North Carolina Trip: Day 2 and 3

We awoke on day two just as a morning rain shower was letting up.

Once we were all fed, groomed and ready to go we jumped into the car and headed to the historic town of Hillsborough. We parked the car and took a leisurely stroll through an historic neighborhood. Many of the gorgeous homes had a sign posted out front with the date the home was made, many from the 1700s and 1800s, kind of amazing for us westerners where most homes are less than a hundred years old.

Eric and Cordelia

After our stroll we stopped for lunch at Waverly St. Market (not on Waverly St.) and then we headed to an old cemetery to check it out.

Lunch

cemetery

Then we enjoyed some refreshing popsicles!

Later we stopped by the Eno River to check it out.

Suspension Bridge

Ben, Sara, Cordelia

Handsome!

Cordelia spent much of her time throwing rocks into the river

Finally we headed to downtown Raleigh to have a look around.

Ben, being Ben, downtown Raleigh


Cordelia and I

We ended the day back at Ben and Sara's house where she cooked us up a tasty meal. We settled in for the night just as a massive rain storm hit.

We awoke the following morning to a bright and beautiful day. We flew home, Cordelia did AMAZINGLY WELL! We made it to Denver, picked up our car and drove home.

North Carolina morning

Cordelia at the airport (headphones not connected to anything)

Trip to North Carolina: Evening of Day 1

After our fun filled day (see post from yesterday) in North Carolina we decided that it was high time we head out for some dinner. We went to Carboro for some vegan eats at the spotted dog. While the restaurant was not entirely veg they had plenty of vegan options.

The Spotted Dog


Eric loves to be photographed


Our dinner party, check out the waiter

After dinner we took a walk through Carboro, there were beautiful houses. Wooded areas. We found a trail and followed it to a playground. We headed back to the car as a bright orange moon was rising. Beautiful end to a lovely day.

Family

Evening walk through Carboro

Sara teaching Cordelia to walk on her heels

Ben teaching Cordelia to walk the line


Action shot

Bugs


Plants


Eric...wall climbing

Running


Evening trees

Playing at the playground

Trip to North Carolina: Day 1

We slept in for our first morning, blame it on the time difference. I managed to sleep in until 8am local time, kind of a miracle for me. Our first full day in North Carolina started out rainy. We didn't mind as we LOVE the rain. We had breakfast and got ready for a fun filled day.

Ben and Sara gave us a little driving tour of Chapel Hill and Durham. We drove through areas that seemed like dense forest, but were actually in the middle of the city. We looked at all of the creeping vines, the tall magnolia trees, the green growing things.

Eventually we stopped at Duke University to check out the Nasher Art Museum. They had some good shows up and a pretty interesting permanent collection as well.

Our gang at the art museum


Sweet girl

After a visit to the museum it was time for lunch. We decided to stop at Chubby's Tacos. The restaurant wasn't vegan, but they had some great vegan options and an impressive salsa bar.

Chubby's Tacos


Waiting for lunch


Eric, overwhelmed by the magnitude of his burrito

After lunch the rain had let up. We drove through downtown Durham and stopped at a little park with some great water features. We wandered around for a bit. Cordelia was pleased as she loooves water. She kept saying, "Riber (river) mama, riber."

Cordelia and I at a water park


Strolling along


Family photo (can you figure out what is wrong with this picture?)


Ben and I

We headed back to Ben and Sara's house for a little rest after a busy morning. The sun came out. We walked around their wooded neighborhood, chatted, and had a nice relaxing time.

Sun through the trees






Jrake

Since I have so many photos I will show you the rest of our day tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Trip to North Carolina: Travel Day

Hello. We just returned last night from a long weekend in North Carolina. My brother Ben and his wife Sara, along with their animals are all living in North Carolina. We decided to end our summer travels with some air travel.

Our trip began on Thursday afternoon in Wyoming. Eric got out of work a bit early. We dropped Bumblebee off to stay with my parents and we drove down to Denver. Our town does have a small airport but it is often significantly cheaper to fly out of Denver. So we got to the city just in time for dinner at WATERCOURSE. I ate a bowl of tomato coconut curry soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, and (yes there is still more) a Donna Lee---a wrap with yummy seitan. I was completely stuffed by the time we left, it was awesome.

We went to our hotel near the airport and called it a night. The following morning we made our way to DIA (Denver International Airport).

Inside Denver International Airport

I was the lucky one to get selected for a random screening. My hands tested positive for some mystery substance. I ended up in the private area getting a very personal pat down. I will never put on hand lotion before a flight again!

Anyway, a small setback, but we were left with plenty of time to catch our flight, Cordelia's first flight.

Entertaining Cordelia before the flight

We boarded our first flight as parents. We found ourselves toting a bag full of toddler entertainment and gate-checking a car seat. We had no idea what to expect from our girl. We had 4 flights in just a few days.

Looking out the window while headed to Atlanta (Smogville)

She did so well! No cries, no whining. She was amazing! She looked out the window, napped, watched videos, played with toys. We looked around at the other parents who were struggling and felt a mixture of sympathy and just a smidgen of smugness.

On the plane

Cordelia and I on the flight from Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham Airport

We landed at the Raleigh-Durham Airport around dinner time. Ben picked us up, looking as handsome as ever. It was so good to see him. Sara was back at their place preparing us a feast!

We drove through the trees. North Carolina, at least where we were, was heavily wooded and fairly hilly. We got to their cute place, it felt like we were in the middle of the forest, though we were right in Chapel Hill. We greeted Sara and the animals. Their pooch Jrake (as in J RAKE) was so funny and sweet with Cordelia who can be a bit intense with her animal affection.

After dinner we all took a short walk though the forest. Jrake ran in literal circles around Cordelia who was laughing hysterically.

Jrake and Cordelia

Jrake as a blur and Cordelia

We walked and talked. We listened to the cicadas and looked for frogs and blue lizards. The air was humid, but not hot, a beautiful end to a travel day.

Ben, Sara and I

Have you ever been to North Carolina?