An Unusual Fourth of July

This is our fourteenth year living on the North Carolina coast. The Fourth of July is pretty special on the coast but this 2020 one is probably unlike any we have ever seen.

Those who couldn’t or wouldn’t stay away are here by now. You will likely find some restaurants closed and others doing only takeout. There might be some restaurants doing table service, but some have closed again. It is the first year that I have ever felt that most residents would rather see our visitors stay at home. It is only because the COVID crisis is not under control here at the beach.

Until Memorial Day when the beach parking and rentals opened, we had very few virus infections. In the month since then, infections have soared and on July 4, Carteret County recorded its 101st case of Coronavirus. From May 15th until June 3rd we were stuck at 35 cases. In the month since Memorial Day our cases have more than doubled.

However if you are here, be safe when you spend some time on the beach. Please heed social distancing guidelines and wear a mask in our stores. It is required. Our iconic Fourth of July events, the fireworks shows, have been cancelled. That includes the Emerald Isle one from Bogue Pier and the Swansboro Harbor one.

The best way to celebrate is find some local seafood at one the markets and build your July Fourth around that. You will find local corn and some Bogue Sound watermelons to accompany it at the local produce stands.

The expected crowds are here this weekend and I am pleased that we got everything that we needed for the long weekend weekend on Friday. A crowded grocery store is not my idea of safe.

People who live here and know about holiday boating crowds still will put their boats in the water this holiday weekend so don’t be surprised if the Intracoastal Waterway is very busy. Fortunately boating is pretty safe as long as you don’t beach the boat at a crowded spot.

The White Oak River, my home turf is usually less crowded during holidays and I would love to find a few hours without a lot of wind to enjoy it. However with my back still recovering, I will just dream about kayaking on the river. If I were able to get out there, I would fish the oyster rocks on the White Oak. If you are fishing in that spot, you have a natural barrier between yourself and any power boats and crazy jet skis that happen to wander up river.

We have just finished a nice week of weather after a pretty wet June. Today, July 4, was hot. I would venture that it was great beach weather. I suspect the only problem was having to dance a little on the hot sand. When I walked at mid-afternoon around 3PM, the thermometer read 93F when I got back. I am used to walking in the heat so I had no problems but if you aren’t used to it, be careful.

Sunday will start with church service at Cape Carteret Presbyterian Church but it will be different this July 4. The service is on YouTube and there will be no Men of the Church hamburger and hotdog cookout. However since it is on YouTube, you can watch while wearing swim trunks. Here is the Cape Carteret Presbyterian Church YouTube link.

It is the time of the year when we have tomatoes on every counter in the kitchen, so I know whatever we have to celebrate July 4, will be accompanied by a serving of homegrown tomatoes. That is fine by me.

May your visit be safe and please wear a mask when in stores.