the past week has found us exploring the small towns of eastern north carolina. we have spent time in elizabeth city, belhaven and oriental. these towns are all very welcoming and in belhaven we were even greeted at a local restaurant by a chamber of commerce member. it feels so much better to spend money in these places than the big cities like charleston where our money may not be helping the restaurant survive another season. we also were able to get a new windex in oriental as ours was lost to a tree in the dismal swamp (thankfully the captain was at the helm).
we've been motoring along and had hoped to pop out into the ocean and sail when we reached morehead city but that would have meant waiting 5 days so we opted to move on. in morehead city we were able to tie up at a restaurant with another catalina 42 from md so we had dinner together and shared tales. the next day we saw our first dolphins as well as increasing numbers of pelicans. they are both fun to watch as they soar and leap.
an anchorage in camp lajeune allowed us to watch military manuevers overhead as we listened to lots of firing. the base provides training but also allows many birds to have their habitat so it seemed we saw every heron and egret in the state. the following day we completed the transit to wrightsville beach which included passing topsail island. i had heard much about this place from a college friend so was excited to finally see it in living color.
as i write this we are riding out a front in carolina beach with about 10 other boats. the temp was 88 yesterday and is 56 now, quite a change. soon we'll be at our marina in myrtle beach where the boat can rest for 2 months while we head home for thanksgiving and christmas.the past week has found us exploring the small towns of eastern north carolina. we have spent time in elizabeth city, belhaven and oriental. these towns are all very welcoming and in belhaven we were even greeted at a local restaurant by a chamber of commerce member. it feels so much better to spend money in these places than the big cities like charleston where our money may not be helping the restaurant survive another season. we also were able to get a new windex in oriental as ours was lost to a tree in the dismal swamp (thankfully the captain was at the helm).
we've been motoring along and had hoped to pop out into the ocean and sail when we reached morehead city but that would have meant waiting 5 days so we opted to move on. in morehead city we were able to tie up at a restaurant with another catalina 42 from md so we had dinner together and shared tales. the next day we saw our first dolphins as well as increasing numbers of pelicans. they are both fun to watch as they soar and leap.
an anchorage in camp lajeune allowed us to watch military manuvers overhead as we listened to lots of firing. the base provides training but also allows many birds to have their habitat so it seemed we saw every heron and egret in the state. the following day we completed the transit to wrightsville beach which included passing topsail island. i had heard much about this place from a college friend so was excited to finally see it in living color.
as i write this we are riding out a front in carolina beach with about 10 other boats. the temp was 88 yesterday and is 56 now, quite a change. soon we'll be at our marina in myrtle beach where the boat can rest for 2 months while we head home for thanksgiving and christmas.