Weather is a funny thing, you never know what it is going to do, and here on the Southern Outer Banks, the weather is even more localized than it is in many places.

The nice breeze that we get off the water at our house in Bluewater Cove often has no impact just a few houses up the street.  Other areas of the subdivision get winds from different directions.  We are sheltered from some of those breezes.

We were at our church, Cape Carteret Presbyterian, on July 22, and after the service we talked with some friends who live in Emerald Isle just four or five miles away as a seagull flies.  They commented about how dry it was at their house on Emerald Isle until the rains which came the previous Saturday.  read more »

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Beach vacations are a tradition in North Carolina, and A Week at the Beach describes the best way to enjoy the beaches and wonderful waters surrounding Emerald Isle and Swansboro, NC. It is written by someone who lives in the area and enjoys boating, kayaking, beach walking, and fishing. Information is provided on local attractions, restaurants, and day trips. This is an intimate and detailed view of the Crystal Coast portion of North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks. It comes with stunning bird and beach pictures.

Kayaking on a warm summer morning reminds me a little of cross country skiing on a cold winter morning.

In both cases your mind is telling you that by doing nothing you'll be more comfortable.  If you just stay inside and enjoy either the cool or the warmth, life will be good. Unfortunately I have never created a memory worth saving by sitting around inside.

The reality is that if you have done either cross country skiing or kayaking very much, you know that you will have lots of fun once you get started.  I've been cross country skiing when the temperature was below zero and had a great time.

I've also been kayaking when the temperature on shore was pretty nasty, and found that things were actually quite pleasant out on the water.  I've gotten calls from my wife wondering why I am still out on the water when it is so hot and miserable.

The truth is that if the water temperature is in the mid to low eighties and the air temperature is around ninety, you'll likely be more comfortable on the water especially if there is a nice breeze.
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Going to the Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores is a tradition in our family.   I have written in detail about our visits before, but today was a special visit.  We got to take our granddaughter with us. 

If there is a perfect age for a first visit to the Aquarium, I'm guessing four is not far from it.  There is nothing like the wonder in the eyes of a child seeing a shark tank for the first time.  Of course sea otters are even more fun than sharks.

This trip was perhaps the first time that we visited the Aquarium when we were not trying to escape from cottage fever, heat, or rain.  We could easily have gone to the beach or the pool, but our granddaughter wanted to go to the Aquarium so we went.

There was a good crowd there ahead of us, but we have seen it far more crowded than it was on our visit today.  Even when the Aquarium is crowded it is still possible to have a great time.  Our almost four year old granddaughter had some favorite exhibits, but she managed to enjoy almost everything.
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