* * * Member Trip Album * * *

Getting there is half the fun. Here we stopped at a viewpoint on the north end of the Chessapeak Bay Bridge/Tunnel. It is a great place to look at big waves because of the great fetch in this area. It was also an opportunity to get a shot of the Mountaineer fully loaded with the Valley Aleut Sea-II, Impex Currituck and Impex Mystic boats we were brining to paddle with friends. For scale the double is 23 feet long.

Renting a large house after peak season in the outer banks can be quite affordable, especially if you have group of friends to split expenses. This beautifully appointed house had 5 bedrooms downstairs and a hugh family area upstairs leading to a spaceous deck with a view of Currituck Sound. Most of the meals were prepared in the fully functional kitchen with each couple competing for the best recipes.

The put-in was a nice cove right off the back lawn. Here Elizabeth, Gordon, Linda and K-Sea prepare to take off for a mid-day paddle. Launching and landing was a breeze except for the large mat of eel grass which accumulates here on the down-wind shore.

K-Sea the kayaking poodle loves to to join in on trips with Gordon and Elizabeth. Today she reveled in her tour of the little bay in front of the vacation rental, offering periodic encouragment and direction to her two porters.

After a day of paddling the group wondered on the back lawn while preparing the grill for the evening meal. Paul and Ted were typically in charge of the brazier. Here Ted can just be seen checking out the bulkhead at the edge of the Sound. It was difficult to find a time when the view was not spectacular.

Linda is a recreational paddler, but took to Elizabeth's Mystic like a champ. Her paddling skills developed amazingly throught the week. Serves her right for making the mistake of vacationing with two kayak instructors. Now...how much is this boat?

The gazebo at the end of the dock was so picturesque that if figured into many of our pictures. This is perhaps the gazebo at its best, with the sun slowly sinking into the far reaches of Currituck Sound after a refreshing day on the water.

On another day the Currituck Sound mirrors the horizon as Paul and Donna take to the double and make their way to Corrola Lighthouse. This is a beautiful old light that still guards both the ocean and Currituck Sound. The line of clouds in the distance marks the location of the nearby Atlantic shore.

We took an afternoon and biked over to the beach on the Atlantic side of the Barrier Island. Many flocks of pelicans were observed threading along the surf line presumably searching for food. Later we practiced flying the kites we bought in Kitty Hawk.

All good things come to an end. A good set of photos helps to keep the vision alive. We all hope to return again to this area or another spot like it, but it is hard to imagine improving on the ideal vacation.