SeaKnots

Going through some older files, I came across the little piece I wrote for Carolina Currents magazine a few years ago. It was the first time I was paid for writing ... though it wasn't all that much ;)  Anyway, I thought I'd share it, as it helps explain why I chose North Carolina as the place to stop and work.

Love at First Sail

 

     It had been a long day reaching the Beaufort Inlet from Wrightsville Beach. A naval exercise to go around, wind on the nose, and once inside, my unfamiliarity lead me past the turn into the Beaufort Harbor and on under the Bridge. With the sun setting, I tried in vain to get to Town Creek, only to keep running aground. I finally gave up, found a spot off the ICW channel, and dropped the hook for the night. With the dawn, I heading into Core Creek on the way north to the Neuse.

     As the geometric neatness of the Canal opened into the tree lined shores of Adams Creek, I felt for the first time, that I was in North Carolina. Gone was the urban sprawl of Wrightsville Beach and the industrial mien of Morehead City. Meandering alone through the scattered markers, I felt, not a sense of arriving, but of returning. As though I had passed this way before, even though it was my first passage through these tea colored waters. Having made my way north in offshore hops, I felt somewhat unprepared for winding my way through the channel up to the Neuse and my intended stop in Oriental. With a turn to port though, I had my first glimpse of the country's widest river.

     Unlike the glacial rivers of Alaska I had canoed on, and broader than the lakes of Indiana and Michigan I had sailed on in my youth, once on the Neuse, I could readily understand why Oriental called itself the sailing capital of North Carolina. For here, on this wide, slow-moving river, one had a host of choices to take advantage of whichever way the wind was blowing. East or west, bank to bank, it was a sailboat playground. Eager for a real shower and a good night's rest though, I made my way across to Oriental.

     Refreshed and re-energized, the next morning found me wandering the streets of Oriental and experiencing for the first time, what I would come to find throughout my time in North Carolina. For it seemed, those I met, far from being strangers, where old friends I hadn't had the chance to visit for too long a time. And there was an unexpected feeling of coming home, that while surprising, also seemed perfectly natural. I could find though, no ready explanation for this easy assimilation, nor cause to question it. Absent the eerie dim recall of deja-vu, it seemed part and parcel of the land, water, and people I had landed in the midst of.

     And so began my love affair with North Carolina. From New Bern to Elizabeth City, Edenton to Manteo, my appreciation for all that North Carolina had to offer only grew fuller with each passing day. Whether it was experiencing people and places I had read about, like The Bean and Fred Fearing, meeting online friends in Manteo and New Bern, or the many new friends and sights throughout the state, I knew I was hooked on North Carolina.

     So remember, if some morning as you're enjoying that first cup of coffee and you hear the faint whistling of "Carolina in the Morning" come across the water, it's probably this goofy love-struck sailor.

Views: 26

Comment

You need to be a member of SeaKnots to add comments!

Join SeaKnots

Comment by Marlene Anne Sassaman on February 26, 2012 at 10:34am

I think I sent you a comment; hate to rewrite same. Basically, I am glad you shared your story! Stay safe,,,,

Latest Activity

Patrick Findaro posted a discussion

Pain in my head when I cough

Experiencing head pain when you cough is a condition known as a cough headache. It can have several possible causes, ranging from benign (not harmful) to more serious conditions. Here's a breakdown: Pain in my head when I cough1. Primary Cough HeadacheWhat it is: Benign and not linked to any underlying disease.Symptoms:Sudden, sharp pain in the head triggered by…See More
Nov 29
Muhammadd posted blog posts
Nov 28
Muhammadd posted discussions
Nov 28
Muhammadd is now a member of SeaKnots
Nov 28
Patrick Findaro posted a discussion

ทำไมถึงต้องเลือกเล่นกับ UFABET เว็บตรง ?

 การเลือกเล่นกับ UFABET เว็บตรง ไม่เพียงแต่ทำให้คุณได้รับประสบการณ์การเดิมพันที่ดี ขึ้น แต่ยังเสริมสร้างความมั่นใจในด้านความปลอดภัย ความน่าเชื่อถือ และโอกาสในการทำกำไรที่สูงกว่า ดังนั้น หากคุณกำลังมองหาเว็บไซต์เดิมพันที่ตอบโจทย์ความต้อง การของคุณ การเลือกเว็บไซต์เดิมพันออนไลน์ที่เหมาะสมถือเป็นหนึ ่งในขั้นตอนที่สำคัญที่สุดสำหรับนักพนันทุกคน ในบรรดาตัวเลือกมากมายที่มีอยู่ในตลาด UFA เว็บตรง โดดเด่นในหลายด้านที่ทำให้เป็นทางเลือกที่ควรพิจารณา อย่างยิ่ง ทำไมนักพนันออนไลน์ถึงต้องเลือกเดิมพันกับยูฟ่า…See More
Nov 15
Profile IconOnewebinc and Frank Berg joined SeaKnots
Nov 14
Patrick Findaro posted a discussion

L’utilisation de l’application 1win est-elle sûre?

Des milliers d’utilisateurs maliens passent quotidiennement du temps sur app 1win, qui répond parfaitement à leurs besoins. Les parieurs peuvent parier sur 50 sports et sports électroniques et plus de 500 marchés de paris pour chaque match, tandis que les joueurs ont accès à plus de 11 000 jeux dans une grande variété de genres. 1win application peut être téléchargée sur n’importe quel téléphone intelligent ou tablette…See More
Nov 12
Patrick Findaro posted a discussion

How Lithium Batteries Work?

 Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable energy storage systems that power a wide range of devices, from smartphones to electric vehicles. They work by moving lithium ions between two electrodes — a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode) — through an electrolyte medium. Here’s a breakdown of the process and components:1. Key ComponentsAnode (Negative Electrode): Commonly made of graphite, the anode releases lithium ions during discharge and absorbs them during…See More
Nov 10
ADVERTISE ON SEAKNOTS CONTACT US AT: 
candrac@sailforwater.com

© 2024   Created by CAN DRAC.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service