Here we are at Topsail Beach staying at the St. Regis Resort, not to be confused with any other resorts bearing the St. Regis name. We left Martinsville shortly after 09:00 Saturday, and picked up Vickie’s mom in Danville a little after 10:00 (I had picked up my mother earlier in the week from Wilkesboro). The Tahoe was happy handling our beach load, and the roof rack swallowed the beach gazebo and chairs all fastened with an assortment of bungee cords. We set off across North Carolina to the coast. We lucked up and managed to find a week between hurricanes. Of course we picked the week when gas went to $5.00 a gallon, but the trip wasn’t too far and I had filled the Tahoe up with $3.49 gas the day before. Vickie and I had put new shocks on the Tahoe Friday, so the ride was smooth. (It was a new learning experience for Vickie changing shocks—now she knows how to change brake pad s and rotors, and simple shocks) For trips like this with 4 people, luggage, beach stuff, and food, you really can’t beat a big old American SUV. We were sort of lamenting the other day—the Tahoe is finally paid for (60 months of “The General's” zero percent money), and it’s worth next to nothing. But to us it’s a good old hauler that uses a little too much gas. Heck it’s even got a flex fuel engine and can burn E85 if someone can ever figure out how to make it out of something besides food. We plan to drive it till the wheels fall off.
The trip down was uneventful, and after stopping in Goldsboro to check out a boat we have been looking at on the Internet, we arrived at the rental agency near the suggested check in time. Since it is “off season” the check in process was painless, and we were soon moved into our “Villa” for the week. The St. Regis touted on its web site that it had made $14 million in renovations recently. I don’t believe that included our particular unit. As with all beach rentals, you never know exactly what you are getting until you actually arrive. We were a little disappointed in the overall appearance of the place when we arrived. However as with any real estate location-location-location are the main three selling points. From that standpoint, this place is wonderful. It has a huge living area/kitchen with triple sliding glass doors overlooking the ocean, and a Master Bedroom with 3 wind ows and a smaller sliding glass door overlooking the ocean. The other two bedrooms both have a direct ocean view with access to another deck. The pool is close by and there are two elevators to the floor. (although someone told mother in high season with a billion kids the elevator wait is interminable)
We set about making the place our own. Vickie, Mom and Mom, unpacked our stuff, and I attacked the kitchen. It is amazing how much “stuff” can accumulate in a beach rental unit kitchen over the span of a season. There were multiples of small frying pans, pots, lids, and enough assorted plastic ware to bail out the Queen Mary. Indomitable Vickie sat patiently in the middle of the kitchen floor sorting the “stuff” and mining the deep reaches of one closet that extended back behind the stove. We sorted out the stuff that was usable and piled everything else back in. We ended up with enough usable equipment to feed us for the week. The blender, however, was dead and this prompted an immediate call to the rental agent. There is no way Vickie and I can spend a week at the beach without a blender. Oh and while we were talking to the rental agent, we had to have her bring us linens. Eve n though Vickie had verified (twice) with the agents prior to the trip the correct linens to bring, somehow the mattress size and our sheets didn’t match in two of the rooms. I strolled back to find Lorayne and Mother both sitting on beds with fitted sheets covering ¾ of the mattress. But it all got handled and Dominos prepared a wonderful dinner, as they are wont to do many beach trip arrival days. We were all tired, so Vickie promised she would go with me early to the grocery store, and with that we turned in. The beds turned out to be great.
The next morning (Sunday) we were at the Food Loin soon after it’s 06:00 opening time. The store was well stocked and we enjoyed the fine selection. During high season beach grocery stores so often look like locusts have been there before you. Packing up all our purchases we headed back to the villa just in time to feed everyone breakfast. After breakfast it was off to the beach and pool to enjoy a bright, hot, sunny day. The weather was beautiful (if a little hot) for September, and the water temps were grand. I made a second trip back to the Food Loin since on Sunday in NC adult beverages are not available till after 11:00 (according to the clerk). But then I got to hang around the shopping area for an hour cause what the clerk really meant to tell me was the adult beverages were not available till noon. Vickie, Bert, and Lorayne, p assed the day with sun, fun, and women’s chat. I returned from my wanderings and caught up with them at the pool. Vickie also spent a great deal of the day looking for shark’s teeth in the sand. This is a new pastime that is more difficult than just looking for shells. She found a few, and planned to redouble her efforts the next day.
I fixed diner from the supplies we had rounded up at the Food Loin and all, well fed, gradually drifted off to bed.
More later,
Wes
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