Untethered : May 2017

After we finished our project in the East Bay of California, we came home for a couple of weeks to take care of the house. We opened the pool on April 19th, a balmy 85 degree day. Right after we opened the pool the temperatures in Massachusetts dropped to the 50's. We decided to take a road trip while Wayne waited for the next project.

First stop along the journey was to have lunch in New Haven, CT with David and Bob. Pleasant day in New Haven and then we were on the road south. Spent our first night sleeping in the car in Maryland.

Off we went on Tuesday, May 11th to see Ron and Sheila Nash in Norfolk, VA. We thoroughly enjoyed our short visit with them touring Norfolk (East Ocean View) and seeing the places where Keith's parents (Betty and Claude) lived when they were there, as well as the family homes of Keith's grandparents.

It was great taking the tour of Norfolk, going to Rebel Marine, where Keith's Dad was the Captain of the Carolina Rebel, the sister tug to the Steel Rebel. Now only the Norfolk Rebel remains.

Keith having so much fun, out front of Rebel Marine

Norfolk Rebel and marina

After visiting with Ron and Sheila, we continued our trip to places Keith lived as a child and young adult. We stopped at the locks in Great Bridge Lock Park on the Inter-Coastal Waterway and watched a sailboat traveling through the locks.

Draw bridge is up in Great Bridge

Great Bridge Lock Park

Inter-coastal Waterway, Great Bridge, VA

Sailboat traveling up the lock, waiting for the draw bridge to reopen

Later that day we found ourselves in Manns Harbor, North Carolina visiting Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Billy. We had an incredible time visiting them for a couple of days. So appreciative to have met them and Keith to reconnect.

First night in Manns Harbor

We had an awesome first evening just chatting and visiting for hours. We went to bed for the evening and looked forward to the new day upon us. We drove around Manns Harbor exploring the area.

Fish heads from early morning catch

East Lake Church

Cemetery at East Lake Church, rich in the history of East Lake and Manns Harbot

Our driving to find East Lake we came upon these wild flowers

Manns Harbor Post Office

Old Post Boxes where Keith's Aunt Inez Gibbs was Post Master

We made our way over to Manteo and Wanchese. Keith and I went to Manteo to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site where the English settlement was in 1585, known as the 'Lost Colony'. We walked around the area of the mounds (fort) and the English Garden. We were able to watch the reenactment of the story of the 'Lost Colony' during rehearsal.

Marker for the 'New Fort in Virginia' July- August 1585, the site of the first English settlers in America.

Really awesome depiction of what the fort looked like. An archaeological dig starting while we were visiting.

The Elizabethan Garden

The entrance to the Elizabethan Garden

We were able to spend an hour walking around and tour the historic site and see the Elizabeth II, replica of the ship the colonists sailed from England.

Elizabeth II

Pier in Manteo

On May 12th we said goodbye to Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Billy to make our way south to Wilmington, NC to see family then continue to Savannah, GA to bring Jimmy and Beverly's sailboat, s/v Good Hope up to Wilmington. We decided to drive down the barrier islands, which take longer but so worth the trip. Nothing but truly amazing and beautiful even if it rains.

Uncle Billy kept his deep sea fishing charter boat, Pelican here

Hateras style boats in the marina

This was not Uncle Billy's boat but had the same name

After leaving Oregon Inlet took the Atlantic Coast route across the barrier islands. We found isolated beaches, mountainous dunes along the route with wild winds blowing across them, many historic sites along the way. The route is long with miles of barrier islands with resort towns along Nags Head down the Outer Banks to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

The longest beaches I have ever seen, something Keith experienced living in NC

Keith loving just being on the Outer Banks

Marker for the Graveyard of the Atlantic

Wayne at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, standing on the original location of the light

New location of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Looking over Hatteras from the lighthouse

Looking out from the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Looking out at the parking lot and former location of the lighthouse

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in her new location

We took a ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke then from Ocracoke to Cedar Island. This trip is so worth it, no matter how long it would have taken. The is beautiful and yes, it was off season.

