More sightseeing and a race

 I enjoyed time along the East Coast, seeing sights and enjoying the nice weather.   Wilmington has so much to offer.  The best part is I was there before the season started.  Of course, many businesses were closed, yet there were no crowds to deal with, especially for parking.  The boardwalk/riverwalk is a great place to spend time.  See below:

After spending a day in Wilmington, I headed up the coast NE to New Bern/Bridgeton.  I stopped at many sites, which is a great place to visit.  See below for a few places I spent time:

Lawson Creek Park

Tyron palace

Union Point Park

The most challenging thing I have found is finding great seafood restaurants.  This was different from Massachusetts or Maine. Google should have directed me to the best option, but I only saw high-end or fast-food restaurants wherever I looked.  

As I ended this part of the trip, I found an outstanding ice cream shop on the way home.  Andia's Ice Cream.  A small local shop with three locations in North Carolina.

When I returned, Jordan would do a 100-mile gravel race in Swansboro, NC.  We headed to the race on Friday afternoon, and the forecast was not welcoming!  We see up the tent at Carteret Speedway in Swansboro, NC.  After setting it up, we moved it under a fixed shelter as the rain was on the way.  Just as we finished setting up the site, the rain hit.  All night, the wind was so strong it almost lifted the tent, yet only a little driving rain made it into the tent.  Fortunately, I had a thick air mattress, so I slept on the concrete under the little roof.  The tent still had a slight amount of water from the 35 MPH winds driving the rain under the rainfly.  Not enough to cause any issues.

The life-saving shelter

I would have been on water if I wasn't on the concrete!

Finished in the rain - 106.66 miles in 7 hours and 1 minute (officially)

Still had some energy at the end.

Until next time, carry on, my friends, carry on!

 

First trip as a retired citizen

As stated previously, my employer became so toxic that it was causing health issues, so I retired.  I retired about 15 months before I would have, as that is when Shelley will retire.  Living the same lifestyle, I could be broke at 90 and feel better to be broke at 90 than dead rich at 70!

As I stated before, I am unsure how my employer can be so blind to see that employees are fleeing.  In my Division, 90 percent of all employees have not been in their position for more than 18 months!  Another division has 80 percent of the people who have joined in the past 2 years.  A few employees moved on after 18 months.  

My first trip as a retiree was a drive to Cary, North Carolina, where my son lives.  He planned a 150-mile bike race, and I will crew for him later in the month.  I spent a few days with him before heading out on a solo venture of the coast.  He is swamped and needs more time to do anything during the week.

On March 12, I woke up at 8:00 AM and made my tofu meal for the next two days.  At 9 o’clock, I packed and left Cary, NC, for Carolina Beach.  It is about a 2 1/2-hour drive, mostly on freeways.  I could not check in at the campground until 3 PM, so I had plenty of time to check the sites first.  My first stop was Kure Beach Pier.  The sun was bright and 70 degrees, although there was a good wind.  The waves were not overly large.  I was lucky as until March 15, there was no reason to pay for parking and other activities.  I guess the start of the season is March 15!  I arrived just in time!

I parked and read a few chapters of Running With Sherman by Christopher McDougall.  After an hour, I ventured south to the end of the road, the Fort Fisher Ferry.  Opting not to go to the Ferry, I returned to Fort Fisher State Park.  This was totally free and a lovely beach!  I will return tomorrow!

It was about 4:00 PM when I headed to Carolina Beach State Park to check in to the campsite.  I am very fortunate to have a very secluded site.  Check-in was no issue; the set-up was easy since I slept in the car.  I decided to take a hike on a local path.  They have been doing prescribed burns, so the scenery could have been more optimal.

I drove to check out the area before returning just before dark.  As I thought I was all set to sleep, I soon realized I needed to organize more.  I almost exhausted myself with how many times I fell asleep and recalled something, like my mouthguard, which was in the suitcase!

At about 8:30 PM, I was all settled for the night. I watched two episodes of Matlock and went to sleep.

Carry on, my friends, carry on.