Heavenly North Carolina

First, a return visit to Alligator River

At the foot of the Alligator Bridge the gas station / gift shop / food counter is a popular rest stop for US Hwy 64 motorists and for ICW boaters.  In the words of the patron who walked in behind us “this place never changes.”

Alligator River – Fried Chicken

We have stayed at the marina numerous times over the past 5 years. The fried chicken was sooo good we would talk about it for days; the well-seasoned cook was a charming southern woman, who seemed to put her heart and soul into every meal!  Unfortunately, this time she was not there, and I don’t think she shared her secret recipes with her replacement. So Disappointed. Gail B was smart enough to order a salad – which came with hamburger pickles, so odd. On a side note, we hope NP43 Beach Breeze, fka Gypsy Soul, is doing well.

The replica of Cape Hatteras lighthouse remains a fav.

Belhaven, NC; Spoon River

Formerly known as Jack’s Neck, then Bellport, the waterfront village of Belhaven earned its official name in 1899.

And the heavens opened up … On September 23, as Ophelia made landfall, a storm surge flooded the entire town of Belhaven. Like most of Mother Nature’s annoying natural disasters, the devastation was quick and widespread.

This video is from LiveStorms Media

We arrived less than two weeks after the flood; in spite of Ophelia’s unjustifiable mayhem, irrepressible businesses were reopening.

Our favorite restaurant, Spoon River Artworks and Market, was amongst the most Resilient! Farm to Table meals prepared by Mark and Teresa.

Travelers – Make the time to eat there – It’s a MUST!

FINE WINE TIME! Instead of a printed wine list, you walk into a beautiful room, where you can pick out your own treasure.

Oriental, NC; River Dunes

If you read our posts this summer you know we were on a quest throughout Maine and Canada to see a moose, any moose, with no luck at all. Amused to see this trophy in North Carolina!

Morehead City, NC

Morehead is another walkable town, with well-maintained structures.

Boater’s Tip – This year the annual North Carolina Seafood Festival and Boat Show is/was from October 6 – 8. Celebrating nearly 40 years, the three-day event reportedly attracts more than 200,000 – Capt. Rick was VERY happy to miss the crowds.

Hampstead, NC; Harbor Village Marina

We also found this boat name adorable – for Ray and Caryl– notice, Little Bit is the tender, Little Bit More is the Rossmore

Boater’s Tip:  Harbormaster Brett Ulisnik is likely to have a dog treat in his pocket!  A quiet little spot, there are no restaurants nearby making it a perfect night to eat on board.

Southport, NC

Southport is a picturesque waterfront community! A walkable spot, with charming local store fronts. Not surprisingly, it is a popular filming location, with more than 30 listed on IMDB (click here), including Dawson’s Creek, Weekend at Bernies and Safe Haven (for Linda Palmer)!

Halloween Decoration for Morgan

Brothers from Another Mother Reunited!

Say hello to Mark Cardone – Rick’s brother from another mother. Together they tell LOTS of stories of the good old days. Fun fact: Mark’s son was our wedding photographer!

In honor of the wine-infused Italian meals typically concocted by Mark – which we have enjoyed together for more than 15 years – Rick and I prepared dinner on Exhale; handmade meatballs and “gravy” slow cooked for nearly eight hours, to be served over angel hair nests. The boat was smelling yum-a-licious by the time they arrived.

You might notice the familiar attire – Rick and Mark have a very similar collection of those Costco shirts!

Mark and his wife, Linda Palmer, are former neighbors from Belmont Shore, CA. Oh how we missed you guys, including the champagne corks that Mark would aim at our home, across the alley.

In May of this year they moved to North Carolina, a HUGE change from our beloved beach community in California! 

If you want to take a break from your day, click here to check out the UTube channel launched by Mark and Linda, with segments about travel, pets (they have three cats and more than a dozen wild deer), Halloween (it’s an obsession), and an irreverent cooking show. Parent Advisory: some of the 1-Minute Recipes are not for kids!

Looking forward to seeing you in Florida, Mark and Linda!

Celebrating with sweet Golden Ours

Southport is also the home of Tim and Tracy Harris, NP 45 Golden Ours.

Tracy loves Buttercup – you can see it’s mutual!

Boater’s Tip: With so many great places to eat in Southport, stay an extra day or more so you can explore!

Thanks for the Flowers, Tim Harris! Can’t wait to see you and Tracy again!

Closing with a bonus photo for Craig and Commodore Gary, NP45 Knot Dreamin – zoom in!

Celebrating Milestones.

It’s Fall! Wishing a very merry un-birthday to all y’all!

Coming Up:  Little River, South Carolina – where we first met Bruce Peck, MV Seatrek in 2018.  I think it’s time for a lemon drop martini 🙂 You should be here Craig Adford! See you soon in Austin.