Spring Break Road Trip Day 9 - USS North Carolina, Museum of the Bizarre, and the Beach

Today was the day I had planned many years ago in my head to bring the boys back to tour this battleship, but when I shared it with the girls, they were not as excited.   But Wilmington was only about 40 minutes away, and the weather was rainy that morning on the beach and cold.   Belle and I were twinkies today with our matching USS Alabama shirts.  We got in the car and headed up for the day.   Enjoying Pandora on the way, but on Magan's connected phone, we periodically have the music shut off and switch over to videos Magan is watching while making her one second a day thing on facebook.   One moment made me laugh as we were listing to "American Pie", as the music shut off and Ruby asked "Hey, what happened to the music"...No hesitation, Belle said with a sad voice "It Died".   That still makes me laugh.   That girl cracks me up all the time with her quick wit and humor.   

The USS North Carolina battleship museum is right across the river from Wilmington.   It is a smaller battleship than the Alabama, but was in the WW2 pretty much from the beginning.   For the below decks, it is just one continuous tour, unlike the Red and Green of the Alabama.   While perhaps not their favorite activity, I know the girls enjoyed the tour, and we had some silly moments to laugh at later.   

I noticed that the sailors ate lots of VegAll, and then noticed a very important piece of information.   There is no broccoli in VegAll...coincidence or not that it is not included in a can that obviously has ALL vegetables.   We tried to stuff Ruby in the big giant soup container..."We are making a Ruby Soup...dududududu".    One thing they do better than the Alabama is capturing stories of all the sailors on the North Carolina at each section of the ship.   One story made me laugh in that the sailors knew that all their letters were censored, so they all had to be careful what they put on the letters.   They learned never to write on both sides of the paper because the censor would cut out something on one side and it impact the other thoughts on the other page.   But in the end of the war, notice was sent out that mail would no longer be censored.   One sailor said that his next letter to his girl was Xrated in content.   

We also noticed that while the USS Alabama has a fun game finding "Women of Unintegrity", the USS North Carolina showed all the sailors typically in just shorts as it was so hot on the ship.   So we decided their ship was "Men of Unintegrity".   We also learned that Magan has absolutely no sense of direction, thinking that every stair was the stair we just went down to the machine shop.   At the top of the ship, we found the place where they steered the ship, and I told them about the "Point Man" that stood in front of the captain and pointed left if they should go left and right if they should go right.   I kept talking but then turned around to see they stopped listening a long time ago.

We also learned that the water fountains were called the scuttlebutts, and that is where the sailors would trade stories of the rumors going around the ship.   That made us realize that is where the term came from, and why it is still talked about around the water coolers.   I told them that this is where the Sailors first learned of Tommy and Suzy, and how Suzy was supposed to be with Billy.   I kept talking and telling them what happened, but then turned around to see they stopped listening a long time ago.   

After the battleship, I had one surprise museum for the girls.   We crossed over into Wilmington to the Museum of the Bizaaahhhhh or the Museum of the Bizzarrrah depending on the voice I was using.   Hahaha, I looked around google maps and saw this place, and figured we could not miss the sights of the Bizahhhhhhhhh.   We later remembered that the voice of the Bizzarrah was Henrietty's mother from the Borrowers ("I think I could just die").   Girls...if you happen to ever read this...can you still hear it?

What did we see at the museum of the Bizarre?   We saw an actual strand of Alexander Hamilton's hair...maybe more like a splinter size fragment.    We saw an actual chupacabra hand, the fort Fisher mermaid skeleton, an Zoltar machine that told your future, and for some kids, turn them into an adult that would work for a toy company.   We saw christmas cards from Charles Manson, and we chose NOT to see other serial killer paraphernalia.    Magan answered the mysterious phone ringing in the corner, but did not have any crazy mishaps after that.   And before we left, we went into the Mirror Maze.   How much was this adventure you ask?   Exactly $5/each...not too shabby.   Did I mention the room with all the doll heads hung from the ceiling and the super nice guy at the front wearing the 666 hat.   Oh yeah, this place definitely was Bizaaaaahhhh.    

