May 28, Belhaven, NC

The Belhaven Hotel - a classic and about the finest around in it's time

Information about the museum

Chuck and Charlotte go crabbing. They are "chicken neckers" as all amateurs are called.

On to Belhaven, about 40 miles up the intercoastal. Ran over our first crab pot float today, (a black float and did not see it in the black water) and had to go swimming with a sharp knife to clear the props. Such is the life of cruising in crab pot country. We are staying at the River Forest Manor and Marina, a famous old small hotel with a famous dining room. Charlotte Styers remembers staying here at this hotel with her mom and dad in 1955. She remembered it was room #7, the room right in front on the water with big windows. Charlotte asked the desk clerk if the room was available today and as it was not occupied, Charlotte took the key and went to the room. The memories flooded back. Wow!!!!!!!!!! Fifty two years`ago.
We took a loaner golf cart to town and did some grocery shopping and saw some charming older homes in town. (Many of the homes are being raised an additional 5 feet or so to protect them from future flooding from hurricanes. Town was last flooded 4 to 5 feet in the 1950s with a hurricane and the whole area seems low and vulnerable.)
Also went to the local museum and saw a very eclectic collection of stuff including dressed fleas, turn of the century clothing and war memorabilia including a sub machine gun from WW I and a pickled eight legged pig. It is the lifelong collection of a local family (who can trace their roots to one of the NC signers of the Declaration of Independence) and is housed downtown on the second floor of a very old building. Truly eclectic and dusty.
We're going crabbing this afternoon with chicken legs and "fatback". Will keep everyone posted on the results.
Met the folks from several other boats who seem to be travelling about the same speed and with some of the same stops. Some boats are doing the "loop" and one is from Chicago and will finish there in October. Others just heading north.