Goose Creek and Pamlico Plantation

Good friends, Wayne and Janet, let us boondock in their driveway for a couple of nights and showed us  some interesting spots in eastern NC.

Wayne suggested we explore nearby Goose Creek State Park. We practically had the place to ourselves, seeing only two other people that morning. Live oaks provided shade while a breeze from the river kept the bugs at bay.

 Rangers in the visitor's center were helpful in identifying the flowers we found along the trail as Butterfly Peas.

 The primitive campground has a dock for kayaks and canoes. Sites were shaded with nice views of the river and bays. The only services were a couple of composting toilets and shared water spigots. Only one campsite had a tent pitched in it.

A recent bond will allow for a new, full-service, RV campground closer to the front of he park. Construction begins in 2017.

Good signage, like this one showing the Canoe Trail, talks about history, natural features, and the environment along park trails.

 Storm surge and flooding from hurricanes revealed the root structure of this tree.

From Goose Creek we drove east to Belhaven for lunch. After enjoying fresh shrimp at Fishhooks, we relaxed in the Gazebo at the Belhaven Waterway Marina.  The marina has one of the few remaining marine railways in the state and some of the friendliest owners on the ICW.

While in Belhaven, it was great to see the classic River Forest Manor being restored after years of neglect. When we stopped here under sail in 2006, it had fallen into disrepair. Today, Janet and Beth relaxed in rocking chairs under the shade of the porch while Wayne and I walked back to fetch the car.

After a second relaxing night in the driveway, Wayne invited me to join him for breakfast with the Pamlico Amateur Radio Club in Chocowinity. The guys were welcoming and the cheese biscuits were fresh and a bargain.

Returning to Pamlico Plantation, Wayne gave us a tour of the docks and even a few of the condominiums. The facilities here are really first rate. It was great to see Wind Drift again; Wayne & Janet's Hunter sailboat.

Found this tiny classic looking Ranger tugboat while walking the docks. It would be a fun electric conversion project and might even be trailerable behind the van.

We left our great driveway camping spot after lunch and headed back to Durham to get a break from the heat.  Many thanks to Janet and Wayne for sharing their special spot.