South Port to Coinjock, NC by Cindy

 We left Myrtle Beach when we got back from Tara's graduation and headed to Southport, NC hoping to meet up with our friends,  Joe & Barbara Hauer, who luckily had just arrived home in time to see us.  They had been on vacation in Boca Raton, where we just were with Tara!    Pete used to work with  Joe,  and he and Barbara got married since we last saw them on our way south in the fall.  CONGRATULATIONS to both of them!

 

Joe and his new bride joined us for dinner in Southport, NC

Did they have to remind us how far away Sophia is?

Nice park with swinging benches along the waterfront

I loved riding my bike around all the old houses (labeled by the historical society with the name of the original owner and the year built)  along the waterfront.

Southport is a lovely little sea town with lots of history.

More lovely old homes from the 17-1800's 

 

Next stop was just across the waterfront from Southport to Bald Head Island, which Pete had always wanted to see.  It's quite a prestigious island, approachable only by ferry or personal boat, with million(s) dollar homes, many of which are rented out by the week/month for resort vacations on the private island.

So, we rode our bikes around Bald Head Island...all natural beauty everywhere.  Even went for a ride with a realtor to look at some homes, before deciding it was a bit too isolated for us-at least for one of us!

 No cars are allowed, other than service vehicles-everyone drives golf carts or bicycles-above is the typical "road".

Enough of Bald Head Island...

On to Beaufort, NC

Beaufort looking for a dock

Boats galore



Beaufort, NC annual Music Festival just happened to be going on right next to our dock!

Right about here, we ran into our friends from the Exumas, the sister Tartan owners, Langaline-John and Nancy after not seeing them since we left the Bahamas!

But the biggest "coincidence" of all...
We had planned on seeing Pete's former Mother-in-law, Margaret, while in Beaufort, and before we had time to contact her,  Pete got an email from George, stating that he and Suzanne (the Mother of his children) had arrived the same day in Beaufort to celebrate Mother's Day with Margaret...
SO...
We all celebrated Mother's Day on Saturday together!  All three boarded HD,
Pete brought us all flowers,  and we had a lovely lunch at "Beaufort Grocery" (a restaurant!)

Happy Mother's Day flowers Sophia 'ORDERED' via Pete for Sanny and Great Gran Sanny

I had to kiss my babies from afar this Mother's Day after church (see below)

Lovely service at this old (1800's) First Baptist Church, Beaufort

The oldest graveyard I've ever seen-could hardly read the headstones

The next day we went to Oriental, NC and were able to get a slip at the "free dock" right across from the "Bean" coffee shop-it was wonderful.  I don't know why we don't have pics of this town-we loved it!  Everything for sailors-the perfect stop for just about anything a sailor could want.  We had dinner at this cute little M&M restaurant, Pete was able to get everything he needed at the hardware store and West Marine by bike and FINALLY, I was able to get my drapes for our portholes in our v-birth done by the local canvas seamstress.  Zac would be so proud! No more "hideous" paper ones!  Made with the leftover fabric from the matching pillows!

Oriental,  NC "The Sailing Capital of North Carolina" Very nice stop.  Would go back there again for sure!

Next stop, Coinjock, NC on the inter coastal strategically located marina in the middle of nowhere, where we ducked in to avoid a bad storm approaching us.  Last stop before Norfolk... And well worth the stop for the Prime Rib alone!

MASSIVE 32oz Prime Rib Dinner with all the fixins.

We split the dinner and here's what was left on Pete's plate!  Yum!
This one's for you, Chrissy!  You thought the eyes on the conch were bad??