The Dinghy Dock at Oriental NC

4.20- Bud

2009-04-20T10:12:00.000-04:00

Bud

Yesterday Bud was laid to rest in the waters of the River Neuse near Oriental.

We'll miss you, Bob.

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3.23- Skateboard kids

2009-03-24T23:42:00.002-04:00

Skateboarders on Midyette St.

Some young skateboarders were cruising down Midyette St. towards the Wildlife Ramp as the sun sank in the evening sky.

The Midyette family founded Oriental... In 1872, Robert P. Midyette purchased 350 acres of land which would eventually become the town of Oriental. At the time, the land was timberland and farmland.

Several members of the Midyette family came with Robert to settle on the land, and several of the early Midyette homes were built between Camp Creek and what is now Midyette St... Including, I believe, the houses in the background above.

In the late 1880's, Robert P. Midyette began subdividing and selling lots near Chadwick Point (the confluence of Raccoon Creek and the Neuse River), southeast of Midyette St.

The earliest parcels were developed into a lumber mill and mill worker tenaments (owned by lumber mill owners), a store, and warehouse and docking facilities on the Neuse River for the Old Dominion Steamship Company.

As more residential and commercial lots were subdivided, the town of Oriental was chartered (March 4, 1899), and the bustling little fishing and lumbering village grew, the Midyette descendants continued living on a 150 acre plot that remained un-divided until well after R.P. Midyette's death in 1902.

The Midyette family compound (which soon included homes of families by marriage) stretched along the banks of Camp Creek and Midyette St. to the town's gate at what is now the intersection of Midyette and North Streets.

(Yes, Oriental was originally a "gated community"... One early town ordinance imposed a 5$ fine for anyone who left the town gate open at night, presumably because there were free-roaming farm animals within the town borders.

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3.22- "Local Knowledge" aids to navigation

2009-03-22T23:58:00.001-04:00

Whittaker Creek Range Markers (dayboards)

Range markers are very helpful aids to marine navigation.

These markers are on the shore of Whittaker Creek... Boaters traveling the channel between Whittaker Creek and the Neuse River can use these markers to stay within the channel that has been dredged out of the surrounding shoal.

A boater headed into Whittaker Creek from the Neuse River can maneuver the boat so that the orange stripes on these two markers appear lined up... the rear marker is higher than the forward marker, allowing a boater to see both markers when they are lined up (or when they are not).

When headed out of Whittaker Creek into the Neuse, the boater must occasionally (actually, frequently is more advised) glance behind to make sure the markers are lined up.

The picture below was taken from directly in front of the forward/lower marker while looking straight down Whittaker Creek channel into the Neuse River - A boater coming into the creek would maneuver the boat to keep the markers on shore lined up (as conceptually depicted below), making sure that the boat is staying in the middle of the channel:

I have seen many a boat go aground navigating this channel... apparently staying within the channel markers (the posts sticking out of the water in the aboe photo) is not all that easy, and in any case may not guarantee a deep enough passage, depending on the boat, so the on-shore range markers are a great help.

I believe this particular range is a "private" range constructed by locals and not the Coast Guard... therefore they probably don't show up on charts, and constitute a bit of "local knowledge."

Here are the approximate locations of the Whittaker Creek channel and Range Markers (dayboards):

View Larger Map

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3.19- "Thirsty Thursday" at The Silos

2009-03-19T22:19:00.000-04:00

The Silos Restaurant & Saloon at twilight

The Silos is located on NC Hwy. 55 just a couple hundred yards outside the Oriental town limits.

It always draws a large crowd on Thursdays for $1.00 pint draft beer specials... including Yeungling, my preference.

Complementary peanuts are a signature of the place, though the new owners/management (who came in last year) introduced the revolutionary concept of sweeping up the peanut shells off the floor every few days or so... prior owners did not, and peanut shells formed dunes and drifts wherever people did not walk... Some customers, including myself, favor the old leave-em-on-the-floor approach.

From what I understand, these were actual silos on the property, converted into a bar/restaurant by the previous owners... Currently, only the left-hand silo is open for business.

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3.18- Pear trees

2009-03-18T21:18:00.000-04:00

Pear tree in bloom

Pear trees are blooming all over the area lately.

Today the sun has come out (after several grey rainy days), making them more brilliant.

This tree is in front of the Oriental Freewill Baptist Church on Ragan Rd... The Church's message board today reads:

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3.16- Spring Chickens

2009-03-16T22:30:00.004-04:00

Chickens prove the truth of the "Vari Kennel" name for their temporary roost
(Click on images for full size)

This small flock of chickens was spotted in Oriental's old village as they awaited trans-shipment through town... their ultimate destination is a farm in the mountains of western NC.

The three hens and a cock are not destined for dinner-plates, but for egg-laying and pecking around the farmyard.

(Click on images for full size)

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3.10- Springtime on "Indian Ditch"

2009-03-10T23:34:00.003-04:00

Budding tree overlooking marshland on the southern side of the "Indian Ditch" between Turnagain Bay and Long Bay
(Click on image for full size)

Spring continues to evince itself along the waterways of Down East NC... This shot was taken on the banks of a canal known to locals as "Indian Ditch."

This particular "Indian Ditch" runs about 1.25 miles through marshland between the heads of Turnagain Bay on the West and Long Bay on the East, a convenient shortcut to the other side of Piney Island (home of the U.S. military's "BT-11" target range... as signs along the north bank of the ditch attest [see picture at right])

The term "Indian Ditch," as far as I can tell, refers to irrigation and transportation canals built by Native Americans... I have found no authoritative information on the history of this particular ditch, but have found U.S. Govt. references to the "Indian Ditch" as comprising the southern border of the "BT-11" target range.

If the ditch was indeed originally built by Native Americans, I have a feeling it has since been improved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seeing as how it is a good 5 feet deep for its entire 1.25 mile straight-line run through swampy marshland.

Trees grow along the ditch where the canal's dredgings have been deposited, forming dry land berms/dikes between the canal and the surrounding marshlands.

It is hard to imagine such an engineering feat using hand tools and stone-age technology, though I would readily believe that Native Americans built some sort of waterway communicating between these two bays to provide for canoes or other small fishing boats.

It would certainly make sense for area natives to want a shortcut from the Neuse River estuary to fisheries of Long Bay and West Bay, and, via another purported "Indian Ditch," all the way to the waterways now known as Core Sound.

Please, if you have any info on the history of this ditch, or know of some sources I could consult, please drop me a comment or e-mail.

Here is a shot of the ditch, followed by a Google map showing its location:

View Larger Map

[Steven has left a comment linking to an 1884 U.S. Coast Survey map on the University of North Carolina "NC Maps" site which shows an "Old Canal" at the location of today's photographs:

http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ncmaps&CISOPTR=701&DMSCALE=50&DMWIDTH=750&DMHEIGHT=750&DMX=3309&DMY=2705&DMMODE=viewer&DMTEXT=&REC=1&DMTHUMB=1&DMROTATE=0

Thanks for the reference, Steven!... UNC's NC Maps on-line collection is news to me, and I am enjoying looking through all the maps... So far I have found an 1844 postal map showing a waterway passing between the Neuse River and Long Bay, again in the same place as the above "Indian Ditch.":

http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fncmaps&CISOPTR=624&DMSCALE=100&DMWIDTH=750&DMHEIGHT=750&DMMODE=viewer&DMFULL=0&DMX=13233&DMY=4289&DMTEXT=&DMTHUMB=1&REC=30&DMROTATE=0&x=387&y=353

]

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3.09- Kershaw Creek

2009-03-09T23:33:00.000-04:00

Capt. Miller at the helm, cruising up Kershaw Creek
(Click on image for full size)

The weather is finally turning to Spring... a beautiful 85 F, sunny day here in the ONC.

Today I had the pleasure of joining Capt. Miller for a pre-season "shake-down cruise" on his May Craft 1900, just to make sure the engine wintered OK... After a little work cranking the engine, everything went smoothly.

I look forward to some more power-cruises with Capt. Miller as the season advances... I might even have to break down and get me a fishing license!

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3.08- The Happy Couple

2009-03-09T01:11:00.004-04:00

Mr. Mark Blango and his bride, Ms. Andrea (Jones) Blango are all smiles on their wedding night

Mr. and Ms. Blango were married yesterday at the Deliverance Temple in Bayboro, and were out and about at my local tavern with some of the wedding party in the wee hours this morning:

Ms. Andrea (Jones) Blango hails from Stonewall, while the happy groom is from Aurora... both towns are right nearby here both in Pamlico County, NC.

They will be off to Vegas for their honeymoon come Monday.

Congratulations!

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3.01- Ben's Chili Bowl - the line

2009-03-01T23:36:00.000-05:00

Cooking the "Half-Smokes" at Ben's Chili Bowl on 14th St., NW, Washington, DC

More road-trip today... last day in DC for this visit, so a trip to Ben's Chili Bowl was in order... Yes, do the half-smoke with the chili, onions and mustard. The mustard is critical, if you ask me.

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2.28- "Les Footbaleurs"

2009-02-28T23:37:00.000-05:00

My older brother, Fred (red shorts) tries to tackle the ball at the regular weekly pick-up soccer game at Tubman Elementary (and other locations, varies by weekend) in Columbia Heights, Washington, DC

Another road trip to DC continues... This afternoon, my brother Fred played in his regular weekend pick-up football match, this week held at Tubman Elementary in Columbia Heights, DC.

Here are a couple of other shots of the match:

LOCATION OF TUBMAN ELEMENTARY, WASHINGTON, DC:

View Larger Map

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2.27- Takoma Park Tacos

2009-02-27T23:39:00.000-05:00

Taqueria "Atol de Elote," Takoma Park, MD

Road trip continues...

If you are ever in Takoma Park, MD (0r even on the DC side of the border) and are hungry for some great tacos and pupusas, this is the place you need to go.

Make sure to ask for the green salsa (verde) and extra of that to go with their great pupusas (with the best cabbage condiment,curtido, and I highly recommend the great Salvadoran style beef tacos on fluffy corn tortillas, again with the salsa verde.

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2.26- SkyWatch Friday - Migration

2009-02-26T23:40:00.000-05:00

Great Cormorants flying North over the River Neuse towards New Bern

(Click on image to enlarge)

Huge numbers of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) that have been wintering in the local NC coastal areas (as well as SC and GA) are now migrating northward.

These pictures were taken on one of the early morning ferry runs from Minnesot Beach to Cherry Point... While waiting for the ferry and while crossing, endless streams of cormorants in V formations, single-file lines, and general jumble formations were flying above the river towards New Bern and final destinations well north of there.

The vast multitudes were difficult to capture in still photos, and I wished I had had a video capable digicam with me.

(Click on image to enlarge)

HAPPY SWF EVERYONE!

I look forward to seeing the other Skywatch pictures from around the world on the other SWF sites listed at:

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2.23- "The Broad Street Grill" on tap

2009-02-23T22:09:00.018-05:00

Draught beer taps awaiting the imminent opening of the Broad Street Grill in Oriental

"Scoot's," a long-time staple of Oriental dining, has closed... Proprietor and Chef Eric Stickrath has expanded, redecorated, re-branded, and re-purposed the eatery, which will soon open as the "Broadstreet Grill."

Pabst Blue Ribbon is only one of the new consumables Oriental will be able to enjoy at the BSG...

Chef Eric has largely scrapped the old "Scoot's" sandwich and pizza joint concept, and describes the new BSG concept as "creative regional cuisine in a casual atmoshphere." (and a non-smoking one, too)

Personally, as a moderate "foodie" and an experienced Europe-traveler, I would replace that seven-word description with a single word: "Bistro"... like the casual on-every-corner family oriented and affordable restaurants Parisians refer to as bistros... But nobody asked me.

The "G" in the "BSG"
(Click on image for full size)

But don't worry, "Scoot's " fans... Pizza will still be on the menu!

New offerings will include fresh local Eastern NC flounder, scallops and other catches from local commercial fisherman Keith Bruno and seasonal organic vegetables from village farmer Sandy Beal, as well as steaks and as-of-yet-undisclosed new creations by Chef Eric...

Rumor has it Ms. Beal will have a menu item named after her, too.

Recipes are being tested while the renovation nears completion... at right, fresh made tortilla chips and a spinach dip were evaluated during my photo shoot:
(Click photo to enlarge)

The somewhat intimate-sized Scoot's dining room has been greatly expanded for the Broadstreet Grill... Chef Eric has leased the adjoining space in the building, knocked down walls, and added what might well be the longest bar in Pamlico County:

(click image to enlarge)

When Chef Eric had the floor taken up from the new real estate, he discovered an old terrazzo floor... that is a rather complex floor created from layers of concrete topped with a sprinkling of marble chips, like you might find in really old central-city bank buildings, etc. (read about terrazzo on Wikipedia)... after renovation, the floor was undergoing some final waxing when I visited:

(click image to enlarge)

And the BSG is hiring:

(click image to enlarge)

Be sure to keep an eye out for my coverage of the actual opening...

It is something of an Oriental tradition to always say "two weeks" if asked when a project is going to be completed (no matter the actual expectations), but Eric is confident this one will be done in half that time.

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2.16- "If ya hear any noise..."

2009-02-16T23:44:00.002-05:00

Decibel doodles on the blackboard at Town Hall during a special meeting of the Oriental Town Commissioners
(Click on images for full size)

The Town Board of Commissioners held a special meeting today to consider a number of matters, including the continuing drama over whether and how to change the Town's old-school "nuisance" noise ordinance.

Commissioners (and the Mayor, in blue blazer, above) differed on several particulars... One dispute was whether sound diminishes by 3 dB or by 6 dB when the distance from the sound source is doubled.

Apparently, a Professor of Sound who gave a presentation to the Board at it's last meeting had said that sound diminishes by 3 dB when distance is doubled.

Two Commissioners contended that the Prof. had been mistaken, and that the two Commissioners had done their own on-line research and determined that it actually diminishes by 6 dB when distance is doubled.

It looks like someone in the "6 dB" faction had done some doodling on the blackboard (or whiteboard, I suppose) before the meeting:

The Commissioners ultimately agreed to re-contact the good Doctor to find out if the answer is really 3 dB or 6 dB, and to conduct some field demonstrations of music played at various dB levels at several local businesses where live music is played during the season.

Speaking of Noise, here is some noise from George Clinton and the boys... an act I can only dream would play at one of our local venues, and I guarantee these guys would blast past any of the dB levels being discussed at the meeting...

