Through a series of storms and gales, waterways and gators I
find myself in the shrimping town of Oriental and deeply in love with North
Carolina. I understand now why James Taylor sang “In my mind I’m going to
Carolina, can you see the sunshine, can’t you just feel the moonshine…” A song
written about a mental escape he took while signing his largest record deal in
London, when the pressure caused him to hit his boiling point he went to his
childhood home in his mind. I get it, seeing more changing beauty in the last
week than some see in a life time. Its hard to write about what I have seen or
done, I simply don’t have the capacity or ability to translate it to paper.
Same with taking pictures, which I love to do but most of the time I don’t since
the only way to capture this or share it with you would cause you to have to
stand next to me. If you did, you would never regret it. Words and books can
expand your world, take you places, make you feel, but remember no matter how
good the picture or how powerful the words, all those thoughts are synthesized.
Sitting in the corner of the local coffee house, ordained
with oriental dragons and standing room only I feel lucky to have a seat. Across
the street the shrimp fleet sits proud on inky black water, birds sit lazily on
the pilings, three dogs sit on the porch waiting for their owners to drink up
and get going. Every ten minutes or so one in particular climbs up on the table
at the window and knocks on the glass, gives her master a look then climbs
down. I guess he isn’t moving fast enough for her this morning. The “bean” is
the crossroads where cruising sailors, watermen and locals collide. A bumper
sticker on the register reads, I (heart) my Barista. My guess is it was stuck
there by a Seattle sailor as some sort of homage, I am sure a barista somewhere
in Pikes is feeling the love but not here, barista is a foreign word. Behind
the counter stands pure southern charm and humor. A man walks in an says to the
girl, “darling do you have a potty mouth?”. “Sometimes” she says and smiles,
“when I drink too much coffee, but I guess you’re lucky since I am the nice
one”. “Well then I will have a coffee since you are being so nice” I am more
than sure they know each other, heck I have been here two days and already know
everyone (Proven!! As I was writing this a woman walks in and says “I have a
question for everyone. Does anyone have Jessie Edwards phone number?” She had
it two seconds later) I am quickly
finding that there is only 2 degrees of separation between everyone. It is a
bit surprising that I was almost kidnapped last night. That story I will save
for a book.
In many ways I don’t want to leave. There is a smooth pace
here that is tranquil. I have been offered a free dock but don’t want to take
it. Anchored up a creek that is so still you can see a leaf drop by the shore
and watch the water ripples run to the bay, where my morning views are heart
stopping and the night so still it takes me to the deepest parts of sleep. When
I got here, I carefully made my way up the creek and picked a suitable spot in
front of a nice house and dropped anchor. After getting settled I called a long
time friend and Oriental resident RC Clements. “Where are you” he asked……..”oh
your anchored in front of my house” . I couldn’t have picked a better spot if I
tried.
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| No editing was done to this image. This is what I say when I woke up this morning. |
For those of you who do not know, I am on the ICW (intercostal
water way). Think of it as a water highway that runs inland through bays,
rivers, creeks, swamps, lakes and canals, stretching and winding from New
Jersey to Key West. As soon as you set adrift on the ICW you become a part of a
family of transient boaters from all over the world that are there to help you
in every way. Usually you meet these people in a said town or anchorage, having
dinner together, coffee, cocktails or just talking. Most have no idea where
they are going, some Columbia, others Australia, Panama, Key West and some have
to go home soon. You make connections exchange info. In the morning you will leave and head here
or there and they go their own way, sometimes you go together. Usually you run
into each other days later and get together again. In just a few weeks I have
met everyone from bikers to Brits, adventurers to 20 something’s escaping
corporate life and yes a ton of Canadians. It’s really cool and the stories you
hear make it even more worthwhile. From
here, there are a few must see’s en route, but most of us are gunning for
Charleston SC, A: because its charming as hell B: its warm. The 27*f/-3*c nights are rough. 
For additional photos please view my facebook http://www.facebook.com/james.munsey.5
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