We took the Roanoke from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke. The ferry ride was a nice break from driving.

Entering the harbor in Ocracoke

Vista from across the street from the ferry dock

Beach on Ocracoke

Ocracoke Lighthouse

We had time to have lunch in Ocracoke at a nice restaurant, sitting outdoors enjoying the cloudy day. The weather was nice despite the intermittent showers. We had a very nice lunch at Dajio then we drove over to the lighthouse before we had to take the 16:00 ferry bound for Cedar Island.

The view from the ferry of Ocracoke Lighthouse

Orcacoke Island

The site in the distance is beautiful

Coming into Cedar Island

Coming towards Cedar Island

That evening we arrived in Wilmington to a very warm greeting from Beverly. We chatted for a while before we finally hit a wall and had to sleep. The next morning, May 13th we woke to coffee brewing and hung around the house with Beverly before heading to Jackson Big Oak BBQ for lunch. We had Hush puppies and corn bread sticks with our barbecue. Keith was in North Carolina BBQ HEAVEN!

Cornbread Sticks

Saturday, May 14th was amazing, taking in Wilmington Historic area and then Kure Beach. This City is really beautiful, full of Southern charm and history. The City has a renovated River Walk that is expanding along the Cape Fear River.

These photos do not capture how really beautiful this City is....

Captain John Harper House, neoclassical revival

Honnet House, built 1881

Statue in the garden of the Honnet House

USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial across the Cape Fear River

Looking up the Cape Fear River

Riverwalk along the Cape Fear

Historic Wilmington retains the beauty of old, Riverwalk is a must see with restaurants along the banks of the Cape Fear River

Restaurants along the river looking towards Memorial Bridge

After walking around Historic Wilmington and Riverwalk we decided to drive over to Kure Beach and Fort Fisher to find the point where Keith walked to Bald Head Island. The beaches here are long and wide, clean sand and the water was a little cool compared to the high 80's temperatures with high humidity.

Fort Fisher

Perfect day for the beach, we walked along the jetty where people were fishing and spending time with their families

Natural landscape along the fort

Dunes leading up to the top of the hill and a magnificent view

A surprise at the top, Memories By The Sea Mail Box

Kure Beach, long white sand beach, clean with plenty of room to spread out. We had a gorgeous beach day.

Mid 80's and perfect for the beach and a swim

May 15th, on the road again, loving North Carolina. We are enjoying ourselves and the break from New England weather. We are going to look at Keith's property in Bolivia. Will be a fun trip and then cross the bridge to Oak Island.

Bolivia (Half Hell) is pretty much undeveloped, area of old tobacco fields, drying houses, farms and silos. Very quaint rural life. There is a cemetery to the back of the property with really great tombstones.

Calvin Williams 1898-1910

Beach on Oak Island is AMAZING!

Drove from the south of the island then to the north. The lighthouse it on the north.

Beautiful channel between the islands

Oak Island Lighthouse

After our tour of Oak Island we were off to Southport, NC. Southport is a stunning town with a beautiful waterfront and historic streets adding to its Southern charm. We relaxed taking a slow leisurely tour of the town at first then stopped to take in the Waterfront Park. We sat on the swing and just listened to the birds and watch people fishing. Then we walked around the historic streets, stopped for a coffee then went back to Wilmington.

View from the Waterfront Park

Another view from Waterfront Park

Old Brunswick County Jail, Built 1904 and used for 70 years

Victorian style painted homes

Beautiful bungalows

We arrived in Wilmington to meet a friend, Tom Noonan at his house then go to dinner. We ended up eating at Carolina BBQ and Wayne had his first Senior Buffet Dinner.

Carolina BBQ

We spent a week with Keith's cousin, Beverly at her home in Greenfield Lake. We toured Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, listened to live jazz at Burnt Mill Creek and made some new friends while there.