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Seven hours of drive time from the Metro ATL gave me plenty of time to belt out some tunes without anyone having to be subjected to my off-key, but enthusiastic songbirding. My journey took me from the concrete of Gwinnett County to the rolling hills of the river country of North Carolina. So many rivers wind in and out of the area as they seek the Atlantic that it has kept the swell of population at bay since well before the War of Northern Aggression.

In fact, historian, Edward Barnes Ellis, Jr. explains some of the reasoning for the lack of a population explosion in his book, “New Bern History 101”. It seems that the “long curving coastline” coupled with a good many shoals that extended far out into the ocean kept much of the shipping traffic at bay. Travelers opted for more accessible ports which resulted in a less populated, but highly desirable and rich farming operations (pines and turpentine). That is to say, the folks who did settle the area were fairly successful which led to the building of the town of New Bern. To find out more about the bears seen all around town, stop in at Next Chapter Books and Art to get a copy of Ellis’ book.

Now, on to were the barracks takes on importance. Just down the road from New Bern is MCAS Cherry Point. And somewhere in those buildings is my favorite sailor. My second-born. We are proud of him as he serves the Marines as a Navy Corpsman.

We enjoyed a long holiday weekend together at a great Airbnb settled nicely on the Neuse River. Here, we were greeted by some emu and their Great Pyrenees, some ducks, chickens, pond frogs, and a few very bouncy goats. Oh, and a super friendly white cat with one green eye and one blue eye named Gizmo.

From the shore of the river we were able to relax in giant Adirondack chairs during the sunshine hours as well as the moonlight. There were kayaks and paddle boards for our river touring and a lovely little beach for sitting and watching the sailboats glide by. The night sky glittered and glowed with the stars as it was far enough from big city lights.

And food. I am a foodie. New Bern did not disappoint. Our favorite restaurant turned out to be MJ’s where we dined on rich crab cakes and perfectly grilled shrimp. Beaufort yielded wonderful seaside outdoor dining at City Kitchen on the edge of the marina.

However, we both agreed that the Oceana Pier Restaurant– just steps from the beach – was by far the freshest fish we encountered. It was nearly still swimming. From our beachside seating, we could watch the surfers bob around in the water waiting for the perfect wave.

A trip with either of my lads would not be complete without some history. We completed our lessons by visiting Fort Macon State Park -worth a couple of hours for certain. The beach there is beautiful and not too crowded.

As far as long weekends go, it was perfect. I managed a quick pit-stop at the famed Buc-ee’s and rolled past the old South of the Border on 95. People were nice, the weather was beautiful, and while I managed to spot both barracks and beaches, aside from the artistic renderings, I never actually spotted a bear.

Sometimes, to get out of your own head, you have to get out of your space. Longboat Key, FL is about 8 hours away from my routine writing space. The change of venue has certainly worked wonders for me and for my husband, Eric. I am a teacher by day and he fights the good IT fight on the daily. After punching the clock, I write some words and he dabbles with his music. We rarely ever get uninterrupted time to be creative and thought a change in latitude would change our attitudes. It has.

My laptop tells me I have typed up close to 20,000 words in three days and Eric has managed to get somewhere programming his Nord Stage 4 Keyboard. His 73 keys produce some amazing sounds and my 104, or so, just make clicking sounds. Together, with the sounds of the ocean in the background, I am bringing a Santa story to life and he is diving deeper into the vast musical sea of Pink Floyd.

Longboat Key has proven to be a muse of sorts. I am kind of expecting Halle Bailey to peek her head above the waves for just a second before she flips away with her mermaid tale.

Perched on the balcony of our Zilli Villa accommodations at Turtle Crawl Inn, I can watch the ocean waves ebb and flow, the palms sway, and the sea oats rustle in the wind. We have counted more than 25 sea turtle nests as we have walked up and down the beach. I wondered who watched over the nests, but it seems they are adopted by humans for the duration of their incubation.

I would like to meet Regina in person to thank her for adopting this nest. I would like to meet Regina in person to thank her for adopting this nest. Funny how you might get to know someone without ever having met them. I hope your adopted turtle family found their way to the ocean as the summer came to a close. Eric and I can only imagine the tiny critters skittering and flippering their way towards Mother Ocean. We can imagine that Regina will rejoice and look forward to another season and another adopted family.

And we will look forward to returning oceanside for another attitude change.

You know you are closing in on the last few moments of whatever length of drive has brought you to Tybee Island when you spy the American Flag flying proudly from a tree stump on the right side of the road. If it is high tide, you might wonder how it ever got there to begin with, but low tide reveals the secret.

The low tide also brings out a distinctive scent that tends to place people into two solidly differing categories. The smell of the plough mud is vile to some. However, to me, it is pure heaven. The smell of renewal and another generation of sealife. The reason we come here – to renew.

The other reason we come here, and by “we” I mean my husband and the band in which he plays, is to bring the sounds of Pink Floyd to the fans who love the music. Eric plays keys in the Pink Floyd Tribute band known as Interstellar Echoes. We travel a good bit around the south, but the two nights they play the Tybee Post Theater each year is a respite. Kind of a two day retreat for the band to touch base with one another and catch up on a family level. Because, if you play together 25-30 times a year for seven years, well, you sort of become a family. Plus, the Tybee Post Theater brings a crowd of serious fans who, in and of themselves, bring a certain low-country regeneration to the concerts each night.

Before each show, food has to take center stage. For the 2023 show, many in the band took the short walk over to Salt Island to taste some of their offerings. New to the band, Salt Island was a complete delight! Just like many of the best eateries on Tybee, the building is fairly unassuming, but the tastes did not disappoint! Check out the delish dishes below. It was so good that my keyboard player and I returned for a second show!

A little saucer of secrets

Behind the stage is a wonderful lanai stocked with tasty treats. Tybee Post knows how to host! The space is one of the most unique green rooms on the travel tour circuit. There is also an RV tricked out as dressing rooms. But, behind that RV – across the parking lot – is a lovely secret garden. Don’t tell where you found out! To see it, circle around the back and take a peek at the beautiful trees dripping in moss. Take a moment to wonder about the bricks and the gate. It’s just one of those little secrets that make a place special.

On to the show

The lights go down. The band emerges from backstage. The crowd anticipates. “Will it be just another band, or will they bring The FLOYD?” Then, the lights and lasers. Then, the sounds. The FLOYD sounds. They are distinct. They are the notes that begin a journey into the Dark Side of the Moon, or beyond The Wall. By the end of the night, patrons are all thinking of someone for whom they want to say, “Hey You!” or “Wish You Were Here”.

Once the show is a wrap…

The band heads for the pillows and some sweet dreams before hitting the road again. For the second year in a row, Hotel Tybee has provided exceptional accommodations. Appointed in the Art Deco fashion, Hotel Tybee is the epicenter of all things Tybee. From there, the band can wander up to the Tybee Pier for a bite and, perhaps, a libation. Most of all, despite being in the middle of the action, it is fairly quiet and allows for some quiet slumber.

Keep an eye out for the next Interstellar Echoes destination. It might just be close enough for you to come on in – if you have the “Time” and the “Money”.