SPRING

Once we finally installed our new air conditioner and spent a glorious week basking in the luxury of shore power, we knew our time in Oriental was ticking down. But the town had other plans and kept drawing us in…

The story goes that a part-time resident of Oriental was pondering how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Oriental. Given the town’s name, he figured a dragon should be involved. The welcoming nature of the town to the “first” dragon led to more and more dragons popping up. You’ll see them all over town, and some of the dragon eggs have been officially marked as nesting grounds to help protect this legendary creature. So we went on a hunt to discover as many dragons as we could!

We arrived in Oriental, North Carolina, on July 2. While there wasn’t much going on for Independence Day in Oriental, we had the Croaker Festival, which had a big fireworks show planned for the weekend.

We’ve spent a little over a week outside Southport, NC, near Cape Fear. We explored the area's history in Southport and found a variety of places to cool off (and play chess)!

Despite the oppressive heat, we enjoyed exploring Charleston on foot and engaging in local history and culture.

Our riverside visit to Savannah was filled with lots of culinary adventures and a fun exploration of many parks, squares, and cobblestone roads.

Exploring Annapolis opened the door to unexpected bookish treasures that enriched our days in this maritime city. Our primary book destination, the library, nestled conveniently adjacent to West Marine, became a haven of knowledge during our extended stay while tending to boat matters.

Our family spent nearly a month in Annapolis as we dealt with work travel and windlass replacement. While there, we couldn't resist indulging in frozen treats during our adventures in this nautical town.

During our boating adventure in St. Michaels, Maryland, we stumbled upon a gem known as the Talbot County Free Library. As cruisers exploring the area, we enjoyed the library's warm and welcoming atmosphere, inviting us to step inside and explore its literary wonders.

In our boating journey, we encountered a crucial aspect of responsible boating: pump-outs. As we sailed across the Chesapeake Bay from St. Michaels to Annapolis, we found ourselves navigating the waters of waste management, ensuring that our actions were in harmony with the environment we cherished.