Saturday night we attempted to record what was to be the "pilot episode" of the Freakstomp Novelties! Revival Tent Podcast. That didn't go so well.  We couldn't figure out some tech aspects, and eventually we just gave up for the night, telling ourselves we'd try again on Sunday night.

Sunday morning we went to Pea Island and visited the Charles Kuralt Trail.  When Rick told me the place was called Pea Island the ten-year-old inside me was secretly delighted, because I thought he said PEE Island, and hahahaha pee.  Actually, this area has some really tricked-up names for different places.   Manteo, Wanchese, Kitty Hawk, Nag's Head - and my favorite, Kill Devil Hills.  There are stories that go with every name, and I'm sure if you go on wikipedia you can read the history behind them, unless someone edited the entries to make it so that Hulk Hogan leg-dropped Roddy Piper across the face on top of Kitty Hawk back in 1905.  It's wikipedia.  People do that.

Then we went to the Bodie Island Lighthouse, and I got some nice shots there.

Anyway, some pictures, and some light commentary here and there to go along with them.  My tripod hinge clamps had cracked (you get what you pay for) so the extension legs were unsteady, and I ended up using the collapsed tripod as kind of a shoulder brace, taking most of these handheld-style.  The full set is on my Flickr page, and like last time, you should click through the pictures if you want to see them in larger sizes.  I'm only posting my favorites here.  I don't know any names of the birds or plants, so Rick can hop into the comments and clue everyone in if he wants.

The first shot I took on Pea Island.  That's an observation bridge on the Charles Kuralt Trail.

I don't know what this bird is called, but he was kicking back in the grass so I snapped it.

Sign at the entrance to the Kuralt Trail

Through the grass, bridge in the background

Pond area by the entrance to the trail

Turtles in the pond; there must have been twenty or so altogether

Natural arch over the trail

Don't know what this plant is called, but it looks cool

Widescreen cropped shot of a flock of birds lifting off

One of my favorite shots.  Those are Rick's two little girls walking the trail on the right.

Shot through the grass, observation deck on Charles Kuralt Trail

They have these benches along the Charles Kuralt Trail on Pea Island NC, where you can sit and watch the wildlife.  Every bench has a dedication plate to someone who was important to the area and has passed.  This one is dedicated to Richard Riddle.

A bird nestled down in a cluster of branches along the Charles Kuralt Trail

Kris, Rick, and Rick's girls leaving the trail

Goodbye, Pea Island.

Then we moved on to Bodie Island, and the lighthouse.

Kris flew a kite the whole time.  He could turn that thing on a dime, and swooped it all around my head.

We left for a late lunch at a place called Harbor Point Pizza and Grille.  They had a fried popcorn shrimp plate special with waffle fries and cole slaw for - get this - $5.99.  I couldn't believe it, there must have been more than a pound of shrimp on that plate, and they were excellent.  You can't even buy shrimp raw for that price around here.  They also make their own cocktail sauce, and serve a mean Bloody Mary.

Later that night we attempted to record the podcast again, but ended up just recording a bunch of dirty jokes and scandalous confessions (you will never hear these).  Oh, well, some other time.  It was vacation, anyway.

Here's one last picture of the stooges

As the Faux Cowboy contemplates and prays to the ghost of Hank Williams, The Tongmaster bemusedly observes the ritual Teleportation Dance.

Tomorrow I'll wrap this up with some crappy pics from my trip home.

Also, I will give away CD's as per Michele's specifications!