We finished the day with a visit to the Mexican restaurant back in Southport, a souvenir visit to "The Pacific", a quick picture at the Oak Island lighthouse, even quicker run back to the condo for both me and Ruby to the bathroom, and one last evening on the beach.   We definitely picked the best day the previous day for the beach, as the waves on this day were not nearly as big, and it was about 7 or 8 degrees chillier.   We waved good bye to the beach, having had much more time to enjoy it this time than the short time last year in Gulf Shores.   

Spring Break Road Trip Day 8 - Beach Day!

And the pictures begin loading backwards, ugh.   Our day began sleeping a bit late and taking our time getting to the beach by about 10:30 AM.   It was a little cold in the morning, so we were not in a big hurry, but at the upper 60s to mid 70s throughout the day, shorts and tshirts would be fine for everyone except for Magan, who looked like she was prepping for a snowstorm in multiple layers and wrapped in a towel.   Dear me.   

Once on the beach, I realized we would need some sand castle equipment and beach games to at least get me through the full day on the beach.   So after getting everyone set up, I drove up to the "Pacific" store that had some really cool beach chairs for only $10, and some sand castle building materials, along with one of those velcro ball and catch games.   I think Magan also had me bring her another jacket.   

Once the sand castle was built, and me and Ruby setting the velcro ball and catch record at 19 in a row, we finally sat down for a lunch of uncrustables.   But I think Ruby actually had leftover salad from the night before out on the beach.   And looking around, I realized that we three seats because Belle did not want one...but she was now sitting in mine out in the ocean with Ruby.   So back to the "Pacific" for a 4th chair and while I was there I picked up a kite.   

The kite was a cheap $6 version and was fun, but quickly went into death spirals and knotted itself up really good.   So, it was fun while it lasted.   Ruby and I walked along the beach for some seashells again.   Mom listened to her book bundled up in her chair, and Belle laid out trying to get a little sun.   Ruby and I then got the velcro ball out and set another record, this time never to be beaten at 54 catches in a row.   We laughed some more about some almost "liver flips" getting into our chairs.   And some more IPN2DC messages.   

Then I saw both my girls getting deeper into the ocean with some waves crashing around them.   "Com'n Dad" they called.   I am only getting in if we are close to getting out.   By this time it was later in the evening around 5, so they smiled and I ran in with them.   Besides unlimited fastpasses, this was probably my most fun time with the kids, as all three of us could not stop laughing.   The waves were huge crashing about at my neck, and knocking the girls back several times.   The water was freezing but after about 20 minutes, we were numb and just laughing with each new wave.   I know magan grabbed hundreds of videos and photos, as I had to search thru them to get to the few below.   Belle left a sand mermaid below, and Belle caught a "sticker" image of Magan in the water.   The waves were so much fun, and those cute girls smiling reminded me of a girl that crashed in the waves with me 25 years ago down in Gulf Shores.   Belle's smile reminds me of her mom, I don't think either of the girls completely lose their eyes like their momma when they smile, but both laughed and held my hand and made me the happiest dad in the world.   

That evening we drove into Southport and found Alex's house from the Safe Haven movie, and actually parked where a temporary storefront was built of the movie.   It has since been torn down, but Belle and I had to run over for another picture.   Next, we visited the Ports of Call Bistro where Katie and Alex had their first date in movie, and we actually got the same table they had for dinner.   Magan and I tried to create the scene pictured from the movie directly above our table.   After dinner, we visited a local gelato place just down the road.   And I did not even notice that the girls were recommending different sherbets to me, as I saw a cherry gelato, and wanted it.   After finishing a full thing of cherry gelato, I could feel a rumbling that was not good.   I remember laughing tho at Ruby getting Belle to taste her coconut flavor, and Belle saying "That tastes like my shampoo".   

Back at the van, the girls were arguing about who would sit in what seat, and they will remember that I jokingly, but not so jokingly told them they better sit down and be quiet or I would leave them.   The rest of the trip home was just a prayer for no red lights, a prayer for no slow drivers, then a strange shuffle to try and keep my butt cheeks clinched while walking up 3 flights to our condo.   But the crisis was averted and no additional clothes needed washed that evening.   We got started watching Safe Haven that night, but could only watch about half since it was already a little late.   But it was really fun watching and seeing places we had just visited.