Oriental NC and surrounding area

Oct 16  Oriental NC  friday   Oriental

To make the beds... everything has to move out of the bunk

The morning was filled with chores.  Bedding changes, shifting supplies so Jake and Sue could  have a proper place to stay / sleep for the week.   The spare bunk becomes a ‘garage’ when it’s just the two of us.  While I tackled the below decks, Jim applied Poli Glow to the cockpit gelcoat.  Poly Glow is a fantastic product we came across at the Chicago Strictly Sail Boat Show a few years ago.  It is a sealant used instead of wax to protect the gelcoat from the oxidizing sun damage.  It leaves a shiny finish that looks great.  It is incredibly easy to apply with a cloth and dries almost immediately, a few coats every 6 months or so.

Sailloft ... they stitched a few thing for us
The 'sewer' sits in a hole in the raised floor and pulls / manurers the sails as needed

We had enough time to make a run to town to pick up part 2 of our chart and guide book order before our friends arrived.  What a great reunion!  So nice to see them after 5+ months, nearly a 1000 mile drive for them.  Hellos and hugs, then we carted their gear and our mail order packages they brought to the boat.  After a quick settling in we headed to town for opening night of the local Front Porch Music Festival.  Tonight we heard Salty Paws at the Old Theater.  We left after their set which was followed by a the movie Muscle Shoals, which Jim and I had already seen.  Back aboard we had a late dinner, pork roast and mashed potatoes and tried to catch up on each others latest adventures.  Jake and Sue have the travel bug too and recently took a trip to Alaska for 2 weeks.  One week on land, one at sea along the inland passage.  They had a fantastic time.  

marine consignment store

Oct 17  Oriental  saturday  Oriental

Morning: breakfast and more catching up.  Then we packed a lunch cooler and headed to town for the Festival.  Jake and Sue couldn’t resist a quick (not) stop at the marine consignment store where they found lots of awesome things, nautical related.  I managed to find a few more things as well.  This place is a must see to believe establishment.  Nothing has a price, “make an offer”.  There is no real order to anything.  You step into the old building and just start pawing through overstuffed shelves, bins spewing with clothes, electronics, hardware, piles of line, shelves of sails (many, many dozen)… a hodgepodge of goods.  Well over an hour later Sue and I walked out with our finds, Jim and Jake having lost interest long ago had set off to hear the tunes.  

sail section of the consignment store

There were 19 venues providing live music throughout the day.  Blues, Folk, Gospel, Bluegrass etc.  The weather was perfect.  Sunny and warm.  We caught up with the guys and wandered up and down a number of streets, listen here for bit, move on and repeat throughout the afternoon.  The guys split off and headed to the car show while Sue and I hit the arts and crafts.  A few more goodies in the bag, we next found a great store for outdoor / travel clothes.  Then we found a fantastic fresh fish market, were we bought fresh flounder and crab meat, dinner covered for a few days.  More live music at a local Bar and Grill where we too ate.  The mosquitos ate nearly as much of Sue as she did of her dinner.  We caught a bit of the Cubs game but we were all pretty tired so it was time to head home.  We finished the evening with treats Sue bought at Trader Joe’s… Cranberry Dunkers…oh so good !!!

  Oct 18  sunday   Oriental

front porch music

front porch music ...

musicians ...

Too cold to go out, too windy to play we sat there we two (couples) with nothing to do…. Wait!  we can go shopping…. The winds were 18 - 20 knots from the north and 40ish degrees.  None of us wanted anything to do with being outside for long.  Oriental is pretty small so we headed to the next burg over, Bayboro.  The guys dropped us off at a store and they headed out to find something to amuse themselves with.  A lumber yard fit their bill.  (We need to make a support on the boat for holding jerry jugs; containers for extra fuel / water while on long passages.)  They returned with their purchase and picked us up with our goodies.  We stowed them aboard the boat then decided another adventure was in order, still cold and blowing like crazy.  We headed for Beaufort, NC (sounds like   bO fort, NOT to be confused with Beaufort (bU fort, SC), the locals get kind of miffed if you confuse them.  … We will be in Beaufort / Moorehead City NC for the next leg of out travels, staging for the off shore portion of the trip to the BVI’s.  

