Port Vandemere Community Blog

Tuesday June 11, 2008

Whew! We’ve had quite a week of way above average temperatures. But considering what some of you in the mid west have been going through I’ll take it without complaints. We’ve been using the boat a fare share but even a nice dip in the water is only a brief respite to the heat. And it’s a brief dip, as the jellies are very prolific in the river and sound right now, but the sting is very minor and a little touch of vinegar does the trick. Today the mercury is dropping some with highs only in the high 80’s and the heat advisories have ended.

We did venture out to the property yesterday to check out the progress. The boxes are being installed on each lot for water service and rumor has it that it will be turned on shortly. Recent progress has been hard to see since it’s all buried under the ground. But from the track of disturbed soil running down the right of way I can tell they’ve been very busy.

We also went to check on Mark and Deb’s now finished dock. Can I say WOW! Perfect setting, gorgeous dock, they’ve done it right. We took off our shoes and took a respite for a few minutes. It took all the will power I had not to get a running start and dive off the end of their dock into the cool waters of Vandemere Creek. You can actually linger in the water at Vandemere Creek and as usual there are no Jelly Fish! I imagine in years to come there will be quite the clatter of giggles and splashes during hot summer day coming from the creek.

The Finished Dock

Sea of Dreams will love her new home!

June 11th, 2008 | Category: Community, Construction | Leave a comment

Sunday June 1, 2008

Mark and Deb have a new finished dock at their lot. Here are some pictures of it under construction.

The pilings are being installed.

A nice ramp going to the new floating docks.

The new floating docks with pretty IPE decking.

June 1st, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wednesday May 28, 2008

Well we’ve had quite a busy month at the corporate office. We’ve wecomed now two new family’s to the waterfront part of our community with the Richardsons and now with Oliver and Sally from lot 23. We have a new floating dock and Mark and Debbie’s lot 18, the waterlines are installed and the warm weather is here to stay. I have some great photos to post as soon my camera decides to coorporate; ah, technology. But in the mean time, I’ll just paint a picture with words: the weather is perfect, sun shining and there is a glimer on the water from the setting sun. Hope you can make you’re way to Vandemere very soon.

May 28th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Monday May 12 2008

I hope everyone had a good Mother’s Day yesterday. We were treated by some wild weather, strong winds, and amazing lightening. Sitting on Mr. Harris’s porch after a lovely Mother’s Day dinner of fresh peas and spinach with my mom and Wayne we watched the storm come up the river. Vandemere got bypassed but driving home about 8pm to Oriental was a little exciting with lightening streaking accross the sky and heavy rain. We parked along the waterfront for a few minutes and watched as strike after strike hit the waters of Pamlico Sound. It was quiet beautiful, but having been at anchor during storms like this it gave me the ‘hebegeebees’.
Seems as though I forgot to hit publish for last week’s blog. In any case, we’ve gotten one more week of good work done on the water lines. As of today they are almost completed. Its beginning to look like a community now, with the little fire hydrants dotting our streets. Power comes next, although the start date hasn’t been nailed down as of yet. When you have really great contractors the construction process goes very quickly and with few problems. This process has by far been the easiest of the whole project and I’d like to thank Mr. Cayton and Mr. Hardy for doing an excellent job.

Vandemere Botany:

I spotted some nice St. John’s Wort in bloomb along lot 26. Hypericum sp.

This is a common wildflower, some might eve call weed. But in my view if it looks good in a boquet, its worth keeping.
Daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus.

More Construction Photos

The little red hydrant is sitting by lot 18.

A Cayton truck sits on Royal Shoal Lane before putting in the last of the water line.

May 12th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Monday May 5, 2008

Happy Cinco de Mayo

As I sit here at my desk its raining, again and 1.5″ since dawn. The local fields have become as sea of green with baby soybeans and corn, potatoes and cotton poking their heads out of the soil. Living in a rual area for the first few months or year after being in a big city has you annoyed by the lack of this or that. But after you start to decompress suddenly the ‘enpty’ fields become an endless painting, a 10 mile long Monet with every turn in the road reveals endless beauty. Also unlike the everchanging forests of strip malls and stop lights our byways are always changing, the golden hues of winter turn into a symphony of greens. No wonder there are so many artists here.

