(Edit: I forgot to post this last month, so it's a bit out of order.)
We spent Thanksgiving weekend on South Core Island.  It's the southern most of the Outer Banks in NC.

I spent Thanksgiving day cooped up, on a 24 hour glorified phone watch. 

The next morning, we loaded up the truck and headed for the ferry.

We caught the 1300 from Davis

The loadmaster.  It's a game of inches on this ferry.

After making the crossing and debarking, we deflated the tires and headed north.  There was some driftwood we collected to make a fire.  Since the wind was steady at 15 knots, gusting to 25, we found a protected spot for the tent.

Dudley trying to "help."

It got a bit chilly at night.

View from the tent in the morning.  Not bad.

Cheese cutter, by Bark River

Dudley enjoyed his time off the leash, running down the main road.

This Lodge Dutch Oven was my birthday gift.  It's awesome.  Bacon, bean and beer chile is cooking inside.  My rod is in the background (the fish didn't bother us).

We added a side dish on top of the coals.

Getting ready for the night.

We headed home on the 1100, which was the smaller ferry.  Don't forget to set your parking brake.  Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend as much as we did.

The beach is an 8 minute drive from our house.  We went there for a walk on New Year's day.

Dudley just got a haircut.  I think he looks handsome, but Littlebit doesn't like it so much.

Can you see the dolphin?

Even Dudley was able to spot the dolphins in the inlet, but they didn't feel like cooperating in the photo shoot.  Son of a bitch, I'm sick of these dolphins.

"Beb, can you take some pictures of me?"

Low tide, with Bill's Khakis, Barbour, Lands End, J Crew and Rancourt kicks.

Let's head home and make some New Year's Green Curry.

Walmart good deed

While I don't shop at Walmart often, I went there yesterday looking for tire deflators (they lower your tire pressure to a particular psi IOT help you drive on the beach).  While I didn't find them, there were a few other camping goodies I did find.  One thing I left behind, however, was this little green book.

I've carried this Write In the Rain book for almost the last year and a half.  It's recorded rifle counts, notes on how to position machine guns (PICMDEEP), records of fun weekends, and daily to-do's.  In our effor to escape the Sunday Walmart crowds, I left it sitting in the child seat of our cart.  When I woke up this morning and began gathering my things for the day, my little green book was nowhere to be found.  I felt sick, tore apart my truck, my bag, and my office.  I called Walmart around noon, and lo-and-behold someone had turned it in to lost-and-found.  Even my pen was still in the book.  Thank you, to whoever turned this in.  It's safely back in my position, where it will remain with all my other notebooks, as there are only a few pages left unfilled.  I know what I have to do this coming week; pay it forward.

Practice

"Do or do not.  There is no try."  Thank you Yoda.  Fishing is my sport, but I'd like to try my hand at bird hunting.  I reached out to a fellow blogger from my hometown who has graciously invited me on a goose hunt over the Christmas holiday.  Not wanting to embarass myself, I figured I had better pratice on some clays.  

But you still have to look good in your Quoddy's.  Shooting a Remington 870 20 gauge and featuring a hot girlfriend (whose form is not-so-hot) doesn't hurt.  Her curiosity and willingness to say "I'm in" are major plusses.  Golf foxtrot status soon to be upgraded?

Breathe, front sight post, slow steady trigger squeeze.

Over a year ago I posted about the confidence that learning how to shoot in 100 degree plus weather can instill in a new shooter.  In my most recent two week outing to the range, I had the opportunity to once again put that confidence to the test.  Against 200 other Marines, known for their skills as rifleman, I managed to shoot range high.  Out of 250 possible points, I dropped five.  This is my rifle, there are many like it, but this one is mine.

Cold bragging rights

If you happen to find yourself in Rhode Island in the winter, don't fret that you've missed the prime season.  You're just in time for cod.  Fried up w/ a local 'gansett and you have yourself a meal, along with bragging rights amongst your friends who braved nothing more than the warmth of their bed.

I'm well behind on my posts here, as I've been remiss.  The goal now is one post a week.  I've long since left beautiful RI for the southern coast.  More adventures will follow.

TBS Update

Learning how to shoot when it's 108 out builds confidence, especially when certified Expert by the USMC. A 2.5 mile run home from the range, in boots and ute's, carrying 65 lbs of gear, builds character. Ending range week with a 6 mile hike starting at midnight with 100 lbs of gear, is just the USMC way. This places crazy.

We've spent the last 3 weeks learning how to kill from 500 meters away to 2 inches away. And I'm only an attorney! I wouldn't have it any other way. Meanwhile, I'm tired. Combat fitness test tomorrow at 0615. It's a burner. Therefore, I'm off to bed. Rest easily.