More Images of Wrightsville Beach

The Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier at the north end of the island

South side

They actually have surf police here who write tickets...

...and all the best waves seem to break within 500' of the piers, jetties, and inlets - not fair

Looking south towards the Oceanic/Crystal Pier and south end of the island

Looking north...

At the "south end".  Reminds me a little of the north end of Seal Beach, CA

The walk to the water from the south end parking lot

Collecting seashells by the seashore

The Oceanic/Crystal Pier (still not sure which it is, perhaps both) - south end

Not the sturdiest looking structure

Possibly missing a few parts

South End Surf Shop and Mike with my 11' rental SUP

Emma sizing up the rentals

Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn

Not the best burritos, but it was cheap, easy, and entertaining - Wilmington, NC

Just like it says in the windows out front:  CHEAP & EASY

The line moves pretty fast, but if you want another pint of XX Amber you have to wait again

A couple of the daily specials

Emma didn't know what to think of the chicken, but she did like the pink lemonade

This was an advertisement on the table.  I bet they're pretty good

Wrightsville Beach SUP Session

Wrightsville Beach, NC  -  Saturday, February 12th, 2011

Swell: knee to waist  Wind: 20MPH offshore  Air: 55 F  Water: 46 F

Board: 11' Great Lakes SUP w/ rounded pintail and delaminating traction pads

Oceanic/Crystal Pier at the south end of the island (Wrightsville Beach is joined with the mainland by a causeway)

Not much competition this time of year - even on a beautiful Saturday

Here's a good shot of the traction pad peeling off the deck of the board - crappy rentals but cheap

The paddle was good though - full carbon fiber construction and the perfect length

A nice section - setting up for the floater on the inside

It's illegal to surf within 500' of this pier - I'm about 150' feet away here, but the popo never showed

My hands went numb in the first 10 minutes. I left my gloves back in CA

Last wave after 2 hours out there - exhausted

Where's the hut tub?

I was fighting the offshore winds here just to get back to the sand.  That board was like a sail

Next time I'm wearing gloves

Emma didn't mind the cold and took a break from building sand castles to decorate me with sand

Blue Ridge Parkway & North Carolina Arboretum

We're sorry for the inconvenience folks, but the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed this day due to lots of snow. However, the Visitor Center was open - check it out!

A photo of the patch that I bought at the Visitor Center gift shop.  I hope to post real photos real soon

Great idea

Outside the Visitor Center

The Visitor Center parking lot - this was the most nature I could find to photograph

Entrance to the North Carolina Arboretum.  It is managed by the University of North Carolina

A grassy knoll

The bonsai exhibit.  Due to sub-zero temperatures they had to move most of the trees to a greenhouse

A chimney.  Kinda weird

The "Quilt Garden".  I guess this exhibit changes regularly - today it was this

The bonsai greenhouse

Only 2 cars in the parking lot this day - and 1 is ours.  Gotta love the off-season

Owen Park

This is a neat little park about a mile west of the house

They just constructed a new fishing pier at the far end of the lake

Feeding the ducks some stale bread

They don't seem to mind

There's a 1-mile figure-eight running path that goes around the lake - looking east

Mallard and Element - pretty quiet at the park this day

The Swannanoa River passes right by the running path

Higher!  Higher!  She has absolutely no fear of the swings

Art Galleries, Taco Trucks, and a Night Out in the City

Montreat Rd. @ E. State St. (HWY 70) in Black Mountain, NC...

...that is where Anthm Gallery is located.  Jenn did their website:

http://www.anthmgallery.com/gallery.html

Out front of Anthm - check out the link above to see the artwork on display

Taqueria La Huerta - closest thing to CA cooking in Swannanoa.  They make a $10 quesadilla...

...and they are one of the few establishments here that is actually open 7 days a week

Walking in DT Asheville to Barley's Taproom for pizza and beer on a cold Friday night

Sampling the goods

Emma likes to visit with the brass turkeys after a big meal

Toys R Us Day

Emma's First Mr. Potato Head