We decided that it had been too long since we’d seen our families and friends in North Carolina, so my friend Laura and I took off on a road trip.
On the drive up we camped in Arkansas at Lake Catherine State Park. We managed to set up our tents, change, grab a drink, and walk to the lake in time for a sunset swim.That night we watched and laughed as a mother raccoon lifted the top of an “animal proof” trashcan, hopped inside, and emerged with a nearly-full bag of chips, which she tossed to her waiting kits.The next day, after making the beautiful but long drive across Tennessee and Western North Carolina, we arrived in Greensboro late at night. Only the cats were up to greet us!I left Laura with her parents and drove southeast. I’d decided to camp at Jordan Lake so that I could visit my dad, my brother and his family, and a college friend, who were all living in the area. When I arrived at my site in the Poplar Point Campground I was treated to this spectacular view of far-off thunderstorms.Mushrooms grew throughout the woods and along the campground trail.I met my dad for lunch at Pinehurst, where we enjoyed watching golfers move across the course. Next time I’m going to get in a game of croquet!My dad has befriended a group of deer, feeding them from the backyard, while his fluffy black cat tags along, begging for pets. With those trees and flowers, it’s like a scene from Snow White!After a few days at Jordan Lake I drove to Holden Beach to stay with some friends. I spent an afternoon floating around on the comfortably warm, calm waves.Pelicans gliding over the beach.Quality pool time with two of my favorite people.Maximum pool floats for maximum pool fun.On my last night at Holden Beach, we watched the full moon rise over the ocean.As the moon rose, it seemed to float among the clouds in an eerily beautiful display.After two nights at the beach, I rejoined Laura at the Burke Manor Inn in Gibsonville, where we celebrated a birthday with her family and friends.The next day, on our way out of North Carolina, we briefly stopped to grab coffee and catch-up with a friend at Dripolator Coffeehouse in Black Mountain (near Asheville).
We spent our last night at Meeman-Shelby State Park in Tennessee. The weather was much warmer than expected and we were swarmed by mosquitos so we didn’t get to enjoy the park as much as I’d hoped. But we did get to watch about a hundred hummingbirds flying around the visitors center the next morning. That park is definitely on my list of places to go back to, just maybe in cooler weather when there aren’t so many bugs.
It was a whirlwind trip and I’m so glad I got to see everyone I did, I only wish I could have spent more time!
Anyone else feeling like you’re in a time warp this year?
