splendid isolation: Back on the Outer Banks, North Carolina

OUTER BANKS NORTH CAROLINA

5/24 It was a total of a 7 hour drive to the Outer Banks, from Charleston. Through swamps and farm fields. NC produces a lot of corn, sweet potatoes, tobacco, cotton, blueberries, strawberries, wine, just to name a few. Not to mention the seafood. Blue crabs, soft shells, shrimp, flounder, stripers, tuna, mahi, you name it, we get it from the ocean. Pulled into GranFran’s house before midnight. Welcomed by Claire’s whole family! We made it back alive after over 2,000 nautical miles and 3,300 highway miles since last November when we left Dana Point, California. La Sancha floated like a dream and I got to know her pretty well.

5/25-5/30 Consisted of a lot of family gatherings and old friends, big meals. Surfing long left liners and morning solo longboarding. Gotta take in the beach time before they overflow in the next couple weeks. Planted some local flowers in pots, sweet basil, and piña mint. Claire and I got jobs at my friend Chuck’s new place. Salt Water Grill in Corolla. He just opened his doors a few weeks ago. He said he could use our help and is looking to build a team.

5/31 Michael’s first night of work in 8 months! Good Coastal Carolina food. Claire has picked up three jobs already. One of which is waiting full time for lunch at Salt Water Grill, starting Monday.

6/1 Second night of work for Michael was a double. It’s going to be a busy, tourist filled summer on the Outer Banks. What’s new? Millions of people and billions of dollars. We plan to get multiple jobs each, to fill up that cruising kitty and get back to Guaymas by October. Our poor boat...