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Resting off Greens Creek… MV Salty Dog.

Hold on… there was a bucking bronco at Croakerfest. This year marked the 45th annual Croaker Festival… here’s the story.

July sunrise, viewed from the corner where South Avenue & Vandemere Street meet.

Rain threatened, but it held off enough for the Croaker Festival fireworks Saturday night. Croakerfest just might serve up the best small town fireworks show on the planet. Here’s the view from Oriental Harbor Marina. (Joe Clark photos)

Part of the Croaker Festival is the crowning of the Croaker Queen… and Miss Minnow. (Joe Clark photo)

Spotted at last year’s Croakerfest parade… Craig Croaker. Craig was riding on a tractor, part of a parade entry by the local Ham Radio Club. The 2025 parade is Saturday @ 10a.

Bernie Harberts adventures are on PBS NC TV tonight. TownDock crew discovered Bernie over two decades ago, when he completed a solo circumnavigation on a 35 ft boat. That journey started and ended in Oriental.
More recently, Bernie has been traveling over land, with help from a mule. He’s crossed the USA (twice) under mule power. This past winter Bernie explored Lake Mattamuskeet, and PBS NC came along to video the journey. You can see it tonight, July 3, 8p on PBS NC.

Marvin Bullock is on a mission: travel scenic Route 70 using the original paper maps. He started in Atlantic, North Carolina, a tiny town on Core Sound. He stopped in Pamlico County along the way. Here’s his story.

Sunday morning sunrise

Waiting to ripen, tomatoes at the Oriental Community Garden.

Monday evening TownDock spoke with fisherman Keith Bruno, regarding a proposal before the legislature that would ban inshore shrimp trawling in North Carolina. The bill passed the NC Senate last Thursday. Tuesday, the House votes on the bill. Keith Bruno says fishermen are mad, and are heading to Raleigh.

In a field near Oriental: a Massey Ferguson tractor.

There’s was some dancing Saturday night at Silospalooza. Wendy Osserman may have the fanciest dancin’ shoes in Pamlico County.

Spotted at the dinghy dock, an accurate dinghy name.

Where is home? At Ray’s Creekside Marina: a vessel that may be a long way from home.

It’s clear in this photo… who is top dog. She is 8 pounds of tenacious personality… meet Rosie, Miss June, Pet Of The Month.

When you visit Endurance Seafood, one gets greeted by a menagerie of creatures. There are ducks, chickens, cats, birds, large dogs… and Rosie. Rosie’s story is coming… (Christa Martin photo)

Departing the harbor, in a most salubrious manner.

Going for a wander by Midyette Street, a couple of ducks. They waddled over from Camp Creek. (click pic for more ducky views)

This is Boo Radley, boat dog of SV Mysto. Take a look here for Boo and his human Claire’s story.

Claire Forehand spent time at the town dock in March. It was her first solo trip aboard her renovated Newport 27 SV Mysto. Read her story here.

A classic rowboat, waiting in the harbor.

Sunrise sneaks through the clouds

Round the world sailor Josh Kali and SV Skookum (a 19’ MiniGlobe race vessel), arriving in Tahiti. Josh was in Oriental not that many months ago. More info below…

Tom Lathrop, by the front door to his home (Tom built both the door and the home). Tom passed away Wednesday, he was 93.

The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival’s 2025 t-shirt design was revealed Friday. The design is by artist Marguerite Garrett… it (appropriately) celebrates just playin’ music on a porch.

Are May or October sunrises more spectacular? The morning view at Lou Mac Park gives May a vote. (Jennifer Smart photo)

Sad news to share. Tom Lathrop passed away at his home this Wednesday morning. He was 93. TownDock interviewed Tom in 2021. Read about him here.
Tom’s memorial and celebration of life will be Sunday, 3p, at the Lathrop family home.

Dragon wind vane… it’s on the roof of the net house (and cruiser’s visitor center), near town dock #2.

Off Silverbrook Rd, chairs wait to help watch the garden grow. (Jennifer Smart photo)

This is Sweet Megg, known for her western swing. Sweet Megg is one of 29 performers scheduled to play at the 2025 Ol Front Porch Music festival, set for Oct 3-4.

TownDock crew appreciate seeing an uncommon boat name. MV Huguenot recently visited the town dock.
The term “Huguenot” is associated with the French Reformed Protestant faith of the 16th and 17th centuries. Turns out there is a Huguenot connection to Moneta, VA: A Huguenot Memorial Chapel and Monument there honors French Protestant refugees, Huguenots, who fled religious persecution in France and established a settlement in Virginia. (Allison DeWeese photos)

Zach Bruno & crew, crab fishing on the Neuse. (Cindy Casey photos)

At the confluence of Smith and Camp Creeks, SV Heidi Lynn (a Flicka) anchors out on a visit to Oriental. (Cindy Casey photos)

Seagulls take advantage of some floating lumber.

Tonight is the Wednesday Night Sail. A warm weather tradition, it’s a sort of race around the marks. Just show up at Marker #1SC by 5p. (file photo from a 2023 Wed Night Sail, from the deck of SV Stimulus, Madison Scott photo)

Hailing port Buxton NC, SV Sunbird visiting the town dock. (Allison DeWeese photos)

Whittaker Point sunrise

Mariposa opened as a wine bar in February. Sunday May 4 the second part of Mariposa debuts – the bakery. It’s open Sunday 6a-11a.

At the Town Wide Yard Sale, firm values on modern telecommunications. (Allison DeWeese photo)

The 2025 Town Wide Yard Sale is underway. Go forth and plunder.

There’s something about Marker #1 and cormorants…. they like to hang out there.

Spotted at the 2024 yard sale, chairs and table from another era. The 2025 Town Wide Yard sale is this Saturday, May 3.

At Broad Strokes Gallery, “Cool Cats,” by Marguerite Chadwick-Juner.

SV Lily Pearl, at the OYC docks.