.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Monday, July 30, 2012

A back road journey

I needed to do a little grocery shopping today, but I decided to take the long round about way to get there just to see what I could see.  Sometimes those are the best journeys, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.  I avoided the Outer Banks area, and drove down a couple of North Carolina Scenic Byways instead.  So far I haven’t found anything that rivals the scenic byways of Idaho, but I found a couple of things of interest on today’s drive.

_MG_9567

I started out pretty much driving the perimeter of Alligator River NWR east and south of the RV pads.  The road eventually curved around to the west, and then I turned north on Hwy 94 that would take me to Columbia.  I saw this sign, and pulled in.  I had been hoping to find a rural stand selling tomatoes, but cantaloupe and watermelon would do just fine.  I would be attending a cook out honoring this year’s batch of interns at the refuge tonight, and I had planned to take a watermelon. 

Oh my goodness, what a deal I got.  The stand was on the honor system for paying, but the owner had just returned from picking the watermelons in the field along with his very large and friendly German shepherd.  I told him I wanted one of each kind of melon.  He picked out the biggest watermelon and carried it to the car for me.  I’m guessing that it weighed well over 30 pounds.  Then I chose a cantaloupe that was almost the size of a basketball.  My guess is it weighs 7-10 pounds!   I put my $5 in the jug, and started up the car to pull out.  That’s when he said, “Wait a minute, you forgot your free musk melon.”  He brought over another whopper, and put it in the trunk.  I love melons, but 50 lbs. worth?  I’ll be sharing my bounty with Peggy and George, the other volunteers.

_MG_9570

A little further up the road I came upon Mattamuskeet NWR.  This is one of the refuges that the Gateway Visitors Center that I work at represents, so I thought it was a good idea to take a look at it so I would know what I was talking about.  Winking smile

IMG_9571

Along the two mile entrance road, work is being done to restore a wetland area.  The road travels right along this area, and even though it was approaching high noon, I was able to find some wildlife.

_MG_9576 _MG_9577

    It seems it was the mid day preening and bathing time for this flock of Canada geese. 

_MG_9581

This doe found me about as interesting as I found her.  What a set of ears!  After stopping at the refuge headquarters to get my NWR Passport Book stamped, I headed back to Hwy 94 which bisects the refuge.

IMG_9586

The refuge was established to protect Mattamuskeet Lake, which is the biggest natural lake in the state.  The overlook that I stopped at is part of the Charles Karault Trail system here.  There are Charles Karault Trails at both Alligator River and Pea Island as well.  Some of you may remember his “On the Road” reports from years back.  He was a native of North Carolina, and loved the National Wildlife Refuges here.

I eventually made it to Columbia and the grocery store and back to the rig after 120 miles.  So I guess you can think of this as my “On the Road” report from eastern North Carolina. 

_MG_9572

                                                                               THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

26 comments:

  1. Judy , you are a hoot! I just knew that had to be the end.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a great tour around the area but I hope you won't have to go that far for groceries all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I read "Charles Kuralt" I heard his voice.

    I do like cantaloupe (is that musk melon? My mother calls them that).

    ReplyDelete
  4. Don't let Janna read this post. She'll be all upset about the watermelon. lol Love those back roads journeys.

    ReplyDelete
  5. With all those melons in the trunk, how high did your front tires come off the ground?

    I see we are now having quite a "The End" competition. :c)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd call that deer "Radar". Oh my goodness, how I long for a watermelon just brought in from the field where it was allowed to ripen. You lucky bugger!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is a perfectly beautiful place you are in. Love the ears on that deer! The better to hear you with, my dear.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm with the Ducks... I heard him too! Just like I can taste those melons!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's a lotta melon! And a lotta sightseeing while getting your groceries. Love all the pictures! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sure wish our trips to the store were this scenic! Love your wildlife photography! You are an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mattamuskeet sure has a nice refuge sign.... I like the ones that are designed with the area in mind. I'd probably have to drive that way to the grocery every time... so much to see. Are you now in the land of the "Piggly Wiggly"s?

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like the entry sign to the Mattamuskeet NWR... love it when the signs represent the area. I'd probably have to drive that way to the grocery every time... just to see what's out there. Are you now in the land of "Piggly Wiggly"?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nice drive to the store :) What a good deal on Melons.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Do not know why, but I cannot resist taking photos of deer:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love melon of all types. What a deal you got!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I sure would like to be in your area. We visited OBX, and used Elizabeth City for our Grocery needs. Love the lighthouse there up and down the coast!

    ReplyDelete
  17. that must have been one very large melon!..fresh picked would be the best!

    ReplyDelete
  18. All that melon for $5. you can barely by one tiny melong of any kind for that price.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dennis is the melon guy..not me so much...I would rather the fresh fruit and tomatoes....Those deer there remind me of some we saw in Colorado..They had the biggest ears I have ever seen...I seem to remember them being called Mule Deer...???? I don't know about "the end " of them.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I liked the big ears on that deer - great photo!

    ReplyDelete
  21. As I was scrolling down I knew "The End" was coming.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great deal on the melons. I travel like you, I figure if I have to go out for groceries, I may as well see what else is around.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for bringing me photos of another NWR that I can take my passport book to for a stamp. Looks great. Is there a kayak launch?? Definitely BIG EARS if that's a eastern white tail deer.

    ReplyDelete
  24. OMG - the ears on that doe just made me laugh! I clicked to get the bigger photo and she is just a beauty. :)

    The melons sure sound good right about now. I always get the little watermelons and they still last three or four days.

    ReplyDelete