10/27/13

We left Washington at 8:40 am, travelling to Oriental, NC - 56 miles.  Just before 1:00 p.m. we were hailed by the Coast Guard and asked "when was the last time you were boarded?"  John told them he didn't remember and with that, they said "take it out of gear Captain, we're sending two people to board you".  It was a little nerve wracking but they were very nice and a half hour later we were on our way with no deficiencies, which is a good feeling.

The Coast Guard Boat that boarded us.
 

A short time later, we saw our first shrimp boats in Hobucken, NC.

Shrimp boats in Hobucken, NC

We pulled into the 48-hour free dock in Oriental, NC, and guess who's there.  Jack and Pat on "Meant to Be".  They probably think we're stalking them.  Ha Ha!  We shared a potluck dinner with them on their boat after cocktails.  The next morning they headed to Beaufort after spending four days in Oriental.  

l. to r. Pat, Jack, Debbie, John at Oriental, NC

  On Monday, 10/28/13, John took a bike ride to West Marine to get a replacement cockpit light.  I think we've been to every West Marine in every town we've been in.  We've spent more there than we have in fuel.  LOL!  Later we took bikes to go shopping for thank you cards and stamps.  Hopefully I'll get them written and mailed soon.

Oriental claims to be the Sailing Capital of North Carolina.  Actually, there were a lot of sailboats in the town, but I'm not quite sure it's the sailing capital of the state.  The town was originally known as Smith's Creek but in the 1880's the local postmaster's wife thought that name was lacking.  She had the nameplate from a Union boat that sunk during the Civil War, named Oriental, and hence, the name was changed.  Oh, the power of a woman, especially one married to a postmaster.

In the 1970's or 80's, the town decided they needed something "Oriental" to go with their name, so they adopted a town mascot of a dragon.  Today they have "dragon boat" races annually, as well as parades featuring a real live dragon costume from China that takes about six people to carry.