The route via car took us on a car ferry to and from, part of the state highway system.  The town was pretty quite this Sunday afternoon, the ice-cream shops not getting much business (too cold).  We walked up and down the water front.  Across the bay the wild horses have been seen grazing along the shore line.  This is one of 4 local areas where the descendants of the Spanish breeds can observed, more or less wild.  We didn’t see any on this excursion.  Having stretched our legs sufficiently we pilled into the car and returned to the boat.  The evening drifted away into night time and we took our respective places in our bunks.   

waiting for the ferry

Jim and I have been sharing the aft cabin, just enough room for 2 people… that like each other  (we do).  With nighttime temps in the low 40’s (I feel your pain Michigan!) we have been pretty cozy in our double bunk heading into bed, but by morning we are snuggled so close to each other, there just might be enough room for a third person…

Oct 19  monday    Oriental

crossing the river

Sue and I made a quick run to town while the guys modified and installed the 2 X 4 for the fuel can support on deck.  It was still blowing steady at about 10 -15, gusting higher.  We took off and the guys hoisted sails,  we were healing 10 - 25 degrees depending on the gusts.   Sailing in the sound meant tacking back and forth to avoid shore.  The cold winds kept me hunkered down bellow while the rest of the crew braved the temps and enjoyed the ride.  Jim found a nice anchorage up the South River about 5 miles off the bay, also useful as a hurricane hole if needed.  We set the anchor which meant it was time for our ‘anchor beer’, a newly established custom acquired from our Canadian cruising friends, Jim and Cindy.  Sue put together some snacks to accompany the beverages and we enjoyed the peaceful setting, our neighbor a Bald Eagle keeping watch.  Dinner: crab cakes and salad followed by a movie.  

A sliver of a moon and plenty of stars for those hardy enough to go on deck.  

Sue and Jake 

oct 20  tuesday  South River / anchor

A beautiful sunny morning; fresh, hot bread pudding from the oven to warm the cabin.  

The guys then tackled the next phase of our off shore prep.  The dinghy was brought onboard and lashed to the front deck and deflated.  A new line for the whisker pole installed.  The whisker pole extends out and is used to hold the front sail out and off the boat, helping it to stay in position.  They then rigged the 3rd reef point on the mast, boom and sail for heavy weather.  This allows the sail to be made much smaller but still provides propulsion under strong winds.   A bit of a rest then a quick lunch.  

We left South River with sunny skies and just a hint of a breeze.  At the mouth of the bay the winds picked up a bit, not enough to set the sails.  We anchored in the harbor off Oriental for the evening.  Anchor beer / beverages served, this afternoons concoction: coconut water, a dab of sweetened condensed milk, white rum, finished with a shave of nutmeg then poured over ice.  Tasty and refreshing.   A very peaceful evening with 8 or so other boats bobbing about.  Ribs and garlic mash for dinner, dessert: Sue’s velvet crumb cake with strawberries, pretty darn good.  A game of ‘iota’ before bed.  

oct 21  wednesday  New Bern

Another beautiful morning.  Temps are steadily getting warmer as the cold front moves on, high in the upper 60’s today.  We upped anchor around 9:30 and headed for New Bern, NC.  A good sized small town with plenty to do for a few days if needed.  A late afternoon arrival then showers.  Jake and Sue headed out to check out the sights, we caught up on emails and had a quick nap.  

Spanish Moss on trees

one of the New Bern Bears

New Bern Bear Mascot 'Getting his Pink On'...

The town is nicknamed Bear Town, may shops sporting a bear statue artistically decorated and displayed.  New Bern was founded by Swiss and German immigrants in 1710,  naming the town ‘New Bern’ after Bern, the capitol of Sweden.  Bern(e) is the old Germanic word for bear, the bear became the symbol for the town.  There are lots of lovely old homes circa 1800’s here.  Two story.  Big porches.  We found a great hardware reminiscent of the former ‘Wilkins Hardware’ of Saugatuck.  Crammed full of hardware supplies as well as an assortment of kitchen, garden and other useful gadgets.  We found all the hardware for making a dinghy cable lock system.   

Lanterns

Survivors !!!

