We traveled 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach Oriental. The town did have several free docks and we were able to secure one! We spent one night here and did ride our bikes to see the sights. The population is 1200 folks, 2 marinas, an ice cream store and M and M’s restaurant. It was an extremely friendly town and several folks stopped by and toured our boat. Oriental is known as the sailing capitol of North Carolina.
We had dinner at M and M’s with Chris and Laura (Miracle) and sat out in Adirondack chairs in the evening with fellow loopers including John Conclaves and Ellen Justice ( Salaud!), who we recently met at Beaufort. We also met another looper couple, Brenda and Shane Whitman (the Beachhouse), who had traveled in Canada and Great Lakes. Everyone is such a wealth of information and shared experiences with the navigators about wonderful spots to enjoy in the Chesapeake Bay.
Oriental City Marina pictured below.
The sailboat pictured on the left was built by Julie and Hugh Covert. They have a company called Drummond Island Tall Ship Company. They built this ship, “The Huron Jewel” with the goal of fulling their dream. ” If you don’t name your dream it will never happen”. Julie said.
The boat is on a 9 month Dream Inspiration Tour, sailing to inspire others to do what it takes to make their dreams a reality. They give tours, and can do cruises for parties of 10. You can follow them at:
www.DITallShip.com
I had to say a final goodbye to my dear friend Jean. Her son Ian said it best in his beautiful obituary tribute to his mother and her breast cancer diagnosis. “Her fight would continue the rest of her life and come to define her humble, inspiring, resilient character that endeared her to her community. The love she brought into this world will live on”
Jean Fisher
September 28, 1959-April 2, 2023
Jody,
Lovely tribute by you (and Ian) for sweet Jean. May she now rest in eternal peace and those of us who knew her, be a little kinder, laugh a little louder, and show more compassion just like she did.