So I said I had some R&R planned for this weekend. But I've learned that adventures are fun, not necessarily restful and relaxing.
I've wanted so badly to go on a vacation for a while, and this summer sent me over the edge. I think with everything I had on my plate, I needed to get away more than ever. So Jason encouraged me to take a trip.
Pick a place. Go have fun. (I have a paycheck now so I can fund little getaways without tapping into our everyday budget.) He said he'd stay with the kids, and I could go all by myself!!
I don't know if you're a loner, but I LOVE time to myself. I love only worrying about myself. Being alone doesn't make me lonely or sad.
Well, I picked North Carolina as my destination. I've never been (at least not that I can remember), and I don't know that we'd ever go as a family. So it seemed like a great place for a loner trip.
On Friday, Jason and the kids dropped me off at the airport, and off I went... on my Carolina adventure. I rented a car for the very first time ever! (I'm such a grown-up.) I flew into Raleigh but stayed at a bed and breakfast in Wilmington.
I was sorta flying by the seat of my pants, but I had also done research. Every day I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to eat lunch and dinner. Now-- when I got up, when I headed out the door, when I ate lunch, etc-- those are the things I played by ear.
Friday night at the B&B, I met the owner and other couples staying there. We sat around the dining room table, ate cake, drank tea, and I had a great time getting to know everyone.
Saturday I headed to Wrightsville Beach for the morning. There's a park nearby where I ran the loop to work off all that cake from the night before. ;) Then I headed for the ocean to cool off. I had lunch on the water. It was amazing!
Then I headed back to the B&B just in time for snack time, which apparently is grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, chips, grapes, and wine. That's a meal in my book, not a snack. But Sophie, the owner, didn't like to hear that you weren't hungry. So I politely stuffed myself until I wanted to pop.
After cleaning up, I wandered around downtown and went to a restaurant later that night. I sat at the bar and met a really nice woman from Tennessee. We drank and talked for 2 hours. (I mean, I wasn't drinking that ENTIRE time. I ate an appetizer too.) I heard her life story, and she heard mine. It's fun to talk to strangers. :)
The next morning I checked out of the B&B after the biggest breakfast I've ever seen and headed down to Charleston, SC for a quick one night stay. I toured a plantation, stayed by the Waterfront Park, had oysters for dinner, drank a little too much ;), and went to bed early.
Monday I went back to North Carolina for a very quick trip to Winston-Salem to see Wake Forest. It was one of the schools I had considered for undergrad and had always wanted to see. (It looked beautiful on the brochures.) It was just as pretty in person.
Then I drove to Raleigh and went out for sushi. It was an unbelievable way to end my trip.
I left this morning and landed just a few hours ago.
.....
I had a couple of mishaps.
My headlight was busted. as in, the glass was broken. I didn't do it, but I didn't notice it until I was at my first stop. I was sure Enterprise was gonna want me to file on my insurance to fix it, but they didn't notice. :) Whew.
I forgot where my car was parked, thought it was towed, called towing companies, couldn't find it. Then I thought it was stolen. Then I remembered that I had parked somewhere else. Oops.
My car battery was dead this morning. I was trying to catch my flight and needed to leave and the darn thing wouldn't start. After asking the hotel to help, I was sort of dismissed to figure out what to do on my own. Then the nicest guy in the world took pity on me and jumped my car. He saved the day and I made it to the airport with enough time to spare to get a cup of coffee.
......
This has awakened the adventuresome spirit in me. I'm so thankful to have a family that supports me and takes care of me. But it's nice sometimes to strike out on your own, even if for a weekend, and figure out a new place and meet new people.
If I felt like being quiet, I got a table by myself at lunch. If I felt like meeting people, I sat at the bar and would talk with the tourists around me. I can't even tell you how much fun I had.
Anyway... that's where I've been. Now I'm back. :)
I leave you with a few pics from the trip.
Can you see the busted headlight? Enterprise couldn't. Hee hee.
The beach--
Lunch at Dockside--
My room in Charleston--
