Recently the kids and my mom and I spent an afternoon walking on the soundside. We call it “marshing” or “mucking about.” All kinds of things get uncovered in winter storms, so you never know what will wash up. We found sea glass, old bottles and lots of small pieces of driftwood that I collected… Continue reading A day at the soundside…
I didn’t post over Christmas because I was busy with family events, taking care of horses and enjoying some time off work. January is one of my favorite months for all the usual reasons, like new beginnings, a fresh start and all that. I enjoy it even more so living here, because the island is… Continue reading Happy New Year
There’s a quote, “Fight for what you love, not against what you hate.” The implication is that we should try to focus on positive things, that by drawing attention to the good we automatically place the bad in the shadows. This is what I’ve tried to do on my blog. I don’t talk about politics… Continue reading Fight for what you love…
My brother owns an outdoor equipment rental company here on Hatteras Island (kayaks, surfboards, golf carts, etc…). I’m supposed to guide kayak tours for him this summer, so I took one of the kayaks and went exploring to try and figure out a good route that would provide some pretty scenery without being too long… Continue reading Kayak Trip to a Secluded Beach
When it’s 70 degrees in mid December and you live on an island, you go kayaking! My son and I got the kayak out for a quick trip in the Pamlico Sound this weekend. We have some friends with a soundfront house and they are kind enough to let us use their dock. It’s just… Continue reading December Kayaking Adventure
On Saturday morning my brother and I did an early morning paddle in the sound from my house to his house, about 3 miles. We could hear the surf pounding in the ocean, but the sound was slick calm and glassy. Even at the end of October, the temperature was in the 70’s and it… Continue reading Paddleboarding Hatteras
State parks are open in my state, so my friend and I went camping. We chose a backcountry campsite at Sloppy Floyd State Park, thinking that would be an easy way to social distance and still be outdoors. We were a bit disappointed by the campsites. There are 4 backcountry campsites situated on a little… Continue reading Backcountry Camping at Sloppy Floyd State Park
The older I get, the more I like winter, especially hiking in the winter. For one thing, it’s so hot in Atlanta in the summer that it feels like you could melt into a puddle right in the middle of the trail. There are only so many clothes you can take off. In the winter,… Continue reading Winter Hiking
Gilchrist Blue Springs is Florida’s newest state park. It was recently purchased from private owners and the state is in the process of building out the campground, visitor center and other amenities. Currently there are picnic tables, a campground, restrooms, a shop to rent kayaks, and a small snack bar serving burgers, hot dogs, ice… Continue reading Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park in Florida
It seems to me that the outdoor industry has claimed ownership of the outdoors. Paradoxically, they preach a message that the outdoors is for everyone while simultaneously acting as a gatekeeper that prevents people from going outside. I’ll explain, but first let me say that I’m not talking about diversity here. There’s a big push… Continue reading How the Outdoor Industry Discourages People from Going Outside
Simple Southern 