Crystal Coast, NC

Saturday, April 6

Gary got to see the huskies one more time before we left Huntington Beach SP. I missed out. But as we were pulling out our Newmarket, NH camping neighbors came out to wave goodbye. Hopefully we’ll all get together when we’re home. 

We headed further up the coast about 160 miles to Stella, NC which is near Emerald Isle and the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. We made one wrong turn on the drive to White Oak Shores RV Resort mainly because some exit signage had changed on the highway thanks to Hurricane Florence last September. It meant that we ended up having to turn around in Wilmington and wasn’t that fun on narrow streets on a Saturday afternoon. But Gary did great!

We were here in NC to visit good friends, Stacie & Johnny, whom we met just about a year ago on the road in Tennessee and who happen to live in this area. They were kind enough to stop and visit us while we were in Brunswick over the winter, and we wanted to visit them in their hometown. Such fun to see each other in different parts of the country!

They were sweethearts and brought a home cooked dinner over to our place on Saturday night. Stacie made chicken parmesan with all the fixings and dessert. We even had leftovers for another meal. We had great fun catching up with each other in the afternoon and evening.

Sunday, April 7

We had plans today to head out on Stacie & Johnny’s boat. We drove to their place and got a tour of their lovely home and property. A little enclave they have to themselves! Johnny had the boat all hitched up so we headed out to drop the boat in the water. They’ve done this a time or two and knowexactly what they’re doing. Two pros for sure! Johnny, an avid fisherman, knows the waters in this area like the proverbial back of his hand. We saw some of the damage from Hurricane Florence, but the marsh areas are as beautiful as ever. 

We docked by Hammocks Beach State Park which is only accessible by boat. We walked about a mile in and were rewarded with a long sandy beach all to ourselves. Stacie and I picked up shells while the boys walked ahead. Then they knew of a secret hidden lake area. So beautiful! After that it was time for lunch at one of their favorite spots in Swansboro called Church Street Deli, which we got to via boat and docked outside the restaurant. There is just a huge coolness factor to be able to do that! Lunch was delicious, and we happened to bump into Stacie’s mom, stepdad and some visiting family from NJ. Too funny! Stacie’s mom is a sweetheart and a strong woman fighting her battle with cancer. After lunch, we meandered around the historic town of Swansboro. Lovely town with cute shops and restaurants on the waterfront. After that we headed to another private beach area by boat to look for shark’s teeth, and found them… or, more accurately J&S found a bunch, Gary found one and yours truly found zippo… but who’s counting! They gave me all their stash. 

Then we headed back to J&S’s house to chill for a few hours before dinner on Emerald Isle, which was delicious. I ordered shrimp… again… and then we all enjoyed a walk on the fishing pier and ice cream afterwards. The fishing piers in this part of the country are amazing. These people take their fishing seriously! We had a full day of indoctrination (thanks to wonderful friends who went out of their way to entertain us) into this beautiful part of the North Carolina coast and loved every minute of it!

Monday, April 8th

J&S picked us up to head off to breakfast in New Bern, also part of the Crystal Coast, a 60+ mile of coastline. As it turns out our dear former neighbors live in New Bern, Betty & Gary, but alas we didn’t have an opportunity to visit them on this trip. The only good part is that we will see them in Maine this summer so all is not lost. Breakfast was delicious at Baker’s Kitchen then we wandered around town to walk it off. Once again this community boasts historic homes and a very pretty waterfront area. It also happens to be the birthplace of Pepsi Cola and there is a small museum/shop to honor that birth with vintage bottles/cans on display along with some other artifacts. 

From there we headed to historic Beaufort, also on the Crystal Coast, and home to the NC Maritime Museum, which happens to be a free museum with a wealth of knowledge about Blackbeard who called this area home for awhile and whose ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, sank in this area. Lots of artifacts are on display. The waterfront had lots of boats docked including one from Dover, NH and one from Eliot, ME just beside it.  Stacie & I wandered into some of the shops downtown as well. There are also wild horses on a Reserve that can only be reached by boat, and which we had a clear view of (albeit at a distance) while eating lunch at  Clawson’s in downtown Beaufort across from the waterfront. That was fun! 

Then it was time for ice cream one more time. After that we headed back to our RV park where Johnny’s sister, Brenda, happens to live. Actually most of the folks who live in the park are permanent residents with a few transients like us. It’s a lovely park with a large pool area, fishing pier, and spectacular marsh views. Brenda had been away so this was our first opportunity to meet her. Brenda was delightful! 

Then it was time to say goodbye to J&S until our paths cross again. They’re hoping to make it up our way next. We would love that as it would give us a chance to return their amazing hospitality! A truly wonderful visit with new friends who we’ll enjoy for life.