September 23 ... Swansboro, NC.

I spent the day recuperating ( wrenched my shoulder on the pamlico when i was trying to change my pants and steer and not get sideswipped by a wave) a bit yesterday right by the Beaufort Inlet and saw the wild ponies on Shackelton Island. Reminded me of my horses but not built so well. The forcast was for east winds but at 6 am it was out of the sw and i had to decide whether to go outside or up the interccostal waterway, Scared to go out sometimes but i told myself , no guts no glory, and beat my way out through the channel pretty easily. there was no wind to speak of all morning. With the 3-5 ft swell, the only way i could get shambala to go was headed toward africa, which was tempting after the response i got to my new blog from some quarters. anyway, turned out i had to motor after all down here to Bogues inlet and now will wait another day for the wind to shift back into the north. Don't like the intercoastal much with it's channel development on both sides. ..

So i came into Swansboro to replace gas which i burned and tried to walk to the library but it's an odd thing in these southern towns. They turn the harbors into turist townes with places like Olde Post Office Square, and move the actuall PO and Library out on to the strip where no one ever sets foot except getting in and out of their cars. You'll be glad to know that BOLONGA HOMEFRIES IS BACK at Hardees... and though i tried to hitch hike to the library , no luck.. Hoofing it the way back the sign outside the Methodist Church says "If you walk with the lord you will get there". Not much chance of swansboro residents getting there, or hitch hikers around here either.

But two days ago i was walking back from the Beufort Public Library on the strip and there on the busiest intersection, infront of the Piggly Wiggly, was a toothless old man sitting on a stool , leaning against a fence playing acoustic guitar and singing the howling blues. i crossed toward him and he ended the song. i asked him why he was playing in such a noisey intersection and he said he had to play somewhere and he couldn't at his apt complex cause they didn't want the noise. i asked him to play another cause he sounded good, but he wouldn't, he said he had to feel it inside, but he did pick some wildwood flower and he was pretty good. He said his name was jimmy, we shook hands three times and i walked away.