Sunday we drove 35 miles east to New Bern, North Carolina and stopped at the KOA campground to drop off a bundle of sample copies of the Gypsy Journal, and to visit with our friends Barry and Jan Kessler, who are staying there a few days.

We first met Barry and Jan soon after we started fulltiming, and have crossed their path many times in our travels, but it has been a couple of years since we saw them last. We had a good time visiting, and getting acquainted with their two fun puppies, Jack and Molly.

We wanted to check out the Elks Lodge in Morehead City, our next stopping place, so Barry and Jan followed us another 35 miles to the lodge. It would have been fun to ride together, but our van and their truck both seat only two. The lodge was closed, but we saw that there was a lot of room to park our 40 foot motorhome with no problem. As we were leaving, one of the lodge members arrived on his motorcycle. We introduced ourselves, told him we were Elks from Arizona, and wanted to be sure there was room for us to park at the lodge. He assured us that we were welcome, showed us the best place to park our motorhome, and said they would run an electrical cord out from the building if we needed it.

We have stayed at a lot of Elks and Moose lodges in our travels. Some have full hookup RV parks, and others just offer a safe place to dry camp for the night. Our membership dues in both organizations helps them accomplish their many charity projects, and opens the door to lots of overnight parking opportunities for us.

From the lodge it was only a few miles to Atlantic Beach, where we walked along the water’s edge for a while, then strolled out onto the Oceana Fishing Pier, a privately owned pier adjacent to the Oceana Resort.

One of the things on my personal bucket list is to catch a saltwater fish off a pier, and this might be a good place to do it. There were quite a few folks reeling in several different species of fish, and one lady had caught this skate, an ugly looking critter if there ever was one.

There wasn’t much surf, but there were a couple of people out in the water trying to catch a wave, without much success. In fact, the water was so calm that I told Terry that if it were a little warmer, I’d consider dragging my kayak down to the beach to get some paddling done.

It was getting late and we had not eaten all day, so the four of us stopped for sandwiches at Panera Bread, and then went our separate ways, promising to meet up again soon, since we’re headed in the same direction.

Today we’ll drive the Winnebago back to Morehead City and spend a few days exploring the area, which locals call the Crystal Coast.

Thought For The Day – The beauty of life is that there is no predetermined formula. What ingredients are you adding to yours?

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Yesterday our friend Patti Ivey took us sightseeing, introducing us to her little corner of the world. Patti grew up here in Kinston, North Carolina, and she is a great tour guide. It was Patti’s birthday, and we were honored that she chose to spend the day with us.

Our first stop was at the annual Stewfest in Kinston, where we explored a local historical site. Veteran’s organizations and other groups had cookers set up and were dishing up bowls of stew. We were saving ourselves for dinner later in the day, so we passed on the four bowls of stew for $10 price, but Patti and Terry were both very impressed with the delicious aroma of the different stews being offered.

Leaving Kinston, Patti drove us 30 miles east to New Bern, an affluent looking little community with a handsome downtown area whose streets are lined with small upscale shops offering gifts, art, and apparel.

 Located at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers, New Bern has a long history. Settled in 1710, it is North Carolina’s second oldest town, and was the colonial capitol. An important port and trading center in the 1800s, New Bern was captured by the Union Army after a bloody battle in March, 1862.

Today visitors can take a buggy tour of the old city, which takes them past historic buildings and churches that are architectural works of art.

I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs, but I have one major vice. I am a confirmed Pepsi Cola addict.

So when Patti told us that my favorite soft drink was invented in New Bern,  it was like a pilgrimage to Mecca for me. We made a beeline for the old drugstore building where a young pharmacist named Caleb Bradham experimented with spices and flavorings during the hot, humid summer of 1898, trying to come up with a combination that would please his customers’ taste buds.

 He settled upon a concoction that he called Brad’s Drink, which was an instant hit. Word of the beverage soon spread, and Bradham renamed it Pepsi Cola, and began to market it regionally. Today Pepsi is known and loved worldwide, and I know that my contribution to the company’s bottom line is only exceeded by Pepsi’s contribution to my waistline.

Today Caleb Bradham’s drug store is a small gift shop selling Pepsi memorabilia and displaying a couple of nice old Pepsi machines, some vintage bottles, and replica advertising signs. Visitors were lined up at the counter sipping cold Pepsi and bantering with the young people working behind the counter.

After leaving the birthplace of Pepsi, we strolled along the sidewalks, stopping at the marina to admire some of the boats berthed there, including some very impressive yachts. They looked nice, but I get seasick too easy. I prefer my land yacht. 

Back in Kingston, we had an early birthday dinner with Patti, then she dropped us off at the campground. It’s been nice visiting our friend, and we look forward to getting together with Patti again the next time our travels bring us through this area.

While we plan the next leg of our journey, why don’t you check out Bad Nick’s new blog post, America’s Energy Crisis, and leave a comment.

Thought For The Day – I don’t mind going nowhere as long as it’s an interesting path.

Register Now For Our Arizona Gypsy Gathering Rally