5-23-11 Day 42

We set our alarm to wake us up so that we could watch the sunrise this morning. We planned on waking the kids up to show them also but when the alarm went off we decided it would just be us. It was a a little over cast so we couldn't see the sun for a few minutes. It was really neat to watch the sun rise on the east coast. Paul has been writing the blogs lately so I haven't gotten a chance to say how excited and glad I am to be here. I really do love being by the ocean, it makes me feel better about everything. We set out on this trip with the intention of seeing if there are any places we could see ourselves living. We have seen many places that are amazing and we would like to spend more time in but none that we are like yes this is the place. What I am learning is what things I like to have where I live. I really do want to live in a place on the ocean that preferably has mountains close by. These are the places that I get the most excited about and feel most comfortable in.

Ok back to our day.. The sun rise was such a great way to start the day that I decided to stay out and take Lola for a walk on the beach before everyone else woke up.












When I got back the kids were up but Paul was still asleep so we went back to the beach. It was only 7 at this point. Jack played in the water while i nursed Lucca and took it all in. I couldn't have imagined a better way to start the day. After breakfast we decided to head out to the south end of the island and take the ferry over to Ocracoke. The rest of the island was longer than we thought so by the time we got to the ferry everyone was hungry. We boarded the ferry which was really fun. I have never been on a car ferry so it was new for me too. The ride was about 40 min through water that we found out is only 12 feet at it deepest. Most of the Palmico sound is only 2-3 feet deep.






Jack hung out with Lola on the ride over.





When we got to Orcacoke we had lunch at a little creekside cafe with good seafood and burgers. Then we drove around the island to discover that it is a really cute small community of island life to the fullest. Little art galleries, raw bars and beach cruisers. There really wasn't much to do there so we drove around and headed back to the ferry. On the way we found a great beach and let Lola run around a bit. Her tail is much better today!

















joined in on the truck bed fun this time.





We were trying to get to the Hatteras lighthouse before it closed and we made it with five minutes to spare...only we couldn't climb to the top because you have to be 42 inches to go up. Something about falling through the rails. Even though Jack was really looking forward to going to the top he handled it very well. He has been happier the last few days, I think it is that ocean air again.



We had to get back to have dinner and get these tired kids to bed. Which we did with out any kinks so now Paul and I are going to enjoy this this ocean breeze and sunset.

P.S. Meet Elvis. We got him at Graceland and have decided to make him the trip mascot. We are going to decorate him with treasures we find on our adventures. So far his mustache we got in Oklahoma and a deer nail ring from Santasland in NC. We are looking for the perfect shell now.

Location:Rodanthe, NC