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As the summer days drop into
hot August nights,
we have cool reading.
WHEN the ocean temps grow warmer, many turn to swimming pools to get cool. In that light we look
at traditional chlorinated pools versus the popular saltwater pool. Which is best, which is preferred —
we left it for you to decide.
Also, this summer, we checked on the treasure salvage boat Blue Water Rose. The recovery site of a
passenger steamship that sank 180 years ago did shift with hurricane Florence, but still continues to give up its treasures.
My family has returned to the age-old summer tradition of vacationing in the cooler mountain air of the western part
of the state where the July morning temps hovered delightfully in the low 70s. We enjoyed a time of outdoor activities
this year that
included downhill
mountain biking at
Beech Mountain,
ziplining at
Tweetsie, white-water
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
rafting with
Wahoos on the
Nolichucky River,
horseback riding
high up among
the Christmas tree
farms and Price
Lake trout fish-ing
with a fish
whisperer. We
were delighted to
discover a new
favorite, the Blue
Deer ice cream
stand, home of
handmade ice
cream sandwiches made with homemade ice cream and homemade cookies. That alone is almost worth the drive. We always
couple time in the mountains with sun and fun at Wrightsville, where the adults chill and the kids boat and surf and skate,
making it the ideal summer vacay for us.
One of the offshoots of this year’s Azalea Festival for me was a renewed fascination with large floral arrangements, especially
on the night of the Patrons Party at the Cape Fear Country Club. I was in awe of what Jennifer Rose had created there. We asked
area floral experts, including Rose, if they would share their genius with our readers and were thrilled when they did.
How exciting to have a photograph of June 20’s double rainbow over the area in our In Views. The book of Genesis tells
us that after Noah’s flood, God put the rainbow in the sky as the sign of His promise that He would never again destroy the
earth with flood.
We continue to be amazed at the response to our series on the heroes who sacrificed it all in the Vietnam War who hail
from greater Wilmington. Those who came home from Vietnam experienced a welcome that was less than warm, so it is
wonderful to see the appreciation after all these years.
Stay cool as you enjoy the few short weeks between now and Labor Day.
Editor/Publisher
ELK MOUNTAIN RIDING COMPANY
High up in an Avery County Christmas tree farm in late June are Pat Bradford, Bryson Utter, Heather Utter,
Ethan Eddins, Emily Utter and Brooks Bradford Utter.