2004, year 5

When you really sit down and think about memories, I have found that some of the best one's fall into a basic time frame in my brain, but to remember the exact year it happened isn't always real easy.  So, the memory I am going to tell here I BELIEVE happened this year, but I won't swear on it.  Because I BELIEVE it did, I'm using it as this memory :-)

We made the decision this year to go on vacation to Virginia Beach.  K's parents had an old pop up camper  (K wasn't big on tent camping) and they were willing to let us borrow it, along with K's dad's new truck.  So we packed up the camper, put our bikes and K's motorcycle in the truck, and made the long drive from Ohio to Virginia. 

After we had been there for a few days, we decided to make the drive to the outer banks and go to Kitty Hawk, NC.  Makes sense, since K is (and always has been) involved with Airplanes.  So, we packed up a backpack, hopped on the bike, and headed out.  When we got there we realized that we weren't thinking, and hadn't brought bathing suits.  So, we did some shopping and hit the beach in Kitty Hawk.  It was an amazing time, and we loved soaking up the sun. 

I think I've mentioned before that K's bike is a go fast bike. 

So, there we were, chilling out on the beach.  Suddenly K looks up and says 'We have to go.  NOW.'  So I look up and see storm clouds rolling in.  They look pretty nasty, to say the least.  So, we are running across the street to get to the bike, throwing on our shorts and shoes on the way.  I didn't even take time to throw on a shirt over my bathing suit top.  I don't think either of us put on socks.  We knew we had to get out of there, and quick.

Go fast bikes are not fun in the rain, and they aren't very safe either.  So, we take off, K driving like a mad man trying to keep in front of the storm.  We keep looking behind us to see that sucker moving FAST.  So, we are halfway across the, what do you call it... the causeway I think it is... that runs out of Kitty hawk to get you through the rest of the outer banks.  It's really pretty long.  We are just getting on it when the storm hits.  I've never thought rain could feel like needles, but it did during this ride.  K tries to tail a SUV as it helps us from getting hit with as much of the rain, and keeps his traction a little better.  The SUV is uncomfortable with this and we finally give up.  We just rode as fast as we dared, all the way back to Virginia Beach.  By the time we got to the causeway that splits NC and VA (that really long land bridge surrounded by the ocean on one side and some kind of inlet on the other if I'm getting my geography right HAHA), the water is getting closer to the road.  Yikes!

By the time we get back to the campground we're both soaked and shivering.  But, it was a blast!  We had so much fun that day, even if it ended with the ride of our lives!!

The rest of the trip I managed to get the cartilage in my ear pierced (that only lasted about a year), we rode jet skies (K actually let me drive even though I pierced his tongue on a jet sky once), we did a whale watching tour, lots of window shopping and being lazy on the beach.  It was an amazing time, and I can't wait to do it again!

It's coming down pretty hard and fast, and you can see the water rising.