New Bern is also the birthplace of Pepsi Cola!  Caleb Bradham invented the beverage in 1898 in his pharmacy.  It was originally called ‘Brad’s Drink’.   He renamed the drink a few months later to Pepsi-Cola, claiming it had health benefits.  It became a very popular beverage and by 1903 Pepsi-Cola was made an official trademark.  The recipe was altered during WWI due to the high price of sugar.  After the war, sugar priced again soared and lead to the the company going bankrupt.  The company was sold and after a number of years made a comeback… Still alive and well today.

dinner out

Next up, dinner.  Going on the advice of a local we went to MJ’s.  We all enjoyed our meals which was a good thing since next up was the cubs play off game #4.  We headed to a pub to watch and were stunned to see the stats: top of the FIRST inning, 2 men on base, score 4 - 0…  the Mets leading.  At least there were 2 outs.  It’s looking like the ‘Back to the Future” scene about the cubs winning the world series on this date in 2015… might not be a reality.  Luckily the pub was closing up (9pm ! ?) so we had to leave.  We’ll have to wait till morning to see the outcome.  Back aboard it was time for bed.  (by now you must know… the Cubs lost, but there’s always next year!)…

Oriental home, love the fence

Oct 22   thursday   New Bern

We weren't up very long when Jim noticed black smoke coming from a few blocks away.  No sirens yet.  He headed off to see what was up… NO camera!  grrrrr   The smoke continued billowing, then flames shooting skyward 20 + feet from an SUV parked on the street.  Small explosions emanating from the vehicle as the first fire truck began dousing the flames.  Soon more fire engines began appearing along with police and ambulances… the road was closed by the time I got there… no entry even for the reporters looking for their scoop.  An hour or so later, the fire extinguished, engines were departing.  Then the burnt out hull of the SUV was hauled off on a flat bed.  Quite a lot of Harbor Cinema for so early in the morning.  We never heard any more about what happened.  

Oriental Provision Store

The marina is pretty much in the middle of the historic downtown area.  I heard there would be music tonight just a few blocks away.   A bit of investigating and we were told it was a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness: Get your Pink On, their theme.  We decided to stay another day since we had no firm plans to be anywhere else.  Sue and I took advantage of the extra time in town and used the curtesy car to head to the mall after the “chores’ were done (water tanks filled and head pumped).  The mall was pretty small but suited my needs, mainly girl time and TJ Max.  

The car returned, we headed off for lunch, Beer Army.  A micro brewery with great burgers.  We met up with the guys and had a nice stroll back, a few detours along the way browsing in the shops.  Jim was happy to report he had had the best, biggest and most oysters he had even experienced for his lunch!  Raw of course.  He was so stuffed with them he didn’t eat any dinner.    

After a nice nap (or two) we headed to the ‘festivities’.  Part of a town block was blocked off and decorated with lots of huge pink ribbons.  Bags with LED candles lined the street with names commemorating cancer survivors and those lost.   Tables draped in pink table cloths and vendors selling goods, all proceeds for the foundation stay here in the community.  Testimonials were given by a number of people.  The music portion of the evening was pretty short but entertaining.  The event winding down, we headed off for a snack next door then back aboard.   Having made it past boaters midnight, one by one we headed off to our bunks.  

the fish market

Oct 23   friday : Upper Broad Creek

Today’s plan: anchor for the night en route to Oriental.   We got a very late start not needing to go very far.  Temps approaching 80’, sun shining!  A light breeze.  We found a quiet spot on Upper Broad Creek.  Only a couple of houses, mostly marsh and trees on the banks of the river.  The anchor was set by 1:30, anchor beers soon after which we discovered are closely followed by anchor naps.  What a great tradition we have acquired.  

We all found a comfy spot aboard and lounged away the afternoon.  Fish jumping all around us.  Many popping out of the water as if they were a bar of soap in the wet sudsy hands of someone squeezing them, squirting straight up and plopping down a few feet away.  Entertaining to watch.  The trees here are just starting to show a hint of color reminding us that it is indeed fall. 

We dined on broiled flounder and veggies off the grill.  After dinner settled a bit, we enjoyed Jim’s secret chocolate mouse recipe… a little bit of heaven in a small glass bowl.  It’s our last evening with Jake and Sue, they’ll be landlubbers tomorrow.  We have really enjoyed their company.   

Oct 24  saturday :  Oriental

Oriental... huge old tree stump with a cement bench in it's roots

We were in no great hurry to depart.  The sun slowly digesting the morning dew.  We made our departure just before 10.  A respectable breeze had piped up and we were able to pull out the head sail, 3 - 4 knots for speed.  Needing to follow the narrow channel to the bay, we couldn't change our course till we reached the bay where we picked up a bit more speed.  The air was quite chilly.  The morning worn on to afternoon.  We had to use the iron wind the last few miles.  Back in Oriental at Whittaker Point Marina Jake and Sue gathered their things and loaded their car and yet another teary goodbye was said.  

Jim and I got to work right away, we had 2+ weeks of laundry and sheets to wash.  Jim used the courtesy car to run the propane tanks to the hardware store to fill it.  It was well after dark before we called it a night.