Crossing the Albemarle Sound to Elizabeth City, NC

Well, today started out with the crossing of Albemarle Sound. We'd been waiting a couple of days for better weather and it was decided that this was our best bet unless we waited until Tuesday. Next time we'll wait til Tuesday, as I ended up nauseated and crying from the rough trip across. Then, when the captain failed to adequately sympathize with my dislike for the adventure of crossing the sound under these circumstances, I ended up locking myself in the forward cabin and thinking about letting him dock the boat alone. Thankfully, said captain was quick to realize that it might be in his best interest to reconsider the situation, knocked pleasantly on the door, uttered some niceties, and all was right with the world again. See COMMUNICATION does work!

We docked in Elizabeth City at the town's complimentary tie up and walked around to see the historic district. I stopped to smell the roses and Scott posed on the roots of this amazing tree for me. He's very cooperative with my picture taking whims. I fell in love with this amazing 1902 Victorian style home with an overgrown yard full of all kinds of greenery: roses, daphne, hostas, dogwoods, magnolias, azaleas, rhododendrons, ferns, may apples, camellias, and many more beautiful plants. I felt transported into "The Secret Garden" as I trespassed into the backyard where an old small manmade pond was under an arbor covered with an unknown assortment of vines. It was an enchanting place and it was empty and for sale. (Even Scott was slightly impressed with it and you guys know that is not his thing.)

We went back to the boat and decided to get in a better place for the night as a storm was a'brewing for tomorrow and we needed a more protected spot. After relocating and getting settled, I went back with Duffy on the bikes and met the neighbors who told me where the owner lived (down about 4 blocks). Well, next thing you know, I am touring the house which had many neat features like french doors and hardwood floors and attic rooms and a basement workshop. The owners, Warren and Carol Ellis, were so nice and had bought it from the original family 18 years ago. They had a picture of it from its early days and showed us the paper that gave it National Registry of Historic Places status. Gus Etheridge, the designated dockmaster for the town, aka 'Mouth of the South ' (his words not mine) offered to buy the house for me if I'd jump ship, but since I had already made up with the captain, I decided to pass on his generous offer. Gus is one of those local characters who knows the rich history of an area. He has a home here and out on the Outer Banks (known as OBX in these parts) and has been a part of the local goings-on all his adult life. This was a friendly town and I hope we have many more like it on this journey....

Belhaven Waterway Marina to Alligator River

The marina at Belhaven was memorable for many reasons. Brenda and Les bought the place 6 years ago and have been adding their special touches ever since. The men's bathroom was decorated with paraphenalia collected from WW2 by Bernard Roth, a navy guy and amateur photographer. It included a 'Dear John' letter (to Bernie from Connie, who said her mother was right, she was too immature to make such a committment, and he should keep the ring she gave him as she never wanted to see it again), a Stars and Stripes newspaper with an article about Marlene Dietrich and her million dollar legs, and lots of pictures and paperwork from his travels. There was a lovely little garden area, a porch with rocking chairs, and a large gazebo where Duffy and Russ treated us to a great spaghetti dinner and we watched an amazingly beautiful sunset.

Alligator River Marina was where several "Loopers" met up and there was a 5 pm 'docktail' party to celebrate everyone's safe arrival (actually I made that up...we didn't need an excuse).

Today the temperature dropped 20 degrees and we're 'holing up' for awhile. I had Duffy and Sheryl over for a lunch and "girl time ". I helped them make cards out of my scrapbooking stuff.

Missing Family and Friends

Just a quick note to say I am missing everyone I love, but it's nice to use our new webcam to see the grandkids growing up and the faces of my lil' chil'rens. I've been using some of my time to do scrapbooking and going through all the old pictures is bringing lots of memories to mind...some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. There is so much you wish you could change, but then would you be who you are today? And thank goodness I like the person I am now, so maybe it's for the best. Life has a way of teaching us whether we want to learn or not. This journey is taking us to the rest of our life and it is very strange to have it all up in the air as to where we will live after this trip ends. We talk about the mountains on a lake and Florida in the winter on the boat, but who knows? Wherever it is I hope my family and friends will be frequent visitors... P.S. I don't have son-in-laws pictures on this computer but you know who you are!

4/26 Mile Hammock Bay to Beaufort, NC

We anchored out (the water version of the land term "camping out") for the first time while on this trip in an old military site bay called Mile Hammock. There were about 8 other boats anchored here but the neighbors kept to themselves and we enjoyed the quiet solitude for a change. We grilled pork chops on our new grill and ate out in our sundeck room enjoying the view and each other's company. As you can see this was a beautiful morning as we set out for Beaufort.

Beaufort, NC

Exploring Beaufort, NC... while I liked the SC city better for its beauty, this one has its interesting sites as well. The Maritime Musuem was notable for its vast shell collection, and since I've started a small one of my own, I was fascinated to see all the possibilities out there in the world.

Pic 1: Welcome sign at park at dock area.

Pic 2: Old cemetery has many stories. This grave has 2 people with different last names buried side by side. The story is the couple were married and he went to sea and didn't return. Presumed dead, she remarried and had a child. Many years later, the first husband returned from being marooned and found that his wife was with another man. They decided she would remain with the current husband in life as long as she was buried next to the first husband when she died, presumably to spend eternity with him.

Pic 3: This girl went with her father to visit their family roots in London and died on board ship on the return journey. Normally that would have meant burial at sea, but he had promised the mother that he would see her home safely, so he bought a casket barrel of rum and interred his daughter's body in it so she could be preserved and brought home for burial. The grave site is covered with toy trinkets that I'm thinking have been left by other children who visit and hear the story and want to leave her something.

Pic 4 and 5: The entrance gate and sign. Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers both black and white are buried here. There were many victims of the yellow fever of 1856, especially little ones. I have a morbid fascination with these old places I think I get from my mom. I remember visiting many old cemeteries as we were growing up.

Pic 6: Friday and Saturday nights we were serenaded by a girl named Ashley and her violinist friend at the restaurant on the boardwalk just 30 feet from our boat. They were so awesome that I got the information to follow her career, as I believe she will be very successful. It was hard to believe this was her first "gig", according to her husband. She reminded me of Joan Baez and Jewel. I wish she'd had a CD to buy, so you guys could hear her sing and I could play her music as we travel this wet highway.

Pic 7 and 8: I took a ride on a Carolina Skiff boat out to an island called Shackleford Banks where only wild horses live now (left from the time the Spaniards were here) . The shelling was the best so far and I found several varieties including an intact conch, while my shelling friend for the day Duffy found a large helmet shell, the only one I've ever seen.