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uesday morning brought more north wind and high water to the Neuse and the creeks near Oriental, prompting NOAA to issue a coastal flooding advisory in the afternoon.

That made it official. Low-lying parts of Oriental, such as Hodges Street near the Town Dock, had been underwater since the morning, thanks to the effects of the rare May nor’easter.

Some photos of the morning and midday, before the waters retreated later in the afternoon…..

Those who ventured out to The Bean made their way gingerly down Hodges Street. Some wore boots, while others, such as Ralph Evey, kept their shoes dry and waded barefoot through shin-high water.

Water at the Town Dock was surfing over the concrete wharf and cleats.

Water gathers around a bicycle that arrived earlier at The Bean.

Meanwhile, for those who had to commute a little farther afield, it was a day of taking the long way around to get to the other side of the Neuse. The Minnesott Beach-Cherry Branch Ferry didn’t run all day because the boats couldn’t fit under the loading ramps.

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With so much extra water in the “bathtub” of the Neuse, there was lots of sloshing up around the edges of Oriental’s waterfront, such as at Lou-Mac Park and near the pier.

Water looking for a place to go. Spray from the Neuse near the boardwalk and chairs at Lou-Mac Par.

… and kept hitting.

Three visitors to town, Dick and Karen Del Giudice and Howard Means try their hand at fishing at the Lou-Mac Park pier.

Update: the sailing dink “Stormy” from the Youth Sailing Program broke free and scooted around the freshly-formed pond behind the Wits End on Tuesday.

Posted Wednesday May 20, 2009 by Melinda Penkava