DAY THREE OF OAK ISLAND VACATION

All clouds this morning as the wind still blows very hard here. I walked down to survey the damage from the extra high tide last night and saw that all the turtle nest are completely gone with only this orange tape to indicate where this one used to be, poor little guys.

This old fence line was exposed all along the beach,have no idea what it was for.
 No one was stirring after hubbie and I had breakfast so we took a fact finding ride down to the other end of the island.
The beach between us and Caswell is littered with huge rocks that were washed up during the night.
But Caswell beach is still nice and only has rings of debri to show were the tide reached up to.

We walked up on the Oak Island Pier and the lady told us the damage was a combination of three things, the full moon, high tide and a strong southern wind. Oak Island faces directly south so it catches the south wind straight on.
This is the Oak Island lighthouse.

If we stay on Oak island again I am going to try to get a house on Caswell beach since it is so wide and there are no banks to scale to get on and off the beach.
When we got back to the house #2 son was ready to go to the Tanger Oulets in North Myrtle beach.
He drove my van with hubbie and me and we headed on out. #1 son's family is going to meet us later.
We shopped all afternoon. I found some great deals at one of my favorite stores, Coldwater Creek. Also got some goodies off the clearance racks in Bon Worth.  #2 son found several things and hubbie had some ice cream from all his shopping !!
#1 son's family came later in the afternoon and g-son got some back to school clothes in the Osh Gosh outlet.
We went from there down to the main drag in Myrtle Beach to the amusement park for g-son to spend the afternoon riding the rides.
It has been many many years since I have been on Ocean Boulevard and it has sure changed.

G-son had a blast riding the rides.

He met a friend and rode a couple rides with her. She cried when we went separate ways.

The old roller coaster that was here in this same spot when I was a teenager is still in operation today.

The whole family took a train ride around the park.

#2 son, hubbie and I left around 8:00 to find something to eat as we hadn't eaten since lunchtime. We barely made it to the K&W cafeteria at 8:20 just before they stopped serving at 8:30.
I was so hungry the food tasted sooooo  good. I hate to eat this late but tonight I was so empty it didn't overfill my stomach.
We made it to the beach house at 10:00 and Bernie and Dolly were sure glad to see us !!!
After a big bowl of late supper and a nice long walk they forgave us gratefully for abandoning them for the day.
This is the latest night I have been up so I am starting to see double while typing this.
Talked to daughter a couple times today,she has spent the day again juggling her teaching and coaching classes. One more full day tomorrow and part of Thursday and she will be done with her certifications.
Talked to sis-in-law Sandy tonight and she said things are still rainy at home. She said she thought we were going to make it through the day dry until a severe thunder storm came up tonight and dumped a bunch of rain.

Very grateful to God tonight for the safe travel of today and for the blessing of a wonderful family.
Good Night and God Bless.

DAY TWO AT OAK ISLAND BEACH

The sky actually looks more threatening this morning with less rain chances forecast for today. As hubbie, #2 son and I sat out on the deck having breakfast we wondered if rain would roll in down the beach with some really dark clouds that were quickly advancing our way.

 As we watched the clouds seemed to dissipate before our eyes and the blue sky emerged. Bernie enjoyed the warm sunshine but Dolly opted for the shade of a chair.

We decided it was clear enough for a bike ride to the end of the island to do a bit of exploring. This is the waterway entrance between Oak Island and Holden Beach Island.

The high southern winds and the full moon high tide of last night took a tole on some of the turtle nest.

When we got back to the house g-son was ready to hit the beach for day two.

More wave riding and fun.

This boy loves the ocean and wears everyone of us out watching him play in the ocean.

#1 son fished and caught several small fish out of the surf.

We took turns coming in and having lunch today while watching g-son. He came in with me to eat his lunch. I fixed his food and by the time I had mine fixed he was finished and ready to go again !!

Fun, Fun, Fun !!!!
We got out the kite and had no trouble getting it in the air this evening in the strong winds.

As the rising tide finally got to our chairs this afternoon around 4:00 we headed inside to clean up. We are all tired and have plenty of sun.
We fixed supper in tonight and had spaghetti.
After we ate d-in-love took g-son to see a movie and the rest of us tried to find a fishing spot but the wind is blowing so hard we gave it up and came inside.
There are coastal flood warnings all along the coast tonight and the turtle nest that were almost washed away last night are all gone tonight along with a lot of the dunes in front of our house.
We spent a quiet night resting tonight.
Talked to Rebecca today and all is well at the farm. Talked to daughter and she is juggling between her teachers workshop and the coaching clinic that is going on at the same time in Greensboro.
Thanking God for another wonderful day.
Good Night and God Bless.

DAY ONE AT OAK ISLAND BEACH

Woke to a cloudy sky this morning. After walking the dogs and having breakfast g-son was up and ready for some beach play.
We took a walk while everyone else got up and got going.

We found turtle nest roped off all along the beach we were on. They each had dates when they were layed.

#1 son and d-in-love went to find a Walmart and hubbie, #2 son, g-son and I hit the beach. I love the clouds they keep the heat low.

G-son wore both his pawpaw and his uncle D out in the waves.

Nah !!!  He's not spoiled  !!!!

While they took a break he built volcanos in the sand.

He enlisted uncle D's help.

We came in for a sandwich at lunch and when we looked back outside the sun was shining brightly.

G-son couldn't wait to get back out in the water but we took a walk to let our lunch settle.
We spent the entire afternoon at the beach. Everyone enjoyed it !
The guys all rode the waves.

G-son got used to riding waves alone in the shallow part and
 he had a blast.

For supper tonight #2 son and hubbie went to Bojangles for take out.
After we ate we went down to a park to see if any fish were biting.

 #2 son caught a fiddler crab for g-son to get a closer look at, but mom didn't like a closer look when it started climbing the bench she was sitting on.

This was a nice section of the island and as the day ended with the same cloudy skies it started with.
Wonder what all the guys are discussing.

A beautiful full moon was intermittently shining down on us from behind passing clouds.
Talked to sis-in-law from home tonight and she said the weather had been nasty up there today with 2 severe thunder storms moving through.
Talked to daughter who got to Greensboro about 3:00 today to begin the new teacher workshop for her business class she will be teaching.
She said they had had some flooding rain there this afternoon also.
Guess we are the lucky ones with no rain at all today.
It is 10:00 and g-son just went to bed and I am not going to be far behind as my eyes are getting heavier by the minute.
Grateful to God tonight for the magnificent creations I see each day especially the beauty of the seashore and surroundings.
Good Night and God Bless,