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bicyclists are coming to Oriental in coming days for the Cycle NC weekend when they’ll be taking to the roads of Pamlico County. The routes are well marked, but a line on a map doesn’t tell the whole story. Sometimes you need a bit of local knowledge.

Just as sailors value local knowledge as they come in to a new harbor or channel, it seemed fitting for this sailing town to offer a bit of land-based local knowledge.

TownDock.net is asking readers — whether they’re residents of Oriental and Pamlico County or visitors on whom the place made a lasting impression — to share the details of places they’ve discovered, curiosities that may be of interest to others, all those things that give us our sense of place in Oriental and Pamlico County.

More suggestions have been coming in.

If you don’t have this in yet, the site of the first motorized school bus is on Kershaw Road. Let me clarify, the school that the first school bus served – there is a monument on Kershaw Road. The building finally went away just a few years ago. Just a couple of miles down Kershaw Road south of 55.

Ben Casey,
Arapahoe

That granite marker is 9/10ths of a mile from Janiero Road on Kershaw aka Hwy 1005. It notes that the site was also that of the county’s first Methodist Church. (The organ from that church is at Oriental’s History Museum; it still plays.) On the subject of the first school bus itself, there’s an official state historic marker on Church Street next to Town Hall.

A relative newcomer had this:

In my short time in Oriental, just about the greatest place to be is at the peak of the bridge over the creek, halfway across. The best view is looking out to the river past the harbor although looking up the creek is just as good. The best times for this are generally when the sun is up or when it’s dark.

Russ “Rusty” Boltz
Oriental

Likewise, another resident suggested a free thing to do.

One of the most incredibly relaxing and enjoyable side trips would have to be the ferry ride across the Neuse River at Minnesott Beach. And it is free!

Carol Dixon,
Oriental

(The ferry’s still free thanks to the efforts of a group of folks here in Oriental and Pamlico County who’ve fended off a whack-a-mole toll for several years now. Go out and enjoy the ride…)

Meanwhile, Charlie Garrett had a long list of places to see.

Of course, many of the cyclists will see some of this on their scheduled rides and camping spots, but just in case:

Lou Mac Park just before and during sunrise.
The ride into River Dunes and Grace Harbor.
Janiero Road over Dawson Creek.
Every boater/cyclist must visit the Marine Consignment Shop for sheer abundance of everything nautical.
The Village Art Gallery.
Brantley’s for breakfast.
Miniscule Beach (Guess!)
The Dragon Eggs.
The (free) ferry ride round trip for cyclists at Minnesott Beach, including the great ride along Janiero Road to and from.
Almost any road in Pamlico County by dawn’s early light!

Charlie Garrett,
Oriental

A long-time visitor had this suggestion

I would suggest to my fellow cyclists to be sure to check out the lovely glow from the high sodium vapor lamps @ the new Walmart.

And the lamps could also be used as an evening visible marker any where in the county south of Bayboro and west of Florence.

Thanks,
Buddy Kelly
Orange County
½ a mile from a new Walmart

One common sight in Oriental is that on just about every morning, you’ll find people out for a walk. At that traveling speed, you get to notice things more. Carol Small is one of the walkers…and shares what she’s noted…

I love looking:

…at the water from the end of Whittaker Creek Marina out into the mouth of Whittaker Creek.

…for dolphins as well as migrating water fowl as they bob in the water along South Street and Lou Mac Park

…over the vista from the top of the bridge

…at sunrise from the corner of Vandemere and South Street along the water looking over to Whittaker Pointe.

…and at the sunset from the Dinghy Dock or the launching dock or the benches along the grassy area near Oriental Harbor Marina.

… for deer around dusk along White Farm Road into Dolphin Point.

… for a bald eagle that sometimes flies near the tennis courts at Sea Vista and Dolphin Point around 8am to 10am.

… for Jack to slow traffic to 15 mph in front of the Bean.

… for 3 white ducks in the Town Dock area.

… for a mallard and a white duck in the pond along Factory Street,

…for friendly dogs on outings.

Carol Small,
Oriental

The highest point around Oriental is that bridge leading in to town. It represents a high point in another way for reader Ron Turner:

The year was 1997. We were living in San Diego. Family matters dictated that we find a homestead back on the east coast where we had both grown up. The search was driven by three criteria; south of Norfolk; north of Charleston and not on the ocean.

So in our trusty rental car we drove along, always east of I-95, looking for a place that could replace San Diego. Craven County yielded nothing. And then that fateful drive from the Minnesott Beach ferry to some place called Oriental. Topping the bridge and seeing the “village,” I told my wife to “drop the hook,” we had arrived.

The view has been altered in the intervening years but not the feeling.

Ron Turner,
Dunn

Hobucken made the list:

The view of the ICW, US Coast Guard station, Mayo’s commercial docks, and Pamlico Sound from atop the bridge connecting the mainland with Hobucken/Lowland, using NC 304. One can see the ICW to the north to Campbell Creek, and to the south to Gayle Creek. If the day is clear, one can see 15+ miles.into the Sound.

(A warning must be used to inform the cyclists that the bridge goes up 70’ to the view.)

Stew King,
Mesic

For those who want to get that truly edge of the mainland feeling.. go to the end of just about any road in Lowland and look out on the water.

I’d suggest that the cyclists take time to pause at the entrance of China Grove Road to see the only house in Pamlico County that’s on the Historical Register — the China Grove House. The main house dates back to 1810. There’s also a cemetery on the right of the driveway that dates back a few centuries.

Claudia Bemis,
Arapahoe

For those who want to get that truly edge of the mainland feeling.. go to the end of just about any road in Lowland and look out on the water.

Corner of Saunders and Straight Rd, Merritt, looking NE on top of a dead tree, Osprey nest. On the southern end of the Florence Road loop in Merritt, about 1 mile in from Straight Road. looking East, nestled in the top of a bunch of pines, eagles nest.

Bob Luhrs,
Florence

Is there a place you would direct a visitor to? Drop us a line at info@towndock.net

Posted Tuesday April 1, 2014 by Melinda Penkava