Parliament Funkadelic performing "The Mothership Connection (Starchild)" live in concert, Houston TX... yes, it's 10 minutes long, but well worth it, especially to see the Mothership land and Starchild emerge:

"If ya hear any noise, it's just me and the boys, hit me... ya gotta hit the band"

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2.10- The "Collard Shack"

2009-02-10T23:52:00.002-05:00

Proprietor Cathy Jones, in front of the "Collard Shack" in Otway, NC

(click on image for full size)

Today I dropped by the "Collard Shack," a colorful little... well, a shack that sells collards, among other things.

The little shack with its eye-catching sign is an irresistible must-stop on NC Hwy. 70 in Otway, NC.

The Collard Shack sign... call (252) 241-9751 for more info

Despite the sign, this little place offers much more than just collards... Though of course fresh collards are readily available...

Local honey, country hams, pecans, assorted preserves (strawberry, figs, sorghum, apple butter etc), rutabagas and potatoes are available...

as well as those must-haves, pickled pigs feet and pickled pork brains.

That's right, PICKLED PORK BRAINS IN MILK GRAVY are well-stocked here. Ms. Jones started carrying them on request from local customers, but only after she made sure they don't come in clear jars:

(click on image for full size)

And don't forget the peanuts and salted mullet!
(click on images for full size)

..........

That's right, this is a Southern staple supply depot... No maple syrup or Ben & Jerry's here!

And, much like the famed "Love Shack," this is a "little old place where we can get together" with the visitin' porch out front, favored by locals in warm weather or cold, thanks to the wood-burning stove out front:

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2.08- Harker's Island Harbor

2009-02-08T22:14:00.000-05:00

Clams, scallop and oyster shell remains in a cage on the stern of a commercial fishing boat, Harkers Island Harbor
(click on image for full size)

Today's picture comes from Harkers Island Harbor, operated by the Carteret County Harbor Authority. Carteret County is home to most of North Carolina's commercial fishing licenses.

The harbor is inhabited mostly by 30-40 foot commercial fishing boats, about half the length of most of the commercial fishing vessels that line the two fish-house docks in Oriental's Raccoon Creek (as seen in the banner photo at the top of the blog.)

Vessels docked at Harkers Island Harbor
(click on image for full size)

View Larger Map

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2.06- Gathering molluscs

2009-02-06T23:44:00.007-05:00

Fishermen gathering bivalve molluscs in the North River, Carteret County, NC

(Click on any image in this posting for full size... except the ducks)

The scallop fisheries of the NC Outer Banks and Core Sound were re-opened at the end of January this year, after three years of being closed due to low populations of the pricey bivalve.

While scalloping will be allowed in these NC inshore waterways through April, they may only be taken by hand, hand rakes, hand tongs, dip nets or scoops, but not by dredges, which can destroy wide swaths of the sea-grass beds on which the tenuous scallop population depends. (the guys in the center of the picture are using rakes, and I believe the guy in the lower right is using tongs)

Recreational fishers are limited to taking 1/2 bushel of scallops on Saturdays and Sundays, and commercial fishers up to 5 bushels on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Today is Friday, a commercial fisher scallop day, but ther are also numerous oyster beds in the area, so I'm not sure if these are commercial scallop fishers trying for their Friday 5 bushel limit, or if they are folks gathering oysters, or even clams. (Perhaps a friendly local fisherman might know and drop me a comment or an e-mail educating me on the topic)

[2.08.09 UPDATE: I have been reliably informed by a local commercial fisherman that North River, Carteret County, is a very popular spot for taking oysters and clams... it is supposed to be "silly" with oysters... I had actually noticed that oyster shells litter the shoreline and the little island in the photo above, and I did see bunches of oyster clusters during low tide... Also, rakes are apparently used for taking clams, while hand tongs are used for oysters.]

Whatever they are after, these guys are wading in water that was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit at the time this shot was taken...

Notice one guy in the upper left of the feature picture at the top of the posting is wearing a wet suit ... he is handing up his floating barrel (used to store the catch on ice) to a dry helper in a boat... there is another guy in a wet suit almost fully submerged behind another floating barrel to the right of the boat.

At least the air temperature was up to around 50 F., as opposed to the below/at/just above freezing temperatures of the past couple of days...

There was ice along parts of this shoreline at 8:00 a.m. when I first passed this spot, and nobody was out there then.

Pelicans join the party, perched on
a small islet in the North River

While in the area, I also used the 600 mm. set-up (described in "Technical Note," below) to add a couple of new birds (both are ducks) to my photographic life-list:

Redbreasted Merganser (mergus serrator)
(male, top: male & female, bottom):

American Widgeon (anas americana) (both male):

Technical Note on the headline photograph:
I am using a borrowed Canon Rebel XT1 with a Pentax 300 mm. f.4 lens, with a 2 X converter, for a total focal length of 600 mm.

I did not have a tripod with me, and the converter cuts down on the light intake, so I had to open the lens all the way and set the ISO at 1600 in order to get a fast enough shutter speed (at 1/1000) to get a fairly crisp shot with this long lens.

I therefore got more "noise" (anyone remember when we called it "grain"?) and less depth-of-field than I could have desired for this shot... The closest person in the feature picture at the top of this post is about 250 yards away, and the background shoreline is 1.4 miles away.

Here is where these fishermen were wading in the 1 to 4 foot waters:

View Larger Map

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2.05- Skywatch Friday- Minnesott Ferry Twilight

2009-02-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

Western twilight sky as seen from the 5:45 PM Cherry Point-Minnesott Beach Ferry in the middle of the Neuse River
(Click on image or here for full size)

I took this picture on Tuesday evening while returning to Oriental from near Harker's Island, NC.

The 5:45 PM ferry from Cherry Point to Minnesott Beach is a little too late to catch the sunset these days, but I was treated to this magnificent twilight sky during the crossing.

HAPPY SWF EVERYONE!

I look forward to seeing the other Skywatch pictures from around the world on the other SWF sites listed at:

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2.04- Coastal snow

2009-02-04T22:58:00.001-05:00

Snow descends on mallards (anas platyrhynchos) swimming past a man-made Osprey nest platform near Harker's Island, NC
(Click on image to enlarge)

Snow came down across Down-East North Carolina today, dropping one to two inches across the region, with up to one inch of accumulation in places. It was nice big fluffy snow, not like the minuscule flakes of the November flurries.

I know, I know, for all you folks with that "flinty Chicago toughness" our President so admires, it's no big deal... just like a mid-July day. But it is unusual around here, though it caused no problems along the coastal counties... some wimpier inland counties delayed school and government openings, but not the hearty down-easters.

This picture was taken near Harker's Island, along Core Sound, near Cape Lookout. I will be back and forth to the area over the next few days, and hope to get some good pictures in the area.

View Larger Map

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2.03- Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

2009-02-03T23:55:00.001-05:00

A stretch of the ICW north of Beaufort, NC

Just a quick shot today... A picture of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway as seen from NC Hwy. 101, in Cnorth of Beaufort.

Not much traffic today.

View Larger Map

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2.01- Superbowl oysters

2009-02-01T23:52:00.000-05:00

Fresh steamed oysters

Superbowl Sunday... I was invited to a pre-game oyster-bake out near Dawson's Creek today.

Regular readers will know that I am not a huge seafood fan, to say the least, and oysters are near the bottom of my "edibles" list...

Nonetheless, I did eat a few, and they pretty much tasted like the garlic-butter-worsteshire sauce or horseradish-ketchup-tobasco sauce I dipped them in. I did eat one without sauce, but quickly washed it down with plenty of Pepsi-cola while repeating to myself "I did not just eat a slimy mucous from a shell" over and over again.

The other folks at the pre-game party thoroughly enjoyed the oysters... the host's father told me he had eaten somewhere between 30 and 40 of the bivalve mollusks, the very thought of which made me feel a little green.

As one of my favorite authors, Jonathan Swift, once said "He was a bold man that first ate an oyster."

I struggled with the oysters, but enjoyed the company, the other available edibles and drinkables, and the accompanying pool tournament in the back shed before heading back to Oriental and the local pub for the Superbowl. My favorite part was the guy hitting the Koala.

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1.30- Shotguns, fishing, beer and ...

2009-01-30T19:06:00.003-05:00

An orange clay "pigeon" shotgun target lies among shotgun shells and other litter along the Neuse River
(Click here for full size)

Evidence of shotgun target shooting, beer drinking, fishing and, uh... hmmm... "other fun riverside recreational activities," (click here for full size image) litter the Neuse River shoreline.

This undisclosed spot along the Neuse River, apparently on private property, seems to be a popular local hangout and venue for activities that might not be countenanced at the more public river access points.

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1.26- Seals in Raccoon Creek

2009-01-26T23:47:00.001-05:00

An 11 meter Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat cruises up Raccoon Creek
(Click on image or here for full size)

I usually see these 11m NSW-RIBs way out in the Neuse River cruising at 45 knots between the Cherry Point Marine Station and the Piney Island / BT-11 target range...(see related prior postings re: NSW-RIBs and the BT-11 target range)

I was watching this one headed back up-river towards Cherry Point when it surprisingly turned into the Oriental Harbor channel.

So I grabbed a camera and headed down to the Oriental Yacht Club in time to find the boat slowly cruising up and down Raccoon Creek...

One guy on board was pointing out various things around the harbor and creek-sides... I wonder if it was some sort of tactical orientation or a simple sightseeing side-trip after a day of storming Piney Island?

I have noticed a lot of U.S. Marine air traffic over the river the past couple of days, including Harriers, CH-35E Sea Stallion helicopters (see related prior posting re:CH-35E), CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, and MV-22B Osprey VTOL/STOLs.

I'm guessing these guys are U.S. Navy SEALS, as the NSW-RIB's primary mission is SEAL insertion and extraction, and I have not found any reference to the U.S. Marine Corps using them.

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1.25- Trent's Body Shop, Swansboro, NC

2009-01-25T23:07:00.000-05:00

Christmas lights still adorn the Southern Cross flag painted on the side of Trent's Body Shop

Today I drove Capt. Roy down to Swansboro so he could pick up his car after some body work at Trent's Body Shop.

The Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America is of course a common sight within the former confederacy, though I never saw many in Central Texas during my 20 years living there... but they were plentiful in East Texas.

Many folks tell me that the flag is only meant to proclaim pride in "Southern Heritage," and is not related to any racist ideologies... I have a hard time buying this line, as the flag was foisted by armed forces seeking to preserve the slavery regime of the Southern states... I similarly cringe at a host of "code words" such as "States' Rights" and "Southern way of life," which I invariably interpret as meaning institutionalized concepts of racial superiority/inferiority, apartheid, discrimination, and of course slavery.

But then again, I also have a hard time understanding why so many apparently peaceful and law-abiding boaters proudly fly emblems associated with piracy from their boats.

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1.21- Belgian beers to go...

2009-01-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

(Click on image or here for full size)
Some of the Belgian beers on display at an un-disclosed DC liquor store

Today I said goodbye to DC and all the inaugural fun... Time to head back to the ONC.

But not before stopping on the way out to purchase some fine Belgian beers to take back with me... I got a one liter "Foret" from Saison Dupont, and a four-pack of 1/3 liter "Maredsous" Triple (10% Alc./Vol.)

Sorry I can't disclose the location of the liquor store... My brother Fred depends on its steady supply of Belgian brews, and doesn't want everyone to know where to get them. All I can say is that it is in DC.

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1.20- New President

2009-01-20T23:02:00.001-05:00

(Click on image or here for full size)
One and a half million folks begin moving off the Mall after President Obama's swearing-in and inaugural address

Inauguration day!

After yesterday's experiences on the subway, Fred and I decided to take the Metrobus down Connecticut Avenue. Definitely the right choice... frequent buses, virtually no other vehicular traffic, and a happy crowd on the bus.

The bus stopped at McPherson Square, and all dismounted and joined the throngs moving towards the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

(Click on image for full size =>)

Like many other folks, Fred and I stopped at a downtown coffee shop for some coffee and restroom access before continuing our journey...

Our emptied cups joined many others in and around a trash bin:

(Click on image or here for full size)
Coffee cups and Sugar Pops box discarded on the way to the Mall

Fred and I ended up entering the Mall between the WWII Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, then we walked up the west side of the Washington Monument hill, hoping to get a view of the Capital... We encountered a wall of people just over the crest of the hill, all along the line of sight with the Capital.

We were feeling a bit claustrophobic, and while we could see the Capital, the nearest Obama-tron TVs were pretty far away, hard to see and impossible to hear, so we back-tracked to near the WWII Memorial where we could see and hear the Obama-trons on 17th Street (and swing our arms and stomp our feet against the cold) :

(Click on image or here for full size)

As soon as the Inaugural Address was over, folks began streaming west over the Washington Monument hill, all headed our way:

(Click on image or here for full size)

Fred and I began walking back up-town, starting to think of finding a place for lunch, along with 2 million other people.

We walked by a few places near Dupont Circle, but all were way too full, so we headed over to El Tamarindo, an El Salvadoran restaurant we used to go to when it was up on Wisconsin Avenue, years and years ago. We got seated, and then got a menu, which now is heavy on the Tex-Mex and skimpy (almost completely absent) on the Salvadoran fare we had been hoping for. As we looked around while waiting for some signs of service, we also noticed nobody had the chips and salsa El Tamarindo used to give out... So we left...

... And we ended up back at Angle's (one of Fred's haunts) where we enjoyed two-for-one burgers (darn good burgers, too) and a few pints while watching TV coverage of the Inaugural Parade... When President Obama emerged from the Capital to enter the motorcade, the crowd at Angle's broke into applause:

We caught the L2 bus back to Fred's place for some rest, and later decided that after 20+ miles of walking the past three days, we weren't up to going out on the town tonight.

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1.19- George W. Bush' last night in the White House

2009-01-19T21:51:00.005-05:00

Line for "Ben's Chili Bowl" on inauguration eve

[Yours truly is on a road trip to the Obama inauguration festivities in DC]

Got underway a little late today... I'm pretty sore from the ten-plus miles I walked yesterday, and Fred and I were up pretty late last night.

Went for a late afternoon meal, then hopped on the subway at Cleveland Park to go to the American Indian Inaugural Ball Pow Wow at the Crystal City Hyatt in Arlingon, VA, where Fred and I met up with our oldest brother, Bowman, his wife Nedra and their son, our nephew Forrest.

