Kodi explores Beaufort - Days 240 and 241 - Beaufort, NC

Kodi continues to be our connection to people.

We started Sunday morning (5/29) with a walk through the historic district with the Furry Kid.  Beaufort is particularly charming in that people sit on their beautiful porches, often with their dog(s). 

Historic home with flags flying for Memorial Day

We came upon a such a home with a family on the porch and four dogs. Kodi just had to say hello and as a result we got to talk with some lovely people (Fritzi, Sandy and their family)

Diana chats with Fritz and three of their 4 dogs (thedog next to Diana is Stella)

Following an excellent Sunday brunch at The Grocery Store, which was, in fact, a restaurant and not a grocery store, we visited the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

This free museum turned out to be real prize.  We spend a good three hours here enjoying their exhibits.  The museum focuses on NC boat construction, the NC fishing industry, recreational boating and the life saving services that ultimately became the United States Coast Guard.  Not withstanding the fact that we chose this activity to get out of the mid-day heat, it turned our to be a great afternoon.

Outboard motor display

Following the museum visit, we collected Kodi and explored the local waters on the dingy.  Upon returning to the boat, we noticed, as usual, many people leaning over the rail and looking at the Furry Kid.  Often we entertain them by having Kodi perform.  Thirty of the almost 100 behaviors Kodi has mastered are useful for entertainment.  The other 70 are related to "activities of daily living."  During Sunday afternoons' performance we met a young couple (late 20s), John and Bethany Morninstar, who had just adopted a 7 week old German Shepherd.  We established a nice rapport and deceided to have dinner with them on Monday evening. 

At 5:30 PM on Monday, John, Bethany and the new puppy, Mika, arrived.  Kodi and Mika immediately hit it off.

Bethany and John look on as Diana gets to know Mika

Mika and Kodi

Diana proposed that I take our new friends on a dingy ride through the harbor with Mika and off we went.

Bethany and Nikka

Along the way we saw a very unusual steam driven boat.  As we came along side we noticed that the boat had a cannon mounted on the bow.  Sure enough, the gentleman on the bow fired the cannon.  We cruised on exploring more of the river north of the historic downtown.

Notice the cannon onthe bow

As we were returning to the boat, we again noticed the steamboat as it fired its cannon; this time in the vicinity of Beaufort Docks where Guided Discovery is berthed.   I commented to my new friends that Kodi would not be happy about the cannon firing.  This turned out to be prophetic. 

We tied up the dingy and began walking to the boat.  At that point, we observed Kodi being carried in the arms of a man and a boy running toward us saying Kodi had run away.  Turns out Kodi, who has never left the boat, got scared by the cannon, opened the slightlyajar cockpit entry door, ran off the boat and then off the dock.  The family who had just left the restaurant spotted Kodi leave the boat and run into the street.  They went after her.  So, we made some very nice new friends who then joined us on the boat with John, Bethany and Nikka.

Bruce, AJ, Stephanie and Josh pose after returning Kodi

We are very thankful that Bruce, Stephanie, AJ and Josh were there when the cannon fired.  It is just plain scary to think what might have happened had they not been there.  The family was visiting from Raliegh, North Carolina.  Guys if you read this THANK YOU!!!!!!

Kodi finally calmed down and we went to dinner with John and Bethany at the Dock House where we sat outside with the dogs.  It was a lovely evening.

All's well that ends well.

Written by Les.