home

There have been free ferries for decades, but starting in 2027 the legislature has North Carolina’s free ferries scheduled to be tolled. This has been attempted before, and pulled back before.
Wednesday night the NCDOT has a listening session, 6p at Pamlico Community College. You’re invited.
Greg Piner writes in pointing out that tolls are really inefficient way to raise funds.

3:17p It’s 94. Heat Index, 108.

Yuck. The official first day of autumn 2026 is Sept 22.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

11:40a. Tonight at PCC is the NCDOT “Listening Session” regarding ferry tolls. This is not the first time NCDOT has had such a session at the college’s Delamar Center.

In the past, there was a presentation, and then citizens (like you) were able to speak & share their thoughts.

Not this time.

Greg Piner attended the NCDOT session last night in Little Washington. He reports this was not the give-and-take experience we’ve had before:

If you attend tonight’s meeting, media will likely be present. A simple message to provide to media, is that the state should embrace the 72 cent solution.

Greg Piner explains what that is, here.

9:09a Saturday is the Pirate Jam, the concert you take in from your boat. Right now, there is a 60% chance of rain Saturday.

Forecasts can change between now and then, but just in case, Pamlico Arts (the folks who make Pirate Jam happen) have set a rain date: this Sunday, Sept 6.

How do you attend? Just anchor your boat off Teach’s Point. This map shows how the Pirate Jam works:

8:58a Oriental’s Piggly Wiggly rolls out new weekly specials every Wednesday.

Here are the Piglet deals for Sept 2-8.

11:24a After years of battling to keep the ferries free, tolls are now set to begin January 1.

Oriental resident Greg Piner has a few words to say about it. Namely, that it’s a bad way to solve a revenue problem. Greg writes in with an explanation, and a solution.

You can give your opinion about the new tolls Wednesday evening, at the Ferry Toll Listening Session at the Delamar Center at Pamlico Community College, 6-8p.

NC DOT is closing the Dawson Creek bridge today. The plan is to replace it with a new two-lane bridge. In a press release dated March 17, “An off-site detour (14 miles long) will be required during construction.”

TownDock reported on this before – back when construction was supposed to begin in 2022. The closing information and detour routes are still valid. Check it out here.

It may be raining, but there’s wine to be had. From Bill at Nautical Wheelers:

The Showcase Must Go On. 1-3 pm today.

Hoff and Finch are playing. Winemakers Bertho, Hugo, Wynand and Andy are hosting their wine tastings. Charcuterie is being served. Tickets are available. Join us at Nautical Wheelers.

Head to Nautical Wheelers at 1p, sample flights of wine from four different South African vintners. Enjoy charcuterie and live music.

A slow, rainy day can be perfect for learning about wines.

2:57p Wine tastings, golf tournaments, and a Sunday sing-along.

Nautical Wheelers hosts a South African Braai, or BBQ in honor of their three visiting winemakers. Get to know the winemakers while enjoying their wine and BBQ, tonight from 4-7p. Tickets are limited.

El Taco Loco is at New Village Brewery from 4-8p this evening. Ken Belangia & Kim Brookshire play live in the beer garden, 6-8:30p. Hoff ‘n’ Finch play down the Road at Silos’ Red Rooster at 7p.

Join Emily Fritz of Sound Rivers at Town Hall, 5:30-7p, for a letter writing campaign to CAMA about a proposed 600’ dock in Oriental’s harbor. Supplies provided.

Saturday, visit the Oriental Farmer’s Market on Hodges Street for fresh produce. Get your tickets for the Nautical Wheelers’ South African Wine Showcase, 1-3p.

Jasmine Tasty Thai is at the Brewery, 4-8p, with TerraTones playing live music, 6-8p.

Sunday, head to Lou Mac Park for the Sunday morning riverside services at 8:30.

Or say your prayers at the annual Oriental Woman’s Club Golf Tournament as you try to win the $10k hole-in-one shot. Registration is 8-8:45, shotgun start at 9a.

Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium serves Sunday, 2-6p. Local singers gather at the Free Will Baptist Church in Oriental Sunday night for the 5th Sunday Sing, at 6p. All are invited.

Stroll through Broad Strokes Gallery, Saturday 10a-5p, Sunday 11a-4p.

Get your fresh baked goods from Mariposa Saturday, Sunday, & Monday 7-11a, and charcuterie & wine flights in the evenings, 3-9p.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

11:55a Storm Dolly, really was no Dolly. The system is done, now post-tropical.

9:20a This evening, Sound Rivers invites you to join them at Town Hall for a letter writing campaign.

The letters are to CAMA, to express your opinion about dredging a 400’ swath for a proposed 600’ dock along the jetty of Oriental’s harbor. The application is from Point Pride Seafood (on the left side of the harbor).

