A Georgia Surprise!

Earlier this year, my mother's side of the family began to plan an August trip to the beach. I was disappointed because I wasn't going to be able to make it. I was supposed to be on the Arctic coast to start a new field project. HOWEVER, in late June, I found out that an Italian drilling company had erected a drill rig on our field site, quickly squashing any work plans, so I went ahead and made plans to join the family on Tybee Island, Georgia. The only caveat here is that I decided not to tell them I was coming. I've never done a long-distance surprise, and I was excited to try and pull it off.

They arrived on Saturday, but I didn't arrive until Tuesday. When I got there, the surprise was on me. I found the house, but they weren't home! I looked for them on the beach but couldn't find them anywhere, so I decided to go to lunch and then try again. After lunch, I found a still empty house. Turns out they went to Savannah for the day, but luckily it was too hot for comfort, and they returned sooner than later.

Surprise!!

It was so much fun, and the surprise went off without a hitch. No one had any idea that I might show up to join in on the vacation fun. Mission Accomplished.

Of course, we spent a lot of time hanging out on the beach, although the heat index was 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Yikes!! That's pretty warm for an Alaskan girl. I had to be sure and stay in the water so that I didn't melt.



Other time was spent hanging out with family...


...and we worked in a ladies trip to Savannah where we toured Bull Street in the heat. (Ha! That rhymed.)


We were lucky enough to be on Tybee Island the same week that Squirty the sea turtle was released back into the wild. He was rescued as a hatchling and raised for two years by the Burton 4-H Center. We paraded down to the Tybee Island pier to watch the big event.


It seems we weren't the only ones on the island who wanted to see Squirty off, but luckily we were early enough to get a great view from the pier and a nice breezy spot.




After the turtle excitement we headed back to the house...


and celebrated my birthday that evening by making party hats! What could be better?


Before I knew it, it was time for everyone to leave. I had a great time with the family and can't wait to see them all again for the holidays. It was especially nice to have the opportunity to spend time with the kids that I usually only see for an afternoon on holidays. I got a chance to learn their lively, cheerful personalities.


I said goodbye, but I wasn't ready to end my trip just yet. You can't fly all that way and not make the most of your time. From Tybee Island, I headed to South Carolina where I spent a couple of days with a very pregnant Shawncee, and then I headed to North Carolina to visit Susan and her family for a couple more days. It was the first week of the Summer Olympics, and after the days in the sun at the beach, hanging out with friends over dinner and Olympic action was the perfect form of entertainment.

While in North Carolina, I enjoyed a reprieve from the heat and hiked the Cox Mountain and Fanny's Ford Trails in Eno River State Park, which is an impressive little haven in the middle of populated area.



There were deer everywhere! Good thing they aren't in Alaska. They would probably be getting shot from airplanes. ;) (Those of you not from Alaska probably won't understand that final comment. Sorry!)

It was a great vacation, but as always, it's nice to be home!