On the left, one of the "Fancy Dancing" competitors at the pow wow. According to PowWows.com:

"The Oklahoma Feather Dancer or “fancy dancer” is one of the most popular style of dance and outfit seen at modern Pow Wows. The fancy dance outfit, as such, has no single tribal identity.
"The “Fancy Dance” originated as Fancy War Dance by the Hethuska society in Oklahoma. The individual who invented the dance was Gus McDonald. He was also the first World Champion Fancy War Dancer. The McDonald family, specifically Juel Farmer McDonald, the Ponca Tribal matriarch still presents the trophy to the fancy war dance champion each year because of this family honor."

Here are some more shots from the pow wow... I lost track of which pictures show what dances, but here they are anyway, beginning with the drummers:

When Fred and I left the pow wow, we accidentally got on the blue line train instead of the yellow line train, which meant we faced two transfers to get to either Chinatown or 13th & U Street stations... AND THE SUBWAY WAS PACKED with visiting Obama celebrators!

Folks on our car erupted into cheers when someone reminded all in a megaphone voice that "Tonight is George W. Bush' last night in the White House!"

We finally made it to 13th and U Streets and walked around looking for a bar that didn't have a line outside (with very little luck)... That's when we walked past Ben's Chili Bowl, which was a popular pilgrimage for many visiting Obama fans, since Obama himself ate there last week.

Next to the line outside Ben's was this ice sculpture:

We had fun watching all the revelers roaming the streets and lining up for the nightspots, but seeing no chance for actually getting a beer, we retreated to Adam's Morgan and had a nightcap at Angle's before heading back to Fred's pad.

Angle's featured some appropriate drink specials for the night (though Fred and I of course opted for Belgian beer):

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1.18- Obama-palooza

2009-01-18T23:26:00.002-05:00

(Click on image to enlarge)
Lincoln Memorial, Wash., DC, after today's "We Are One" concert kicked of the official Obama Inaugural festivities

Hello, all... On the road for a few days, off to DC for the Obamauguration! My brother and I missed the big concert, but walked the full length of the Mall people watching and picture-taking. (I am using a borrowed camera, and don't have access to my usual editing software, so the blog layout will be a bit off for the next few days.)

We actually walked a total of about 10 miles today, starting out in upper NW Washington, walking down Connecticut Avenue, through Kalorama and Foggy Bottom to the Lincoln Memorial... followed by walking the full length of the Mall to Capitol Hill and up the hill to the "Tune Inn" bar on Pennsylvania Ave. for some much needed thirst quenching beverages.

Along the way, we saw a lot of busses lined up in front of the State Department, just North of the Lincoln Memorial (I also took a picture of the State Department, just out of the shot below on the left, but a guard made me delete all three pictures I took!!! Really! He first threatened to confiscate the camera, but allowed me to delete the pics instead, watching my every step in displaying and deleting the pics on the digicam screne... Apparently, "The Man" is still large and in charge of things around here, preventing photos of public buildings... reminds me of when I visited East Berlin in 1979 and our busload of visitors was strictly admonished to take no photos of buildings with the "DDR" government symbol on them):

(Click on image to enlarge)
Busses lined up near the Lincoln Memorial...
The Non-Photographable State Dept. is just out of the
shot on the left

And we saw a lot of National Guard waiting for their own busses to take them back to Maryland after the concert:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Also, hundreds of vendors, licensed and not-so-licensed, hawking their goods along the streets and Mall:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Yep, it's one big Obama-party in DC. Well, I must run off to more Obamabrations (the bars are open until 4:00 am!)

Lots to do over the next few days, culminating in a celebratory GOP-Pinata-Bashing in Adams Morgan Tuesday night. (See story and related photo on Lori's DC Daily Photo site.)

More tomorrow.

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1.16- Frozen Collard Greens

2009-01-16T19:07:00.000-05:00

Collards for sale - $ 0.75 per lb.

Fresh collards for sale on the roadside in Grantsboro, Pamlico Co.

The collards risk becoming frozen, however, as temperatures did not rise above freezing today... A traditional Southern staple for sale in decidedly un-Southern weather!

One often sees collards for sale along Pamlico Co. roadways (and, I suppose, across the North Carolina and the South in general) , particularly in the fall and winter.

Collard greens are typically boiled with some part of a pig (hog-jaw, ham-hock, fat-back etc.) and seasoned with a little vinegar, salt and "secret" ingredients according to the cook.

Personally, I have a hard time eating the durn things... But since they are a staple offering to guests at pot-lucks and dinner parties, I regularly have to gulp down at least a token amount in respect to my hosts.

Collard greens are also required eating on New Years day. I grew up eating black-eyed peas on New Years because they bring good luck for the new year, but at least around here one must also eat collards, which bring good fortune (in the monetary sense) in the new year.

Brrrrrr, it's COLD today!

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1.14- "Capt. Cecil" and Yellow-Shafted Northern Flicker

2009-01-14T22:02:00.003-05:00

"Captain Cecil," tied up stern-to at the Garland Fulcher Seafood Co. docks on Raccoon Creek

Captain Cecil was tied stern-to the docks while crew pulled out, straightened and re-wound her warp cables this afternoon.

As you can see, all was calm in the creek, and yesterday's rain and clouds have departed.

Can anyone help me identify these birds?
Please drop me a comment or e-mail if you can help!

[OK, thanks to Keith Bruno for identifying this bird for me!]

I saw these two birds by the roadside in Minnessot Beach today, and was only able to grab about three drive-by shots of them...

One is seen flying away, while the other waited warily for me to pass by. I looked through my NatGeo Birds of North America guide, to no avail... (I need to find my Peterson's Guide)

UPDATE: Keith Bruno dropped me a note identifying this as a "a flicker, possibly the yellow shafted variety"... Yes indeedy, my NatGeo guide does have an illustration and description of the very bird as a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), "Yellow-shafted" variety... I had not looked carefully through the Woodpecker section because I spotted these birds hanging out on the ground, which seemed unlikely woodpecker behavior.

As the NatGeo guide describes them: "Two distinct groups occur: "Yellow-shafted Flicker" in the east and far north, and "Red-shafted Flicker" in the west.... brown, barred back; spotted underparts, with black crescent bib. White rump is conspicuous in flight [see my flight photo below]... "Yellow-shafted Flicker" has yellow wing lining and undertail color..."

Another new one for my life list and my photo life list, Yay!

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1.11- Flute making

2009-01-11T23:38:00.001-05:00

(Click on image or here for full size)
Capt. Robbie chisels out a Native American flute he is building

Capt. Robbie took advantage of a rainy Sunday to work on a Native American style flute he is building. With winter weather cramping Capt. Robbie's sailing time, he has undertaken a woodworking project for his spare time.

Robbie is seen here in the workshop of Gil Fontez, a local artist and furniture designer/maker, at the Hodges Street Studio of Gil Fontez and Laura Turgeon, another local artist who does sketches drawings and paintings.

Here Robbie found all the right woodworking tools to begin carving his flute from walnut wood. Robbie works with a lot of wood, but his tools are mainly for hardwood floors, which he installs and refinishes as the owner of Olde South Hardwood Flooring.

Here are a few additional photos of Robbie at work:

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1.08- Skywatch Friday - Sunset clouds over the Neuse

2009-01-08T21:50:00.000-05:00

The already-set sun continues to illuminates clouds over the River Neuse, which clouds reflect the light back down into the waters
(Click on image or here for full size)

I took this picture on Dec. 4 of 2008, so my first SWF posting of the new year comes from the old one.

The view is looking SW up the Neuse River from the South Avenue waterfront.

In the foreground is the moribund fishing pier at the Neuse Suites Hotel.

HAPPY SWF EVERYONE!

I look forward to seeing the other Skywatch pictures from around the world on the other SWF sites listed at:
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1.07- Dinghy Dry-Dock

2009-01-08T21:47:00.001-05:00

The Dinghy Dock crosses mud where water normally allows small boats to tie up

Strong Southwesterly winds all day today, in the 15-30 knot range, have done their usual trick of blowing all the river and creek waters out into Pamlico Sound, leaving water levels extremely low.

A surfboard would have been about the only watercraft capable of reaching the Dinghy Dock this afternoon.

For my out-of-area readers, we don't get lunar tides in local waters, due to the protection of the outer banks islands separating Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean...

We only get "wind-tides"... Sustained Northeasterly winds push the Pamlico Sound waters up into the rivers and creeks, raising the water levels locally, while SWy winds do the opposite.

When the mud flats appear under the Dinghy Dock, the water is about as low as it's gonna go.

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1.06- "The Noise is Back in Town (Hall, that is)"

2009-01-06T23:01:00.010-05:00

An exodus of "pro-live-music / Tiki Bar" supporters towards the Exit after Town Board of Commissioners voted to kill a previously-approved "Stakeholders" group

[This posting has been edited since it was first posted... see note at bottom]

This evening the Oriental Board of Commissioners held their monthly board meeting.

A significant part of the public audience was there to hear an agenda item concerning the Town's "noise ordinance." (See my prior posting regarding the noise issue before the Board's meeting last month)

After other town business, the Board got to the seemingly controversial "noise ordinance" issue... whether the Town should adopt a more modern decibel-level-based ordinance in place of its ancient "nuisance" ordinance.

There was some discussion among the Mayor and Board members about the fact that at last month's meeting the Board had unanimously voted to appoint a "stakeholders' group"...

The Mayor started off the discussion by bringing up the lack of any definition of how such a group would be selected to tackle this "cumbersome issue," and Commissioner David Cox added that indeed the Board had not even defined the tasks or time-frame for any treatment of the noise issue by such a group.

Cox then moved to rescind the "stakeholders group" concept, noting that he had a "hard time seeing how this tack might help." Commissioner Nancy Inger seconded Cox' motion, and the Board then held a discussion of the motion.

Mayor Bill Sage opined that "[Cox] is right," regarding deficiencies in the stakeholder concept... Sage explained that he had initially resisted the idea of a stakeholder committee because the public has had opportunities for input on the matter and because such groups are not very efficient methods for developing policy, he had nonetheless accepted the idea as a way to give at least 6 persons a chance to contribute to the process through a stakeholder committee.

Cox explained that he was not "trying to ram something through," but that an ill-defined "citizens advisory committee" would not be an ideal engine for drafting policy decisions... "we were elected to do this stuff," Cox said, implying that relegating responsibility on the issue to an ill-defined committee was something of a cop-out.

A majority of the Board members present (Commissioner Candy Bohmert was absent) expressed reservations about the efficiency of such a group for reaching any decision regarding the Town's noise ordinance...

Mayor Sage offered "If you want efficiency, I can draft [a noise ordinance proposal] and get it to you next week," to which Commissioner Cathy Kellam noted "I've already done that," adding that she now believes a "[stakeholders group] would increase divisiveness" in the community over the issue of noise regulation.

Commissioner Inger noted that a "complicated committee only detracts, is inefficient... [and] we have the resources we can call upon to come up with a proposal," referring to sound experts and musicians who have offered to help the Board determine reasonable noise levels.

Cox' motion to eliminate the "stakeholders" concept was unanimously adopted by the Board members who were present, and it seemed to me that the Mayor (who votes only in cases of tie votes among Board members) had also come to favor the rescission...(though the Mayor has since informed me I am mistaken)

Whether for good or ill, clearly a case of "We voted for it before we voted against it" ...

Later in the meeting, Cox moved to adopt a proposed noise ordinance he had drafted. The motion was not seconded.

More "live music vs. noise" drama is expected in the coming month or months... I'll try to cover it here, but be sure to check out additional coverage at (in alphabetical order):

Pamlico Ink,
Pamlico News, and
Town Dock.Net

[Note: I have edited this posting since I first posted it.

It seems I misread some of the subtler aspects of the issues discussed at the meeting, and even misread some of my own notes when I first attempted to describe the action. I'm not a journalist, and I don't pretend to have any standard of accuracy in any of my blog depictions of life in and around this town and county, or in general.

My blogs are primarily about pictures of my beautiful and interesting surroundings here in Oriental, Pamlico County and down-east NC.

But I decided I had to include the noise ordinance as a topic in my blog because the blog is really about life in this town, and believe me there is no avoiding this topic living in this town right now.

And always remember: I WELCOME ANYONE TO POST NON-ABUSIVE AND NON-CURSING COMMENTS TO ANY POST, BY NAME OR ANONYMOUSLY to correct any mistakes of fact or to denounce, reject, disown or explain away any opinions I may express.]

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01.03- The "Oxford Tavern," D.C.

2009-01-03T23:35:00.002-05:00

(Click on image or here for full size)
A patron (on right) flirts with wait-staff in front of the "Zoo Bar Cafe," formerly the "Oxford Tavern" on Connecticut Avenue, D.C.

While delivering my brother Fred back to D.C. after his visit to Oriental, we went to see this band (seen through the window) at the "Zoo Bar Cafe."

When I used to go to this place with my High School friends (the drinking age for beer and wine, and for going to bars, was 18 back then), it was formally named "The Oxford Tavern."

It was, however, universally referred to as "The Zoo Bar" due to the fact that it is directly across Connecticut Avenue from the entrance to the National Zoo. The menus and a sign over the entrance were all there was that indicated it was in fact The Oxford Tavern.

Some years after I left D.C. the place was formally re-named to what everyone called it anyway, "The Zoo Bar."

The band was great, and it was fun being back in the old stompin' grounds.

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01.01- An auspicious beginning...

2009-01-01T21:52:00.001-05:00

(Click on image or here for full size)

The annual "Better than Football" New Year's Regatta fleet heads downwind towards the Adams Creek Marker, as seen under the genoa sail of the "Hirondelle"

Happy New Year!

Sailing is the best way to start any year, of course... I took today's photos from the deck of the Hirondelle, my parents' Pearson 390, during the annual Oriental "Better than Football" regatta.

You might not believe it from the photos showing so many boats in front of us, but the Hirondelle and crew took FIRST PLACE IN THE RACE!!! I will explain about our winning techniques below. Secrets all sailors should learn.

BUT FIRST, some more pics from the race:

(Click on image or here for full size)
Captain Dave (on left) and two thirds of the crew... First Mate Liz at the helm, well-covered against the fresh breeze, and Cabin Boy Fred (my brother) waiting for orders, while yours truly Boatswain Ben snaps the pic after dropping and securing the main

Here are a couple of shots of the fleet on the down-wind leg towards Adams Creek:

(Click on images for full size)

OK, ready for the secret of how to win when almost the entire fleet is ahead of you??

THE SECRET IS:
Pick a race where the winners are drawn by lots at the post-race meeting!

