Days 35-41 - Rendezvous!

Current Position: 35° 6' 10" N  77° 2' 23" W
A busy week has ended and the journey continues tomorrow.  It has been nice being in a marina with so many other people on the same basic route as we are, but we are anxious to be on the move again.

What we learned:

It is - 
 1. Scary - all the unknown obstacles ahead. Yet we have learned from the past few weeks that they are scarier before we reach them, like the Fire Swamp in "The Princess Bride".
 2. Exciting - so many beautiful places ahead
 3. Encouraging - people to share our experiences with.
 4. Fun - Enjoy each moment.
 5. THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE!!!! - I know we can't see it all, but we sure want to :)

Some of our new friends :)

New Bern is a pretty town.  We didn't see as much as we'd like.  We arrived on Saturday and went out to see as much as we could that day as the next two days were forecasted as stormy.  So glad we did because it RAINED AND RAINED on Sunday and Monday.  We got out again on Tuesday morning before the rendezvous started after lunch.  

New Bern is where Pepsi-Cola was created - you can't find much Coke here! 

Caleb Bradham was the inventor of Pepsi.  It was originally called "Caleb's Drink" or "Brad's Drink"

 And for my Dew friends....

The city is named after Bern, Switzerland (the capital) and was settled by the Swiss.  Bern means "bear" therefore the city has adopted the bear as their mascot and there are bear statues all over the city, many decorated by local businesses or organizations.

And of course there are many historic churches and buildings in town:

 "Italianate" style has elaborate carvings

 Jewish Synagogue

 

The walls of the cemetery were made from "marl" - sedimentary rock made of clay and lime, and in this case mixed with lots of shells.

 First school supported by taxes in North Carolina in 1766.  This building was completed in 1810.

Centenary Methodist Church - an unusual combination of Romanesque and Chateauesque styles.  Isn't it beautiful?

This is an outdoor worship area built within the foundation of the original church.  The break in the walls is where the windows were located.   Wouldn't you love to worship here in an outdoor service? 

 Docked at New Bern Grand Marina

Day 34 - Town Full of Dragons or Do Not Name Your Boat "Oriental"

Current Position: 35° 03' 10" N  76° 69' 30" W

A wonderful day exploring the town of Oriental while docked at their free dock.  It was a rather warm day - 90 degrees so we did the walking tour in two parts.  There is a museum that the town citizens have populated with some wonderful memorabilia, including the movie projector from the old theater.  The town was originally named Smith's Creek and there the history begins...  The Postmaster's wife decided the town needed a better name and found the nameplate from a wrecked sailing ship "Oriental" on the beach and thought it would make a good name.  Around 40 years ago, an artist and part time resident decided a town named Oriental should have a dragon and so began the whimsical tradition in finding dragons all over Oriental - whether it be statues, rocks, pictures or costumes.

This one kinda looks like "Nessie"

Found floating in a pond.

We've decided that naming your boat "Oriental" is not recommended as not only did the town's namesake sink, but a resident of Oriental bought an 82' German boat that was captured during World War II and renamed it "Oriental".  The poor boat was later run aground in a storm and smashed to bits on the shore.  Thankfully the crew survived.

Here are some other "warm fuzzies" from around town:

This reminds us of the little girl flying a kite in Lacey, WA

 How many times have you seen Amaryllis growing in a garden?

This beautiful home was built in 1910 with this gorgeous wrap around porch.  It is now a "bed" (not "bed and breakfast" see picture below this one)

I love this fence = each post is topped with a shell - mostly conch.

Built in 1906, I loved the unusual 5-sided dormer.  The owner of this home had one of the first telephones in town and volunteered to take calls and relay messages about emergencies and injured soldiers to their families

 The beautiful porches - built to catch the breezes.  

These were our neighbors on the dock.  A little noisy begging for food, but cute anyway.

Docked at Oriental Free Dock

Update - we are currently in New Bern for a week of learning at the Looper Rendezvous.  

