78 New Bern NC

      Breakfast featuring Mike's special freezer bag omelets some hugs and we were on our way back to Carolina beach.  That was tough, I don't know how you can get so attached to people that fast.  Maybe its the thought that even with the best of intentions you may never see them again.     

Now picture him on a thoroughbred!

     We took the shortcut thru Southport and caught the Ferry back to the island.  Due to our early arrival we were staged next to another cycle.  Michael, a Marine returning to base on his crouch rocket seemed to have his future well planned.   He loves to race,  after his tour he was going to Europe to race and study motorcycle engineering  I noticed his cycle had been repaired, I asked if he was riding it at the time.  "Yes!" asked if he was injured?  "Naw, just traumatic brain injury, got hit by a dump truck once, that sucked."  I guess when you are younger some things aren't as notable. (or as our daughter said, maybe it was because of the injury.)  Always intrigued by the passenger seat on these bikes I took a picture of the riding position.  Reminded me of Eddie Arcaro.

  Nice visit with a Ferry boat employee during our cruise.  He retired to the area from Massachusetts, rides a Royal Star Venture,  we have converted a few of these and although they make a great trike, they are quite a handful as a two wheeler if you are vertically challenged.  Thankfully Tom moves these around the shop for me.
        It is often strange when you learn something new and then within a short time you hear or see it again.  I makes you wonder what else you've been missing.  At thanksgiving Mike and Dale had mentioned Road Runner magazine and the "shamrock" rides and now today this gentleman suggested I read it.  Better check it out. 

Havana's, got to know them pretty well, easy walk home! 

     Nov 30 2013.    We packed our belongings into the trike and camper, circled the block to take a couple of pictures, and headed out of Carolina Beach.  It had been fun!  A quick stop at Ihop to see if they had found Ruthie's earring, no such luck, she has had a problem on this trip.  Glad I didn't wear any.   New Bern, here we come.   It was 55 for most of the trip,  with the sun shining on us it was very comfortable of course we had our heated jackets on.   The XM was playing Christmas music and at times Ruthie was singing along.   A great day.  As we traveled along I made a mental note to delete two songs from my Christmas play list. (I know it's XM, a mental note, satisfied?)    "All I want for Christmas is a Hippopotamus" and  "Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey".   I didn't feel the need to mention it to Ruthie at the time. 

We had rode for some time when Ruthie mentioned she was hungry, we happened to be with in sight of a Texas Road house,  having only left overs from McDonald's for  breakfast the morning.  I felt we deserved a real meal for a change.   We were greeted with the smell of baking bread (not thumper biscuits I'm thinking).   On the way in they asked us if we wanted to choose our steak, great marketing.   Alexi our server made us feel right at home.  In between a couple of helpings of the hot buttered rolls she mentioned that a  Italian Christmas tradition she enjoyed was Spedini, will have to try it someday.   Our appetite, or perhaps the smell of fresh baked buttered buns,  got the best of us and we split a t bone porterhouse.  Chalk it up as another favorite.  On the road I mentioned I had overheard Lindy asking the truck drivers brother if he would like to help unload the semi on Monday when they took possession of their home.  I don't think he actually said "are you serious" but I got the distinct impression that he would rather be on the end of the truck with the steering wheel and would not be attending the off loading party.   I took this opportunity to ask Ruthie if she would like to help them out.  You know the answer already don't you?  A phone call to Tom and Lindy and we made plans to meet them at 1pm on Monday.

     Why New Bern?  Back in October we sat in the Pioneer Club with our friend Larry,  and picked some points on the map where we thought we might be on a particular date.  He had offered us some time share weeks that he wasn't using in exchange for part of the maintenance fee.   That's right, just a point on the map, don't care what's there, its the latitude that's important.      At New Bern we were impressed when the freeway flyover's were actually suspended over water.  Cool!        When we checked in the time share was still be cleaned, we were given a run down on do's and do not's.   Looks like it would be costly to have a dog or smoke in a room, major fines.  We found out there was a welcome reception at the recreation center Monday at nine, should fit into our plan, if we arrived there ready to ride we should be able to make the offloading party.  While we were waiting for our room we made a run to the convenience store.  Picked up some breakfast items, popcorn, returned and checked out our new digs.  Very nice, we will be very comfortable here.  Second floor isn't a problem for us, but it is something to remember.   Washer, dryer, screened in balcony over looking golf course, why would we want to leave?  To ride of course.
     Sunday it was just nice to relax, we walked to the restaurant on the grounds, checked out the marina, tried to find if the Minnesota Vikings were telecast.  (looks like bowling took precedence on the local channels). 

     Dec 2nd  5 am   A little computer work while Ruthie's resting.  The spot tracker website only saves the files for 30 days, I download them and save them to make maps for the blog later.  

     Big day today, welcome reception and then back to Ocean Isle for the off loading party.  We estimated it would take us about three hours if we didn't stop.  We dressed for the ride back and headed to the reception, nice folk,  We met Les, what a card.  He said so many Northerners had moved here they called it Yankee stadium, , some call this retirement community gods waiting room,  people like it here, the guy that brings the snow takes it away too. He wants to be buried in his yard, he has his wife's hole ½ dug.   We have lots of  half backs here, Northerners that retired to Florida got tired of it and came half way back to their home.   We found out later that he and Suzanne gave tours of the area, he said they are the Burns and Allen of tours, (comedians). We had hoped to go on one of there outing but it didn't work out,  they had to have at least 6 signed up or the bus didn't move.     Welcome at the community, lots of fun activities and places to go, will have to try and take some in.  We were told to expect a continental style breakfast and was not prepared for the fare we were offered, oatmeal, fruit, bagels, rolls pastry and of course yogurt.   We wouldn't need to stop for lunch.

      10:15 on the road to Ocean Isle to help our new friends unload the semi with their belongings.  A pleasant ride about 150 miles, it started at 46 degrees and was close to 60 by the time we arrived.  As we pulled onto their street we could see the semi and they were already unloading.  Stripping off our helmets and jackets we joined in.  Lindy and Tom had done a great job of marking the boxes and labeling the rooms they were to go in.  The sun had came out as we arrived and it didn't take long for Ruthie and I to take a break and switch into some cooler gear.  We finished around four o'clock and after a refreshment break provided by their new neighbor.  (he had drove by earlier in his mustang, said he would like to help, however he was to light for heavy work and to heavy for light work!) all was forgiven when he brought over drinks.  It looks like this will be a good place for Tom and Lindy.  Our thanksgiving friends Dale and Mike had invited us to spend the night to avoid a cycle trip back in the dark.  Again Dale had outdone her self.  A pork loin with potatoes, onions and celery in a slow cooker. I still think about it.  We were joined at dinner by some more transplants from the North.  Billy and Doll had been in the Carolina's for a few years now.  They were both born on Staten Island, she said it was one of the five boroughs of New York City.  (had to look it up, it seems each borough is a county within the city).   We visited for a while however the moving had taken its toll and we headed to bed, tomorrow we ride back to New Bern.