We awoke around 6 AM PST after a night of fitful sleep. After becoming accustomed to a king-sized bed we found a queen bed to be tight quarters. The time change didn’t help, either, as our heads seemed to be stuck on East Coast time.

After a breakfast of eggs and bagels we prepared for our hike. The sun had crested the surrounding hills and was burning off the early chill. I went from wearing jeans and two shirts to a shirt and shorts by the time we were leaving.

I was transfixed by the amazing natural beauty surrounding our house. Huge cliffs rose around us into the deep blue sky. A rabbit sat warily at the end of the driveway. Birds darted under the eave of the house, searching for a spot to make a nest. Neighbors strolled with their dogs along the road near our house.
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We’ve put the lid on our first full day in Sedona and it was a great one! Lots of family hiking, hiking with just Kelly and me, and laughter and fun at dinner.

Our trip began smoothly Saturday morning when we timed our arrival at RDU airport almost exactly right. Getting through security with about an hour to spare, we grabbed lunch and settled into our seats at the gate. Hallie and Travis were visibly excited as we waited our turn to board. Thanks to the magic of family boarding, we managed to snag three seats on one side and one on the other on our plane: the best we could do for a 737. The kids settled in next to Kelly and I sat across the aisle.
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We got back to Raleigh at 5:30 PM: eleven and a half hours after leaving Panama City Beach. There was more traffic on I-95 than last week but it wasn’t unmanageable. We hit slowdowns through the construction zone near Brunswick, Georgia but they were thankfully short-lived.

The problem with vacations is that they end. I need to find a way to make my vacations last a bit longer somehow. Hmm.

Today was our last full day of our Thanksgiving vacation at Panama City Beach. It’s sad to find how quickly time has passed.

We were greeted this morning with clear, sunny skies and a moderate wind from the west, though not as strong as yesterday’s wind. The temperature was a bit chilly, especially in the shade, but the brilliant sun quickly warmed things up to the mid-60s. Breakfast was at my parents’ condo, courtesy of my dad. Jeff’s family, my family, and Wil joined my parents for a breakfast of grits, eggs, biscuits, and ham while the kids paraded through the room acting out silly dances. As usual with our gatherings, one had to shout to be heard!

After this great breakfast we hit the beach for our morning walk. Kelly and I have become familiar with the bottoms of our kids’ feet this week as all we’ve seen of them is them disappearing in a cloud of sand ahead of us! We figure our family bike rides have been way too short, judging by the energy our kids expended on the beach! At one point Hallie was actually running circles around Kelly and me. No kidding.
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Thanksgiving Day began with the clearest sky we’ve had yet here at Panama City Beach. The humidity level dropped tremendously, making the horizon look razor sharp. The wind had also picked up, however, and was blowing quite strongly all day long. These conditions lasted throughout the day.

We began our day with a family walk on the beach, and like before, we stopped along the way to write whimsical messages in the sand. Hallie led the charge on this but soon we all participated. Being Thanksgiving, our messages took a decidedly holiday theme, with a turkey emerging as the main subject. Future walkers would find these messages along with turkey-like tracks dotting the white sandy beach.
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