The A/C Feels Good!

Day 62, June 2, 2011, The A/C Feels Good!

53.1 miles, averaging 15.3 mph

Route from Jacksonville to Whispering Pines RV Resort, Newport, NC

Best Moment – I think that the best moment is when I had a call from Neita around 10 this morning letting me know that Ruby was fixed.  Good thing it’s working because temperatures are running in the low ninety’s – about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. There had been a capacitor that needed to be replaced.  The repair shop took care of it and she was on the road – nearly at Whispering Pines.

Worst Moment – It is pretty tough to have a worst moment on a day like today – it was a great route, the RV was fixed for only $150, the scenery was beautiful and we even had a chance to explore the beginnings of the Outer Banks on Rocket, but if there were any annoyances, it was the lacking street signs three different times today.  There were a lot of turns (check out the red line in the photo - that's the route - the insert is the route through Jacksonville.)  Fortunately I was paying very close attention to the map and the mileage and only had to go back about a mile one time. 

Since Neita was on a mission to get Ruby fixed, and left before 7 this morning, I did too.  The route started going through all of the back roads of Jacksonville.  I was quite surprised to see the Ethridge Furniture Showrooms – that is even how Neita’s family spells it.  Who knows, she may have distant relatives down here.

Once out of the suburbs, I was on back roads through beautiful farm country and saw lots of small fields surrounded by forests and tiger lily bordered roadways.  From the looks of the thirsty corn, this part of the country really needs rain.  I’m hoping that it will rain for them after I leave the area.   

I got to the RV Park around 11:30 and met Neita as she was talking to one of the hosts about what to do in the area.  He suggested either going to Beaufort (in NC it is pronounced Bowfort as opposed to SC’s Beaufort’s – more common pronunciation), Swansboro, or we could visit Emerald Isle. We chose historic Beaufort.  It is a charming fishing like village about 10 miles from the RV Park.  After a bit of walking around, we were a bit parched and stopped at the Rhum Runner for a beverage.  They didn’t actually specialize in rum drinks, but did have a very nice local IPA called Sisters of the Moon.

It is a beautiful quaint place to visit.  The local Historical Society has guided tours of three of the homes, a graveyard tour and a double decker bus tour.  There is also a self-guided walking tour that we took.  As many of the port cities, near here Beaufort, NC had to contend with pirate raids.  In 1997 a pirate ship alleged to be Blackbeard’s flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, was discovered just two miles off the coast of Beaufort.