Best when its cold outside, and hot soup and drinks at M&M's Restaurant accompany the judging:

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12.27- Paradise Cove Boat Ramp

2008-12-27T20:52:00.002-05:00

Catfish "honor box" (under surveillance) at Paradise Cove Marina's boat ramp
(Click on image or here for full size)

Today I drove my visiting brother Fred around for a tour of Pamlico County.

Found this catfish drop-box for ramp fees at the Paradise Cove Marina boat ramp. I was surprised to see that the catfish itself is approved for use as a U.S. Postal Service delivery box (before it was modified, at least.)

Paradise Cove Marina expanded it's marina this year... The marina also boasts a fine bar / deck, open weekends during the season, and available for private parties.

Great place for a sunset and refreshments during the season... but remember to bring some DEET!

Small boat ramp, fee is $5.00.

Where is Paradise Cove Marina, NC?

View Larger Map

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12.25- Belgian Beer & Tamalada

2008-12-25T06:14:00.001-05:00

(Click on image or here for full size)
Belgian beers help fuel a late-night "Tamalada"

Today my brother, a couple of friends and I held a small, late-night "tamalada" to assemble holiday tamales.

Masa dough was spread on corn husks, shredded pork or bean and jalapeno filling was added to the center, the husks rolled to cover the filling with dough, and the completed tamales stacked in the steamer and steamed. Here is a neat painting of a tamalada by Carmen Lomas Garza (ours was on a slightly smaller scale.)

The above photo was taken during a break in the assembling, when my brother and I broke out some of the fine Belgian beers we had brought back to Oriental from DC.

Can't get these beers round here... Both beers are from the "Brasserie Dupont" brewery. The one on the left is named "Avec les Bons Voeux," a blonde or trippel, and on the right "Moinette," a brune or dubbel.

Ran out of masa dough (because ran out of pork lard) about 3:00 AM, and finished cooking the last of the tamales at about 5:00 AM. They mostly turned out purty darn good, if you ask me.

Happy Winter Festivities!

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12.24- Rainbow and Tamales

2008-12-24T19:40:00.003-05:00

Rainbow over Academy Street

This afternoon I took a break from making tamales, and found this rainbow right outside the front door.

It was over in a few minutes, which was just as well, as I had to get back to cooking.

Today I made the chile sauce that I will use to spice the pork filling for tamales...

First I roasted the dried chiles, a mixture of New Mexico, California and (most important) Ancho chiles. I spread the chiles on a cookie sheet and broiled them BRIEFLY (don't burn 'em!) on each side, just getting them warm without smoking:

(Click for full size)

Next I immersed the roasted chiles into boiling temperature water, removed the pot from the heat, and weighted down the floating chiles with another pan containing some hot water for added weight:

(Click images for full size)

I removed the chiles after about 15 minutes of soaking, and put the "tea" in which they had soaked aside... I will use the chile "tea" as water when I make the masa dough for the outsides of the tamales.

The tea may add a little flavor to the masa, but for me the most important thing is that it adds the proper color to the tamales: masa with plain water turns out kind of white, while I am used to a yellow-orange color of tamales in San Antonio... The chile tea does the trick!:

(Click image for full size)

Next I removed the stems and some of the seeds (fewer seeds makes it less spicy hot) from the cooled chile pods, and ground the wet chile pods in a blender to make a chile paste (add some of the tea to the blender to get the chile mixture to blend down to right consistency):

(Click image for full size)

Next I added the chile paste, comino and secret ingrediments to a tablespoon of hot corn oil in a saucepan and fried it all up very briefly... don't burn those spices!

PHEW! Now that's done, all I have to do is prepare the shredded pork, add the chile past to taste, soak the corn husks, make the masa, assemble the tamales and steam them till done!

No sweat.

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12.23- Roadtrip Oasis

2008-12-23T18:31:00.006-05:00

A Lorenzo Ghiglieri bronze statue stands in front of "The Oasis at Lakewood Landing"

Today a friend and I drove from Oriental, NC to Washington D.C. to fetch my brother back to Oriental for a holiday visit.

On the way, after a long stretch of country driving towards I-95, we came upon "The Oasis," a gas store with a Dunkin' Donuts.

It was time for a break, and the donuts were calling to me, so we pulled over.

It was a nice, clean, well-lighted and roomy place, with friendly service and all the goodies you would expect at a roadside Oasis.

The most extraordinary thing about the place is "The Emperor" Statue out front, featured in the above photo...

It is an impressive bronze sculpture by well-know artist Lorenzo Ghiglieri.

The Lion's front paw rests on a rock bearing the following inscription:

(Click on image or here for full size)
“ 'THE EMPOROR' [20 ][2004]

"I AM THE EMEROR OF THE LAND – MY KINGDOM IS NOW AFRICA – AND RULE THE LAND FROM OKAVANGA TO KENYA AND HAVE BECOME A SYMBOL {in Bible Histo} FOR KING RICHARD THE LION HEARTED
"-Lorenzo Ghiglieri"

You can learn more about Ghalieri (and see photos of him with the Pope, Michael Jackson, the King of Spain, Luciano Pavarotti, Tiger Woods, Al Gore and others who own his artworks) at the Lorenzo Ghiglieri website, which includes a photograph of the above statue.

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12.22- Land & Sea Cycles

2008-12-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

Eclectica on the porch of "Land & Sea Cycles," a store in the old Central Hotel at Hodges St. & Broad St.
(Click on picture or here for full size)

Today brings blue skies and cooler air after several rainy gray, but warmer, days here in oriental.

Need to do some last minute Christmas/Channukah shopping? Try "Land & Sea Cycles" in the old village at the intersection of Hodges St. and Broad St. Plenty of the unusual here.

Located in the old "Central Hotel" building (as the sign says, circa 1903), this place adds a lot of color to the primary intersection in Oriental, Broad St. (NC Hwy. 55) and Hodges St.

Sorry, not much time for discussion of Central Hotel history, as I have been busy on tamales and tomorrow will be driving to Washington D.C. to pick up my older brother who is coming down here for the holidays... More later.

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12.21- Tamales

2008-12-21T23:00:00.002-05:00

Holiday spread at Capt. Ray's

Capt. Ray held a holiday party at his home in "The village," the old part of Oriental, this evening.

Today's picture features my own contribution, San Antonio style tamales.

I lived in S.A. for twenty years, and tamales are an integral part of the season there.

Last year, my first Christmas in Oriental, I went without tamales. I had gotten used to purchasing tamales at some of S.A.'s many tamale houses during the holidays, and there is nowhere to buy them in down-east North Carolina, so this year I decided to make some myself.

I have made about five dozen so far... I plan on making about 12 dozen or more before Dec. 25. Pictured above are some from my second trial batch.

My only previous tamale-making experience has been at a couple of tamaladas when there were six or more women supervising, all of whom had years and decades of tamale-making experience.

Even though I had no Abuelas to show me the way this time (and no tamale stores) I decided to try and make some on my own...

Good consumer reviews so far, albeit from Yankee and down-east N.C. gringos, for what that is worth. So far only two folks have pulled the "Gerald Ford" - trying to eat the tamale without first removing the corn husk.

Besides liking this second batch myself (first batch of two dozen, not so much) I was also pleased at very enthusiastic reviews from a Southwest expatriate gringa from Arizona.

She was all smiles at having ANY tamales for Christmas season, and to boot said mine were quite delicious... Very much appreciated compliment from one of the few folks around here who are familiar with the Norteno/border region style of tamale.

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12.20- "Sugar's"

2008-12-20T23:25:00.002-05:00

"Sugar's"

Today I went to Havelock to run some errands, and snapped this from the car.

This is, one must suppose, a bar.

I'm always curious about bars with no windows (adds some suspense for first-time patrons opening the door)... but I have yet to visit this one, so I can't tell you much.

"Sugar's" is located across the road from the U.S. Marine Corps' Cherry Point Station, which helps explain the bulldog with a helmet. Military bases always have windowless bars across the street in my experience.

From Oriental it is a twelve mile drive and a ferry ride away.

I have previously featured the Cherry Point - Minnesott Beach ferry in my post of 11.17.08.

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12.19- Scow-Schooner "Nina"

2008-12-19T23:35:00.005-05:00

Capt. Dayton Trubee of the "Nina," a scow-shooner, climbs the main-mast ratlines with First Mate Ingrid Code at the helm as they cruised Oriental Harbor looking for a good spot to drop the hook
(Click on image or here for full size)

This beauty ("Nina," homeport Baltimore MD) came into Oriental Harbor near sunset this evening.

I was going to do a bit of research and write something up discussing this type of boat here on ONCDP, but my first Google revealed that the story of this very boat herself (including an explanation of the Australian flag atop her mainmast) is already online:

I highly recommend reading the TownDock.Net "Shipping News" article about "Nina" when she was here in Oriental almost four years ago... very interesting story... Read the 2005 TownDock.Net story here

Since then, in 2007, Nina had some work done at the de Rouville Boat Shop in NJ.

Also in 2007, the Nina's First Mate, Ingrid Code, has also written this article in Wooden Boat about another schooneer, "Steadfast."

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12.18- In the trenches

2008-12-18T22:00:00.003-05:00

Workers trenching and laying communications cable along Midyette St.

A crew was out laying cable in the misty rain on Midyette St. today... also a Bay River Sewer crew was working on a manhole nearby (more distant trucks).

The crews were pretty busy, so I did not find out any info on what they are doing... I'll ride by tomorrow and see if I can find out.

Also today the Pelicans were out again in full force (see yesterday's post)... So I decided to take some video to capture their frenetic feeding on the Neuse River just outside the Oriental Harbor breakwater:

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12.17- Diving Pelican

2008-12-17T22:55:00.007-05:00

A Brown Pelican begins its dive for a fish in the Neuse River

(Click on image above or here for full size)

My favorite animal subject is featured again today... the Brown Pelican. There were about six pelicans hunting over the Neuse near the South Avenue waterfront today, trailed by a few free-booting seagulls. Below is the rest of the dive:

(Click on image above or here for full size)

(Click on image above or here for full size)

[12/18 addition: Video of Pelicans today hunting in the Neuse River just outside the Oriental Harbor breakwater:]

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12.16- Raccoon Creek & Hodges St. Causeway

2008-12-16T20:26:00.002-05:00

A Great Blue Heron stands near the edge of Raccoon Creek

A gray misty day here in Oriental.

The portion of Raccoon Creek in today's photo is separated by the Hodges' Street causeway from the navigable area of the creek where sailboats tie up at Town Dock and Oriental Marina & Inn and shrimp boat/trawlers tie up alongside the Town's two fish-houses, Point Pride Seafood (on the left) and Garland Fulcher Seafood (right).

The causeway is partially obscured by reeds at the other end of the water in today's photo, but you can see part of the wooden railing along the street.

Originally, Hodges Street ended at the northwest bank of Raccoon Creek (on the right side of today's photo.)

In 1908, the John L. Roper Lumber Company (which owned a large lumber mill across town) offered to supply the Town with the required materials if the Town would build a

"bridge across Raccoon Creek at the foot of Hodges St. and... get a right of way from the foot of said bridge on the East side of the creek out to Factory Street."
Minutes of Board of Commissioners of Town of Oriental, February 4, 1908)

The property over which such road would pass was at that time owned by the Oriental Manufacturing Company, and had been the site of lumber mills and manufacturing operations.

The Bank of Oriental foreclosed on the Oriental Manufacturing Company property, and sold it to H.A. Stephens by a February 6, 1911 deed which specifically reserved an easement for:

"... a strip on the Northernmost end of said land running from Hodges St. to a point on Wall St. the Southern line of which is forty feet distant & parallel with the present Bridge walk across said Raccoon Creek from Hodges St. to said Wall St."

(this is the earliest recordation of the easement, and earliest reference to any causeway across Raccoon Creek so far found in Pamlico County land records... no original easement has yet been found)

At some point the Town replaced the "Bridge walk" across the creek with a road-bearing causeway, allowing vehicular traffic across the creek, but blocking water and water traffic.

Before the causeway blocked water traffic, boats could come up the creek as far as Main Street, which also traverses the creek, and is where I stood to take today's picture. Town co-founder Louis B. Midyette built the road now known as Main St. across the creek some time prior to 1898 (some 1898 deeds for properties between Factory St. and Raccoon Creek describe land as bordering on the "New Road built by L.B. Midyette.)

Boats could come up to a store on the bank of the creek just opposite of where the heron appears in today's picture (just out of camera shot on the left.) L.B. Midyette was an owner and co-owner of the store for awhile.

There has been some discussion removing the Main St. crossing over the creek, and possibly re-engineering the Hodges St. causeway to return the creek to its more natural state as an actual flowing creek...

Many folks don't even realize the bodies of water east of Hodges are the now-blocked remnants of Raccoon Creek. Many refer to the bodies of water between Hodges and Main and east of Main as the "Duck Ponds," which I think is an unfortunate nick-name in that it devalues the waters' actual status as the artificially-blockaded Raccoon Creek.

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12.15- How to mess with a squirrel's tiny brain...

2008-12-15T23:57:00.001-05:00

A hungry squirrel approaches an ear of corn attached to the top of a pole

Yes, my photo today is of a squirrel... The ubiquitous, dirty, annoying squirrel.

And what squirrel doesn't like corn?

Problem is (for the squirrel), this corn is not just on the end of a pole... it is on the end of a pivoting pole:

I noticed this contraption spinning around on the side of the tree at the intersection of Second Avenue and Mildred Street here in Oriental and stopped to see what it could be...

This ingenious device not only tortures squirrels, but also provides humans with about the only amusing squirrel scenes I have ever encountered (not involving a moose, that is):

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12.13- Spirit of Christmas & Luminaries, Part Three

2008-12-13T23:35:00.001-05:00

Luminaries along Hodges Street at the close of Oriental's Spirit of Christmas celebration
(Click on image or here for full size)

This year's Oriental Spirit of Christmas celebration concluded today with a host of activities that included the Spirit of Christmas street parade and the post-parade luminary-illuminated streets.

This morning and afternoon, many local businesses held open-house, serving all comers with food and refreshments... folks walked around from business to business to sample the goods and socialize... some places proved more popular than others, as evidenced by the lines (or lack of lines) for their offerings:

The Spirit of Christmas was strong with the owner of this Austin-Healey "Bugeye" Sprite:

Santa Claus and one of his elves strolled around town (or cruised in the Santa-mobile, seen below)...

