A trip to Topsail

At left, Christy strolls down the beach
in front of the Sea Vista Motel

Sandra, Christy and Mother Ocean

Just after the 4th of July celebrations settled down, Christy and I headed to Topsail Island for a relaxing three days. We stayed in our old favorite, the Sea Vista Motel, which sits at the perfect location near the south end of the island. We have been staying at the Sea Vista during various beach visits for over twenty years. It's a very relaxed, kind of retro place made up of individually owned condos. Fisherfolk stay there, as do beach-lovers, wildlife-seekers, and others who like to frequent the ocean environment. You have to request pets or no-pets, smoking or non-smoking, and you are never quite sure if the condo you have reserved was freshly painted last year, or ten years ago. You goes and you takes your chances. This trip, Christy and I found our non-smoking mini-efficiency recently painted in sunny yellow and white, and new, dark green plastic rockers on the oceanfront deck awaited us and our books -- most pleasant indeed.

One morning's walk southward took us down to the island's tip and around to the quieter sound side, where a large flock of pelicans rested on the sand with a few neighborly gulls -- a somewhat reassuring sight, as I'd been discouraged by the relative lack of sea birds on the ocean side. Across the sound, a bright green line of marsh grass separated the body of rippling blue water from dark evergreens above, and above the evergreens, the blue-gray-white sky canopy. All of this -- the light, the changing sky and ocean, the peace and beauty, the fragrant, salty winds, and ample time to relax with loved ones in such an environment -- all of this is why I long for and love the beach.

Looking at the marsh from our dinner table at Indigo Marsh restaurant

One evening, Christy and I went to Indigo Marsh, our favorite splurgy restaurant in the area. Our seating on the covered porch gave us a great view of the neighboring marsh, and it was beautiful in the evening light. We lingered over our meal, watching twilight do its magic.

Christy with her pineapple upside-down martini

The window beside us reflected the bright green grasses and silver-blue waters of the marsh

Well, we had to leave ... we always do, reluctantly. But as we journeyed home, our sighting on NC 17 and the beginning of I-40 of many Stewartia trees in bloom was a great surprise. (I am almost positive they were Stewartia -- if any of my more plant-savvy friends reads this, looks at the pictures, and finds me in error, please advise!). Sometimes called "silky camellia," this lovely deciduous tree offers up many wonderful attributes, including glossy green leaves, beautiful white blooms, fall color, and exfoliating bark. It was a real treat to see so many of these trees growing in the wild! When I return to these sections of the pathway to and from the beach, I will watch for them again.

Above, Stewartia trees in bloom alongside I-40,
just after leaving NC 17