If constructed, the dock will be used by the 80-100 ft commercial fishing trawlers “while waiting to be unloaded, or maintenance and repair.”

Oriental’s Harbor and Waterfronts Committee have already responded to CAMA, urging them not to grant the permit. They cite harm to tourism, local businesses and residents, environmental impacts, navigational hazards, and the applicants previous NCDEQ violations as reasons not to grant the permit.

Read the Town’s full response, along with the violations and permit application here.

Tonight’s letter writing campaign is at Town Hall, 5:30-7p. Writing supplies will be provided. All are welcome.

3:05p You just can’t make this up. The next name in line for a tropical storm system… Dolly.

They really didn’t change it due to recent events.

Declared this afternoon, Tropical Storm Dolly. She is not as ample as the name may suggest.

• Tropical Storm Dolly Tracking Chart
• Tropical Storm Dolly Forecaster’s Discussion & Computer Models
• Tropical Storm Dolly Public Advisory
• Hurricane Center

Dolly will be a brief presence on the Atlantic. From NOAA/NHC:

Dolly is expected to go post-tropical in 48 hours.

10:30a Tonight at the Brewery, Thai Street Bites serves from 4-8p.

This evening, head down to the Museum for the last in their Summer Speaker Series.

Museum Director Lou Ostendorff talks about the different vessels that traveled the Neuse River – as workboats, as homes, and as floating spectacles bringing entertainment to coastal towns. Tonight’s free talk starts at 6:30p. Donations always welcome.

Friday, you have the chance to take part in a South African Braai… BBQ food and real South African winemakers there to talk and drink wine. Saturday is a Wine Showcase. Both are ticketed events at Nautical Wheelers. More info right here.

10:32a Hot wings & hot meals. Billy Flockhart talks dinner (or lunch) to go at The Pig:

9:21a A bit of sad news to share. Oriental resident Brian Hough passed away mid-August.

He had been a member of the Old Theater, was a friendly face at the Brewery, and helped build the scale model used in the movie “Titanic.”

Read about his life here.

This afternoon, Bow to Stern hosts Typhoon sailing at 3 & 5p – call to reserve your spot. The folks of The Gathering meet tonight at The Bean at 6p.

High today near 90, chance of rain at 70%.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

There are now two disturbances on the Atlantic. Neither appears to be a concern. One is pointed at Portugal, but the new disturbance is mid-Atlantic.

That could be a concern, but weather conditions suggest its likely route…. is north… staying far away from our shores.

• Hurricane Center

Summer is not the busiest time in Oriental. Something about that heat keeps the event list a bit calm.

Tonight at the Red Rooster / Silos, Ken Belangia. Brant Island Strings are taking the night off at the brewery due to wet weather. The Taqueria San Luis food truck is at New Village Brewery today.

The farmers will be out with their wares Saturday morning on Hodges St. Jasmine Tasty Thai food truck at the brewery Saturday, with Noah Jackson Cobb playing in. the beer garden.

Broad Strokes Gallery is open Fri-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 11a-4p. Mariposa will be tempting with chocolate and vanilla cream puffs this weekend.

Sunday morning church service at Lou Mac Park by the river, 8:30a. New Village Brewery is open Sunday 2-6p, with Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium serving.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

2:21p There’s not been much going on in the Atlantic, but this afternoon a small disturbance has emerged.

To underscore how this may be an odd storm season, this lil’ system is off Portugal. Heading east. Any stormy stuff that may happen is bound for Spain & Portugal.

Meanwhile, kinda quiet on this side of the Atlantic.

• Hurricane Center

12:44p That summer. Just won’t go away. Highs low 90s today, with heat index numbers up to near 108.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

Why so hot, Bunky? Come summer, our planet tilts toward the sun, soaking up that heat.

Maybe y’all need a pretty diagram:

Also from the stars: deep introspection. Opportunities expand. Intuitive insights.

It’s all in today’s Salty Celeste horoscopes.

10:41a A dog, head out the window. It’s the subject for the return of Pamlico Captions.

TownDock readers sent in their brilliant words. Today, all the captions and the winner, right here.

El Taco Loco food truck is still getting repairs, so no tacos today at Triton’s. The truck is expected to return next Wednesday.

11:42a A town meeting happened. Everyone got along.

It’s the August Oriental town board meeting. TownDock was there… here’s the report.

10:54a Thursday evening is Oriental History Museum’s Evening Summer Speaker Series. Turtle Midyette stops by to talk about the early era of Oriental (early 1900s) – when town boasted around 4,000 residents and most were employed in the lumber industry.

He’ll also talk about how Oriental became the Sailing Capital of North Carolina, and how the boat yards got started.

Turtle is an old hand at storytelling; he and George Midyette used run kayak tours around Oriental, standing in their boats and telling many of these stories.