Santa happily posed for pictures with fans, though here it looks like Happy herself (on right, and yes that is her name) is a little shy about approaching... Santa is used to this reaction though, and soon had coaxed Happy comfortably to his side for a souvenir photo:

The Tiki Bar at Oriental Harbor & Marina sponsored ginger-bread-house contest... one of the entries was a model of the Tiki Bar itself, though the ginger-patrons look like they could use some tall stools:

Dave Collins & Band entertained the Tiki crowd:

As parade time approached, volunteers started lighting the 3,000 luminaries lining the Town's streets:

The Spirit of Christmas parade started up about 4:00 pm, led by a marching band:

MORE PICTURES OF THE PARADE:

The Sudan Mourners krewe brought out their mule-drawn hearse to celebrate Christmas (I guess that is some sort of secret Shriner thing)

The Red Hat Society ladies were having a blast, tossing candy to parade spectators... many younger spectators came prepared for candy with bags to hold their horde

The Sailing Club of Oriental float featured their past and current Commodores

The old Town of Oriental fire truck, complete with dalmatian

Two of the several "Gator-carts" driven by the Sudan Shriners

No Oriental celebration is complete without dogs!

A local church float (didn't catch the name) reminded all of the Christian interpretation of mid-winter festivals

But the parade closed with a less Biblical symbol of the season, Santa Claus, who of course in Oriental arrives by U.S. Coast Guard boat

After the parade, and after the sun set, the full glory of all those luminaries was revealed along Oriental streets... many folks walked around in the rapidly cooling air to take in the sight of 3,000 roadside candles:

The railing along South Avenue on the Neuse River waterfront, was illuminated by luminaries and a particularly bright full moon rising over the river

Broad Street, looking north from the foot of the bridge

Intersection of Factory Street, Freemason Street, and Church Street

NOT ENOUGH PICTURES FOR YOU?
SEE MANY MANY MORE AT:
Town Dock.Net

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12.12- Spirit of Christmas Boat Parade

2008-12-12T23:04:00.010-05:00

A sailboat decorated with lighted forestay and backstay follows a lighted power boat in the Spirit of Christmas nighttime Boat Parade

(Click on image or here for full size)

After sunset today, a fleet of lighted and decorated boats paraded from Whittaker Creek to Oriental Marker No. 3 and back, as spectators watched from Lou-Mac Park and the South Avenue waterfront.

It was a bit difficult to capture the boats on camera as they passed about a half-mile away out in the Neuse River, but I like how the above time exposure shot shows the motion of the boat in the squiggly trails left by each of its many lights (check out the full size version to see the squigglies) They remind me of a seismograph output, or the medical monitors on the hibernation pods in "2001 Space Odyssey."

Below is some of the fleet assembling at the mouth of Whittaker Creek:

Here is an overall picture of the parading fleet:

One boat was decorated as Santa Claus' sled, complete with eight flying reindeer, (four attached to each side her bowsprit), and a giant Santa in the cockpit:

After the parade, folks assembled on Hodges Street at the Town dock for some caroling (complete with organ accompaniment from the Pamlico Presbyterian Church) and the lighting of this year's Spirit of Christmas Star on the Town dock flagmast (you can see the un-lit star hanging on what looks like a telephone pole on the right-hand side of the photo below, followed by a close-up of the lighted star):

(Click on image above or here for full size)

An itinerant dog took in the sights from the deck of a decorated catamaran docked at Oriental Harbor Marina & Inn :

(Click on picture below or here for full size)

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12.11- Luminary assembly, Part Two

2008-12-11T18:16:00.005-05:00

A few of the 3000+ fully assembled luminaries lining the floors of the Town Hall

Volunteers this afternoon assembled the 3000+ luminaries that will line Oriental streets for the Spirit of Christmas Parade coming up on Saturday.

I was not able to get pictures of the assembly in progress today, but all afternoon volunteers filled little plastic bags with sand from a 4 ton pile, placed the sandbags in the pre-folded luminary bags, and inserted the pre-lighted candles. (See Luminary Assembly, Part One in second prior post below, or click here)

Below you can see the meeting room at Town Hall filled with the assembled luminaries (undergoing final inspection by three young volunteers who helped make them)... The bags also overflowed into the Town Hall garage:

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12.10- Above the fog

2008-12-10T18:43:00.003-05:00

The outriggers of a trawler peak out above the fog on Raccoon Creek

Fog covered many waterways today, including the Neuse River, Oriental harbor and nearby creeks.

As warm (70+ degrees F) air soaked with moisture (97% humidity) moved over cooler water, fog formed... such fog is called "advection fog".

I went to the top of the Hwy. 55 bridge for this shot... It was about 4:00 PM, and I was standing about 50 feet above the water, just about the limit of the surrounding fog below.

I could barely make out the harbor's breakwater and the Neuse River beyond that was invisible, completely covered in fog.

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12.09- Luminary assembly, Part One

2008-12-09T23:14:00.007-05:00

Candles for luminaries are "pre-lighted" on the lawn of the Toucan Bar in preparation for the "Spirit of Christmas" parade

Oriental's annual "Spirit of Christmas" parade is coming up on December 13. That means it's time to assemble the 3000 luminaries (little paper bag lanterns) that will line Oriental's streets for the parade.

Parade Elf Lori Wagoner supervised the process, which this year took place at the Toucan Bar on the grounds of Oriental Marina & Inn.

The first step in the assembly process was to fold 3000 bags and "pre-light" 3000 candles.

The candles were each lit and allowed to burn a few minutes before being blown out and put back in their boxes.

This makes it easier to light the thousands of candles once they are in their bags and in place along the streets.

While the candle lighting took place out on the lawn, other volunteers folded the bags on the deck and inside the Toucan bar.

Parade Elf Lori Wagoner displays the "Bag Folding 101" instructional poster
(Click on picture or here for full size)

Folding the tops of the bags down provides some structural rigidity to the luminaries. The army of volunteer bag folders enjoyed some beverages and fun company during the arduous task:

The next steps will be performed another day... filling little sandbags, placing the sandbags in the paper bags, placing the candles in the bags, and lining up the finished luminaries for delivery.

You can follow the whole process right here over the next few days.

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12.08- Lee's Landing

2008-12-08T20:30:00.003-05:00

A fisherman prepares to pull his boat onto its' trailer at the Lee's Landing Wildlife Ramp

Lee's Landing is yet another place you can put your boat in the water in Pamlico County.

This landing is a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Public Boat Ramp (aka "Wildlife Ramp") location, so there is no fee to use the boat ramp here.

Lee's Landing is on upper Broad Creek, which runs into the Neuse River, and is not far from the "big city" of New Bern, NC:

View Larger Map

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12.07- Thirty Seven Cents per Gallon

2008-12-07T22:15:00.004-05:00

Gas pumps in front of moribund Texaco station on Florence Road

Way out in Pamlico County, on Florence Road, stands this old Texaco gas station.

The pumps indicate 37 cents per gallon... they must have last been set in 1971 or 72.

While the station and store are no longer open for business, the pumps, lube containers and other artifacts have been kept in good shape and are on display out front, while a collection of old soda bottles decorate the front window sills:

This property is owned by a member of the Day family, which family also owns the nearby "Day's Landing," featured in my prior post of October 20.

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12.06- Village music

2008-12-06T22:42:00.004-05:00

A band plays in Oriental's old village, next to the Fulcher Seafood Market store on the corner of Hodges Street and South Water Street

I wish I knew the name of this band... they were a vast improvement over the usual "wedding bands" that play around here (you know... everyone's favorite 50's, 60's, etc. pop tunes, from "Ride Sally Ride" to "Sweet Home Alabama")

I guess these guys might be called a "jam-band," whatever that means. The songs, instruments, lyrics and arrangements were far from the usual rock'n'roll standards bands that play the wedding receptions and Tiki Bar throughout the spring and summer.

This is the first live outdoor music since the contentious "noise ordinance" Town Board meeting of earlier in the week (See post of Dec. 2, below)

No word yet on any complaints. I sure had none for this band.

In any case, no rioting in the streets... just good music, a warm fire, and dozens of Christmas trees on the corner lot.

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12.5- Celestial allignment - Skywatch Friday

2008-12-05T22:34:00.003-05:00

The Moon, Venus and Jupiter in alignment

My "Skywatch Friday" photo this week comes from the night of December 1, 2008.

The waxing crescent Moon flew past Venus and Jupiter tonight (in the picture, Venus and Jupiter are seen through the tree... Venus is the second brightest object in the sky, with Jupiter the third)

This is apparently an astronomical rarity.

The steeple in the foreground belongs to the new Bethany Christian Church in the nearby burg of Arapahoe, NC.

The new church replaces one that burned down on June 25 of 2007.

You can see the story of Bethany Church's destruction and inspiring rebirth at their blog site.

I had a hard time balancing between the very bright moon and the relatively dimmer (but still bright to the naked eye) Venus and Jupiter... Some pictures showed the moon better, more like the crisp crescent it was, but Venus and Jupiter were just too dim in those shots. I picked this picture because the planets show up well, even though the moon as a consequence is overexposed.

It was an awesome sight, particularly out in the country away from the few towns around here.

HAPPY SWF EVERYONE!
I look forward to seeing the other Skywatch pictures from around the world on the other SWF sites listed at:

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12.04 "Whoa!"

2008-12-04T20:43:00.001-05:00

A horse obeys the sign hanging on her barn

I found this scene on "Teach's Cove Road," which runs the spit of land between Smiths Creek and Kershaw Creek to Dewey Point, right across the creek from Oriental.

The road is named for Captain Edward Teach, AKA "Blackbeard" the pirate.

Notorious buccaneer and frequent North Carolina resident Blackbeard,
pictured with his trademark lighted fuses protruding from beneath his hat

Legend has it that Blackbeard would occasionally camp out the peninsula "for relaxation," and that he buried some treasure below a now-vanished tree on the point:

"Teach's Oak is located almost at the water's edge on a peninsula farm lying between the Neuse River and two creeks, Smith and Green. Large and ancient, and now gnarled and bent, the old tree was many years ago named after the infamous freebooter. Local tradition avers that Blackbeard posted a sentinel in its branches. There is evidence that the area has been dug up in the search for buried treasure, but none has been found."

- Blackbeard the Pirate - A Reappraisal of His Life and Times, Robert E. Lee (Blair, 1974), p. 172

The location of "Teach's Oak" and Oriental are shown on the map below:

View Larger Map

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12.03- Otter vs. Boxer

2008-12-03T19:41:00.002-05:00

A dog faces off with a North American River Otter in a drainage ditch along Kershaw Road

As I was driving along Kershaw Road between Arapahoe and Oriental, I saw two dogs running into the middle of the road ahead... as I slowed down and got closer, I saw a North American River Otter leaping around in the road between the dogs.

The otter ran off the road into the drainage ditch, with the two dogs on its' tail.

As I pulled over, a man came walking across the road from his home (obviously where the dogs and otter had come from) carrying a seven-foot long metal pole.

I got out of the car with my camera and started shooting... by this time the otter was in its' element, while the boxer and another dog were hesitant to step in the water, not knowing where the submerged otter was exactly.

The dogs would run back and forth along the water until the submerged otter lunged up from a hiding place under the water, snapping at the dogs faces... The dogs would jump back, the otter re-submerge, and the whole thing repeated. It kinda reminded me of the Trash Monster in Star Wars:

At one point, the boxer was scanning the water for the otter, with its front paw in the water... The dog gave a sudden yelp and leaped back, obviously having been bitten on the paw.

The man with the pole came up, and I thought he might use the pole to nudge his dogs away so the otter could escape... It would certainly have been foolish to try to get in between the animals.

Instead of using the pole to break up the dogs, however, the man raised it above his head and brought the pole down full force towards the otter's head! He missed, but I was flabbergasted, and a little fearful for myself and the nearby parked car.

The man tried a second time to hit the otter with the pole, but he slipped and landed rump-first in the mud next to the water... A little divine justice?

At that point the man's wife came walking across the road with a shotgun, saying "what do you want me to do with this? I don't know how to use this, you better come get it."

OK, I thought, time to move the car and get a little removed from the shotgun.

I jumped in the car, drove about 50 feet along the shoulder, then looked back to see the man shooting into the woods. His wife handed him a second shell, he loaded and fired again towards the woods, this time farther away... I only got off two pictures during the shooting, the first through the dirty rear windshield, the second out of focus:

His wife handed the man a third shell, but he did not shoot again...

The dogs meanwhile were running around the ditch and edge of the woods looking for the otter, apparently with no luck. Hopefully the otter escaped unharmed.

I'm not sure why the man wanted to kill that otter... He had a shotgun and a tracheotomy, though, so I decided against trying to ask him anything about it.

Otters do not seem to be known as farm pests, though they will eat small birds (including, I suppose, small chickens) and their cousins the weasels are widely regarded as farm pests.

Could be he wanted the otter pelt, which might explain why he tried braining the creature before shooting at it.

Maybe it was just afternoon entertainment.

Anyway, I was glad to see that the otter at least made it off into the woods.

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12.02- Bring the Noise!

2008-12-02T22:12:00.006-05:00

[January 6, 2009 update: Click here for photo & coverage of noise ordinance discussion at Jan. 6 Town Board]

Oriental Mayor Bill Sage's gavel rests (for the moment) on the table at the Oriental Town Board of Commissioners meeting

Tonight's agenda for the Oriental Town Board of Commissioners meeting included discussion of possible revisions to the Town's "Noise Ordinance."

This is a contentious issue at the moment, and I will have to tread carefully in my description... Mayor Bill Sage pointed out that he had never brought a gavel to a Town Board meeting before, but had dug it out for this one.

The existing noise ordinance has been in place for decades, perhaps a hundred years (I will have to check), and relies on squishy subjective language that prohibits noises that are "annoying" to a "reasonable person" in the circumstances.

The meeting is is the culmination of an increasing number of complaints to Town police about the volume of live music at the "Tiki Bar," an outdoor deck with bar at the Oriental Marina & Inn on Raccoon Creek, and at a couple of other locations in town.

Many, but not all, of the complaints about Tiki Bar bands have come from a couple who live full time near the Tiki Bar, Keith Smith and Melinda Penkava, seen in the lower left hand corner of the below photo (front row, seated with papers and computer, dressed in black) ... In the same photo, Oriental resident Capt. Larry Walker (standing, in white) speaks to the board in defense of live music at the Tiki and elsewhere in Oriental:

Smith and Penkava explained that their home (located in the heart of the "old village" near a multi-use zone that includes two fish-houses, a number of retail businesses, restaurants and, about 150 yards across water from their home, the Tiki Bar) is invaded by an un-ignorable volume of music eminating from the Tiki Bar deck from 7:00 or 8:00 PM until 11:00 or later on one or two nights of many weekends.

