USA

Week 4: 03.12.2012 – 09.12.2012

Monday:-

We had eaten so well over the past few days – today was pay back. We were up early for a morning run along the bay to the battery and back, past a ma-husive cruise ship which had just parked up along the dock.

  

OK, so we had a big breakfast back at the hotel. Its free, what are we supposed to do! Car packed and we’re back on our way via Carolina Beach.

A couple of stops along the way – a walk along the boardwalk at a wildlife and fisheries refuge

  

  

  

  

  

and a stop for Myrtle Beach (well Surfside And Myrtle beach) for a shoreline stroll and a picnic. We had just enough time to get to Southport and the ferry. 4 miles and 30 minutes later we’d crossed the water whilst star gazing. Hotel check in done, Southern fried dinner done and soak in the hot tub done. Nite nite.

Tuesday:-

  

Have you ever run along the beach? Never realised how much of a work out it is! Fantastic morning for it though. Quick swim, breakfast in the room and out to explore Caroline Beach. We headed for the state park (via Cape Fear road!) to track down the elusive Venus fly catcher. Well 2 hours later we found out there are no Venus fly catchers anymore but the walk was good and the views fabulous.

    

  

Low on water and energy we went in search of something more attainable. Lunch. I had yet to had crab and oysters – a speciality of the area – so we ordered a bucket load. My god it was so good.

  

  

Now for the slog home – 6 hours to go. Now what’s a road trip without ice cream. We’d yet to have one so with road trip time running out we stopped for one. Oh no, not your high quality stuff more your Mr Whippy standard. Bloody lovely. It was the only thing that got us through. Well done to Tammy for clocking up over 1000 miles and getting us home safe.

Wednesday:-

A lay in today. Catching up on washing etc and a trip for groceries. I decided to walk to Aldi. A couple of hours later and a day pack full of groceries and I got home. TV dinner and bed.

Thursday:-

Another lazy day. House chores, walk to shops and chill.

Friday:-

After the usual lazy breakfast and run it was time for a haircut. It was off to the Paul Mitchell school of hairdressing. $12 seemed to good to be true AND…..it was amazing. Yes really. It took bloody ages but they’re in training right. I left a new women. Vietnamese lunch, shopping and home for a snooze. Life is soooo tough. Tonight another treat from Tammy and a chance to show off my swanky new hairdo. Courtesy of Groupon (they have it here too) we went to the Osprey for dinner. A golf club. We thought we may be surrounded by old farts (apologies to any old farts reading this – Dad!) but it was packed and a real mixed bag. Food was great. We did our usual trick of ordering different things and swapping half way through. Double bubble. Anywho, we were just paying up when we were invited to join a small party at the bar – cool. Lively conversation, a beer or two, a bit of dancing and a few games of pool (spots and stripes not solids and stripes yeah!!) and the eveninging was in full swing.

Saturday:-

A few sore heads! Tea and bagel at Occoquan coffee shop was in order the pretty much nothing else until the afternoon. A walk around the local woodland and home just before dusk.

Sunday:-

Time to get out and about and make up for yesterday. We headed for the metro and into the big smoke.

    

We were in search of Perrys. Known for its food but most importantly the Sunday drag brunch. We got a place at the bar. Eat as much as you can at the buffet – everything from sushi to chocolate brownie. The entertainment was fan-tast-ic. 4 performers dressed to the nines. 4 very glamorous “ladies” who had amazing miming skills, boobs of concrete and other talents. We saw some of the first session (arriving part way through) and most of the second.

    

  

  

    

  

You can eat a fair amount in 3 hours. We had to walk this off. The zoo was just down the road. Free entry to see the animals and all the special Christmas lights were on view. We didn’t leave until after dark so we got to see it all. An hour back on the metro and we were home. Phew – what a day! Time to pack for Florida and Lauren tomorrow? Nah, I’ll do it in the morning.