North Carolina, Again

As we make our way north this spring, we're hitting some states we hit last fall.  First on the list, North Carolina!  While we stayed in the western/central part of the state last November, we're on the coast (or close) this time around.  First stop, Neuse River Recreation Area in the Croatan National Forest.  

As Easter is rapidly approaching, we've taken some time to make some Easter crafts.  We missed mass for the 2nd and 3rd weeks in Lent, which was really weighing heavily on me.  We've made it to every mass since, but I still haven't spent much effort on the season.  It's not been easy, and I hate that the season has found me so lacking, but I'll do better next year.                

About an hour or so from our campground is the Beaufort location for the North Carolina Martitime Museum.  Here we learned all about fascinating things like buoy breeches.  Oh, and Edward Teach....you know, Blackbeard.  So these buoy breeches were used to rescue people from sinking ships.  There was also an 11 passenger rescue boat (?) that freaked me out as it would have been so incredibly tight a fit for 11 people.  But for efficiency, it was the way to go.  It was a pretty cool museum, and after we explored, we walked around Beaufort.  Here we also hit the visitors' center for Cape Lookout National Seashore.  While we didn't get to the actual seashore, the kids were able to do the underwater ranger papers.  They learned a lot with that particular ranger book!                                

We also spent an afternoon checking out New Bern.  Some fellow campers recommended it as a place to walk around, and it was a nice way to spend an afternoon.  We were taken with the bears they have throughout the city.  This one was particularly fun, just hanging out as a kind of gargoyle.                                    

This bear held the Bill of Rights.  That was good for the kids to see again!                                        

We also went to the birthplace of Pepsi.  Notice that it states it's "healthful."  I love old ads.  There was not a lot to do, it was really just a store full of Pepsi paraphenallia, but it was a nifty little stop on our journey.                                    

Our campground is a short walk from the river.  K, NB, and I took a walk there the first day we pulled in, but it took almost the entire time we were at the campsite before the others came out and saw it.                    

G's convinced he can start fire with friction.  We'll see...he's bound and determined!                    

I think these are cypress knees out in the river, but I'm not entirely sure.  The kids had a fun time hanging out in the water and playing.  The weather has been a bit of a mixed bag while we've been here.  Bright and sunny when we arrived, downpours for a couple days, cool and breezy for a couple days.  I do love spring.