#surf shack

[iquincey]

[saltfrequency]

living room

[hotelsociety]

A French Surf Shack hotel? Oui.

Tablet has all the details on the lovely looking spot called Hotel des Dunes.

[soulfulinvention]

[mastercontrol]

Mesa Lane Beach Surf Shack (destroyed by the ocean), Summer 2023.

[thedaveandkimmershow]

Yesterday we got a late start. Our niece and her dad were in Amsterdam for the Friends Experience because they are both HUUUUUUUGE fans of the show.

They had tickets for a while now but my niece somehow forgot and went already with a friend of hers. Then yesterday she went again with her dad because, you know, Friends.

The experience involves accurate and various Friends sets and moments... and the two of them took full advantage with photographs of themselves in iconic spaces recreating iconic moments.

They both said it was super busy because the day got off to a delayed start due to technical problems... so there were more people than expected crammed into a shorter schedule. Still, the pictures they took make it seem like they're the only ones on set.

Adorable. 😊

Around 2 in the afternoon I get a text they're on their way back from Amsterdam... so at 230 we leave our hotel for the local grocery store, Aldi, because Kimmer literally cannot get enough of the place.

Also, I'm not clear why we need more food. My aunt is a relentless feeder of family members. Plus we've got a stock of baked foods we keep receiving as gifts from family over the last few days.

Still, we're going up and down the aisles looking... looking...

And yeah. We find a gift or two for someone or someone's at home.

Don't tell them, though.

It's a surprise. 😉

3pm and my niece and her dad are pulling up to our hotel. Since we're still at Aldi, they drive down the street to pick us up...

And then we're on our way to the center of Gorinchem.

Now first we've gotta a coupla highly important things to figure out.

Here's how my niece put it:

"So my father and I are discussing a few options. We thought we could get a chai latte 😆 we could go into town and drink some in one of the local lunchrooms. Then I can take the card game to my grandparents tonight! Or we could get the chai latte to go and go to our house. Or we don’t get a Chai latte 🤣🤣 so many options😆"

Yeah.

Complicated. 😉

We quickly decide the Chai Latte is essential to our afternoon so we head to Gorinchem Centrum and park in the Kweeklust parking garage along one of the rivers surrounding the centrum.

We spend the next hour walking from the north end to the south end where there are locks and then those boats that take tourists down the Merwede river to castle Slot Loevestein.

I'm pretty sure this is the dock from which my cousins 'n I as children made that trip ourselves with our parents, one of whom took an iconic photograph of us.

From the parking garage, Kimmer 'n I do a pretty good job of walking and being present with family. This part of town is so picturesque, though, there's so much unique architecture, so much fascinating detail, that for a while in there we become raging photography monsters, eating up everything we see along the way.

This is, of course, my niece and her dad's hometown. It's also a small town and every so often they run into someone they know.

And then another someone.

And another someone.

Yeah.

That small.

Either that or they're both quite famous and we just don't know it. 🤔🤨

Along the way, both my niece and her dad point out the shops and cafes they frequent: a record store here, a high-tea restaurant there. It's a lovely bit of family Show 'n Tell. 😊

For example, my niece points out an entrance to a church that used to be walled off, hidden from the Nazi's during the occupation of Holland during World War II.

My niece's dad one-upped her by pointing out a lane along which is a row of connected, narrow homes. In one of these, he tells us, is the home in which he was born.

He just can't remember exactly which one. 😕

He can tell us, though, that the building across the narrow lane from the row houses used to be an orphanage. And then a block later we run across a shop featuring a painting of Hugo the Great and an illustration of castle Slot Loevestein which prompted a telling of this slice of dutch history in which Hugo is captured, taken to the town center where villagers help him escape inside a wooden cabinet.

Huzzah!

By 'n by, we wander to a historic door that's related to the Hugo the Great story... next to which is Espressobar Hugo.

Where we get our Chai Lattes.

It's 4pm.

A lovely little espresso place, the bar offers a full sit-down experience: take your seat, check out the menu, and soon someone comes by to take your order.

