Friday, May 5 - Still Windy in Oriental!!

Friday, May 5 - Still Windy in Oriental!!

By the way, this town was renamed Oriental when the new postmaster's wife thought the village needed a better name then Smith Creek.  She saw a nameplate from the shipwrecked Steamship Oriental while visiting the Outer Banks, and suggested that as a name for the town.  Just in case that ever comes up in a trivia game.

Heavy rain during the night, along with the stiff wind.  We had hoped to leave Oriental today, but the wind continues.  WAY too much wind. 

With so much wind and rain last night, we had pulled in all the cushions from the back "deck" into the cabin.  They cut into our space, but we figured better safe than sorry. 

There is only one other transient boat here, and they beat us to the marina car!  We started laundry and hung out until it came back, then headed out for lunch and reprovisioning.  Oriental only has a small Piggly Wiggly, so we had to go three little towns over to shop, 13 miles.  We drove through fields, huge fields, but none with irrigation.   We haven't seen fields for a long time.  Pine trees, log trucks, and big fields made me feel like I was home in South Georgia. 

Danny got his Quarter Pounder, we bought groceries and headed back.  We drove through the town of Oriental (our marina is several miles out), but didn't do much exploring.  Danny hurt his back yesterday tightening the boat ropes and walking around didn't appeal to him.

Back at the marina, the wind was even higher. 

I hope you can open this video to get the full effect of this wind. (VIDEO - possibly coming later)

Danny and another boater had to retie the ropes on the houseboat next to us.  The high wind was pulling it loose.  We have never been in wind this strong!  Since reading "No Children, No Pets" in elementary school, I have always wanted to experience a hurricane.  Somewhere safe, but I really love wind.  I told Danny tonight that this wind was close enough, it filed my hurricane wish!