Our first fire hydrant, this is accross the street from lot 2.

Crews get ready to bury the lines along Shell Castle Lane.

May 12th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wednesday April 30, 2008

It’s a nearly perfect day in Oriental, about 70 degrees, sunny, warm breeze. I was equally thrilled when I found out we have a new couple that has decided Port Vandemere will become home. Welcome Paul and COL Shelly Richardson to our little community!
Shelly and Paul have decided to call lot 21 their own.
I have noticed that we are becoming an unusual community. Although many folks that have moved into this area are from or have worked in the north east, and many have retired from jobs in Washington. I think we have more engineers that any other community along these waters, and now with our newest residents almost as many higher ranking millitary officers and others that have served our country. Yes, our neighborhood parties should be very interesting. I can’t wait!

We had a great meeting with Jack yesterday. Our new rendering of the marina and clubhouse area is coming along nicely. He is working with our Architect Shelly to put the finishing touches on the clubhouse and pool area. Very soon we can start working on a time table to begin construction of the amenities and come fall, the landscaping.

I forgot to tell everyone about our quick sail up to New Bern last week, before we left to exhibit at the boat show. We had several appointments and it was a pretty day so we jumped in ‘Betsy’ and headed up the river. We met Howard, our engineer at the docks, went over a few things on the project and then enjoyeed a cold one as the sun dipped over the horizon. Howard and a few of his fellow engineers took us around to the happening places that we don’t usually see, since we are never in town after 5pm. Starting at the on the ‘Deck’ at the Sheraton, where it was too crowded. Then a quick dinner at Captain Ratty’s and finally to some little pub in the basement of some historic building that I just can’t remember. Needless to say, around 1am we wandered back to the boat having had enough fun and talked enough business. The next morning came much too soon, but luckily the Galley Store where we docked for the evening, has great coffee. About noon on a nearly breezeless Sat we started back. The wind was only dead for so long as by the time we got to Minnesott Beach I had the second reef in the main and just a scrap of Jib. The wind was gusting somewhere in the mid-30’s and I was having a ball. Yes its silly to sail to New Bern for appointments, but why not. I’m sure I used less fuel that if I had take the wagon and we got to socalize with our engineers, who have put so much time and energy into this project. I appreciate everything they have done and hope they enjoyeed a night on the town.

Friday afternoon meeting with the Engineers.
I’m calling this Corporate Board Room, Oriental Sytle!

I’m usually behind the camera, but this time Bret got me in my element, at the helm of ‘Betsy’ coming back from New Bern.
The wind was starting to pick up just a bit at this point. By the time the wind hit 30 knts, the camera went below!

April 30th, 2008 | Category: Owners | Comments (3)

Monday April, 28 2008

Yes its finally submitted. We got a call from Roger over the weekend saying that the lengthy EA (environmental assessment) was completed and he was taking it down to Wilmington on Monday, today. After so many delays, mostly caused by just ordinary things, engineers having root canals, flue season, companies re-organizing, new babies, weddings, etc. etc.
Now that its submitted we get to wait again, yet I feel that the difficult part has passed.

Other good news is that despite more rain, the crews have the waterline installed to our entranceway. We had to run line all the way from Pensylvania Ave down Griggs road to the entrance before starting in the subdivision.

If you’ve hit the home page you would have seen that we were exhibiting at the spring show in Maryland. The show had a fairly decent turn out over the weekend despite some stormy weather. We met some great people, many who have stopped in Oriental on their way down the ICW and have fond memories of their visit. It never ceases to amaze me how many people have been through here by boat and how so many desire to retire to a simpler life on the water without the traffic, high taxes, and the attitute that so many of us get when we are crowded in one place for too long. Our reputation for being a relaxed, friendly community extends far and wide and I think that is something to be proud of.

I enjoy visiting Maryland and especially love the cream of crab soup, walking through Annapolis, and seeing hundreds of sails salt and peppering the bay on a Saturday afternoon.

