We both ran three miles yesterday, and this morning I found myself awaking early (6:30 a.m.), in time to watch the sunrise. It was not as spectacular as last night, creeping up slowly behind some clouds, peeking through the curtains from time to time.
It always amazes me that we can witness both the sunrise and the sunset from our dune-top deck on this south-facing beach, especially this time of year when the winter sun is low on the horizon. The above photos were both taken there, facing east and west. There are not many places in North America where that can happen.
The forecast calls for rain the next two days, so I decided to get in another short run this morning. When I returned, we decided it would be a good day to visit a place we have not yet been to this year, Oriental. Oriental is a little Town a little over an hour away by road, but the driving distance can be cut in half my taking the ferry from Cherry Branch to Minnesott, a short 20-minute ride. I looked at one website that said the ferry would depart Cherry Branch at 11:15, and we arrived at 11:00, in plenty of time. A young man waved us aboard immediately as we approached the ferry landing, so we drove onto the ferry, only to discover that it began sailing away. Another website showed the correct departure time to be not 11:15 but 11:00, which was exactly when it left.
I had thought I might have time to stop in the ferry office to use the restroom, and we wondered later what would have happened if Martha had dropped me off, driven onto the ferry, and sailed away. I suppose I would have taken the next ferry to Minnesott, on foot. But perhaps she would have taken the ferry back again. We could have waved as we passed each other, two ships passing each other on the broad Neuse River.
North Carolina has a wonderful ferry system, and we are always surprised that it costs absolutely nothing. Shouldn't they at least be charging $1.00, or even $5.00 per car? We would gladly pay that much to avoid 30 minutes of driving. And they missed an opportunity, I thought, not naming this ferry "The Oriental Express."
Oriental is only a short drive from the ferry terminal in Minnesott. It is a pretty little place filled with boats, and it bills itself as "The Sailing Capital of North Carolina." Our first destination was lunch at a restaurant we had discovered last year called The Silos, constructed within two side-by-side farm silos. Delicious sandwiches, and very inexpensive as well.
The Silos must have been the brainchild of a child of the 60s and 70s, because inside there is a small performing stage and amplifiers, and lots of guitars hanging around. The ceiling is covered with album covers from that era; I craned my neck to see some of them.
After lunch, we drove down to a little shop we had also discovered last year called Nautical Wheelers, filled with nice sportswear and interesting nautical merchandise. We always like wandering through the rooms of these old houses that have been converted into shops. A sign on the front wall told us that this building had been the Emma and Claud Edmundson house, circa 1904.
Then we drove down to the Oriental town docks and looked at some of the hundreds of sailboats docked here. There was not much activity this time of year, but it looks like this place thrives in the summertime - truly a "Sailing Capital" - with many condos and accommodations on shore, close by the boat slips where nautical wanderers can stay.
We returned to Minnesott right on time (better informed about the correct departure time), and the ferry sailed back across the Neuse River. There were only four or five vehicles on the ferry, as there had been this morning, but I decided to investigate the "Passenger Lounge" upstairs, discovering a pleasant area seating perhaps a hundred passengers. But there were only two members of the crew up there, and I chatted with them for awhile. I told them that the last time I had been on a ferry was from Dublin to Britain and it was so large it had a shopping mall and two restaurants. They seemed impressed, and asked me how long the trip took - of course they would - and I told them three hours.
We returned via Beaufort and, because it was a mild afternoon and no wind, walked along the waterfront for awhile. A sail boat was anchored out in Taylor's Creek, and Martha said, "Look! A cat!" And sure enough a large gray cat was patrolling the deck - you can see him in this picture, about midship.
It was a nice, relaxing day, far from the usual places we inhabit out here on the coast, gazing at sailboats and wondering what that kind of life would be like, sailing from place to place, anchoring in quiet little towns like Oriental and Beaufort, and watching glorious sunsets while our cat padded quietly on deck. I might name such a cat Ishmael.
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