NC: Albemarle Sound - Columbia

Saturday 5/5/2018

Depart: OBX Manteo Public Dock 8:00

Arrive: Columbia, NC Public Dock 1:30

Distance: 46 nm

In the Pamlico Sound, following the route from Manteo to Columbia, we encountered fields of traps that we had to maneuver around. Clark said, “It looks like a Christmas tree with all the colors.” We had red, green, light green, blue, black, and a myriad of other colors scattered about in a haphazard pattern.  Several times, we narrowly escaped getting entangled by traps that we failed to see until they passed by the side of the boat. Once we got through that jungle, we could finally breath a sigh of relief!

In the midst of this remote site, Clark’s phone showed the following message: “Heavy traffic in your area”. Funny timing in that no boats (or cars) could be seen for miles.

After traveling the Albemarle Sound, we turned onto Scuppernong River en route to Columbia, North Carolina. The difference in scenery after we left the Outer Banks / Pamlico Sound and the Scuppernong River was remarkable.

Scenery on the Scuppernong River

Once again we tied up at free docks. As we surveyed the situation, a gentleman showed up on the dock wall ready to catch our lines. While securing our lines, we learned that he had no association with the dock. He owns an antique store in town and just happened to see us pulling up to the docks, so he came to assist us with lines. As he helped us, he told Clark that the town is mostly closed after noon on Saturday and all day Sunday.

Public Docks at Columbia, NC

In addition to a free dock, the town provides a bath house for its dock visitors. Some places have public toilets, but Columbia went so far as to include a nice shower facility. The only drawback to the bath house is that it is only one person at a time for the combination toilet / shower space.

Since we can cover far more territory by bike than we can on foot, we pulled out our bicycles to explore the area. Stores were indeed closed, but restaurants and the visitor center were open for business. On our tour, we found a beautiful mural.

Columbia, NC Mural

Find the 10 Animals Hidden in the Mural

We determined that sidewalks provide safe access to the Food Lion food store about one mile out of town on the highway. Given that, we took a bike ride out and picked up some supplies. It seems I am forever running out of deli meat and bread!

While exploring town, we stopped by the town visitor’s center near the wildlife refuge. Clark said we should return later, on foot, as bicycles are not allowed on the trail. After stashing our food purchases on board the boat, we left the bikes behind and walked along the dock  in the direction of the refuge.

On the way there, Clark took a quick detour to The Winery where he had heard ice cream is sold.

Winery and Coffee Bar

 The young man working at the Winery told us the closest thing he had to ice cream was a latte coffee. “if you really want ice cream”, he said, “you can find it around the corner in the Mexican restaurant in town.” We found the Mexican restaurant, and they did indeed have ice cream although their flavors were severely limited. Surprisingly, they had no vanilla but did have cookies n’ cream which Clark and I both selected.

After our treat, we walked to the wildlife refuge for a look around. 

Pocosin Lakes Refuge

The visitor center for the refuge had a number of animal / bird exhibits.

Red Wolf

Prothonotary Warbler

Beaver

 Otter

The refuge is primarily wetlands, so we walked the boardwalk through the area.

 We walked the entire boardwalk and saw no wildlife other than insects. Clark had difficulty taking pictures because as soon as he stopped to take a shot, he got attacked. For most of the walk, he had one or two biting flies hitchhiking on his green hat. We did see a lot of greenery including what I referred to as a “bumper crop” of poison ivy.

Having eaten out last night, we returned to the boat for dinner and a sunset.

Rainy Sunset in Columbia, NC

Sunday 5/6/2018

No boat travel.

We fully intended to leave Columbia today and visit Edenten – also on Albemarle Sound “loop”. However, the weather did not cooperate.

Clark spent the morning working on some wiring items while waiting for the weather to clear. He hoped to have the work done by noon when the weather was supposed to have passed. At noon, he was not done and the weather had not cleared. It looked like we might be piloting the boat through heavy rain only to arrive in town and not be able to explore due to the late hour of the day and the rotten weather. I suggested we stay put, and we did!

Clark looking for the diode
associated with the engine start switch

Some “tools of the trade” / "box of trick"
for an electrical engineer

Clark studying the circuit diagram with the diodes

 I have an adult dot-to-dot puzzle book which I entertained myself with while Clark worked on the engine project. Unfortunately, the numbers are extremely small in the puzzles and I managed to give myself an eye-strain headache. I shut myself in the master stateroom for a couple of hours in the afternoon to lie down and close my eyes. Fortunately, it did the trick, and I recovered in time to have a nice, long chat with my son, Jeff, and his daughter, Sierra, on the phone before dinner.

Although it took him all day, Clark completed the diode diagnostics work, and it tested out to his satisfaction. He had planned to do just the port engine, but once we decided not to move the boat, he did the starboard engine as well.

Instead of a sunset picture tonight, Clark captured some great “reflections”.

Bridge Reflection

Reflection of the Refuge