You can catch him Thursday night – in the air conditioning of the Oriental History Museum – at 6:30p. It’s a free event, but donations are always welcome.

3:35p Tonight, 6p at Town Hall, a Hurricane Preparedness Forum, including a presentation from the National Weather Service out of Newport, NC. It’s free, you’re invited.

The 2026 Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival t-shirts are now available. Find them at the Provision Company and the Oriental branch of First Citizens Bank, $25 short sleeve, $30 long sleeve. They look like this:

Ol’ Front Porch is set for Oct 2-3 this year. More info at olfrontporch.org.

9:38a High today, mid 90s. Heat index to 112. Oye.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental Weather Station

12:31p It’s a low-maintenance weekend in Oriental. Here’s what’s happening:

Tonight, grab a cheesesteak from Capone’s: A Taste of Philly at the Brewery and hang in the beer garden to hear Ken Belangia sing Wayfaring Stranger. Food starts serving at four, Ken sings at 6. At the Silos / Red Rooster, Mac MacWilliams plays starting at 7p.

Saturday, check out the Farmer’s Market at 8a, La Cocina del Coqui Food Truck at 4 and Hoff ‘n’ Finch at 6 at the Brewery.

Sunday morning at 8:30a, it’s Sunday Services river side at Lou Mac Park. Mariposa’s Second Sunday lunch is a choice of three shrimp entrees, 11:30a-2p. Uncle Mann’s Food Emporium serves 2-6p.

Broad Strokes Gallery is open all weekend, featuring August artists Dodi & John Grosser. Mariposa has fresh baked goods in the morning, 7-11a and wine flights & charcuterie in the afternoons & evening, 3-9p.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

9:41a Oriental History Museum continues their Summer Speaker series with retired archaeologist Leslie Mead.

Leslie talks about artifacts that wash up after a storm, what you can find while beachcombing along the Neuse, and what you can learn from your finds.

Leslie’s talk starts at 6:30p. The event is free, donations always accepted.

At 6p at The Bean, it’s The Gathering, where folks of all (or no) faiths come together to discuss matters of religion & spirituality.

Los Gordos Food Truck is at New Village Brewery tonight, 4-8p.

Stay cool today, if you can. There’s a heat advisory in effect until 8p this evening. Highs mid-90s, heat index up to 108. Southwest winds at 5-10 mph.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental Weather Station

11:14a El Taco Loco Food Truck will not be at Triton Yachts today; they’re having mechanical issues.

8:38a TownDock.net used to have caption contest in the early days … back in 2002. Tuesday, it was revived on a whim, and has proven popular.

It’ll keep going for the rest of today. Here are some of the early entrants, to give a bit of inspiration to others:

• “Take me home, country road.” Pat Terry
• “I surely could use a fire hydrant.” Hank Ausband
• “If anyone asks, we were never in Ohio.” Lisa Millington
• “…told him not to take that left.” Gil Fontes
• “Ride like the wind.” David White

Have a caption you’d like to share? Send it to info@towndock.net

Tuesday’s monthly Town Board meeting lasted less than an hour.

Commissioners discussed the impending State Wide Ferry Toll, voted to use the Eastern Carolina Council of Government to help with the search for a new Town Manager, and discussed the town’s liability regarding the Spirit of Christmas and other events.

The newly passed State budget requires tolls be collected on all ferry routes. Currituck-Knotts Island, Bayview-Aurora, Hatteras-Ocracoke and Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferries were previously toll free.

The budget mandates the establishment of a $150 pass for residents of 20 coastal counties. Tolls will begin January 1, 2027. NCDOT has not yet established a fee for non-residents or for one-way ferry use.

Listening Sessions are planned. NCDOT will be at Pamlico Community College on September 2, from 6-8p, in the Delamar Center, 5049 S Highway 306.

This is not the first time the idea of ferry tolls were floated, or even included in the budget. It happened in 2012, 2013, and most recently in 2023. Here’s a brief timeline of TownDock.net Ferry Toll Coverage:

• 2012: How Pamlico County Got Stuck with Ferry Tolls
• 2012: Governor Purdue Stops Ferry Tolls
• 2013: Fight Renewed Against Ferry Tolls
• 2013: Guest Column: The Cost of Ferry Tolls
• 2023: Fighting the Ferry Tax. Again.

8:17a Yesterday’s late afternoon thunderstorm dropped a little over 3 inches of rain.

There’s no rain in today’s forecast, but there is a Heat Advisory from 11a-8p. Highs will be in the mid 90s, heat index up to 107.

This evening is the monthly Town Board meeting. Commissioners meet at 6p at Town Hall.

On the agenda: the search for a new Town Manager and a response to the NC General Assembly’s intent to levy ferry tolls

Read tonight’s agenda here.