Eventually, our Chai lattes are brought to the table. Actually, three Chai lattes and one cappuccino 'cause that's my niece's dad's jam.

The Chai, by the way, comes in tall, thick, clear glass cups accompanied by a shot of whipped cream with Bailey's and a little square of chocolate brownie.

Kimmer couldn't have hers... so she gave it to me for a sum total of two little brownie squares for my afternoon.

After a lovely hour of hot drinks, good fun company, and a bunch of photos Kimmer felt compelled to take at the back of the espresso bar, we take our leave of Gorinchem in order to swing by the home of my niece's family.

Why?

Because our day's primary agenda with her is to play her Harry Potter trivia game.

We've taken most of the afternoon with a lovely city walk, so now we're gonna grab the game on our way to my aunt and uncle's to play after dinner there.

Of course it's not a grab 'n go we do. The "stop" easily turns into a Show 'n Tell of their home including the "shed" out back that's a pretty massive deal with plenty of storage inside and a covered space outside for lounging on chairs. There's even a sign over the window facing the covered space that reads

Surf Shack. 🙂

It's actually more fun than I'd guess getting a tour of someone else's home. But this one's comfortable and hits a lot of the same design notes that we love from lighting to furniture to decor (including the old-school LPs and the Lego VW bus).

6pm We're back at my aunt and uncle's place for dinner. At the dinner table's their daughter (arriving a little later than the rest of us due to work), her husband, their daughter/my niece, and then us.

Once again it's a lovely time had by all with a thoroughly traditional Dutch menu including variations on mashed potatoes, sausages, and beef.

After dinner, we settle around the table to play my niece's Harry Potter trivia game. We don't specifically read or follow the rules... we just play in a way that makes sense to us and is fun for us.

So.

Is it fun?

Well, all I can say is it's LOUD. It's competitive. And we're super into it against each other and with each other.

Because that's how we roll. 😉

Now, while we're thoroughly into all things Potter, my cousin's husband's in the living room with my aunt and uncle revisiting some of my uncle's history.

Meanwhile (and I don't know how this happened) the game we're playing at the dining room table turns into a wide-ranging conversation about the British royal family, from "The Crown" to the tabloids to each royal to each royal couple.

Again. No idea how that happened.

Definitely the conversation drew my aunt into the room. My aunt... who isn't into Harry Potter trivia games but is quite able to weigh in on British royals past and present. 🤔🤨

And then somehow (again, I don't know how) the conversation pivots to the challenges of being a parent and the simultaneous, complementary challenges of growing up. It's another wide-ranging and detailed conversation with everyone everyone everyone at the table weighing in.

'Cause we're all experts like that.

With so many parents at the table, it's like a support group. 😉

Inevitably, our arrival at 6pm flips through more hours than I would've guessed because suddenly it's 11 o'clock at night.

Did not see that coming either.

So, with hugs and kisses all around, my cousin's husband and niece drop us back at our hotel at 11:30.

Dang.

Talk about Time Travel.

That time at my aunt and uncle's flew.

And yeah. It's amazing how much life you can cram into those hours...

When you're with your tribe.

☺️

[theladyhibiscus]

THIS STYLE IS MY SPIRIT ANIMAL

IT CALLS OUT TO THE PREHISTORIC SIDE OF ME

AND I SHALL ANSWER THE CALL WITH A LOUDER HOWL

I'm gonna bring sexy back

My replacement iPad is finally here. Expect more art to look like this for a looooooong time.

[fieriframes]

[This is almost like tank-to-table. We go through more lobster than everywhere else and never regained her normal state of mind. Smack Shack attack. You put the "K" in "class," my friend.]

