Croaton Nat Forest.

I was able to get back on my budget with $6 dollars left over! It was a struggle and probably couldnt of made it without the coffee fund. From the coffee fund I bought two meals out. Once was the steamed crabs I mentioned and I also bought a Styrofoam container of sausage gravy and biscuits from a gas station. When the fisherman in Whale Bone Junction bought my water and then a breakfast sandwich that day, he had no idea how much he helped me out . I ate eggs every day this week. I never did do a proper resupply. I bought little things several times a week.

My budget for Sunday to Saturday was $40. I spent $11 dollars just on water. The rest was spent on eggs, dried beans, rice and bread. I did get one pack of hot dogs and half a pound of lunch meat.

Budget for November 14-20 $76 dollars I spent $28 at Ocracoke campground so remaining budget is $48.

The first ferry to Cedar Island left at 7:20. If I missed that one then I would have to wait untill 12:30 for the next. The ferry ride was around 3 hours long so if I wanted to get any biking in catching the first one was important. It was about 4 miles from camp to the docks. I set an alarm to ensure I had plenty of time. 8 alarms actually. I am not a morning person. I can turn off any alarm with out waking up. The first alarm was for 4:45 then every 5 minutes after that. I wanted enough time to make coffee and not have to rush. I still over slept! I didn’t wake up until 5:50. It was a rough night and I didn’t get much sleep. The wind really picked up and my flapping tent woke me several times. The wind continued to increase and around 1am pushed the tent down on top of me. My tent is free standing, I only use stakes when it’s windy. It wasn’t windy when I set it up or by the time I went to bed. My panniers were in the tent with me and being too lazy and comfortable to get up and stake it down I tried to use them to hold it. That didn’t work so after the third time of getting woke up from my tent pressing against my face I got up and staked it down. I slept good after that. Too good I think. When I got up the first thing I did was put on a pot of water for coffee. While it heated I started packing. I only had time for a half a cup but I did make it to the ferry on time. The wind was blowing around 25 mph and it was a head wind. Despite it being pretty chilly by the time I got to the docks I was in short sleeves and shorts. Several people asked “aren’t you cold”?

I wasn’t cold then but I got cold after a while. On the ferry I read in the lounge. It wasn’t heated but at least I was safe from the wind. I was the only one in there. Everybody else stayed in there cars. I did venture out to take pictures several times. We past a little island that had thousands of comerants on it. I think they were comerants.

It was very sunny and if not for the wind it would be perfect. We docked around 10 am and I headed down the road. It was beautiful. I was on route 12. Sometimes it went through pine woods which blocked the wind. But mostly it was wide open marsh.

I rode up to a construction zone and was the first person in line at the stop sign. I made small talk with the flagger. She asked where did you start? I always say Maine. Pennsylvania doesn’t sound near as impressive, if the conversation goes on long enough I will explain my route. I told her Maine. She replied that she had just moved to Williston and didn’t know where Maine was. I said it was a bit north of here. The wind had taken most my energy and I guess I didn’t feel like talking.

I stopped at a little grocery store and bought a few things for dinner. I will resupply tomorrow. Dinner was beef and bean burritos and green beans.