Look at what I found nestled into my bed when I came in to go to sleep tonight:

Sydney’s new favorite way to ride in the car.

(yes, she was sound asleep when this was taken.  And yes - I stopped the car before getting my camera.)

I picked up a new tent for our camping trip next weekend, and set it up in the house to make sure I knew what I was doing. I also wanted to see how Sydney would react to the tent.

Well - she loved it. Spent several hours exploring it, and I had to drag her out - literally - when I was ready to take it down.

Here’s the poochie peeking out from inside.

I’ve never been a beach person, but something is in my blood in 2008 and I need a trip to the beach.

So - in the next few weeks I’ll be heading out to the South Core Banks for some primitive camping, sunset gazing, dog walking, seashell gathering and general relaxation.

My last trip to this part of the state was over four years ago, and I remember parking my car on Harkers Island and looking out over the cape at Cape Lookout Lighthouse.  Ferries weren’t running over the Christmas holidays, so I could only lookout over the water with my telephoto lens.  This time, I’ll be better prepared with camping gear, enthusiastic canine companion and a willing ferry.

There are varying schools of thought about how one should camp.  My theory on this trip will be simple: if I can’t carry it, it won’t come with me.  I’ll leave the car on Harkers Island and rely on my sturdy hiking boots (and perhaps my bare feet, if the sand is nice) to get around.  A simple tent, and perhaps a pillow and light blanket.  I’m nobody’s cook when I camp, so I’ll rely on a few MRE’s to keep me alive.

This will also be a relatively technology-free trip.  The cell phone will be kept only for emergency.  I’ll bring a few rolls of film and my Nikon FG for some old-school photography.  And a Zippo lighter for the obligatory nighttime campfire.  No PDA, no laptop, no GPS … no need.  Just me and Sydney and miles of sand, sea and (hopefully) nice weather.

Not much to say today … just a cute shot of recently-groomed Sydney at Duke University.