[soulfulinvention]

[musicsoulfairy]

Song of the Day

[sohannabarberaesque]

[Mise en scene: Some surfer's tiki shack somewhere near Malibu--or "Muddabu," as cool surfer types love referring to the longboard big wave paradiso. As our scene opens, evening approacheth, and Lippy the Lion, in Tora-san mode, is greeted by no less than--] A RAD-LOOKING SURFER GIRL TYPE: Hi there ... LIPPY THE LION: My apologies for stumbling unto your domicile. My name, know, is Lippy the Lion, and I could appreciate some lodgings impromptu! RAD-LOOKING SURFER GIRL: How should I exactly deny hospitality when I happen to be of the surfing community? Well, just come on in ... LIPPY THE LION: Much obliged ... [And what a night most interesting such turns out being, including some interesting lovemaking opportunities accompanied by the surf crashing unto shore which, by the time Lippy is back on his way, the surfer gal acknowledged "felt rather interesting ... almost Polynesian in a way!"]

[gaytravelinfo]

The Surf Shack Bed & Breakfast - Narragansett, RI

The Surf Shack B&B | 83 Narragansett Ave, Narragansett, RI 02882 | 401-642-5900 THE SURF SHACK Experience the perfect blend of modern beachy vibes and historic charm at The Surf Shack Bed and Breakfast. Located just steps away from Narragansett Beach and Pier Marketplace, our cozy rooms and delicious restaurant downstairs are the perfect escape for your next beach vacation. Come stay with us…

[divagrace]

How Sweet Pogue reader met Rafe!

Soft RafexSweetPogue reader

Summary: Rafe is known to hate Pogues. All of them are nuisances to him. Until one particular girl catches his eye. He asks Topper if he knows her name and only for Topper to tell him that she’s a Pogue.

Warnings: Nothing!

Enjoy 🫶🏻🫶🏻

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊

The beach party was in full swing. People were drinking, dancing, and partying their asses off. Rafe on the other hand, was busy trying to make sure Topper’s psychotic girlfriend, Ruthie, didn’t start any more fights with people. She was literally insane.

“Topper. Control your girl. She’s being a fucking lunatic.” He bites out to Topper. Crazy ass bitch. He thinks to himself. His eyes scan the beach, making sure everything is going smoothly. Then all the sudden, his eyes land on you.

You’re wearing a bright pink tank top, it’s spaghetti straps fighting to hold in your boobs that are threatening to spill out from you jumping around. It shows just a sliver of your tan waist, but it’s enough to make Rafe want to wrap his arms around it. Your toned legs are clad in a pair of jean shorts and beaded brackets decorate your arms.

You look so carefree, so happy. Dancing around with everyone. Your smile is stunning. It takes Rafe’s breath away in the best way possible.

Rafe turns to Topper. “Hey, who is that?” He asks him. Topper tries to see who Rafe is pointing to.

“Dude, there’s about 20 people you could be pointing to right now.” Topper says sarcastically.

“Her. The girl in the pink tank top and jean shorts.” Rafe says growing impatient, even though he knows Topper had a point. It’s a giant group of dancing teenagers and Rafe could have been pointing to any of them. But he needed to find out who this girl is.

“Oh. Man that’s Y/N. She’s hot but I would never mess with her. She’s a Pogue, the Pogue princess as many people refer to her.” Topper spits the word out with disgust. Rafe’s eyes widen.

Now he remembers. Of course he knows how the Pogue Princess is. I mean, he’s the Kook King.

Well you being a Pogue isn’t going to stop him. He may hate Pogues but most of them are annoying and make stupid decisions. He’s never even heard of you so you must be normal.

Rafe walks over to you confidently. When he wants something, he gets it. And you’re no different.

When he lightly grabbed Y/N’s arm, she was startled and turned around to see who the culprit was.

She was even more surprised when she was met with Rafe Cameron staring down at her. Y/N along with everybody else knows that Rafe doesn’t interact with Pogues unless he has to. And typically it’s in a violent way.

Rafe has never done anything bad to her before. Honestly, she doesn’t get out too much anyways. Usually her dad is making her scrub down their little shack, and if not, she’s out at the beach tanning and surfing.

