Drew and Deb sailing: Sounds of the South - Coming to Oriental and River Dunes

Only in the south

The beginning of the day with an awesome sunrise and sliver of a silver moon:

Entering NC

How do you know you've entered the south?

You know you’re in the south when the weather warms up, you can go swimming, palm trees start appearing in the landscape, everyone is a bit friendlier and chatty, and there are names like the Pungo River, Pamlico River, Beau and Bubba, and then a few other experiences.

[We are in Oriental, NC almost at the SC border, taking off from Moorehead City.]

Here’s a tree frog I’ve never seen up north; note the pool I swam in today in the background:

It was dosing on the ladder pole and then:

On the VHF radio there are three channels boaters monitor while moving in the water: 16 - emergency and calling, 13 - bridge to bridge, and 9 - calling. Any announcement from the US Coast Guard comes on channel 16, like searching for a lost kayaker that happens fairly often, or staying away from a US Warship. The other channels boaters use to talk to one another.

Here are 3 audio messages from fellow boaters. We could not understand one southern word from this guy. Can you?

Now you can order Shrimp and grits (these in Bel Haven, NC -- I’ve mostly finished it.)

We were near Camp Lejeune and some US War jets were flying around high and low and loud. Darn, I can't get the download, but it was loud and lasted an hour or so at end of day!

Here are a few pictures on our way from an anchorage in Alligator River (never seen alligators though people say they are definitely there) to River Dunes, Oriental, NC.

Glassy waters to start the day out of the anchorage.

colorful tug with secret cargo closed up.

Halloween is coming in Bel Haven

Mansion in Bel Haven restored

Jib aloft Yea sailing again.

Mazu momentarily up from the aft cabin for a view. Are we near land yet?

River Dunes is a community developed to look like it's built with turn of the century standards, solid and colonial, but new. There are homes of every size all with the restored architecture of one excellent builder. It is slowly growing and selling its 800 building lots to make a whole beautiful neighborhood.
Around River Dunes: