10/30/15   Friday night before Halloween tomorrow!

Easy day in port in Elizabeth City. We thought we were going early into town to get two free bicycles from the Visitor's Center. But coffee lead to breakfast which lead to chatting with the owner of the tug boat beside us which lead to him bringing his photo album from his home which lead to us visiting aboard the tug boat which he is continuing to refurbish (for fun, a project) which lead to us getting ready to walk to town which lead to my having the BRILLIANT idea to take the dinghy to town landing which lead to taking the outboard off the rail and hitching it to the dinghy which lead to the ride across the harbor to the town landing (and why aren't we staying at that free dockage??? - maybe it's the availability of hot shower at the marina??) which lead to visiting the Visitor's center and learning that there was not an expected run on bikes today which lead to going for lunch and then the Museum of Albemarle. Then David and I split up and he got a bike to do distant errands (couple miles) and I walked about town. We met back at the dinghy for the ride back to the big boat where he dropped me off and continued onto another errand - Irish whisky at ABC store. Meanwhile Amelia and I sat in the waning sun on the foredeck where I read and she looked for wharf rats (not really, she wouldn't recognize one). David came back with his goodies and we got out the sailing "where to" manuals to start plotting out next adventurous leg. Got distracted. Now David and Amelia are sleeping and I'm chilling - literally and figuratively.

Elizabeth City seems trying to reinvent itself. Some deserted buildings (2-3 story) on Main Street and some small businesses and arts concerns, including what looks like an old department store that is a cooperative visual arts gallery on the first floor and a sweet little theater (stage and floor and small balcony) on the second floor. Several restaurants, pharmacy, hair/nail salons and the town landing and park. Some of the architecture within a couple of blocks.

I liked that the little house at left behind the garden was a replica and attached to the street-side house,
and it is a country house that is familiar to me with the wide porch for sitting and rocking 

A taste of New Orleans 

A white house probably filled w/offices these days

This interesting installation piece of art work was surrounded by paintings and crafts/jewelry by local artists. Made from canned goods and bottled water I'd say it is a....

well provisioned boat.

Time to crawl into bed to get warm.