Month: October 2013

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A Quickie at Oriental, NC

Looking at the breakwater and commercial fishing vessels inside as we approach

Looking at the breakwater and commercial fishing vessels inside as we approach

Our adjustable trip planner (I am going to patent this) is getting a workout. After several iterations and finally deciding on this sequence, starting with where we’d anchor Saturday night: Juniper Bay, Oriental, Beaufort (anchor at Ft Macon) then jump outside Tuesday to Wrightsville Beach (Masonboro Inlet), we changed it in the blink of an “ah-ah” moment.

Just before reaching Oriental, I looked at our planner. Russ had just updated it with the new NOAA forecast. Hum, let’s see, virtually no wind tonight and tomorrow showed very light winds out of the East. We had an extra day available if we made Sunday a long travel day to Ft Macon. Duh- let’s go to Cape Lookout! Ever since we heard that it is a slice of Bahamas transported and plopped six miles off Beaufort, NC, we’ve tried to get out there. Last spring we came within a day of getting out there, but you know the tune- yep the weather turned crappy. But here we are, lady luck sitting on the tramps again. She’s felt chilly at night when the temps drop to 48 but she warms right up during the daytime highs of mid-sixties. This constant climate change means regular outfit changes throughout the day of course.

Two choices immediately presented themselves. One, we could skip Oriental and go straight out to Cape Lookout tonight. Or we could spend less than two hours in Oriental, pick up a few groceries, then end the day at Beaufort’s Ft Macon. We’d make the short trip out to Cape Lookout mid-morning and spend the day. Tuesday as planned, we’d head for Wrightsville Beach, the detour to Cape Lookout only adding two miles to our 70nm day. So what’s a couple more when you are already pushing hard to do 70?

I needed more fresh veggies and fruit; eating and cooking healthy consumes a lot of produce 🙂  We anchored outside the breakwater at 12:50- so daring- and zoomed in. Half of the limited anchoring space inside the breakwater is filled with long-termers. One in particular, is the hot, hot topic in town and on the Cruiser’s Forum. So hot that the thread was recently closed down after over 300 comments, some no doubt, releasing some steam with that heat.

This boat from France arrived on Sandy's heels; maybe another good storm is needed

This boat from France arrived on Sandy’s heels; maybe another good storm is needed

At 2:10 Ms Ortolan welcomed us back and off we motored the remaining 23nm to Ft Macon near the Beaufort inlet.  Did you know today is shrimp day? Around here I think every day is shrimp day. We saw no less than five shrimpers heading out; toward Pamlico Sound?

One after the other they came at us as we left Oriental toward Beaufort

One after the other they came at us as we left Oriental toward Beaufort

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North Carolina: First or Flighty Seconds?

We've come a long way since aviation's early days

We’ve come a long way since aviation’s early days

Have you seen/read in the news that Connecticut is contesting North Carolina’s claim that the Wright Bros were first in flight? Ohio license plates proclaim the state is the “Birthplace of Aviation” while North Carolina tags say the state is “First in Flight.” Connecticut believes both are wrong. By golly, it’s a three-for all!  Ohio has argued the validity of their claim, in that the Wright Brothers were born in Ohio. Now the state is siding with North Carolina against Connecticut’s claim that Gustave Whitehead of Bridgeport, CT flew the first powered heavier than air, airplane.

Imagine if CT proves its case, what about all those NC license plates with the words “First in Flight” across the top? What happens to them? Do you have to add the word “not” in front? History books, bumper stickers, any number of souvenir items; all pulled from the shelves- to become valuable collector items. Soooo, remember that idea if NC loses the battle. Oh the uproar that is taking place among the experts, never mind the upheaval throughout NC if in fact CT was really first. This could be an unfolding drama worth following, assuming CT’s claim doesn’t get squashed in the early stages.

Then there’s the small matter of some sort of contract/agreement between the Smithsonian Institute and the Wrights. For a good summary click here.

As I write this, a Connecticut-ite traveling through North Carolina I am torn. If CT really was the site of the first flight, two years before the Wright Brothers, then of course that should be recognized and I’m not saying that because of my ties to CT. But do I want NC to lose that claim so dearly held and known to nearly every U.S. citizen- and maybe a few who aren’t? Perhaps those who are “in discussions” about this will arrive at a compromise if that becomes necessary. Say, if the Wright Brothers’ flight was longer, or their plane was heavier- hey I don’t know but that way NC could be first with a flight longer than “whatever” and still retain their motto.