Smith stressed that he and his wife had no desire to eliminate live music from Oriental, as they have been characterized, but only wanted to be able to peaceably enjoy their own home. Smith asserted that while live music on the property where the Tiki Bar is located (Oriental Marina & Inn) does pre-date the couple's home purchase, the number of bands has increased, and that the music has become louder at their home at least in part due to the construction of a building on the property that bounces the music towards their home (the "amphitheater effect.")

A few other speakers also indicated that they had been bothered in their homes by outdoor music in the past, or at least that the bands could be heard in their homes.

The vast majority of the letter-writers, crowd and speakers (many, if not most of whom do not live in Oriental) were in the "pro-music" camp, which feels that live music is a tradition in Oriental, is important to Oriental's visitor industries, and that individuals like Smith-Penkava who choose to move into the area of the village near places that regularly play live music have little basis for complaint (the "Airport" argument.)

Many letters to the Board and several speakers complained that because of the frequent and repeated complaints of a handful/couple of residents, bands have been forced to stop playing early, causing crowds to leave the bar and restaurant early, and that nothing less than the very future of live music in Oriental (and indeed Oriental's marketability as a visitor destination, and by implication its' very existence) is at stake.

Commissioner Kathy Kellum presented a model ordinance to begin a discussion of possibly adopting a more modern noise ordinance that would use decibel level limits to reduce ambiguity as to what is and is not "too loud."

Ms. Kellum (far right in below photo, holding coffee cup) and the mayor (in center, wearing red sweater) explained several times that the model ordinance is not now a proposed ordinance to be considered for adoption, but only a conglomeration of provisions picked from other city and town noise ordinances as a basic example and starting point.

There was lively discussion of decibel levels... The Tiki Bar owners (who also own the Toucan Bar & Fresh Grill on the same property) had purchased a hand-held decibel meter, and pointed to noise levels they had measured (air conditioning units, idling cars and shrimpboats, music, etc.) at different distances in arguing that the decibel levels in the model ordinance would essentially eliminate live music (and a host of other activities).

Cathy McIlhenny, one of the Tiki Bar owners, measured the noise level of the applauding crowd at the meeting as a demonstration:

It was a lively and well-attended meeting... Because of the expected crowd, the Board moved their meeting from Town Hall to a meeting room in the Baptist Church across Broad Street:

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12.01- Look Out for Dog in Road!

2008-12-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

An Oriental resident takes his dog for a walk along South Avenue

Golf carts and unleashed dogs are both common sights here in Oriental.

Dogs are not required to be leashed (unless they become "nuissance dogs" under a new ordinance passed this past year), and golf carts have been accepted street vehicles for a long time (and are now "legal" under recent state law and local Oriental ordinance, also passed this past year.)

I'm pretty sure I know who this guy is... I see him often with his golf cart and his dog... but since I am not 100% positive of his name, I'm not gonna say.

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11.30- Belted Kingfisher

2008-11-30T23:38:00.000-05:00

A male Belted Kingfisher perches on a mainmast spreader at Oriental Harbor Marina

"The only kingfisher in most of North America," according to the National Geographic Field Giude. "Common and conspicuous along rivers and brooks, ponds and lakes, estuaries..."

"Call is a loud, dry rattle," which is whaat brought my attention to its' presence.

I have seen these birds hovering near the mouth of Whittaker Creek, but not gotten a picture before today.

Kingrishers "hover over water or watch from low perches, then plunge headfirst to catch a fish."

Very cool. Now added to my photographic life-list.

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11.22- Gale warning

2008-11-22T21:46:00.000-05:00

Two red triangular pennants fly at the Oriental Harbor Marina flag mast

Two red pennants means "gale warning"... This means winds from 34 to 48 knots (39 to 54 miles per hour or 63 to 69 kmh) are predicted.

The Oriental Harbor Marina flag mast is visible from most places in the harbor, and from the bridge over Smiths Creek...

If you are thinking about going boating, it is a good idea to glance at the OHM flag mast first... One red pennant indicates a "small craft advisory," which is either 15 or 20 knots, I can't recall. Red square flags with a black square in the middle mean "hurricane warning"... I haven't yet seen those flags at the OHM.

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11.21- Cheap Gas

2008-11-21T22:40:00.000-05:00

A man rides his bicycle up Broad Street (NC Hwy. 55) past the "Town and Country" grocery store, where gasoline has just dropped below $2.00 per gallon

I rode my bike up to Town and Country to buy a Coke from the machines outside when an employee came out to change the price sign.

As she was flipping the numbers, several folks asked what the new price was going to be, and cheered when they learned it was just now breaking the $2.00 level.

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11.19- Snow flurries

2008-11-19T18:57:00.001-05:00

A cloud moving out over the Neuse River drops snow near Smiths Creek and Oriental Harbor

Early snow in Oriental! As predicted, snow flurries moved through the area today. Each flurry was very brief, but I experienced three or four separate flurries during the day.

It really is snow, and not rain! In the picture below, the small white dots are falling snowflakes being lit up by the camera flash:

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11.18- Doin' the Ditch...

2008-11-18T23:24:00.000-05:00

Vessels moving south on the Intracoastal Waterway near Swansboro, NC

I took this picture from the third floor balcony of a new home being built just south of Swansboro, NC.

The house fronts on "the Ditch"... the 1,090 mile long Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, a series of natural and man-made (or altered) protected waterways running from Portsmouth, VA ("Mile 0") to Key West, FL.

There was a continuous stream of sailboats and stinkpots running in front of the house all day, as the weather was nice, and has been kinda nasty the past few days. Folks who had to lay up for weather are now cruising to make up time.

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11.17- Minnesott Beach Ferry

2008-11-17T18:01:00.000-05:00

Minnesott Beach-Cherry Point ferry

This is the ferry that crosses the Neuse River between Minnesott Beach and Cherry Point. Minnessot Beach is 12 miles from Oriental, and is the nearest place you can cross the river without your own boat.

The ferry is seen here from the Minnesott Beach side, framed between pilings at the ferry port on this side of the river.

The ferry leaves from each side of the river every 30 minutes or hour (depending on time of day)

The ride is free.

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11.15- Tow time

2008-11-15T23:52:00.002-05:00

A newly-anchored itinerant sailor with a motor-dinghy gives a tow to another itinerant in her two-armstrong powered "Dink"

I met this young woman at the Dinghy Dock today as I was riding by.

She had come ashore to go grocery shopping, leaving her "old man" on their sailboat at anchor out in the harbor (not in camera shot above).

She had rowed ashore in a "Dink" dinghy.

When she returned to the Dinghy Dock after a couple of hours, she found the winds had grown fairly stiff... about 15 to 20 knots... out of the Southwest.

(Notice two of the anchored sailboats in the picture are pointing straight into the fresh breeze... the third/middle sailboat, flying Netherlands flag, is not pointing into the wind only because she is aground)

Finding it impossible to row the light dinghy straight into the wind far enough to reach her boat, the woman had been embayed for at least an hour before I showed up.

As we were chatting, another sailboat came into the harbor and began trying to anchor.

We watched as her captain dropped anchor, hoping he would dinghy ashore soon and maybe be able to help the woman return to her boat. The anchor dragged, and the sailboat drifted towards another anchored boat. The guy weighed anchor, motored around, and tried again. Anchor dragged again. Guy weighed, moved and dropped the hook yet again.

By this time, another woman had walked up to the Dinghy Dock, introduced herself, and explained she was waiting for the guy out there trying to anchor to come pick her up.

By this time there were four of us watching this guy try to anchor... Watching someone struggle with anchoring in the harbor, particularly in a Southerly or Southwesterly blow, is considered better-than-TV entertainment in Oriental.

After the guy dropped anchor again, we saw him finally lowering his dinghy from the stern davits into the water. Great, we all thought... one woman was waiting for the guy to come take her to his boat, the other woman was hoping the guy could tow her dinghy back to her boat, and myself and another guy were watching all the drama with great interest.

The guy got in his dinghy, hauled in the painter, and started motoring... away from the dinghy dock!

Where is he going, the watching crowd wondered in chorus, while at the same time noticing that the guy's sailboat was swinging awfully near it's anchored neighbor.

The guy motored his dinghy about a hundred feet ahead of his sailboat on the starboard side, then stood up in the dinghy.

"He's dropping a second hook" we all said, again in chorus.

So the guy dropped his second anchor from the dinghy, motored back to his sailboat, went aboard and hauled in his hawsers to satisfaction, neatly pulling his sailboat away from the threatened neighbor.

He then came ashore, and happily gave the stranded rower a tow back to her "old man" just as the sun set.

Another exciting 90 minute drama at Oriental anchorage!

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11.09- It takes a village...

2008-11-09T01:50:00.000-05:00

Bob Miller (reaching into boat) gets some help in an early stage of building his Core Sound 17 sailboat

The Oriental version of a barn-raising is of course a boat-building.

Bob Miller is building a "Core Sound 17" sailboat in his garage. The boat was designed by "B&B Yacht Designs," located in nearby Vandemere. See the B&B webpage for this boat here.

Bob had cut out the various parts of the hull using 1/4 inch plywood, and needed some extra hands to hold the pieces in place while he "stitched" them together with copper wire... See the picture below for a better view of the stitches (they look like knots every six inches or so) on the bow and hull:

In the future, the seams will be glued together and the stitches removed... this is typically referred to as "stitch and glue" boat building.

I will follow the progress of Bob's boatbuilding, and update here.

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11.08 - "Merry Mary" Tartan 34

2008-11-08T21:27:00.005-05:00

George Duffie sails "Merry Mary," his 30-year old Tartan 34' Classic, on her port tack in a brisk southerly breeze on the Neuse River
(Click on picture or here for full size)

"Merry Mary" (above) is a common sight out on the Neuse... Owners George and Mary Duffie live here in Oriental. George often races her, and has a few wins.

Approaching the camera on her starboard tack is "Pirogue," a Cape Dory 33...

Here is a better view of "Pirogue" after she passed within about 30 yards of me in the Bauer 10 Dinghy during my sail today... (Notice there is no-one at the helm!) :

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11.06- "Sea Stallion" - USMC CH-35E

2008-11-06T20:36:00.005-05:00

A USMC CH-35E "Sea Stallion" helicopter flies over the Neuse River on its way from Cherry Point Marine Corps station and the BT-11 target zone on Piney Island at the mouth of the Neuse River

These are new birds in the neighborhood skies... Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 366 recently moved to the U.S. Marine Corps station at Cherry Ridge, about 12 miles up the Neuse River from Oriental.

HMH-366 aircrews flies CH-53E Super Stallions, the Marines' "heavy haulers." The unit has been relocated to Cherry Point from reserve unit locations around the country.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, the CH-35E :

"...is designed for the transportation of equipment, supplies and personnel during the assault phase of an amphibious operation and subsequent operations ashore.

"Capable of both internal and external transport of supplies, the CH-53E is shipboard compatible and capable of operation in adverse weather conditions both day and night.

"... The twin-engine helicopter is capable of lifting 7 tons (6.35 metric tons)

"... The helicopter will carry 37 passengers in its normal configuration and 55 passengers with centerline seats installed."

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11.03- "Lady Hawk" and "Emily Brooke"

2008-11-03T20:32:00.001-05:00

The "Emily Brooke" heads out of Oriental Harbor towards Pamlico Sound, as the "Lady Hawk" sails upriver

Another shot taken from the Bauer 10 Classic as I was sailing out in the Neuse River.

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11.02- Anchored in the Roadstead

2008-11-02T19:47:00.004-05:00

Five sailboats at anchor on the Neuse River near the entrance to Oriental Harbor.

While Oriental Harbor is a popular anchorage on the ICW, some boats prefer to anchor out in the Neuse River outside the harbor breakwater near the channel from the ICW into the harbor... an area I generally refer to as "Oriental Roads."

These five boats are from Maine (at least four of them are)... I found them anchored out in the river as I sailed out to Oriental Marker No. 1, then to Whittaker Creek No. 1 and back to the harbor.

I took this picture while I was sailing back into Oriental Harbor just as the sun set.

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11.01- "Marine Consignment of Oriental "

2008-11-01T19:38:00.003-04:00

Dinghies on display in front of "Marine Consignment of Oriental"

If you are boating down the ICW and have a list of boat parts you are looking for (a bit redundant, I know), you might want to drop by Oriental and visit "Marine Consignment of Oriental" on Broad Street (Hwy 55).

Outboard motors, hardware, sails, rigging... any parts, big or small... if it attaches to a boat, they probably have it here.

If you have some extra parts to sell, you can sell them here on consignment.

I like the mouse on the bow of this dinghy... I guess it's supposed to be terrified by the frightening speed this rowing/sailing dinghy can achieve.

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10.31- Cormorant at Pecan Grove channel

2008-10-31T18:52:00.002-04:00

A cormorant dries it's wings in the setting sun

I went out sailing in the Bauer dinghy this afternoon, and passed this cormorant standing atop one of the private markers leading into Pecan Grove Marina from Oriental Harbor as I returned near sunset.

You can see the masts of boats in Pecan Grove Marina in the background... the Marina recently just about doubled it's slip capacity by digging out an extension to it's lagoon. Plenty of new slips left, but they are beginning to fill up.

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10.30- Bayboro Airport

2008-10-30T18:14:00.001-04:00

A lone small airplane sheltered in the hanger of the Bayboro Airport

While I was in the Pamlico County seat of Bayboro today, I decided to cruise by the "Bayboro Airport" I had noticed on my road map.

The airport consists of an empty stretch of grass amongst farmland, a single airplane hanger, a windsock, a dilapidated shed, and several apparently-abandoned-vehicles:

Behind the hanger rests this moribund hobbyist's hanger for the "Down the County Radio Control Flyers:"

Call early to reserve your flight!

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10.29- Foreign Yacht

2008-10-29T17:58:00.005-04:00

Yacht cruising down ICW between Garbacon Shoals and Whittaker Creek on the Neuse River
(click on picture or here for full size)

I'm guessing this is about a 100 foot (or more) yacht, cruising at full throttle down the ICW as it passes by Oriental in the Neuse River... probably headed for Beaufort, where these big guys like to tie up.

The yacht is flying a foreign flag off the stern (with a "courtesy" small U.S. flag flying amidships)...

I have looked through some on-line flag directories, and all I can guess is that it is the flag of the Marshall Islands.

If you can identify the flag, please drop me an comment/ahoy at the end of this post... You can click on the picture above for a full size view.

