June 12 - 21, 2009 - Outer Banks, North Carolina
We were given the opportunity to spend a week in Corolla, a town in the northern part of the Outer Banks, NC, with some good friends from high school. They split 3 different houses among about 35 or so people (family & other friends) over the week, so we got to meet lots of new people, and we all got to enjoy our time there in whatever way we wanted. It was great to be included, and we're so appreciative (Thanks Jen and Morgan!).

Maya got to see her first ocean: the Atlantic - we'll see others in the future hopefully. Sand was fun for playing, digging, and walking in with shoes only- she didn't like her feet directly on the sand (though she liked burying her feet). The ocean itself was pretty overwhelming, as she clung to either mom or me most of the time. The last time we went to the beach, she got brave and let us dip her in the waves, which she really loved. The pools were a favorite, and though she was a bit afraid at first, at home now she has blossomed into a total pool rat. The word "pool" has made its way into her vocabulary, although it runs a distant third to the words "Mommy" and "puppy" (we'll not talk about where "Daddy" fits in there).

As you move north of Corolla on the main paved highway (only 1 main road runs north/south), the road actually turns into a sand highway, right on the beach. There are houses up there as well, but the side streets are all basically sand roads that can easily turn into dunes/drifts. 4x4 is mandatory, and even then some vehicles get stuck. There are also wild horses that live north, and they can be seen pretty much anywhere; you just have to keep an eye out. One day Morgan and I went fishing up north in about 75 degree weather- the beaches were virtually empty. A group of 3 horses came waltzing by, just checking us out. They continued south for a bit and then turned around and came back (see camera 2 pics). We didn't catch anything, but it was so relaxing just experiencing the waves, feeling the water and the wind. It's humbling to stand in front of something so vast. The sunsets on the sound side of the island were amazing, although it took a couple days before we saw some without much cloud cover. Our final day, we stopped at Currituck Light House on the way out. The 216-step lighthouse was obviously NOT air conditioned, and we waited until the one 95-degree day to climb those steps. The view made up for the steps.

Camera 1 pics
Camera 2 pics