It was about a month out—maybe two weeks—when I got a text from the homie, Bianchi:

“Yo, what’s your schedule look like at the end of August?”

My response: “I can make it look like anything” (haha).

Some context: yes, I had a job and other responsibilities, but who can say no to adventure? (And with my personality type–on this adventure I would learn I was a 7 on the enneagram–saying “no” wasn’t even an option.) So, I got the text. No plan. Just a promise that I’d pitch some ideas.

Fast-forward: about a week before the adventure was supposed to unfold—did I have a plan ready? Of course not. (I procrastinate from time to time ;p). So I started tossing together some ideas and sent them his way. But guess what? We didn’t follow the plan. At all. (ahahah). How does the old saying go? We make plans, and God laughs.

The Wareing’s Beach Bum Classic (Triathlon)

Then came another text from Bianchi:

“Yo, triathlon tomorrow morning 7am. Down?!”

Some context: I’ve been training for an Ironman, so this wasn’t totally out of left field. But that particular day? I had already trained for two hours, taken two flights, walked another 5+ miles, and my plane wasn’t landing until around 10:30 p.m.

My response: “Let’s do it!!” (hahaha).

So the plane landed: I didn’t get to bed until 1 a.m., woke up at 5, and somehow found myself at the starting line for a beach-themed triathlon. And this—this was just the beginning.

Family Reunion with a Thrift Twist

What better way to start your day than with four hours of sleep and a triathlon? In all seriousness—it was a blast!

After we crossed the finish line, Bianchi (being the great guy he is) and his wonderful family welcomed me in and made me part of their reunion. Little did I know, that’s when the real adventure began: a thrift store challenge. The rules? Draw a name, then hunt down the quirkiest outfit possible for that person.

The results? Legendary. We laughed until our sides hurt, strutted our thrifted styles—correction, danced them out—and later brought the local bar to life with a karaoke night for the ages.

And to top it all off, the night ended with a surprise performance by a girl who had sung on Broadway. It was beautiful. It was awesome. The perfect ending to an unforgettable day.

Ocracoke

So: knocked out a triathlon, crushed some karaoke, and danced our way through thrifty styling. Next stop? Shoutout to ma B for this gem of a place: Ocracoke.

To get there, we hopped on a ferry—a first for me, which was dope in itself. When we rolled onto the island, I quickly realized it had its own rhythm. Golf carts outnumbered cars, and yes—because I know you’re wondering—I did run the island (haha).

RV Camper

Okay, so as I prefaced earlier—we started this whole thing with an “idea.” And the funny thing about ideas? People picture them differently. When B (short for Bianchi) told me he’d gotten an RV, I was imagining something small, maybe a bed-in-the-back-of-a-truck kind of deal. But nope. We rolled up in a 36-foot big boy. And oh, did the adventure really begin with this beast.

This was a massive vehicle, but B drove it like it was a mini sedan. Add in the fact that we were cruising down narrow roads while he swore we could “clear anything” (hahahaha), and you get the picture. That rig took us on some wild rides.

We hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway (highly recommend, by the way), scoping out spots along the way with the plan to hit them on our return trip. And on the way back? Man. From waterfalls to breathtaking overlooks, from scaling mountains to one of the best hikes of my life—it was a trip for the books. We boondocked. We got a taste of what RV living is really like—the good and the quirky. We made s’mores, woke up early, stayed up late, watched movies, laughed, talked, and most importantly—we lived.

And here’s the part I want to hold onto forever. I’ve been to amazing places and seen incredible things, but I’ve learned something along the way: it’s not about the sights. It’s about the people you share them with. My favorite part of this whole adventure wasn’t the views—though they were stunning—it was the time I got to share with ma B, Bianchi, and Rylie. I cherished the conversations, the chance to know each other more deeply, and the little glimpses of their hearts (and let me tell you, they are wonderful souls).

We wrapped up the trip with a sunrise. And though sunrises often mark beginnings, they also hold something else: stillness, beauty, and gratitude. This adventure was full of breathtaking moments. The stillness came standing atop Pilot Mountain in North Carolina, soaking in the view. The gratitude came from the gift of it all—the adventure, the people, and the breath in my lungs to experience it.

Did you like the photos? Huge shout out to Rylie Gavulic (she was the two on the trip ;p)