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Will Freund arrived in Oriental’s harbor on a trimaran kayak. He has been traveling and living aboard that kayak – here’s his story.

8:57a ‘Tis the season when giving becomes top of mind. In a small town (and county) giving local can be key.

Here is a list of area non-profits that you might consider lending a hand.

12:01p It’s not often one sees a tent erected – on top of a kayak. As much as that may sound wrong, it worked. The tent kayaker was Will Freund, traveling on the ICW with an environmental mission.

Sunny and 60 today… and then a forecast for 70 degree highs Thursday through Saturday.

11:02a Tonight from 4-7p is Ladies Night at Nautical Wheelers at both New Bern and Oriental locations. From Chrissie White:

5:22p Every Thanksgiving morning (it started 17 years ago) folks get together and go for a bike ride. Just because. Thanksgiving morning 2021 was cold, but it didn’t stop 96 “bikers” from showing up. Andrea Bruce was there – here’s the story & photos.

9:10a There is an outdoor burning ban in effect, everywhere in North Carolina. The dry weather and low relative humidity is key. From The NC Dept Of Agriculture & Consumer Services:

Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions
Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective at 5pm Nov 29 until further notice.
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

7:01a Well. That was cold. The overnight low was 28.

But today is forecast to be a big temperature swing day… highs this afternoon near 60.

December will begin with a warm spell – Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all expected to be sunny & near 70.

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

3:30p Technically, it’s still hurricane season – the last official day of the season is tomorrow. There hasn’t been any tropical activity on the Atlantic since early/mid October, which is normal for the season.

If you can look beyond the cold & wind, today is one fine day. Sneaking below freezing tonight… low 30. Then the week warms up some as December begins (the 1st is Wednesday)… highs near 70 expected for the coming weekend.

On the Neuse easy conditions… 5-10 knots tonight through Wednesday.

2:16p We are less than two weeks away from Oriental’s Spirit Of Christmas.

10:52a It’s paint night, tonight at Artworks. At Family & Friends Paint Night you make snow people portraits, with painting host Amber Williams. More info here.

No snow, but it did get below freezing last night… dipping to 29. Tonight and Sunday evenings will be relatively warmer… just getting down to near 40.

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

2:51p ArtWorks Oriental is looking for new resident artists and new flex artists.

What’s that mean?

Resident Artists get a dedicated space to work on and to sell their art. They also agree to spend 20 hours a week at the gallery, ‘on display’ working at their art.

Flex artists are also ‘on display’ as working artists, but commit to one 10 hour weekend a month at the gallery. They share working space with other flex artists and have the opportunity to display some of their work for sale.

Stop in to ArtWorks Oriental at 518 S. Water Street, overlooking Oriental Harbor Marina, to learn more and meet the current artists. If you’re ready to apply, click here for the Resident Artist application or if you need more flexibility, click here for the Flex Artist application.

6:40a Cloudy this morning with rain likely til around noon. Starting noon~ish, the sun returns… this afternoon will be clear & dry.

Weather Radar:

click image for live weather radar

Elmer, you should be in a good mood today. Tryptophan, that magic amino acid in turkey, is said to provide a good nights sleep and improve your mood.

2:14p The afternoon high reached 60 a few minutes ago. A welcome luxury after this mornings 29 low.

10:33a TownDock Senior Management was concerned that the morning’s cool temps could temper attendance… but Oriental’s bicyclists are tough.

Here are the numbers from this morning’s Thanksgiving Day bike ride: 96 bicyclists attended, and the course covered 5.25 miles. Thanks to Chuck Forest, the semi~official Turkey Pedal statistician.

Here’s the pedal posse at a stop along the way… the Zimmermans yard:

(click pic for the big view)

7:25a Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader.

This morning The Bean is open (til 11:30a). The Piglet is open (til 1p) in case you have a last minute collards emergency. And The Pig has multi-cultural greens… both collards and kale are waiting.

Overnight low hit 29. Fear not, the sun has risen and it is warming up. Already a balmy 31… this Thanksgiving Day is forecast to reach 60.

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

2:25p Vexillology. Bunky, you can say it… vex·il·lol·o·gy.

OK. Here’s some help:

It seems you may require some edifying on the subject of vexillology. Ladies, gentlemen, and TownDock readers – Captain John Rahm is here to help.

1:40p Some local businesses are taking more than just Thanksgiving Day off… adding the weekend too.

The Silos is off Thursday-Saturday, back next Tuesday. Rick’s BBQ, normally open Thursday-Saturday, is off this week. New Village Brewery, normal hours Thursday-Saturday, is also taking this week off for rest.

