My Girls Rock!

Saturday was the girls first climbing competition at their home gym here in Brevard.  It was a great afternoon and the Austin Family put on a wonderful event.  Both girls were pretty nervous before things began. There were all new routes set so they were seeing things for the first time.  There were a few other kids their ages but most of the competitors were college age.

After a brief introduction to how things work, the girls started climbing.  Grace flashed her first route (meaning she completed it on her first try).  Anyone who was the first to flash a route was allowed to name it, so Grace called her route Gravy.  Lauryl also completed the same route so the girls had points on their score cards.  The routes are given a point value based on difficulty and then points are given based on how many times it takes to complete it.  The final total is based on the 4 best scores the climber receives and they are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Lauryl Stretching to finish

Grace on a funky angle

The girls climbed hard for 3 hours.  It was awesome to watch them and all the other competitors.  It was definitely challenging for them, but they had a wonderful time.  Lauryl's biggest obstacle was her height.  Most of the routes were set for taller individuals so many of the routes were just too much of a stretch for her.  It didn't stop her though!  All in all, both girls did fabulous!  Lauryl earned 3rd place in the beginner division and Grace took first place, beating out a girl who was much older than she.  They are both looking forward to joining the competition team for Brevard Rock Gym in the fall!

Fun on the North Fork

We have been trying to enjoy the brief breaks in rain whenever possible.  The sun has peaked it's rays out of the clouds every now and again, but it has rained every day since we've been back in Brevard.  This is not typical for this area, although afternoon showers are common because it is considered a deciduous rain forest. 

Today we took the kids to a swimming hole on the North Fork.  They had a blast swinging on the rope.  The water is always cold regardless of the temperature outside.  It is suppose to be a great area for trout fishing too.

We also spend our time swimming in the pool at the campground and fishing in the pond.  There are big carp and catfish for the challenge.  We only have 3 more weeks of camping before we move back into the cabin.  It's been a great adventure, but we are all anxious for a little more breathing room.

This past week I started climbing at Brevard Rock Gym with the kids. I was looking for some other form of exercise and it was something I never thought I would do. I've learned to climb some basic routes and instead of sitting around waiting for the kids to finish, I am joining in the fun. Tomorrow the girls participate in their first climbing competition, so stay tuned for the update!

I also started taking yoga classes and simply love it! Many people encouraged me to try it over the years, but I never did.  I must say that it is one of the best additions to my life.  Lauryl also comes to class with me and she practices on her own in the camper.  I am becoming more flexible and I have less pain in my joints because of yoga.  I highly recommend it!

Finally, weBgypsies Photography www.alyciameile.wix.com/webgypsies has been doing well.  I've started selling my art in both store locations and I have two pieces in a local exhibit this month. It's slow but steady and I love having the creative outlet.  I've submitted my portfolio for an upcoming project in the area, so we'll see what happens.  I'm just going to continue putting my work out there and see where it takes me.

We hope all of you are well and enjoying your summer.  If you ever want to make a trip to WNC we'd be happy to share our quaint little town with you.

Rainy Days and Mondays....

After 3 1/2 weeks of traveling the coast, we made our way back to Brevard.  It felt so good to come home. We will spend the month of July at Adventure Village Campground here in town and then we move back to the cabin on Rich Mountain Road in August.  

The week started off beautiful, with gorgeous flowers throughout the campground.  It soon turned into a never ending deluge of rain and storms though.  Fourth of July festivities were spent under umbrellas with fireworks being postponed until tonight if the weather cooperates.

The kids went swimming in the pool and found some fun wildlife around camp.  We are really enjoying our time here at Adventure Village.  This little snake was hanging out on a branch just across from our camper and the the birds were nested in the gazebo at the pond.

If you want to check out our wonderful little town I highly recommend staying at this campground.  They have cabins as well as campsites and it's only 10 minutes to downtown.  We truly love this area and are so happy to call Brevard home.

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC was on our radar from the very beginning, but there is only so much you can do at any given time.  So, although we drove through Charleston well over a year ago, this was our first official visit to the historic city.  We arrived to discover that Charleston is very hot and humid!  I guess I should have expected it, but somehow that humidity gets me every time.  I suppose that's why I love the mountains as much as I do.  Even when it's humid, it seems to cool down quickly and the weather is constantly changing.

We spent our first evening with friends we met while staying on Ocracoke.    They were so kind to invite us into their home.  We are truly grateful to know them.  We had a wonderful dinner of Frogmore stew (also known as Brunswick stew). It was a mix of red potatoes, sausage, shrimp, and corn on the cob all boiled in a big pot in old bay seasoning.  It was delicious!!!!  We stayed much too late, but enjoyed every second of the visit.  We hope to reciprocate sometime soon if we can get them to visit Brevard!

