Boog's Blog

3 Oct.

It is pronounced bew. In SC it is bow.

New Bern sign explained that it was named for Bern CH, some visitor. Their sister city.

Our Turducken is on its way. Large bike suitcase, smaller bike suitcase, new York return suitcase, foldup bag. A four layer one but far less tasty.

The likely green pic of grits were made by a chef trained in NC and were clearly different than the steel cut 22 minute ones of beaufort SC. Better in this case though likely less old southern.

No more goofing off on your end. As QB says "if we can cycle over a half century today some work can be done". For my entre I had wahoo. Local Atlantic fish. Consistency of monkfish. Any other names for this fish? The other entre was trigger fish. Restaurant is excellent serving only local foods.

Soybeans, some corn, tobacco, and cotton. Numerous cotton tufts roadside.

waterside.jpg

beaufort waterfront.jpg

shrimp grits cheese bacon garlic.jpg

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2 Oct.

The food and architecture are also different. Frogmore Stew (also called Beaufort Stew), steamed seafood, cornbread, sweet potato. fries. Beaufort, by the way, is the NC one and not the SC one, which if often referred to as "historical" Beaufort (and pronounced Bewfort).

New Bern is the home of Pepsi. "Brad's Drink". There is a museum and memorabilia shop in town. I called George to see if he wanted a Pepsi Thimble or maybe a set of matched earings. Amazingly he turned me down.

A cabby drove our empty bike boxes, and us, to the UPS store. His story is a sad one, children who have disasterous lives with children with more problems. His accent is what got us. Southern, interesting cadence, very hard to follow but very nice to hear. From a few miles around New Bern, which he pronounced something like Nubbin. Had lunch in a good bakery. Menonite run. Discussed the tenets and learned (incorrectly of course) that the Amish are simple people but unlike the Menonites they are not even Christian. Lots to learn in the South.

The historic district, several pics included, reminds one of the sites Dee willl soon see on her trip to Charleston. Walk along the water either there or here and see the same interesting old homes: Greek revival; Federal; Federal with Greek revival; early Federal; with and without widow's walks, etc.

Another dinner, another pound of fresh steamed shrimp at Captain Ratty's complete with cornbread. Then back to the room for tea and muffins. Another day, another village pillaged.

As a final thought: to Dee. What is the correct spelling of the term I used for politeness?

historic new bern.jpg

flanner house.jpg

corinthian shack.jpg

clean queen Anne without a stormy night.jpg

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>The South is not like the East or California.

By a strange coincidence, I was discussing the South with my father on email
yesterday. Our conversation had started with the pros and cons of
partitioning Iraq and he remarked that 618,000 people died to keep the
South in the Union and he still wasn't sure if it was worth it….

I maintained that it was. The South was worthwhile because they invented
Turducken! Here is Dad's reply:

Precisely my point. Turducken!! A very insightful realpolitic analogy.
Three separate entities, each willing to wipe each other off the lake
for that piece of Cracker Jack, but now held together by force until
subjected to a bit of pressure, at which time it collapses into a
frightful mess. I'm sure that you had Bosnia-Herzegovina in mind. Sorry
you won't be here on Thanksgiving to demonstrate that point. We need
you.
Dad

On 10/2/07, boogkb@tmo.blackberry.net wrote:
>
> 1 October
>
> The South is not like the East or California. Everyone is nice and
> everyone says hello and expects you to return the curtesy.
>
> The seafood says it all. Picture should show steamed mussels, steamed
> clams and shrimp. Fresh cornbread and local beer.
>
> This is Craven County, Bear Town. The city hall has two bears, gargoyles,
> jutting.
>
> Cab ride was $9 as we went just past the $7 zone. No rush, nice guided
> tour.
>
>
>
>

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1 October

The South is not like the East or California. Everyone is nice and everyone says hello and expects you to return the curtesy.

The seafood says it all. Picture should show steamed mussels, steamed clams and shrimp. Fresh cornbread and local beer.

This is Craven County, Bear Town. The city hall has two bears, gargoyles, jutting.

Cab ride was $9 as we went just past the $7 zone. No rush, nice guided tour.

new bern bears.jpg

steamed seafood.jpg

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Ah- that Viking hat looks like a keeper! Proof that Boogs sacked the PNW

These photos really give the sense of "remote and "small town" — what a
different world from the bay area…

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Fri. 7 Sept.

Another perfect day with a reasonable bridge at Hood canal.

Poulsbo is another charming and cute tourist town. All the right small type shops. Artists of many styles and crafts. Settled by Norwegians it is full of Viking stuff and a few interesting scandanavian food stores.

Sat. 8 Sept.
Winding up the trip. Should reach Seattle today on another perfect bike riding day.

Took the longer and hillier chilly hilly route. Very pretty.

Ferry to seatle and walkabout. Great pig, thinking of Judi and Bobby.

Ride is finished. 350+ miles, excellent small ports, many hills, a few very good bakeries, very nice and helpful people.

A few days in Seattle and then we return on Wed. Via Amtrak.

the drive through experience.jpg

hill.jpg

Poulsbo.jpg

the sack continues.jpg

chilly hilly.jpg

Seattle pig.jpg

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Sept 6
Went out for coffee in port Townsend. Nice bakery was recommended. Qb enters and view the shelf of goodies. " I think I am going to cry " was her reaction.

Inn at Port Hadlock turns out to have a first rate eatery and a good sculpture garden.

Once again we find the standard rules of the northwest: cold soup and no bread with meals. Soup can be reheated and bread requested but the serving is meager.

bakery.jpg

spoon and marina port hadlock.jpg

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A long day of riding – you are brave!

Thanks for the very first Libb(e)y road sign I have ever seen (not to
mention one that is very unbiased). We have a picture of Dennis with his
eponymous road sign from our Canadian Rockies trip, so this is a welcome
addition to the gallery.
libby

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Wed. 5 Sept.

Once again the Boogs anti rain machine appears to have worked flawlessly. Ten minutes of rain when we first left Seattle (we did not preannounce arrival) by bike and no rain since or in the forcast.

40 miles of hills today. Terrible deception pass bridge. Too narrow to bike or walk. Too foggy to see the water below. Many hills through exent landscape. Ended with short ferry ride to port Townsend. .

One hill makes you taller.

One hill makes you shorter.

A muffin too far.

deception pass.jpg

Ifresh produce.jpg

Libby road goes both ways.jpg

madrone way a stand.jpg

qb at days end.jpg

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Mon. 3 Sept.

Expect to catch the last foot ferry off the island as the season ends today.

QB had a hot rocks massage. Did not hear any complaints and she returned especially relaxed so I guess a real success.

Tues. 4 Sept.

Early departure. Rolling scenic ride on Chuckanut drive. Misty day so we had limited views. Rode into Edison and had homemade apple pie. Freshly made; Julie has had her pies on the food network. She baked to pay the cable bill.

Excellent ride until outskirts of Anacortes. Route 20 has a wide shoulder but a lot of ugly traffic.

Another la vie en rose bakery. Qb knew that the second one is here. Nice inn across the street so booked in.

Tomorrow the bigger hills.

Julie’s apple pie.jpg

padilla trail.jpg

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