You get a little restless in Corolla. There are two stop lights, two grocery stores, several hole-in-the-wall bars and when a chain store comes to town, it's a huge to-do. So on a random Monday this summer, six of us ocean rescuers said, "Let's go."

And we did. We piled into my station wagon went the two hours south to Hatteras Lighthouse to camp. Stopping at random thrift stores, coffee cafes, surf shops and the ever random antique store - we had a blast.

Bought growlers at the Brew Station, drove down the coast with the boards up top and the window's down, serenading the traffic with mixes of Bob Marley, Jack Johnson, Timmy Curran and more beach-y jams.

We stayed for the night and woke up listening to the waves, all of us huddled in the tent, enjoying the morning brew and scenery. Surf sesh, met some new friends from Canada and drove home.

It was a 24 hours well spent, to say the least.