Days 32 & 33 - Seagulls Masquerading as Crab Pots

Current Position: 35° 19' 32" N  76° 37' 58" W

It makes such a big difference if we are going into the swells, with the swells or the swells are hitting us sideways.  With the swells is the best as we were most of the way today.  Only the last hour was a bit rough.  First time I’ve been queasy since the beginning of our journey.  I think it’s because I started eating lunch right as it got rough.  I used EZ Motion oils (smells like mostly Lavender) and when that didn’t work, I put on the Sea Bands.  They are wrist bands that use pressure points to control the nausea.  That seemed to help and I ate a light dinner.

I forgot to give you the answer to the cage question in my last post.  Did you get the right answer?  It’s a cage for a carrier pigeon.  They had to carry it with them so they could release it with its message to fly home (they are also called “homing” pigeons).

We bounced around a our anchorage for quite a while, but it finally calmed down in the evening and we had a quiet night.

Anchored in Lower Creek

35 5 19 76 36 30
Current Position: 35° 5' 19" N  76° 36' 30" W

We saw so few boats on the water yesterday that it was quite a surprise to see so many today!  There was quite a parade for a while and then a steady stream for the rest of the morning. 

Pamlico River and Sound were very nice to us today and was smooth the whole trip (other than the wakes of passing boats).  As we approached our anchorage for the night we ran into a VERY shallow area.  Did not run aground but were in 3 1/2 ft of water.  Too close for comfort.  We found deeper water, but knowing the water around us was so shallow, we had to stay in the "channel".  This proved quite difficult as there were crab pots scattered all around us that we had to dodge.   Bob did a great job of dodging while I was look out at the same time as keeping an eye on our depth.  I spotted a pot straight ahead of us and warned Bob - only to have it fly away!  There was a group of seagulls looking just like crab pot.  Wish all the crab pots were so accommodating.  We are safely anchored in a nice cove with plenty of swing room.  Houses are scattered around us but no internet or phone.

Tomorrow we are headed to the free dock at Oriental then on to New Bern!  So excited to meet bunches of “Loopers”.

Anchored in Broad Creek off Bay River

PS - Posting this from Oriental - at a coffee shop as there is still no cell coverage and I can't get the wi-fi to work at the marina.  I forgot to load my pictures first - oops! There were only a few so I'll add them later.

Day 30 & 31 - Lesson in Architecture - or the Town that Moves

Current Position: 35° 32' 24" N  77° 3' 18" W

What a beautiful town!  We walked around yesterday and got a feel for the waterfront area.  We are on the free dock of the city marina, but it is much nicer than the free dock in Bath.  The dock assistant met us and helped us tie up then gave us the key to restrooms (can you say SHOWER?) and told us all about the area shops and restaurants (ice cream!).  The walk to the restrooms is quite a hike but they are brand new and very nice.  They also have a new laundry facility you can use all day for $5.  Nice.  

There are benches and bench swings all along the walk that are all very popular.  A children's' playground in right across the path from us and the children's laughter is wonderful.

People stop and look at our boat often and several have commented on my little garden.  I've just planted my second round of lettuce.  The herbs are very healthy and delicious!

Today we went to the visitor's center (closed yesterday) and picked up their walking tour of the historic district.  Washington began it's life in the 1770's as Forks of the Tar but was renamed in honor of Gen. George Washington in 1776 (before he was president!)  It was the first town to be named in honor of him.  How many Washingtons are there?

One of the things I've loved about both Bath and Washington are the carillons. They have played Easter hymns periodically all three days.  Here are some of the churches in Washington:

First United Methodist - Built 1899, Brick with cross gable slate roof, corner tower, and various high quality ornamental detail.  So sad the bell tower is empty.

St Peter's Episcopal - built circa 1867. The original church was built in 1822 and burned during the Civil War with a great portion of the town. The Cecil B. DeMille Family vault is in the graveyard. 

First Baptist - Early 20th Century Neo-Classical Revival. Note the unusual dome.

As you can tell, we are starting to pick up a little architectural lingo.  The walking tour was full of information on the styles of the buildings and I'm starting to actually see some of the distinctions.

This one is a "triple A frame" with an unusual porch.  Built circa 1890

This poor house was once a gorgeous piece of real estate.  It looks like someone is beginning to restore it.  I hope so as I could see the beauty it used to be.  It was built by shipping merchants around 1820 patterned after West Indies style homes that they saw during their travels.

