Great Start to Week 3 -- July 7, 2014

I woke up very early this morning to another lovely day by the water.....but it was a slow start actually doing anything very productive!  I knew I wanted to go on a bike ride, so I got in gear, and got my gear, and finally started peddling about 10:00am.  I wasn't sure exactly where I was going, but I knew Island Road went from one end of the island to the other.  My parking spot is at the far left end of the island.

So, off I went.  I started going down Cape Lookout Drive and then, where it intersects Island  Road - probably about 2 miles or so, there was the Vergie Mae Cemetery.  Had to stop, of course.... 

It's an interesting cemetery in that, it appears families don't buy individual plots, but actual sections.  Some have regular fencing around them but the majority are sectioned off with chain-link fencing.  It seems everyone is responsible for the upkeep of their own section.  I don't recall ever seeing this before.  Needless to say, the upkeep varies from very tidy to very disturbing....but maybe there are no family members to take care of some of these sections.  Anyway, here are a few interesting finds....

This one (or two) was completed fully with cinder blocks....

I have no idea at all what this is supposed to represent.  Not to be disrespectful, but it is just a big blob of resin with no inscriptions......but it surely must be meaningful to someone.  

Being on an island, many memorials are decorated with shells, boats, seagulls, etc.  

This one is simply cinder block edging lined with conch shells.  

On with the journey.  I turn onto Island Road.  Not much traffic at all...all the holiday weekenders have left. Up ahead a bit I see Billy's.  It's the local fishing equipment/grocery store.  Not knowing if I was going to come back the same way, I went in and picked up some fresh sweet potatoes and pears.  Four sweet potatoes and 3 pears came to only $3.68.  Seemed pretty reasonable!  

Between me and the water are houses of all descriptions.  All with incredible views, but very diverse in their architecture and overall appearance.  Stately, shacks, brick, trailers...you name it.  It is also zoned commercial so small businesses are interspersed here and there.  More pedaling brought me to the other end of the island where Island Road dead ends into the Cape Lookout National Seashore Park.  A  boat ride three miles off shore brings you to the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore.  It takes you to wild horse watching, shelling, fishing, birding, camping, lighthouse climbing and historic villages.  Maybe I'll do that one day this week!

I sat down by the water for quite some time.  Virtually no one was there.  But, after a while, a group of kayakers drove in and started unloading their colorful kayaks.  Great day to be out on the water!

Down by the park there was a museum but I didn't go into it today.  Maybe I will check it out if I go back to go out to the lighthouse.  I did like it's architecture with lookout tower!

I decided to take the same route back....Island Road.  

I'll try a different route another day since I will be staying here through the weekend.

  All in all, I had a really nice 10-15 mile ride!

When I got back, I took a solar shower, walked down to the docks and continued reading a new book. Then I thought about dinner.....maple glazed chicken and sweet potato....with some fresh herbs that Dominique and brought from her garden.... and a *mostly ice* mango/coconut/almond milk pina colada.  I see it as a "health drink"....all the ingredients are healthy.  I've never heard that rum, specifically, is a bad thing!    

The evening ended with another beautiful sunset and the most glorious off the water breeze that has continued for several hours.  Reminds me of the Caribbean that way.  It's lovely!