruce & me to entertain ourselves.  We did go to a wonderful Christmas Eve service at a UMC in North Myrtle Beach.  Special music was wonderful.  A harpist played for 25 minutes before the service and then continued to play along with the organ during the service.  A cello played with piano accompaniment during the service and there were several vocal pieces.  Sure put me into a wonderful Christmas spirit.
When we arrived here - Myrtle Beach - on Sunday it was in the high 70's but then Monday it turned cold and has been in the 40's & low 50's everyday.  We could deal with that but the winds have been strong so we have mostly stayed indoors - playing BOGGLE, reading books, building puzzles and watching football.  I haven't even been out on the beach for a walk yet.  I have gone to some water aerobics, been to the hot tub, and we've gone to some of the turtle races.  At least we're not dealing with snow so we're happy.
Last night we went to the Alabama Theater for their Christmas Show.  Wonderful show!
This afternoon we will probably suck it up and get on our bicycles - supposed to be warmer (50's!)

Let the turtle races begin!

We missed the races yesterday, but got there today.  LeRoy (my turtle) won the last race by coming in last at the last second.  Several turtles today since there are kids at the resort this week.

Decorated

Who says we don't decorate for Christmas?

Happy Birthday, Bryce!

Sending lots of love and good wishes to you, Bryce as you celebrate another birthday.  You have made us so proud through the years.  Another birthday for you means your mother & father are getting older. Darn!

Kayak

 Yesterday we finally got to go paddling.  It was a cool day (mid 50's) but the sun was shining and there was little wind.  We went to Beaufort and put in at the boat launch.

We paddled to the other side of Carrot Island in search of some wild horses.

We spotted some!!

Then we continued our paddle in to the town of Beaufort.

We paddled around the island where research is done - government and university/

Happened to see a couple of dolphins swimming by.  Yea!!

Isn't this boat cute?

You can see how small it really is with Bruce beside it in his kayak.

Great paddle day - 3 hours of paddling - we were happy to arrive back at boat launch!

Our week

Well, what have we been up to this week?  Certainly not blogging.
We have done 3 bike rides - 31 miles today!!
Built some puzzles, read some books, played BOGGLE, watched some Christmas shows on the Hallmark channel, went to an awesome band concert at the local school,  went out to dinner, went out to lunch (you remember Clawsons, Mark & Doreen?).  I took some walks on the beach, we went for a kayak, and watched the roofing project going on (annoyed Bruce until he decided it was more fun to chuckle about it!)
All in all a good week with a mix of weather - cool, rain, warm, windy, calm - just happy we weren't dealing with snow though we wished for some for our friends up home (sorry - we didn't wish for the rain to make a mess of it).  Tomorrow is supposed to be another mild day for us to enjoy here at the beach and get our things packed for heading out on Sunday morning.

Sunset

What a beautiful sunset we had here tonight!

Wild weather

Heard about the snow we were getting back home and that church was cancelled this morning.  We went to church here and enjoyed a beautiful cantata and some special music on the bells.  Were thinking about our church friends back home.
We had some wild weather here last night.  Heavy wind and rains with a tornado watch for the whole Carolina coast.  Luckily the tornado didn't happen and we were not parked where the parking lot flooded and our tarp on our trailer was well strapped down so all is well!

This afternoon on my beach walk the surf was higher than normal.

Some surfers were taking advantage of the waves.

Shout to my favorite "little people"

Wanted some of my favorite people to know I was thinking of them while I walked the beach today!

Christmas Parade

We went to the Annual Morehead City Christmas Parade yesterday.

Weather was predicted to be rainy but things looked good at the start of the parade.

Not as many people watching as last year but I think the weather kept people away.

 I think many of these pictures are similar to last year's.

I guess I liked the same things!

 The umbrellas did come out before the end of the parade though.

 But we stayed till the end - had to see Santa!

This year's candy stash from the parade.