Many of the houses we saw had been moved from their original position.  One had even had HALF of the house moved to another location.  This one was moved back from the street to its current location.  Can you image - "Honey, I'm tired of the house here, Let's move it back 50 yards."

The chimneys on this house drew my attention.  That and the wrought iron railing.  Quite a few wrought iron and cast iron balconies and railings in town.

Here's another term to learn - antebellum.  We see quite a few of this style building around.  Look up the term if you don't know it and post it in the comments below (no fair looking at others' answers).

I love the stairways that curve down on both sides of the house.  

This home was used as a hospital during the Civil War.  This house was one that has been moved.

Built circa 1857 was lauded as one of the South's most distinguished homes. Note the beautiful matching fountains in the front yard.  This house was also moved.

Late 19th century Queen Anne style frame house. It retains most of the original detailing and the carriage steps at the curb in the picture below.

 These steps were to enable entering the carriage with ease.  Note the hitching post in the foreground.

These are Federalist style homes - quite plain, both used as offices and quarters during the Civil War and both retain cannon balls lodged in their walls.  Can you see the black dots - one on the right and one on the left.  The house on the right is the oldest in Washington.  

This house was built in the federalist style as well but was then considerably altered. It was built by a sea captain and is rumored to have a ghost residing the 3rd floor.  The Ghost and Mrs. Muir?

Spring has definitely sprung in Washington and rose bushes and birds are everywhere!

It the paper here yet?  Our first red cardinal.

Mourning dove

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Washington but will move on tomorrow, back towards New Bern.  We will be in anchorages the next two nights so may be without internet.  We'll hopefully catch back up with you in Oriental, NC!

Docked at Washington Marina, Washington, NC

Day 29 - The Oldest Town in NC

Current Position: 35° 28' 35" N  76° 48' 54" W

Another day of bouncing around on the water.  Pamlico River was not as bad as the sound (I could still cross stitch) but not comfortable enough to move around the boat.  It was windier today with more white caps but not too bad.  We saw another kind of blind today (we think).  It has no floor so we assume it's to pull a boat into. 

While we see mostly forests now there is still the occasional salt marsh - or both!

Any ideas what would strip the bark from trees like this?  There were several in this area (larger areas of stripped bark down low, smaller areas up high).

We see Osprey frequently now, but it is hard to catch them on camera (like the dolphins down south).  They love to nest in the day markers.

We pulled into Bath’s Public Dock – free! J - at noon and docked for the first time all by ourselves (no one on the dock to catch our lines)!  Very successful.  Bob pulled up to the dock close enough for me to “drop” the line over the piling.  I had a bit of trouble getting it tied off properly but did it and got the next line on too.  It is our first time on pilings so our fenders are sideways.  It’s a bit of a LARGE step to the dock but we are very careful.

We went to the visitor’s center and were surprised to see they were open on Easter Sunday!  They have a walking tour brochure of the historic area.  Bath is the oldest town in North Carolina, founded in 1705.  It had NC’s first library, the oldest Church (still used), and was home to Blackbeard. (Beaufort was his vacation home).  He was quite the local character and he and his men were well liked because they spent their gold freely.  He was quite the lady’s man with at least 14 “wives”. They are pretty sure the local government was taking "kick-backs" :) 

 Our tour guide was a very pleasant young man who truly enjoys his work in history and is researching more information on the historic homes of the area.  He pointed out that the forks were not used for eating but cutting.  You'd carve up the inside of your mouth if you ate with these forks!   They ate with their knives!

I eat my peas with honey; 

I've done it all my life. 

It makes the peas taste funny, 

But it keeps them on the knife.

He also had us guessing as to the purpose of this cage.  It's about 1 foot long.  The creature it housed was used in World War I and II (and even before).  Can you guess?  Check tomorrow's post for the answer.

The wardrobes didn't have shelves!  They carefully stacked their clothes in tall piles!

Have you ever said "sleep tight"?  The bed frames consisted of ropes stretched across the base for the mattress to rest on.  The ropes had a tendency to stretch and create a saggy bed.  There was a tool to tighten the ropes so one could "sleep tight".

 Docked at Bath, NC free dock.