Today we went downtown.  We parked at the Battery and walked to the market.  It is truly a beautiful city, set beside the water, gorgeous homes and businesses line the flower filled streets.  It is clean and pleasant and not intimidating like other cities we've seen.  If you've never had the opportunity to visit Charleston I would definitely add it to your bucket list.  We still have much more to see, but that will have to wait for another visit.  Luckily it is only about 4 1/2 hours away for us.

The kids cooled off at Waterfront park.  The fountains are not only beautiful but fun!  I honestly could have spent the better part of the day just relaxing in the park there.  We did not stay long though since we had much more to see.

We made our way down to the market and enjoyed checking out all the vendors.  We filled up on tasty samples from various food places and we found the much anticipated pralines for which I had been longing.  By the time we got back to our truck we were ready to head to the camper to relax.  I don't think we'll make it to Folly Beach this visit since it's a holiday weekend.  We're not much for crowds and have had our share of beaches this past month, so we will save that for a future visit.

Next stop, home sweet home Brevard!

Back to the Beginning

When we began this journey a year and a half ago we first stopped at Myrtle Beach, SC on our way to Florida.  I find it only fitting that Myrtle Beach play a role in our adventures now as we prepare to return to Brevard and settle down.  We again stayed in Myrtle Beach State Park which is truly a wonderful campground.  This state park is one of the nicest we found during our travels and we will continue to come back here to vacation in the months and years to come.  Being here reminded me of how I felt the first time we came.  We were excited and scared with so much unknown in front of us.  Now, in retrospect, we have grown so much as individuals and as a family.  I can honestly say that this was the best decision we could have ever made.  Yes, we've made sacrifices, but in turn we've had immeasurable return.  We've seen new things, learned new things, made new friends, and we've discovered new dreams we never would have known had we not pushed past our comfort zone.  So, Myrtle Beach was filled with fishing and fun, but mostly it was time to reflect and smile, knowing we are different because of this amazing journey!

Southport - A "Safe Haven"

The next leg of our journey took us through the town of Southport.  If you are not familiar, Southport is the setting of the recent movie "Safe Haven".  It's a beautiful coastal town with similar attributes to Brevard.  The downtown stores were fun and busy going into the holiday weekend.  We also got to experience the weekly  farmers market.  It was a short stop, but definitely a place I would return.

Carolina & Kure Beach

After only two nights in Surf City, we were once again off down the Carolina coast to Carolina Beach, NC.  This area had much more build-up than Surf City.  The beaches were much shorter than we were use to and reminded me of visits to the Jersey coast.  The sand was also much coarser than the fine sand of Ocracoke.  


We spent most of our time on Kure Beach near the fishing pier.  It was perfect conditions for the kids to surf and they had a wonderful time.  We did hear tale of a gator in the ocean earlier in the day, but we didn't have any encounters. We were always under the impression that alligators stayed out of salt water, but we learned that isn't always the case.  It was a fun day, but not our favorite beach on the trip.  Regardless, it's still fun seeing new places.  Next up Myrtle Beach!

Surf City, NC

Upon exiting the Cedar Island Ferry, we headed south down the North Carolina coast to Surf City.  With expectations based on name alone, we were pleasantly surprised to find a small fishing town without much build-up.  The island was lined with coastal houses, and only a few stores and restaurants keeping it quaint. 

 

Lanier's Campground was a wonderful stopping spot for us.  Their staff was friendly and the kids enjoyed playing pool and air hockey in the campstore area.  There was a pool that unfortunately we didn't get to swim in because of passing thunder showers.  We did get to crab, fish, and shrimp off the campground pier! Most was done with the cast nets which was great fun.  Catching shrimp was a whole new experience for us and we all got involved in the process. 

We also enjoyed visiting the seafood market.  We bought some fish and shrimp and enjoyed a feast!  It was definitely a place perfect for the Meile's and one we hope to visit again. 

Islands

June has been a month spent along the North Carolina coast. Our first two weeks were in Ocracoke. It is the place I've gone my entire life so it always feels like home. The first weekend we enjoyed the Ocrafolk Festival with my parents and neice. It was a whirlwind of music and fun. I had the opportunity to meet several other artists whose work is also sold at Local Color in Brevard. It was a terrific bond and a sweet reminder of home.  

The next week was filled with relaxing beach time, wonderful restaurants, some clamming and fishing. 

Week two was spent enjoying time with my family. It was sooo good to see everyone again and it was just a wonderful week!

Saturday we took the Cedar Island Ferry for another Meile first. We played cards and hung out with our neighbors and new friends from the campground.

It was a fabulous two weeks and a lead in to a weeks worth of new adventure. Stay tuned for our updates heading down the Carolina coasts.

