Washington, NC to Spooners Creek, NC

After a 2 month break, Diane and I are back on Sea Breeze this time headed for home. NC served up another wonderful little back water town this week. Oriental is a town we almost bypassed last year. We did spend a couple of days at a marina near town last July but only to avoid a tropical depression off the NC coast. You might remember this was the marina where a total stranger loaned us her car so we could grocery shop. Last week we docked in the town, right downtown.....in the middle of all 4 blocks of downtown. We visited a little art shop and talked with a lady that was co-owner of the shop. After a few minutes we noticed she looked familiar. Yep, it was the lady that loaned us her car last year. We sat on her shop porch overlooking the harbor and chatted it up about where we had been since we last saw her. She and her husband plan to sail to South America this winter and promised to stop somewhere on the FL east coast so we can meet again. She and her husband were so kind to us last year and again this year. This little town only has about 800 residents and is a mix of northern retirees, artsy types, yachties and commercial fishermen. It makes for a lively little town. Across the street from the town dock is a little coffee shop. Old geezers sit on the second story porch and critique the boat handling abilities of each boat that docks at the marina or town dock. Our friend said some days they hold up score signs like the olympic judges as each boat comes to rest. They didn't do this the days we were there but I know we would have rated a 10. We looked very smooth under their watchful eye. Eventually they all come by the cruising boats to check us out and find out where we've been and were we are going. They all want to tell us their story of how they got to Oriental. We met no strangers. I promised to not give weather reports when I update this blog, so no details....but the sailing has been spectacular. Strong northerly winds, lots of clouds, some rain and mild temps. Today (8th) marked a change of character in our crusing environment. I mentioned this last year. As we exited Adams Creek near Beaufort, NC we left the wide open sounds and rivers of the waterways protected by the Outer Banks. Looking back north into the mouth of the Neuse River, there is nothing but water for the 80+ miles back to Hatteras and Manteo on the Outer Banks. Open water wider than the offshore run from Miami to Bimini or Key West to Cuba. With all this open water we have been able to choose our daily destination based on best wind conditions. You can see this by the zig zag track we have taken since entering this area from Norfolk back in June. Today we entered the ditch as the ICW is often called. For the next 1000 miles we will be in a waterway made up of canals, creeks, winding rivers and sounds or inlets. You will see this as you check my maps. So off we go. Sea Breeze has a new coat of varnish, fresh bottom paint and clean hull. All shined up and ready to go. We are keeping a close ear on the weather reports and will find safe harbor if a tropical storm threatens to cross our path. A note on crab-woman. Lately we have found ourselves surrounded by shrimp. At our last anchorage they jumped and splashed all around us. Shrimp boats are everywhere. A shrimp net may be on our shopping list soon. Can't you just see live shrimp jumping all over the deck if Diane actually caught something?

Photo 1 - shrimp boats at town dock in Oriental at night

Photo 2 - Sea Breeze at town dock in Oriental