Well, I always wondered about reporters who had deadlines and now know I couldn't have taken all the pressure!!  One brother says where's the blog???   He was looking for it on Sunday...didn't buy my explanation that I wrote two last week!!

On Thursday, May 26th we left Charleston early to drive to the Croatan National Forest where we were fortunate to get a campsite because it filled up early afternoon.  We were midstate North Carolina on the coast by the Neuse River.  Everyone has there own idea of what a forest is....our back yard is more of a forest!!!   But the rivers in the area are huge and put the American and Sacramento rivers to shame...some we can't even see the other side!  We had some great visits with people from the area as I think most of the campers were from within a 25 mile area...just came to fish, go to the beach and kick back!

We were 10 miles south of New Bern, NC which was founded by Swiss and German immigrants in 1710 and thus named after Bern, Switzerland.  This being their 300th anniversary they had a year long celebration going on...Bern means bear and so they had about 50 bears located around the town as part of a  challenge this year on who makes the best bear.  Lots of variation and talent seen as we walked around and toured the area...took a tour of the governor's Palace and other historical sites. Also the birthplace of pepsi cola...discovered by a pharmacist.    Lots of history!!
Day trip to Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach across the Intercoastal Waterway which was built below ground level as several previous forts had been lost due to erosion from wind and shifting beach...
then on to Beufort, NC which was another of the first settlements in NC with lots of history and on ocean bay with great marina restaurants, shops, historical homes etc..

We had a couple of great meals in New Bern but I was disappointed that the restaurant that had been suggested to us by a couple we met camping in Asheville, SC did not have the Monte Christo sandwich she had told me was the BEST she had ever had!!   When asked the waitress gave us this vague answer that oh that was only on the menu every once in a while...could be 2-6 months!!   She never even offered to ask the chef....but the dinner we had there was top notch and I just didn't  have the energy at the time to ask for the manager or the chef  and make a request or point out that the waitress could have cared less about my request!!

We drove to the outer banks on Sunday and there was a campsite available in one of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Parks but it was only 10 ft wide and barely long enough for our truck and 5th wheel so we passed and just drove around the Nags Head area and then went to the Wrights Brothers National Monument in Kitty Hawk...one of the most impressive monuments we have seen!!  Left the outer banks and spent Sunday night at a Wal-Mart parking lot as it was too late to find a campsite and we were driving on to Williamsburg, VA, a short drive away the next AM.

And that is where we are now...will write about our visit here next...but just a warning I might be gushing about what a beautiful area THIS is!!!!

Our best to all,  Pat and Art