Exploring North Carolina

It's been a long time since I've written a post, but we have simply been enjoying day-to-day life in Brevard. For those of you who don't know already, we have decided to make Brevard NC our permanent home. We have fallen in love with this little town and can't imagine living anywhere else.  

We spent a month living once again in our camper at Adventure Village in Brevard. We will also spend the month of July there before we rent our cabin again.   We are hoping to find our own home soon enough but we just take each day as it comes. 

WeBgypsies Photographic Art has been growing slowly but surely. I now have pictures in two stores and will have two photos in a local exhibit in July. I love the challenge of capturing an image that moves someone regardless if they've been there themselves. 

The kids are totally involved with Brevard Rock Gym and are so excited the Austin Family has taken ownership. The kids are hoping to do some competitions in the upcoming year.

Right now we are exploring the Carolina coast and enjoying the beaches. We always love a new adventure and hope Brevard holds some for us when we get back. 

Thank you for continuing to follow our adventures. We will post updates about our coastal trip soon. Until then live life!

Getting to know Asheville

February has flown by and we have truly enjoyed every minute of it!  One moment it is 60 degrees and sunny and the next we get 3 inches of snow, and that in no exaggeration!  I simply love the variety of weather around here.  One morning the kids were snowboarding and sledding with their friends and that same afternoon we went to the park and were in short sleeves, no jacket.

This year for my birthday we went to explore downtown Asheville.  We ate breakfast at Early Girl, walked around and explored many of the shops, had a snack at The Gourmet Chip company, enjoyed pizza at The Mellow Mushroom for lunch, and completed it all with delicious treats from The Chocolate Lounge.  All in All it was an amazing birthday! If you've never been to Asheville I highly recommend  the trip!

Today I had the pleasure of touring the Biltmore Estate with my friend Kathleen.  It's an amazing mansion nestled in the mountains just south of downtown Asheville.  It was built by George Vanderbilt in the 1800s and was incredible even by today's standards.  I was intrigued by the elegant decor paired with the animal mounts throughout the home.  Ironically my two favorite rooms were the smoking and gun rooms, of which I would not have been allowed to go back in the days of their use.    The women's quarters were too frilly for my taste.  The other feature I truly appreciated was the view.  It was quite spectacular and I can only imagine how beautiful the gardens will be this spring.  I'm so glad I got to experience this American treasure.

So, one more month in our sweet little cabin before we adventure again.  In April we will return to the Emerald Coast of Florida to enjoy sand, sun, and ocean.  May we will return to Brevard to enjoy spring  and the highly anticipated White Squirrel Festival.  June is our return to the Outer Banks and July is to be determined.

For those of you who don't already know, I started sharing my photography.  My work is currently for sale in a local shop called Local Color.  I started a website and facebook page, and I've joined some local groups to help promote my photography.  I am really excited to share something I enjoy so greatly.  Please feel free to visit my website if you haven't done so already (http://alyciameile.wix.com/webgypsies).  If you've followed this blog then you know where many of the images were taken.

Take care for now.  We will keep you posted on all our new adventures!

Life in the Mountains

Whale Back put in on the Davidson

Looking Glass after rain

It's been quite some time since I last wrote. Life in the mountains suites us well and we are enjoying even the day to day activities.  The weather here is simply beautiful.  It is a combination of spring and fall most of the time.  We were expecting snow last week, but it was just too warm to get any of the powdery stuff.  We could see some snow on the mountain peaks along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but that was the extent of it.  We did have four days of rain, but even that wasn't so bad.  Most of the creeks were up which meant Dave had more opportunities to kayak.  He ventured down the Davidson and the North Fork of the French Broad.  He even got to run Hooker Falls!

Hooker Falls on the Little

The kids started back to climbing last week.  They really missed being in the gym and were excited to see their friends.  Lauryl is taking hip hop on Friday's and she also started with a new violin teacher last week.  Her and Grace are taking part in the Transylvania Youth Strings orchestra program too.  Camden started basketball after the New Year.  He is the tallest on his team!  They won their first game on Saturday thanks to several of his baskets.  I am working on  getting my photography projects in some of the local shops.  It's a nice outlet for me and something I truly enjoy.  Even with all these activities, the pace in Brevard is much slower than we use to keep, making life very enjoyable.

The kids are also making lots of friends here.  They've done sleepovers and we've had cookouts and we even enjoyed watching the Raven's Bronco's game with our new friends from Denver.

We will be in our little cabin until the end of March and then we have some travelling on our radar. We simply take each day as it comes and we enjoy it for all that it's worth.  I honestly forgot today was a holiday for most and that is an amazing feeling.  We still have much to see and explore around here so I will keep you all posted as new discoveries are made.  If you haven't been to Western North Carolina, you really must make the trip.  It is truly a wonderful place!