Oriental and Beaufort

We returned for just one night to one of our favorite places on the ICW, Oriental, to the marina’s Tiki bar which we enjoyed briefly in spit of the cold temperatures. The best bath facilities yet were in Bellhaven, with towels provided and lots of bath amenities like hair dryer and clock radio for music, shampoo; but Oriental’s Marina is a close second.


 Enjoyed the first shrimp sandwich of the trip with southern style vinegar coleslaw at M & Ms

  after one of the more beautiful sunsets ever,

 We were able to sail most of the way from Bellhaven across the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers to Oriental as the wind had shifted to a more favorable 10-17 NW direction. On our walk to dinner we saw two river otters playing in the yacht basin.

After a bagel breakfast at favorite coffee spot "Bean",

it was on a calm Wednesday to Beaufort traveling the scenic Adams creek south a short 25 miles to beautiful Beaufort. On the way we saw our first dolphins first swimming alongside our vessel then the one traveling just behind us.




Our slip neighbor in Oriental, Matt and Kate who are Australians cruising for 3 years showed up across from us again in Beaufort and we all enjoyed the complimentary “wooden nickle” beer offered to slip renters at the Dock House restaurant, while we periodically checked our laundry progress.
  Still cold but with the sun out we get a few hours from 1-3p of relative warmth for the cats and ourselves to enjoy.




 Also docking here for the night was the Presidential yacht “Freedom” first commission I believe for Roosevelt.