Our NC Trip Part 2--the bear!!!

Well, a day late but here a few more pics from out NC trip!

Here's Brannon with his first fish! He was so excited (even if he looks a little nervous holding it!)

One day after swimming all morning (our usually activity!) we were out drying off and getting ready for lunch when the neighbors yelled down that there was a bear in the water. We watched him swim in circles for a long time. He kept getting closer and closer--so we kept getting a little higher to watch him.

Several times it looked like he was going to get out of the water but then he'd go back in again.

He came under the pier to our side and swam around there for a while. Then he went back--we figured he was going back to where he came from.

So, we went inside and had lunch. About the time we finished eating we looked outside and he was in our yard. This is where we would sit while the kids played in the water:

He was either really old or injured (or maybe both). He was really slow and had a hard time getting up and down the bulkhead. He also was deaf. He never turned towards any sounds--and Elissa would squeal, the boys were yelling and laughing, and dogs were barking.

He walked around on the beach where our kids played everyday!

He ate some of the neighbor's plants.

He walked all along the path behind the house, along the beach, and through the yards, and then he finally wandered back to wherever he came from. A few days later we heard that animal control came and got him--he had been hit by a car. We're not sure if that was before or after we saw him because like I said something was wrong with him.

We knew these bears were up there and others have seen them but this was the first I had seen. And we got a very up close and long look! It was pretty exciting. The boys especially had a wonderful trip--a summer they won't forget!!