Whittaker Creek marker No. 2 is on the right side of the picture, while a sailboat just visible on the left heads towards Whittaker Creek.

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10.26- Harbor full

2008-10-27T00:11:00.007-04:00

Boats anchored in Oriental Harbor after sunset

(click on picture or here for full size)

There were a total of 17 boats at anchor in Oriental harbor tonight as the sun set. Mostly sailboats, but a few trawlers.

Town Dock and many transient slips at the marinas were also full.

Many of these boats are "snow-birds" heading south on their winter cruises. A few are probably boats that have been parked up north during hurricane season for insurance purposes... Hurricane season ends on November 1, and boats will then begin moving en masse back south of South Carolina, where policies often do not cover risks during the season.

Here is another view of the harbor, looking back towards the Oriental Harbor Marina and the Point Pride Seafood docks:

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10.22- Garbacon Shoal Marker

2008-10-22T23:00:00.003-04:00

Neuse River Marker No. 7, a.k.a. Garbacon Shoal Marker,
as seen from the Bauer 10 dinghy.

Today I sailed the Bauer 10 out to Oriental Marker No. 1 to try to get some pictures of the weekly Wednesday night sailboat race. Only three sailboats showed up, so I didn't get any impressive shots (I was hoping for more boats).

As the boats sailed off for the first mark on the informal race course, I decided to follow along for a while. I saw the boats rounding the first mark (Garbacon Shoal) and decided to go at least that far.

This is the farthest I have sailed the dinghy out on the river, so as I rounded the marker I snapped this picture for proof/commemoration.

In the foreground you see the boom, the tack of the mainsail and the mainsheet. The whispy threads you see flowing from the mainsail act as my anemometer and tell-tails.

As I reached Garbacon Marker, the three racers were approaching the Adams Creek Marker a few miles downwind. The sun was nearing the horizon, so I decided one leg of the race was enough for me.

As I sailed back, the sun set and the wind died... I mounted my navigational lights and slowly sailed back as the temperature began falling considerably. Fortunately I brought some layers to put on.

The whole round trip - slip to Garbacon and back to slip - was just under 6 statute miles, and I covered it in about one hour and forty minutes... not bad considering the wind died off so much on the way back.

My route today (8.9 stat. miles) is shown by the red line on the map below...

the yellow line is the approximate route of the Wednesday evening races (about 8.25 stat. miles):

View Larger Map

10.21- Cranky Grannies vote, too!

2008-10-21T22:12:00.006-04:00

Cranky Grannies for Obama
(click on picture or here for full size)

Just a reminder that "One-Stop" EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN here in North Carolina.

I will be working the Oriental precinct polling location on November 4, election day, but hopefully everyone will have voted by then.

So far, almost 17% of the approximately 6,000 registered voters now living in Pamlico County have voted!

At poll-worker training last night we were told to expect plenty of E-day voters, however... looks like this won't be your standard less-than-50%-turnout kind of election.

REMEMBER VOTERS:

MARKING THE "STRAIGHT TICKET" CHOICE ON YOUR BALLOT
WILL NOT RESULT IN A VOTE FOR PRESIDENT!!!

YOU MUST VOTE A CHOICE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION ON YOUR BALLOT for your vote to count in the Presidential race ...you can then ALSO select a "straight ticket" for North Carolina state candidates if you wish, but make sure you vote separately in the Presidential choice on your ballot.

(Write your NC state legislators if you think that is screwy... It is so by NC statute, and only the legislature can change it)

Also, if you wish to vote for JUDICIAL CANDIDATES, they WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN A STRAIGHT TICKET VOTE, for the logical reason that judicial races are non-partisan in NC... since judges don't run by party affiliation, the straight party ticket selection will not affect these races.

Oh, and McCain supporters please remember that I have previously posted a picture of a McCain yard-sign on October 3.

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10.20- "Day's Landing"

2008-10-20T21:55:00.006-04:00

"Honor box" at the Days Landing boat ramp on Ball Creek.

Today I went out exploring the nearby Whortonsville and Florence areas of Pamlico County, looking for creek entrances for some possible kayaking.

I found these three camouflaged anglers taking their Carolina Skiff out at "Day's Landing" on Ball Creek, which runs into the Bay River near Florence.

Don't ask me why the anglers were all wearing camo... I cannot imagine that it fools any fish, and none of these guys had guns, so they weren't hunting... and anyway they have made no attempt to disguise their Carolina Skiff.

I will chalk it up to a general outdoorsman lifestyle, which I admittedly know little about except for an occasional trip to Bass Pro stores, where camo certainly appears in abundance.

This seems a good place to put in a kayak for a paddle around Ball Creek, Bonner Bay, Spring Creek and Long Creek.

... And from the looks of the sign, Day's Landing has not raised their ramp fee in some time!

Explore Ball Creek ("Day's Landing" is at the map marker), Bay River, Bonner Bay etc. on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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10.19- Jib testing

2008-10-19T23:59:00.002-04:00

Yours truly buzzing Lou-Mac Park while sailing on the Neuse River(Oriental Marker #1 in the background)

Today I went out to test the new jib foresail Capt. Dave and I rigged for the Bauer 10 Classic dinghy. I sailed out of the harbor to Oriental #1, then tacked up into the North wind to reach Lou-Mac Park. After buzzing the park I sailed out to Whittaker Creek markers #1 and #2, then back to the harbor.

Winds were in the 10-15 knot range, out of the North, so both the rig and myself got a good work-out. The jib has a number of issues to be solved... the most annoying is that when tacking, the sail tends to foul on the boom (which protrudes up to one foot forward of the mast) and the jib sheets keep getting tangled on the forest of cleats that now inhabit the lower mast.

Early indications are that the jib improves the dinghy's windward ability, but more testing is required to confirm. Still can't quite sail close-hauled, though.

I am confident that the Bauer is sailing faster on all points of sail with the added jib, the most noticeable difference being on beam reach and close reach.

The best thing so far about having a jib is that I can go "wing-and-wing" while running downwind... While running wing-and-wing today I hit a steady 4.0 + knots, maxing out at 4.5 knots! I have hit 4.7 knots before, with only the mainsail, but in heavier winds.

The mast is developing a pretty serious crack, and I don't know how much longer it'll last in winds like today's. Probably time to build a new mast, and re-think the running rigging.

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10.18- Green's Creek Challenge

2008-10-18T21:03:00.008-04:00

An Optimist dinghy heads down-wind towards the finish line in today's Green's Creek Challenge race, while Laser and Sunfish boats round Dewey Point towards the Smith's Creek race marker.

A cool rainy day for today's Green's Creek Challenge, an annual sailboat race for boats under 20 feet sponsored by the Oriental Dinghy Club.

The race route began in Oriental Harbor, passed under the bridge, up Green's Creek, back down to Dewey Point, up Smith's Creek and back to the start.

The ODC had not posted results as of this writing.

Here are some more shots from the race:

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10.16- "Skywatch Friday" - Sunrise & Moonrise

2008-10-16T14:15:00.002-04:00

Sunrise over the Neuse River

Yesterday I was out boating before dawn... then again out boating after sunset. Two different trips.

The sunrise series above was taken from Captain Keith Bruno's Carolina Skiff as we headed down river to pull Capt. Bruno's gill-nets for fish.

You can meet Capt. Bruno, a really interesting guy, in Part One of my feature essay on Bruno, posted October 14 (scroll down to posting, or click here)... more of the essay is coming soon in Part Two...and maybe even Three.

Later on yesterday, I rowed across the glassy windless waters of river, in the Bauer 10, out to Oriental Marker No. 1, where the "Coriolanus" was drifting around for a Hunter's Moon watching party (see right). There was so little wind that even without an anchor, Coriolanus stayed within 50 yards of the same spot for about two hours.

Before I rowed out, I got the below picture of the moon rising over the river from the end of the Lou-Mac Fishing Pier.

Another dinghy-rower appears in the lower left, going into Whittaker Creek (you can tell it's Capt. Jesse by the bent oars!!)... the familiar Whittaker Point on the left... and a lone sailor trying to find wind on the right side of the picture:

(Click on picture or here for full size)

While I was happy with the picture I got of the Oct. 14th Hunter's Moon, I was disapointed to have missed it coming up over the horizon... Then I learned from University of Texas' "Earth and Sky" that the Hunter's Moon was on the 14th AND the 15th, so I went out yesterday before moonrise and got the following series of the second night of the Hunter's Moon rising:

HAPPY SWF EVERYONE!
I look forward to seeing the other Skywatch pictures from around the world on the other SWF sites listed at:
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10.15- Great Blue Heron sunset

2008-10-15T23:59:00.002-04:00

A Great Blue Heron comes in for a landing on the Lou-Mac Park Fishing Pier as the sun sets and the Hunter's Moon prepares to rise.

I had planned on bringing you Part Two of "Endurance," a feature essay about Capt. Bruno (see prior post, below), today, but I have a bit more work to do on that one, so it's not quite ready yet.

Instead I am posting a picture I caught today - a Great Blue Heron that was hanging out on the Lou-Mac Fishing Pier.

The bird was very stoically and majestically perched on the pier when I arrived on the scene riding my bike down South Ave., so I pulled over at a discrete distance and pulled out the little Kodak.

I had taken a couple of OK pictures of him standing straight and tall on the pier, silhouetted against the southern sunset sky, but was still waiting for the perfect pose when a couple came walking past the pier with their dog, and my Heron flew away (most birds, even the intrepid seagulls, flee their roosts at the sight of even the smallest of dogs in the vicinity).

As I reviewed the few pics I had already taken, all of which were out of focus or badly exposed, I cursed the little dog and its' humans for disturbing my photo shoot...

I resigned myself to the missed shot, and sat down to read my current book ("The Rescue," Joseph Conrad) as the sunlight continued to fade... After a few paragraphs, I caught the Heron in the corner of my eye circling the pier, and grabbed the Kodak just in time for this landing.

Sorry little dog and humans for my hasty curses... I already have plenty of pictures of Herons standing up straight and tall, and thanks to y'all I caught this action shot! Thanks little dog.

"Endurance," the Capt. Bruno essay (see prior post, below) will continue... It should be up tomorrow, but I'm not yet sure, since I normally post my "Skywatch Friday" entry on Thursday afternoons (go figure)... but my planned SWF posting is related to Capt. Bruno, so I may continue the story tomorrow... If not, it will be on Friday... TUNE IN TO FIND OUT!

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10.14- "Endurance" - PART ONE

2008-10-14T23:51:00.011-04:00

Captain Keith Bruno is pleased with this Atlantic Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis) he pulled from one of his gill-nets along the Neuse River near Pierce Creek

Bruno, a commercial fisherman, does his own catching and his own retail selling of many fruits of the local waters... But after removing the rare Tripletail catch from his net, he proclaimed "you can't buy this one from me!"

Today and tomorrow, I will introduce you to Captain Bruno.

I hope you enjoy meeting him as I did...

Today I had the pleasure of accompanying Endurance Seafood owner Capt. Keith Bruno as he pulled his gill-nets set the previous night along the banks of the Neuse River and Smith's Creek. Bruno's prize catch of the day was the handsome Tripletail featured in today's photo.

Like not a few of Oriental's residents, Bruno has long experience working on water, and more than a few tales to tell about it...

From blood-curdling terror in the "Perfect Storm" of the North Atlantic to karmic respite along the sun-drenched beaches and ports of the Mediterranean... from a penniless vagabond sleeping under the docks of Bermuda to successful lobster baron... from cut-throat competition and anti-viral devastation of the New York lobster fishery to a happy family home in the welcoming world and diverse fisheries of Down East North Carolina...

Endurance:

en-dur-ance... n 1: PERMANENCE, DURATION 2: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity...

en-dure... vb 1: to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in...

Bred for Water:

Bruno, now 40, began his lifetime of working the waters as a 5 year-old, apprenticing with his father fishing lobsters out of Smithtown, N.Y., on Long Island Sound.

After high school, Capt. Bruno attended the Landing School of Boat Building & Design, where he built his project boat, the "Arab III," a mahogany 26' runabout... (You can see a very similar boat, the Miss Severn, by clicking here.)

From 1989 to 1991, Bruno worked on lobster boats, first working the inshore fishery, then moving up to the tougher world and better money of offshore lobstering.

The Perfect Storm:

In 1991, as a weakening hurricane Grace was working her way into the North Atlantic, the offshore lobster boat which was Bruno's workplace and home for 7 of every 10 days, began heading back to port.

Before making it back, however, the boat was overtaken by the infamous "Perfect Storm" of 1991 (the one that killed the captain and 5 crew of the Andrea Gail, as fictionalized in the George Clooney movie)...

As the lobster boat struggled through the heavy storm-torn seas, Bruno was on deck when the boat broached to in the trough of mountainous waves. Lying parallel to the waves in the trough, the boat was helpless as the towering following wave crashed on top of her. Bruno was crushed against the bulwark by the deck-load of lobster traps and tons of water enveloping the boat as the wave tore abrest.

Being so pinned down by the weight and pressure of the traps and water may well have saved Bruno from being immediately washed over the open transom or out of a scupper to certain death in the stormy seas, but Bruno's legs were injured and his body heat had been sucked out by the mass of chilly water that flooded his protective oilskin foul-weather gear.

As Bruno struggled to re-orient himself on the open deck of the still-broached vessel, a crewmate grabbed him by the collar, hauled him into the cabin, unceremoniously dumped him on the floor where he lay alone as the crewmate returned to the danger on deck.

Sometime later, perhaps an hour or so, Bruno regained his senses enough to begin removing the soaked clothing from his chilled and battered body in an attempt to begin raising his body temperature.

While Bruno struggled to remove his upper garments, the boat's Captain entered the cabin, saw Bruno moving and growled that it looked like he was ready to go back to work. When Bruno understandably indicated that indeed he was not so ready, the Captain expressed his great displeasure at the news, and added some comments to the effect that Bruno seemed to lack certain traits of male anatomy.

Again later, as Bruno continued to struggle removing his dangerously cold and wet clothing, and as he realized his legs had been so injured as to prevent him from walking, much less assisting the crew on the heaving deck in the storm, the Captain returned to ask Bruno if he was finished with his beauty rest and ready to return to the world of working men, only to be dissapointed again by Bruno's negative response.

The next day, the storm abated but Bruno still battered, the Captain again asked if Bruno were ready to go back to work. While Bruno understood and expected that the boat would not discontinue further lobster fishing to take his injured self back to port, he knew he was not able to return to the physical work of the crew.

