The new secret service

Griffin Smith - code name: Half Blood Prince

Ruby Smith - code name: Danger Girl

Road trip home

It didn't take long before we were off the beach and back to the real world. Here we had a quick stop in southern Georgia for some lunch

Blue Ridge Mountain Berries - mmm mmm mmm. Fresh and local.

The drive through the Blue Ridge was beautiful and gave us a taste of home. We stopped in  Asheville NC for a night out. Our first taste of this hip, little city was this humongous hippie drum circle. It went on for hours! 

We were freeeezing - it wasn't above 65. We are so spoiled!

Asheville was voted Beer Capital last year over Portland OR so we decided that we must go taste the local brews. We found a great pub called Jack of the Wood nestled between a million other cool trendy restaurants downtown.  

After a couple of local beers, nachos and Irish stew with corn bread and mashed potatoes, we settled in for some live music. 

It was a great way to end a stellar vacation! I could have cried.

Last night on the beach

One of the most historic landmarks on the island is this lighthouse which fell to the ground a long time ago and was rebuilt recently. You can walk up the 92 stairs to the top and see out to the Gulf. Well it was on the must do list but we didn't do it so we snapped this photo from the beach instead. 

Jason found a cool setting on our camera that allowed him to take these photos under the full moon on the beach.

The last crab collected on this vacation.

Vacation is hard work

 The kids were not messing around with this castle.

 

Built on a cliff high above the raging ocean, this needed extra reinforcement. 

I was of no help whatsoever.

Eventually nature took its course and reclaimed the castle. 

 Pooped out.

Our spot on the beach.

Drinks and seafood at the Blue Parrot

The really good oyster bars are "in town" in Apalachicola, known as Apalach. But we had to go to the famous Blue Parrot on the Island to have a frozen drink and sit on the beach. 

Lemonade, beer, and a frozen Rum Runner hit the spot.

Oysters were not quite as tasty those we had for lunch in Apalach but they were still yummy!

Hike through the sand dunes and long leaf pines

The state park has a nice hike through the dunes to see the bay, wild oats, long leaf pine and the marshes. It was a great hike! We set out early in the morning before the heat hit.

We saw herons, oyster catchers, some song birds as well as a blue bellied lizard (which we think is a Fence Lizard) and a nice green and black snake. Also noticed some wild rosemary and wild oat. Some of the long leaf pine trees have bent trunks and HUGE cones.

We weren't able to take a photo of the lizard but here are the tracks of one crossing the trail. 

We don't want to leave!

Kaya hanging pool side. 

Enjoying the bike trail to the state park. 

Ruby and Griffin are both doing so great with their swimming! They both are jumping in the 8 foot side of the pool and swimming in the deep end.