Sunday, July 5, 2009

07-05-09 Oriental 4th of July

"Miakoda" arrived in Oriental, NC on July 3rd just as the festivities were getting setup. The girls on their fashionable NEW bikes were busy getting ready for the parade. They have been riding in our neighborhood 4th of July parade every year since they were babies. But this isn't the parade at our home in Maryland, this is Oriental. We'll have to worry about how to get in the parade after the bikes are ready.

As it turns out, the parade organizer here was more than accomodating. He put the girls in with The Oriental History Museum group. The girls rode the 1 1/2 mile parade route by themselves (because they are big girls now). Their only request was "Mom and Dad, please get some candy for us."



The festival is really named The Oriental Croaker Festival and it includes a dinghy sailing race, parade, beauty contests, games, music, and a street dance. The town really does a nice job with tons of activites for the kids. Most of these are free - even better. Emma and Ally really took to singing Karoke and hula hooping. Even Mom and Dad got in the hula hooping mood.





Later in the day, Jennie, Emma and Ally took a ride in a cherry picker high above the festival. A weary Snead family headed back to the boat for a rest. But not for long, off on the bikes again to see the fireworks. Finally, the kids got to bed around 10:30 for a much needed sleep.
See other pictures from the 4th (including Brian with the Hula Hoop) Slideshow below

Friday, July 3, 2009

07-03-09 Going up the ICW

The girls pose with their new bikes before we depart Moorehead City, NC.

"Miakoda" travels up the ditch from Carolina Beach to Moorehead City and then on to Oriental. We are not the only ones heading North. (Notice the long line of ducks heading our way.)

The North Carolina Intercoastal Waterway is pretty. It changes from small towns to dunes and grasses.


So, what is there to do on these long trips along the ICW? Well, if you give Emma a bag of trash and a hot glue gun, buddabing - two beach house sculptures.

The artist displays here sculptures.

Next stop - Oriental, NC

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