M&Ms Cafe, Barcos, Brantleys & Oriental Deli are all off Thanksgiving Day, back normal hours Friday.

What is open Thanksgiving Day? The Piggly Wiggly is open 7a -1p. The Bean is open 7a – 11:30a. The Toucan Grill is open 12noon – 4:30p, reservations recommended.

8:51a Ice on the docks. Overnight low 28. And we’re not the only chilly place:

From the Oriental Weather Station:

Warming up to 50~ish today, and Thanksgiving gets a balmy 60.

2:10p The low pressure / boil water advisory for parts of the county water system has been lifted. Details here.

1:32p Fresh, local collards. They are waiting for you. TownDock checks in with Piglet owner Billy Flockhart & Produce Manager Kim Early:

The Piglet is open from 7a – 1p Thanksgiving Day.

Oysters for Thanksgiving? They have ‘em at Pamlico Packing:

Pamlico Packing is at 66 Cross Road in Grantsboro. That’s near the corner of Hwy 55 & 306.

12:46p The Tree of Names & Lights. It is an Oriental tradition, fostered by the late Grace Evans. Grace died this year, but the tradition will continue, directed this year by Grace’s daughter, Meta Jones.

Read about the 2021 Tree of Names & Lights at this link.

Christmas decorations are going up today in Oriental. TownDock found Daniel Early with Oriental Public Works putting up a lighted candy cane on Broad Street:

(click pic for more decoration views)

10:23a TownDock crew was surprised to learn he is still performing:

7:45a A check of the TownDock archives reveals that this year is the 17th Annual Thanksgiving bike ride – or “Turkey Pedal.”

From the TownDock wayback machine – the story from the first ride – The 2005 Turkey Pedal. (You’ll notice the photos are small – in 2005 many readers had dial-up internet and the site was then designed for that.)

You’re invited to the 2021 Turkey Pedal.

In 2018, artist Laura Turgeon celebrated the 14th Annual Turkey Pedal with this inspired drawing:

7:28a It didn’t get quite as cold as forecast… temps stayed above freezing. The overnight low hit 35 just after sunrise. Tonight & Wednesday are forecast to get to near or just below freezing(32).

Today will be the cold day of the week… highs just mid 40s. Thanksgiving day warms up… highs forecast to reach near 60.

On the water, brisk 20-25 knot north winds and a Small Craft Advisory in effect today.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

4:42p Christkindlmarkt. It’s a really long word.

Divide it into thirds and you can even pronounce it: “krist kindle markt”.

It’s a German Christmas tradition where artists & artisans sell their wares… and it has come to Oriental at Artworks.

2:53p For your Thanksgiving Day planning – the Piglet will be open 7a til 1p Thanksgiving Day.

9:30a The county is working to mitigate today’s Boil Water Advisory. From Pamlico County:

7:28a It feels warm~ish this morning (for late November). Starting tonight, any hints of warm will be coming to a cruel end:

On the Neuse light 5-10 knot winds this morning, but the cold air arriving tonight will bring north winds at 20 To 25 knots, gusts to 30. A Small Craft Advisory in effect from tonight through Tuesday evening.

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

6:12a There is a low pressure / boil water advisory for parts of the Pamlico County water system. Areas affected include:

• NC HWY 55 from Cooper Road in Alliance going East to Trent Road including all adjacent roads
• Millpond Road
• Highway 304 to the intersection of HWY 307 and including all adjacent roads
• Florence Road and all adjacent roads
• Whortonsville Road and all adjacent roads
• Browns Creek Road
• Straight Road from Browns Creek Road to Trent Road and all adjacent roads
• Trent Road

This includes all of the Towns of Bayboro and Stonewall, part of the Town of Alliance, the communities of Maribel, Florence, Whortonville, and Paradise Shores. More information at this link.

This does not affect the water system in the Town Of Oriental.

11:10a Tonight at the Old Theater, energized piano man Henri Herbert. Jasmine Tasty Thai food truck is at the brewery starting at 4p today. Saturday wine tastings at Nautical Wheelers… you’ll sample from the wines of South Africa.

As part of your Saturday downtown stroll the galleries are open (Village Gallery & Artworks).

It’s all in What’s Happening.

8:21a Usually the day gets warmer after the sun comes up. Not today (yet). From the Oriental Weather Station:

A cold front is pushing offshore this morning. What is called “Cold Air Advection” is behind the front, dropping tempratures. Highs may crawl into the 50s this afternoon, but this morning they have dropped into the 40s. Tonight, clear & cold, low near 39.

On the Neuse, 15-25 knots from the north today, Saturday NE winds 15-20, Sunday things calm down to 5-10 knots, again from the northeast.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast