Thursday, July 2, 2009

June 30, 2009: Morehead City, NC






Our route this morning was very nostalgic in that it took us up the ICW to the high bridge where NC Highway 58 crosses over to Bogue Banks. This is the regular route from Raleigh to Emerald Isle and the view of green grass and sparkly water from the top of this bridge is beautiful.

So how do we know we are back in North Carolina? Today was the first time in months that we have seen a field of tall leafy corn stalks waving their tassels in the breeze. This farm was a narrow strip between the water way and a ball field. You also see little models of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse in someone's yard. We passed the NC State Center for Marine Sciences, a beautiful, 4 story brick lab and learning center on the edge of Bogue Sound.


We anchored just off Homer’s Marina and took the Caribe on a mission to find the Crab Shack, one of our favorite local seafood places, in the heart of downtown SalterPath. We looked for a tall landmark on the north side of the sound to help us in finding the long way back across. Tom did a good job of navigating and after our 20 minute ride, we were able to dock the dinghy at Homer’s Seafood and Marina. The food at the Crab Shack was wonderful, and a quick trip to the Seafood market included a purchase of local shrimp and a pound of backfin crab meat packed in Oriental, NC.

We continued along the way pass the Atlantic Beach Bridge, the tall arching bridge connecting Morehead City with the barrier island. We was a huge barge being filled with sand by a crane dredging the channel there. A tug boat was and down the the US Coast Guard Station. We rode around the point at the Fort Macon State Park until the waves began to be the ocean swells and then turned around. We went to shore briefly to take a swim off the wide sandy beach rimming the fort property. The small dunes there were filled with gaily swaying sea oats.

For dinner we had planned to meet Bob and Penny at the Sanitary Fish Market. However when we turned in behind the little island that buffers restaurant row, there were already 3 boats tied up at Tony’s. We were not sure what to do, but as we continued along the little creek, we discovered that at the end of Sixth Street, there was a public pier. Amazingly enough, this short city dock was totally empty and hence there was room there for us to dock. We shared the dock with a tall white egret who was looking for his dinner.

We pulled in right next to the Carolina Princess in her own slip next to the public dock. The decks of the big red and white deep sea fishing boat looked like a bee hive. People were unloading and lining up with their catch of the day for one of the three fishing guides to clean their fish.


So having safely docked the boat, we walked down to the Sanitary Fish Market and met Bob and Penny for supper. I had the Crab and Corn soup and it was delicious. We also walked over to DeeGee’s book store across the street. It has become one of our family traditions. DeeGee’s was run for years by Edwin Vorhees, and avid water color artist. Tom has one of his originals that came by way of his father’s friendshop with Vorhees; it is a scene of sand dunes, sea oats and light. DeeGee’s is the oldest book store in North Carolina; although my personal experience visiting there doesn’t go back that far, opening in 1934.

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