2025 - HOLIDAY IN DUCK, NORTH CAROLINA
On May 24, Alanna, Ray and I fly to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. This holiday was conceived one night at dinner when Alanna said "why don't we take a trip to Duck and bring back some memories from the past?" We spent several summer holidays in Duck with Sherry and Lloyd and JoAnna and Jeffrey when JoAnna and Jeffrey, and Alanna, were young. We had some fabulous times: playing in the Ocean and avoiding the rip-currents, fishing in the Sound, seeing the wild horses, going deep sea fishing from near Cape Hatteras, and learning about the Wright Brothers first flight out of Kitty Hawk. It is a fun and beautiful area. And so, Ray and I jumped on it. Ray also contacted Toby and Keri, his son and daughter in law, in England, and asked if they would like to join us. So, we are all headed to Duck for two/one week shortly. I will try to keep you updated .... but if we are having soooooo much fun, my posts may be a day or too late!! Stay tuned!!
Day 1 - Friday, May 23, 2025
So ... on our way! We left home around 1.00 to pick up
Alanna, but we didn't get too far. Chun and Sangeun (neighbours) were just
getting out of their car and Betty and Luna were passing by on their walk and
of course all had to give us a hug and wish us "happy holidays". When
we finally got in the car and ready to move, Ray asked me if I had my US credit
card! Well, I had completely forgotten having one! So, I had to go back in the
house. A fun time. I managed to punch the wrong code into our alarm system and
the sirens went off. I couldn't turn them off and Ray had to come to my
assistance and sort it out with the alarm company!! Finally, we were able
to take my card and leave. We picked up Alanna who had been patiently (or maybe
not so) waiting... and we were on our way down the 99 highway to Vancouver. It
is considered one of the best scenic drives in the world: beautiful ocean sound
dotted with little islands on one side, and rugged rocks and mountains held
together with coniferous trees and brush on the other, while above the sky played different scenes
from bright blue and sunny, to dark grey clouds and rain .... and don't forget
the railway paralleling the road, only a few feet from it and perched on the
edge of the water.
We had an uneventful drive down to Granville Island.
Granville, is an eclectic village nestled in False Creek a short narrow inlet
in the heart of Vancouver, separating the Downtown and West End neighbourhoods
from the rest of the city, and which forms one of the four main bodies of water bordering
Vancouver. In Granville, there are theatres, artisans, restaurants, outdoor
entertainment, boat rides, beautiful flower displays and seagulls! All colorful
and fun. Inside the market there was every food you could imagine, displayed in
colorful and artistic patterns. We went to Bridges for a very late lunch, and sat outside enjoying the beautiful evening
views. Finally, it was time to leave and find our way to our overnight stop,
the Best Western Plus Vancouver Airport. We realized we had a 5 am rise the
next morning so hung out in our respective rooms and tried to go to sleep
early. Well, the going to sleep came easy, with a wake up at 1.00 am ... and
you got it .... tossing and turning and checking my alarm till rolling out of
bed at 5.00 am.
