Back in Beaufort, NC



Dawn over the marshes

Beaufort docks at night

After three pretty long days starting at dawn and ending near dusk, we made an average of 83 miles a day to get us up to Beaufort, NC, where we once owned a house and still have friends. We splurged and came into a slip at the Beaufort City Docks, right in the middle of the action. Our first day we rented a car and drove up to Sea Level, where we had built a vacation home. We first looked in on old neighbors Colleen and Ray who, unfortunately, are no longer in their house since it was ruined by hurricane Isabel and then Irene. They are renting a nice place and hoping to be able to win a lawsuit against the insurance agency to get enough money to tear down the old house (that Ray build himself) and rebuild. However, they are both getting up in age, so we're a bit worried for them.

The house we built in
Sea Level, NC

Bill, Pat and Carol, and Colleen
(seated) in our old kitchen/dining area

We took them to lunch at the Sea Level Inn, which used to have a very nice (and large) restaurant. Now, it's just a cafe, basically in the space that used to be the registration lobby for the Inn. The rest of the Inn has been turned into condos, mostly sold to fishermen who come down on weekends. So, one big disappointment there. Together with Colleen we then visited our old house, where very nice people (Carol and Patrick) now live. The house looks just the same, including the furniture (we had sold it furnished), the paint and paper on the walls, and all the curtains I had made. It made us feel very good to see it. Buzzing cousins who joined us there for a reunion will recognize the living room and dining area furniture.
Back in town, we've enjoyed just bummin' through the lovely town of Beaufort, eating lots of good food and listening to good entertainment every night from the bars. The winds have been high from Beryl, but are supposed to diminish tonight, so we plan to continue north tomorrow.