Washington & Bath

Driving north along North Carolina's Inner Banks (IBX) leads to interesting small towns with nautical and historical flair. One of our favorites is Washington, referred to as "Original Washington" by the residents so as not to confuse it with the District of Columbia.

 The Pamlico riverfront has free dockage, free parking, and an inviting boardwalk with benches and playgrounds. There was even room for Intuition with Three Bananas tagging along behind.

Beautifully restored homes such as this one can be seen strolling the neighborhoods along the river.

Buoys were once refurbished at the coast guard station which has since been repurposed as condos with boat slips just six steps down from the first floor.

View from the Buoy Station condominiums.

 Blue crabs are celebrated, as are the arts, by local sculpture artists.

 The Pamlico sailing club has active youth programs. Docks and a boardwalk through the marsh border the NC Estuarium, an interesting museum dedicated to the environment and history of the local sounds.

 Local weather conditions are displayed by weather flags on this metal tower. The white flag is for "Fair" weather. There wasn't anything to tell us that the temperature and humidity were both above ninety!

New condos are sprouting behind the preserved marsh and boardwalk.

Not far down the road, the town of Bath boasts the status as the first town and first port in the state. The town historical commission has preserved several older homes and has a visitor's center.

Beth napped in the camper in the shade of this old oak while I explored the town. Residents were very friendly and volunteered all kinds of information about the town's history. Golf carts seem to be the preferred method of getting around town.

No mention of Bath would be complete without the name Edward Teach, a/k/a Blackbeard who lived here in the early 1700's and was killed on nearby Ocracoke Island.