Water pipes layed out ready to be installed on Vandemere Creek Drive

April 28th, 2008 | Category: Boat Shows, Construction, Marina | Leave a comment

Wednesday April 15, 2008

Well the sun finally came out Friday and but for a brief rain on Sunday and Monday looks to be here to stay. With temperatures looking to hit 80 this weekend I think I can finally store the sweaters and pants until fall. I took a hike around Vandemere yesterday to see where progress had ben made. Even with the heavy rains of the last few weeks the road work is wrapping up and now parked at the entrance way are trenchers and lots of pipe and valves.
Actually we seem to have more activity at the office than in the field, since rain dosn’t stop the phone from ringing. With the appoitment calender full we’ve made a trip almost every day into town,aka. New Bern. Where most of our contractors, architects, engineers, bankers, attorney… are located. New Bern is a charming place, filled with historic homes and now blooming azaleas, quaint eateries, and most of our larger stores.

We are working with a new landscape designer in town. Jack from Applegate Architects, may be advanced in years but he dosn’t know it, so we won’t tell him. A veteran curiser, liveaboard, marina manager and designer he is bringing years of hands on experience to the table most wouldn’t even dream of. Jack is currently working on a new set of renderings for Port Vandemere and also working with our architect for the club house. He also has the gift of ‘walking things through’ with regards to permits and a non nonsense attitutde on engineering. He seems to cut through BS like its butter and when he asks for something he usually gets it, immediately, which is sometimes a problem for us. Other larger companies have a habit of lighting larger fires than we do so we get shuffled to the bottom of the pile, especially the last few months. NOT NOW…… thanks Jack.

Our new waterline components sit at the entrance awaiting install.

Sitting at the edge of the pond looking at lots 41 and 42

Shell Castle Lane’s new Round’a'Bout with lots 28, 29 and 30 on the left. Once the landscaping goes in the island it should be quite a nice feature for the community.

The cul-de-sac on Shell Castle looking back west.

No this isn’t in Vandemere, its in Oriental, at the end of our street about 2 blocks from the house. I try to walk or jog almost every day and always forget to bring my little camera to capture every days scenes from town. Today I didn’t forget, and here is what the water looks like on a nice April morning.

Hiking around I didn’t realize lot 39 had a nice view of the creek, looking down the little canal over the marsh grass. You’ll have great bird watching from your porch from this lot.

April 16th, 2008 | Category: Construction | Leave a comment

Tuesday April 8, 2008

Pretty Trawler sitting at towndock on a rainy Tuesday.

Oriental is coming alive with spring. From this angle it almost looks like we are out in the country, but this is one block away from the office. Ah, small town life.

Rain, Rain, Rain. Now that we are getting used to wearing foul weather gear every day, I think it might clear up by tomorrow. Although the gardens and any amphibians around Vandemere are very happy, I think we humans are ready for a sunny day to enjoy all the spring flowers.

Our road is finished! Thank you Hardy Construction, we’ll see you again when its time to lay the pavement, but for now we have some utility lines to install. I’ll make a trip to the job site tomorrow and see if the new equiptment is there.

I have managed to get out of the house a few times, foulies included, and walked around town in the rain.
The town dock is starting to get busy as well is our little anchorage, with boats heading up and down the ICW. Its always exciting to walk downtown and see who has tied up the night before, have a coffee at the Bean and listen to their stories, or spin sailing yarns with cruisers having a brew at the Tiki Bar. Its like traveling without having to leave home.

I did finally get ‘Betsy’ out of her slip. A week after lacerating my hand on an oyster knife at the NSA’s spring Oyster Roast, stiches out, it had healed enough to go sailing. So we heading out this weekend to South River and spent the night. South River is one of this special places that is only a couple of hours from the slip, but it feels like you’ve gone a world away. Every time we go there I feel so guilty for not taking full advantage of the wonderful cruising we have so close by and promise to go at least once a week. Now that the days are longer you can leave after work and have the hook down and dinner prepared before sunset and be back for appointments early the next morning. Let’s see if I can live up to my promises…

April 8th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (2)