Y/N just lives her life to the fullest. Her family is dirt poor, the only reason they have a roof over their heads is because her grandpa built her house when he was younger. But other than that, life is all about the experience for her. She tries to be kind to everybody and will never ever judge someone for what they look like, or how they are. That’s why many people in town refer to her as the “Pogue Princess”.

But she has no hard feelings towards Rafe unlike many other kids on the cut her age. She doesn’t blame them though.

“Hi.” Rafe says. He can smell her intoxicating scent. She smells like a warm, vanilla, bakery. The breeze is making her scent drift right to his nose.

“Hi!” She giggles and its music to ears. “Do you need something from me?” She asks him.

He lets go of her arm and runs a hand through his buzzed hair. But something caught his attention, there was no judgment, no nasty look, or condescending tone in her voice that was directed at him. Most people in town couldn’t even look at him without wincing. Whether it was from fear or disgust. So naturally, Rafe was drawn to her.

“Well I just wanted to come talk to the prettiest girl on the beach.” He said with a grin stretching across his face. Y/N’s face burned with a blush.

“You think I’m pretty?” She shyly asked him

“I think you’re the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.” He leans down and whispers in her ear.

The red staining Y/N’s cheeks turned to a dark crimson. Y/N has struggled with her appearance for a long time. Her dad being the main cause of that, always calling her ugly and worthless. The compliment meant a lot to her.

Rafe and Y/N shouted over the loud music, talking to each other about everything. Y/N was dancing and swaying to the music, and Rafe was trying to keep her still so her words wouldn’t jumble up while she was bumping around.

After a while, Y/N got tired. She smushed her face into Rafe’s chest.

“I’m tiredddd.” She complained. Rafe wrapped his hands around her forearms and guided her to a big piece of driftwood down the beach. Now they were away from the craziness of the party.

Rafe was looking at Y/N with something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite decipher.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She’s asks him.

“Can I go on a date with you?” The words fly out of his mouth before he can even register what he’s saying. Y/N’s mouth falls open.

“What?” She asks.

“Can I take you out? On a date. Tomorrow.” Rafe says. Now his words are collected and put together.

Y/N teases him a little. Taking a long time to come up with an answer. Even going as far as tapping her pointer finger on her chin and making it look like she’s thinking about it. Obviously there is only one answer.

“Y/N.” Rafe mutters.

“Of course I will!” Y/N happily says, finally giving up on her teasing. A sigh of relief escapes Rafe. Like she was really going to say no.

“Thank goodness. Here’s my phone you can give me your phone number so you can send me your address.” Rafe says while fishing his phone out of his pocket and opening his contacts app.

Y/N’s whole mood changes. More red flush adorns her cheeks, but not out of the fact that she has butterflies or is nervous, it’s out of embarrassment.

“What’s wrong?” Rafe asks her. He noticed her mood change.

“Ummm. I don’t have a phone.” She says.

“Why are you grounded or something?” Rafe asks her.

“No, it’s just my parents can’t afford to get me a phone.” Y/N says embarrassed.

Rafe’s eyes widen. He has never experienced a life without having some sort of electronics thrown in his face. Ward had always tried to buy his and his sister‘s love with either the newest gaming console or tablet or iPhone.

“Oh. Well that’s okay. You can just give me your address and I’ll write it down in my notes app.” Rafe says. It’s obvious that she is uncomfortable about not having a phone, so he doesn’t want to make it something it doesn’t have to be.

“Okay.” Y/N says and then proceeds to tell Rafe her address. She’s glad he didn’t make a big deal out of the situation. I mean it’s the 21st century almost every kid her age has a cell phone, especially in the Outer Banks. But unfortunately, her parents don’t make enough money to be able to give her a phone. So she goes without one. The only way her friends can communicate with her, is verbally.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow, 6pm sharp. Wear something comfortable.” Rafe says and smiles.

“Okay. I’ll be ready” Y/N beams up at him.

“Can’t wait baby.” That’s the last thing Rafe says before walking off and disappearing into the crowd of teenagers.

What just happened? They both wonder to themselves.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

First one! 🫶🏻