I am looking at a few activities for the Fall Rally that would need some advanced preparation but are also driven by interest. Would you be interested in any or all of these activities:
- Fishing Charter. I hear the fishing there is excellent and there are several charter boats available. I don't fish so I don't know what kind of fishing they have (I might go along on the boat ride for fun). The CG has a fish cleaning area near our group of sites. I need to know how many people are interested so I can pick the right size boat(s).
- Catered Seafood Dinner. A seafood restaurant in the area could bring a seafood feast to our meeting hall. I don't eat fish myself but would be happy to arrange this for the group.
- Trip to a Seafood Restaurant. Since it will be just after the season, some restaurants will be closed. Our friend Merrin at Camp Hatteras has some pull with some of those restaurants and could arrange a group dinner for us even at the closed ones. Merrin even has access to a charter coach we could hire inexpensively to save us all from burning our diesels (plus everyone could drink with impunity too!)
- Catered Barbecue. North Carolina is famous for their pork barbecue. We could get a pig picker to bring a feast to our meeting hall. I'll bet if enough people are interested they could even do a whole pig right there for us. I've done this before and can tell you it is extremely tasty.
You don't have to decide now since these things can probably be set up in August sometime. But anything I can set up now (while I am planning all my summer trips anyway) is something I don't have to worry about later on (while I am on my summer trips).
If we want to do one of the dinner things we might do it Friday night so people don't have to cook right after setting up their rigs. If it turns out that one or more of these things is something that is favored by people who will all be there on Thursday night (or Sunday night), then we might do that thing on one of those nights.
BTW, Gus, would you please email this message to the chapter list? Thanks.
Having been in NC since 1980, I have experience with all of your ideas.
Idea 1: A charter fishing trip is great, but you'll rise real early, drink often (if that's your proclivity) and early in the hot sun, bounce around on the ocean and catch some great fish. In October, the King Mackerel are running and they're fun to catch! Don't know about September, though. You'll be spent upon returning, and because you'll want to rest/sleep, for me that's more of a designated event trip for fishing, drinking and resting only. But I was a lightweight when I did that some 16-18 years ago! This would be toward the bottom of my list today.
That area is famous for surf fishing, too. So you might want to consider googling bait and tackle shops in the area and seeing if you can rent the huge, mondo poles that are used in surf fishing, as well as getting some expert advice about the sport. People drive their trucks on the sand (or used to?) and park near the water's edge using pole holders mounted on the front of the truck to assist in their surf fishing.
Idea #2: NC seafood is delicious, especially if it's cooked Calabash style, which means very lightly breaded and fried to perfection. It's not real greasy and is delightful. I'd love to try clams again, too, as I have memories of clam bakes when I was little in upstate New York and fond memories of delicious clams in Hawaii. This would be a good choice for me, especially with all the fixins.
Idea #3: Chartered Bus to restaurant would be fun, especially the drinking without driving part. Had a great experience 20 years ago touring the Research Triangle Park area in a chartered bus with neighbors, but for this weekend, this would be at the bottom of my list.
Idea #4: A pig pickin'! Now that's what I'm talking about! That is a party unto itself. When done at someone's home, the cooking of an entire pig starts after midnight and continues into the next day until it's time to eat. Always a crowd around to keep the cook company and plenty of drinks to share. Maybe we can get the cook to hang out near the conference center/meeting hall. Some lawn games (badmitten, volleyball, croquet) would be good, too.
Eastern NC BBQ is typically a vinegar based pulled pork (and sometimes, spicy), but you could get the cook to leave sauce off for those who love Kansas City tomato BBQ sauce. Coleslaw, brunswick stew, hushpuppies are also standard fare at a pig pickin'.
We'll also have the sound in our backyard. What a biology lab for the kids (young and old) to explore, with lots of water creatures and plants to investigate. Then there's the ocean. So much to do, so little time.
We're really looking forward to going and doing whatever the group decides to do.
-carolinachrissy