The Captain informed Bruno that he would not rate any pay for the remaining days at sea, and that Bruno was welcome to return to crying like a girl in his berth until the boat returned to port.

The Shore of Refuge:

Back ashore and out of the lobstering business, Bruno began recovering from his injuries.

Bruno received a call from an old friend who asked him if he was available for work. Bruno explained that he was not fit for the work of commercial lobster fishing...

"But do you think you could sail?" he was asked. Bruno had sailed on a shooner one summer in his youth - just day-sailing, no cruising or ocean voyages, but Bruno knew the fundamentals of sailing.

"Sure, I can sail."

"Well, I need a boat delivered to Bermuda... I can offer you all your provisions for the trip, of course, and a return plane ticket plus a little pocket money... at least think about it."

Bruno thought about it, and two days later had consented to the job.

Bruno sailed the boat to Bermuda, still in pain and limited by his injury on the voyage. Upon his arrival, where he was required to stay aboard the fully-provisioned boat for a time, Bruno discovered his pain and injuries were nothing that all the rum in Bermuda couldn't cure.

When his pocket money ran out, Bruno cashed in his plane ticket. When vacated from the boat by the arrival of the boat's owner, Bruno's employer offered to loan Bruno money for a new plane ticket. Bruno decided not to accept the loan, and to stay in Bermuda.

Out of cash, with no family or friends and few acquaintances on the island, Bruno found serviceable accommodations underneath a dock on the beach...

TO BE CONTINUED...

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10.10- Rumors of Mimosa's hibernation are greatly exagerated

2008-10-10T23:54:00.001-04:00

A Mimosa tree near the Dinghy Dock is sprouting new leaves while seed pods from its' last cycle still hang from its' branches.

My favorite reading tree, a Mimosa next to the Dinghy Dock on Oriental Harbor, is sprouting new leaves just about one month after it dropped its' last batch on going to seed. (See picture of same tree gone to seed in my posting of September 9)

I was afraid the tree had shut down for the winter... According to Wikipedia:

In the Northern Hemisphere (the mimosa tree ) blossoms and produces fruit from November to June or July...In the Southern Hemisphere it blooms primarily from September to January.

Looks like this tree isn't sure which hemisphere it is in, so it is blooming twice just in case.

I'm glad of it, and look forward to the branches being full of leaves again... bare branches offer little shade, and shade makes for a better reading spot.

See more of my pictures of this same tree as it has gone through its' cycle this year:

-- Mimosa leaves falling off
-- 6.02- Mimosa Flowers
-- 5.29- Mimosa Flower buds
-- 5.22- Mimosa leaves
-- 4.13- Mimosa Tree Budding

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10.8- Breakwater perch #2 - Heron edition

2008-10-08T12:55:00.003-04:00

A Blue Heron surveys Oriental Harbor from its' perch at the end of the Oriental Harbor breakwater.

Okay, this is becoming a series: birds perched on the breakwater... see the very similar photo of a Brown Pelican perched in pretty much the same spot in my posting of Oct. 1.

As in the Oct. 1 photo, I took this from about 15 to 20 feet away from the bird while sailing the Bauer dinghy back into the harbor after a brief sail out to Oriental marker #1.
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10.7- Where are we again?

2008-10-07T23:25:00.002-04:00

Town workers erect new banners - promoting Oriental as the Sailing Capitol of North Carolina - On Hodges Street

These banners promoting Oriental have been appearing at various strategic locations around town over the past couple of months.
Today a bunch more went up along Broad Street and Hodges Street, the main thoroughfares through town.
Apparently the Tourism Board found a good deal on the banners... I've noticed similar banners in other towns and cities. Must be something of a trend.
The crew was having a great time putting these signs up... the guy actually installing the signs was putting on a one-man show, cracking up the "ground crew" the entire time they were working their way down Hodges.
I think the signs look nice, with an attractive sailboat & gull motif, but I am getting a little worried about the explosion of Oriental's self-promotion signs that have sprouted up all summer long.
The Oriental History Museum has also been erecting "historical markers" around town also.
It's beginning to make me feel like I'm living in some sort of museum, with all the promotional vertical banners and the explanatory placards at every turn, just like the Smithsonian museums. Well, more about that later.

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10.5- Air supply

2008-10-05T21:18:00.003-04:00

Compressed air hose at Village Hardware

Village Hardware, on Broad Street (Hwy. 55) is a great place for such things as nuts, bolts, mosquito control, mulch and boat parts.

Not everyone may know that it is also the place to go to fill your tires with air. Even when the store is closed.

An air hose protrudes from the south side of the building, ready for all your low-tire issues, free of cost. I suggest you bring your own pressure gauge, however, since the built-in one seems to be off by about 10 psi (they always are).
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10.4- Slow Solos

2008-10-04T00:13:00.010-04:00

A number of sailboats in today's annual Neuse Solo Race were "wing-and-wing" in what passed for the "down-wind" leg of the race between the Garbacon Shoal marker and the Adam's Creek marker on the Neuse River.

(Click on picture or here for full size)

Solo sailors in today's Neuse Solo Race might've wished they had someone else on board to complain to about the lack of wind during most of the race.

I overheard a number of gripes from the fleet over the VHF while I too was attempting to sail on the Neuse.

One complainant broadcast that he was cruising at all of 0.3 knots... another captain responded he wished he had that kind of speed.

A number of captains repeatedly complained about the wakes from one chase boat interfering with what little momentum their sailboats achieved.

As the race time ran down with no boats nearing the finish, an increasing stream of captains well back in the pack called in to report they were abandoning the race... no doubt interested in getting back to the Tiki-Bar for post-race festivities.

The Committee Boat let it be known that the race would be called at 5:00 pm and finishing order would be based on the boats' positions at that time. No word yet on the winners.

The boats in today's photo are headed roughly towards the camera position, and appear "hull-down"... their hulls are not visible. The boats are about 3 to 4 miles away, the camera is only about one foot above the surface of the river, and the hulls of the boats probably stick up about four or five feet above the water... so the earth's curvature can account for some of the invisibility

... The BIG factor, however, is the REFRACTION OF LIGHT, creating an INFERIOR MIRAGE (the same thing that creates apparent "water" or "oil slick" near the horizon on highways or deserts).

The refraction caused as the light travels from cooler air to warmer air near the surface causes the light to curve away from the earth. Result is that you can't see what is actually in front of you, but you can see two of what is above you... the top "right-side-up" image of the tops of the sails is light traveling directly from the sails into the camera (or eye) while the bottom "upside-down" images are caused by light from the same objects traveling in a concave curve, first down toward the earth then back up and again into the camera (or eye). The light from the lower masts, trees and sails never reaches the camera, since it is also curving down towards the earth and then away from the earth and above the camera.

Click on the full size photo and you can really see the effect of refraction on the boats on the right side of the picture... You can see where the upright sails and trees of the shoreline meet what appears to be their reflection extending upside down from the bottom. This is a common optical illusion on the water: it makes distant shorelines, boats and other objects on the surface appear closer than they actually are (contrary to side-view mirrors on cars) because the refracted image makes it appear about twice as large.

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10.3- Overlapping seasons

2008-10-03T22:48:00.002-04:00

Signs in front of a Main Street residence indicate that shrimp season is now running into election season.

Fresh shrimp and candidates for elective office get equal billing in Ponce's yard.

While the message is clear on the Presidential ticket, the signs suggest possible household disagreement on the race for North Carolina House District 3; Norman Sanderson (R) is running against incumbent Alice Underhill (D) for the seat.

At least everyone can agree on the shrimp...

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10.1- Breakwater perch

2008-10-01T18:06:00.001-04:00

A Brown Pelican surveys the Neuse River from its' perch at the end of the Oriental Harbor breakwater

I photographed this brown pelican (one of my favorite subjects) from about
fifteen feet away as I was sailing around the breakwater in the Bauer
dinghy.

Usually birds perching on the breakwater fly away as I sail closer, but
this one stayed put, keeping one eye on me and the other on the river.
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9.27- Appeasing Poseidon

2008-09-27T23:55:00.002-04:00

Captain Tim Rogers waves down the approving "aargh"s from the crowd as he implores the graciousness of Poseidon during the naming ceremony for "Coriolanus"
(click on picture or here for full size)

Capt. Robbie today held a re-naming ceremony and party for his Catalina 25 at "Paradise Cove Marina" on Broad Creek.

In today's picture we see Captain Tim Rogers (a certified Captain with Oriental's "World Wide Marine Training, Inc.) as he pays homage to the ruler of the seas and asks that he guard the newly named "Coriolanus" with his mighty arm and trident and that he ensure her of safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within his realm.

For my non-boater readers: It is notoriously bad luck to rename a boat... See, the mighty Poseidon/Neptune keeps a register of all vessels sailing in his realm, and if you rename it you might be seen as trying to operate without his knowledge, which will of course only invoke his wrath.

Bad things happen to boats when they are renamed (this has been widely confirmed), unless the proper homage is payed and notification given to the ruler of the seas... and of course liberal offerings of libations into the water.

Re-naming ceremonies are also a great excuse to party with friends, and Capt. Robbie, his wife Sandy along with scores of family, friends and neighbors took full advantage by celebrating the event at Paradise Cove Marina to celebrate.

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9.26- "C-Brats" Meet

2008-09-26T23:59:00.008-04:00

A 25' Cruiser by "C-Dory" tied up at the Wildlife Ramp, waiting to get
underway to the "C-Brats" gathering at Whittaker Pointe Marina.
(Click on picture or here for full size)

About 40 "C-Dory" boats are gathering this weekend at Whittaker Pointe Marina here in Oriental... Many were putting in at the Wildlife Ramp, but others came to Oriental by river and/or ICW.

These smallish boats have a lot of cruising amenities; two berths in the bow, galley with sink and alcohol or diesel stove, available enclosed head / shower or dinette convertible to two berths plus a third pilothouse seat, 6'5" of headroom.

Last week I featured a "Ranger Tug R21," a similar small pilothouse cruiser, at anchor in the harbor...

One or two Ranger Tugs may be coming in for the meet, as Ranger owners are welcome in the "C-Brats" club.

See the C-Dory manufacturer's site from Fluid Marine.

See the "C-Brats" online forum site.

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9.25- Skywatch Friday - River of Light

2008-09-25T14:21:00.011-04:00

A shrimp trawler rides a river within a river... a river of light in the cloud shadows
on the Neuse River... into Oriental Harbor under skies darkened by extratropical storm 94L

Click on picture or here for full size

Today's SWF picture was taken about 1:00 p.m. local time, Thursday Sept. 25, from the Lou-Mac Park fishing pier on the Neuse River, facing southwesterly.

Extratropical storm 94L is quieting down after bringing heavy winds and a bit of rain to eastern North Carolina overnight. Rainfall in Oriental was measured at one half inch, but some gusty winds in the 40 mph range tore through town last night.

The prevailing northeast winds brought in by this storm over the past three days caused an unusually high wind tide along the coast, no exception for Oriental...
See my posts from earlier today and yesterday for views of the risen waters: scroll down or click here

The waters rose a bit more last night, but have been dropping steadily this morning.

The center of the storm is about to go ashore near the North Carolina-South Carolina border, and should quickly dissipate, though we may be in store for more rain over the next few days.

As the remnants of the storm move up the coast, the wind will veer, and the high waters will be blown back out into Pamlico Sound.

Read more about "L94" on WeatherUnderground at Jeff Masters' Wunder Blog.

See radar images of L94 from NOAA.

I look forward to seeing the other Skywatch pictures from around the world on the other SWF sites listed at:

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9.25- Why don't you kids go play out in the street?

2008-09-25T14:15:00.003-04:00

Kids playing on "boogie boards" in the wind-tide-inundated portion of Hodges Street.

The water is going down today as 94L approaches the South Carolina-North Carolina border and winds down a bit after a night of gusty winds in the 20-40 mph range.

These three kids were enjoying the "Hodges St. Beach"... a foot or more of water has covered the street since yesterday (see yesterday's post, below)

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9.24- "Slow No Wake"

2008-09-24T20:05:00.022-04:00

A driver ignores the "No Wake Zone" sign posted at the Hodges Street causeway, which was inundated by rising "wind tide" waters as a continuing Nor'easter pushes Pamlico Sound waters all the way up into Raccoon Creek.
(click on picture or here for full size)

... But of course this is not an official town of Oriental sign...

These three notorious pranksters (identities obscured) were photographed in the vicinity of the sign soon after it appeared... one of them carrying a roll of duct tape...
(click on picture or here for full size)

Sandy (on right) rescued the Farmer's Market signage from the rising waters covering the Farmer's Market area,
Melinda (left) and Sandy then stored the signs in the "Witts End" building, where they will be marginally safer from floating away...
(click on photo for full size)

Town Dock, also on the Hodges' St. causeway, was crowded not with boats, but with "street-gulls" who were enjoying undisturbed (mostly) access to the dock and to the 18 inches of water covering the roadway... Jack (the canine), who normally claims control of the centerline of Hodges St. by lying down on it, decided to let the gulls know just whose house they were in:

The seagulls adjusted to the unfamiliar sight of water-covered Hodges St. by gravitating towards the more familiar...

The mural on the side of the Garland Fulcher Seafood Market building... perhaps they were hoping some by-catch would be tossed from the "Brooke-Morgan"...

OK, here is the artsy shot of the day... You know it's artsy because it's monochrome... for full artsy effect, click on picture or here for full size:

Thanks to the Nor'easter, Capt. Ben didn't even need the dinghy to get out on the water today... the Dinghy Dock itself did the job nicely!

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9.22- Captain's Quarters porch #2

2008-09-22T22:36:00.001-04:00

Visitors gab with locals gathered on the porch of the Captain's Quarters Bed & Breakfast.

One of Oriental's informal gathering places, the porch of the Captain's Quarters B&B, today saw the B&B guests outnumbered by locals dropping by for conversation and libations.

Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd, particularly on this porch right on the main road through town, Broad Street (Hwy. 55).

From left to right; Patty, Sandy, Robby (all locals), Tom & Linda (visiting from Greenville, SC, home of the "Greenville Daily Photo" blog I visit regularly) and Tory (on last day of extended summer visit from Iowa). Other locals came by, visited and went on their ways during the afternoon, and the porch party was joined by other B&B guests and still going strong at 8:00 pm when I dropped by again.

Yes, I have featured the Captain's Quarters porch before in my posting of August 28 (featuring B&B owner Capt. Roy)... What can I say, it is a popular spot, pure Oriental, and I didn't feel like hunting for a picture today.

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