The O'Sullivan Trio -- Still in Beverly Beach, FL

HI Special People:  Well, we're into our second month here at Amazing Beverly Beach, FL.  It is incredibly healing this close to Mother Atlantic and her shoreline paradise.  Dolphins roll by nearly daily, shorebird squadrons festively seranade us, and the surf is a constant reminder that the world is still in synch with itself.  
  

Here is a view from the beach below.  On weekends we have many neighbors; during the week there are very few.

When I sit mid-coach I feel we are out at sea as the waterline fills the coach windows and we gently rock with the wind. [Remember to double click to enlarge a photo!]

 This is my office.

The reason for staying here so long (other than it being paradise) is to have a neutral place for Carolina and Riley to interact ....  Some of the time like this ...

... and other times like this ....

... and frequently .... like this (Carolina in Riley's bed)

... and to allow Riley the freedom to run wild and find his own limits ...  He runs the beach with wild abandon (off leash) but stays right with us the whole time.  Chases the birds, but is somehow smart enough to know they always win. 

  
He also loves to hang out in his pouch for endless hours, watching the world and being close to Mom!

Riley Finnegan Kendrick O’Sullivan has almost doubled his weight, from 2.5 lbs ...

 to 4.3 lbs ... 

  He’s looking like a slightly larger hampster now. 

This place is utterly divine, even better than Hawaii.  I have had spiritual experiences one only has when in paradise.  There are many lush parks in the area where we take shady hikes ...

The trees on this Coast are so much more mature ... and the greenery more variegated and lush ...

One park is called Washington Oaks (relative of George lived here); the other an old sugar plantation ..

And, Daytona Beach is just south of us ... (causeway over the intracoastal to Daytona Beach proper)

We made some new friends while here.  We hope our Ontario friends will be lifelong  friends.

They live a wonderful “Three Square Feet” experience — we can make a difference in our world if we carefully manage the Three Square Feet around us. 

Stan and Jana from Florida, on their way to Montana now, took me under their wing and shared their travel tools with me — make your screen door into a French door replacing the screen with pexiglass (looks great), get the 7” Magellan RoadMate (the least expensive and best of my four GPSs and incredibly simple to use), Microsoft Streets and Roads for road info and TrailerLife software for plotting your trip.  I am ready for the summer trip which may be to Muskoka, Ontario, the #1 spot in the world to vacation!  


We will return to our wonderful Hilton Head home and our new HH family at the end of May.  We plan to return here to Beverly Beach, FL in winter for another glorious two months.  

Happy trails to all. We as a nation, and as a world, are certainly experiencing challenging times. Most of  us are finding new lives because the old ones have gone away.  It certainly takes an abundance of shifting ... to experience our three square feet in a more empowering and conscious way.  


Love, The O'Sullivans

Now We're a Threesome .. actually a Foursome!

Hi Loves:  It’s been four months since our last blog.  And … we have a new family member – Hortence.    He is very slow … and a bit overweight.   …. BUT ... Hortense is not the only addition ....

 

Just a week ago, Riley Finnegan O’Sullivan joined us … He is 2.5 lbs. Will be 10 lbs. when full grown. Riley is a specialty mix, a Cava-Tese, Prince Charles Cavalier Spaniel and Maltese.  What possessed me to do such a thing ... Well ... it all happened on St. Patty's day  ....

Was walking around my Hilton Head home park with Carolina, appropriately attired for such an occasion, and somebody told me about this puppy ... both brothers were coming to live at the park, showed me a picture ... it all just happened.

And later that day, at our official St. Patty's day dinner, I won the best waif award, received by me and my dear friend Dede ...

Riley lived in Florida, so we had a journey to make.  As we prepared, my other dear friend, Cappy the Clown 

 Received a huge donation of kid stuff ... and soon we were surrounded by clowns!

 But, we were on a mission ... to retrieve our new family member ... so slid in the slide outs, hooked up the car and drove the house to Florida ... Beverly Beach .. mid-way between St. Augustine and Daytona ...

And pulled in to face the Atlantic Ocean ... 

Which is what we see every single time we look out our front window...

 

... And ... we drove 6 hours to retrieve dear Riley Finnegan O'Sullivan ... and bring him to his new home on wheels ... to play with his Teddy

And ... sleep with his doggie ...

... and run wild on the beach dragging his leash ...

... and be a part of his new family!

 Love, Carolina, Marolina and Riley O'Sullivan

New Bern, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC

It’s getting chilly, so we’re headed back to our new home at Hilton Head Island.  

I know you've heard this before .... but ... New Bern was the best town yet. 

 
This town was voted as having one of the 10 best streets in America.  I am not surprised with its scenic waterfront, historic architecture, bordering a huge national forest, and so many other features that make it so special. 

 Gorgeous long bridges take you over the many waterways that take you to this town, and this quaint drawbridge is the gateway to the town. 

The City Hall.

You simply must click on these to see the amazing architecture.  They have preserved it better than any other town.

This is Middle Street, the one voted the best.  At this end, it leads to the City Hall.

What good fortune -- New Bern just so happens to be celebrating its 300 year anniversary!  The town was settled in 1710 by Swiss immigrants and named after Bern, the capital of Switzerland, which means bear.  Because of this, the bear is quite significant to New Bern, so much so that that have 75 life-sized beautifully crafted, colorful fiberglass bears located throughout town.  You will see my favorites sprinkled amongst the photos of this amazing town.  

1700s and 1800s churches on every corner.  What happened to steeples?

This town has done an incredible job at preserving its history and architecture.  It’s homes, buildings and churches date back to the 1700s, most in the early to mid-1800s in the Federal, Queen Anne, Greek Revival style.

Circa 1700s

They have also painted the fire hydrants to resemble historical characters that helped shape the town.

1800s Church and courtyard.

The very intimidating courthouse.

Utterly elaborate Queen Anne/Greek Revivial house, circa 1902.

The Masonic Theatre.  Impossible to capture its beauty.  Inside was sacred.

New Bern is where Pepsi Cola was invented!

This is Adventure Bear.  RV is a must in the adventure experience!

The Swiss Flag, of course.

And, what perfect town would be complete without a RiverWalk.  New Bern’s promenade is newly built with brick pavers, lanterns, gazebos, a beautiful huge park ... and bears!

Circa 1800s Church and grounds ... in the middle of town.

 Barrister Bear!

Tryon Palace, circa, 1767, where George Washington danced, is New Bern's most coveted building.

More of Tryon Palace.

 And ... finally Middle Street ... which is hard to capture.

We are on our way to Myrtle Beach, SC, which I imagine will be about as different from New Bern as a city can be!

Love, the Gypsy Tribe of Two