Impulse Cruising Again

After breakfast on the boat we took showers and then got the bikes out to go for a ride. After a harrowing ride on a major road we ended up at Piggly Wiggly for a few grocery items and some wine – and then rode back to the boat through a quiet residential area. Much better! Unpacked groceries and then put the bikes away and moved the dinghy to the back of the boat. We had moved it to the bow when we were at Bald Head Island to make getting on and off the boat from the stern easier. (Bill suggested I include that one of his favorite movies, "Weekend at Bernies," was filmed at Bald Head Island!). Laundry was packed up and we headed to the local Laundromat. While it was doing its thing we had lunch at Plaza Mexico next door. The food is good here! Once clothes were folded we put things away on the boat and headed for the North Carolina Maritime Museum, which is very near our slip. Last time we were here we were watching a great movie about Blackbeard there when we got a call that the boat batteries Bill had ordered were at the dock so we had to leave to install them. We had hoped to sit and watch the rest of this film now but it wasn’t to be – another film had replaced it. But we did spend much time reading about Blackbeard’s adventures here – this was his stomping grounds! Also read about many aspects of life here – clams, oysters, fishing, recreation, etc. The area off the coast of NC is called the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” since so many ships were wrecked on the shoals that form on the coast. Lifesaving, actually saving lives, was a large part of the work of many of the man who helped those on wrecked ships make it to shore. And, many US ships were sunk here by U boats during World War II – the shoals made this a prime hunting ground since the U boats could “herd” ships toward the shoals and then sink them with torpedoes. After leaving the museum we did a little shopping (olive oil, hats) and then Bill returned to the boat for a nap while I continued to visit local retail stores. A few phone calls and drinks on the boat and then we headed to Clawson’s, right across Taylor St. from the marina, for soups and wings – of course! This is a great town – things are very convenient to the marina and there is always something to watch on the water or land! (Photo shows town clock by dockmaster’s office) Back to the boat for an early morning - rising at dawn to try to beat the forecasted winds in the Pamlico Sound to get to Scranton Creek on the Pungo River.