Our “fearless roving reporter,” Captain Jane Tigar, is once again on the AICW, and filing stories for the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net. Captain Jane’s first installment below deals with her home port, Oriental, North Carolina.
Watch out for “dragons” in this otherwise charming riverside village!

I’m biased and admit our hailing port is Oriental, NC. I also admit we might have passed her by had our first Lady Jane not needed repairs an hour north of Oriental on our maiden ICW voyage a decade ago proving there’s an advantage to everything.
Bias aside, don’t pass Oriental by even if you don’t need an emergency repair by the reliable and friendly folks at Deatons boat yard, or a good dinner at the Steamer or M&Ms or the upgraded Toucan Grill or breakfast at Brantley’s where some mornings a baker stops in selling fresh baked fruit and lemon meringue pies.
Stop in Oriental if for no other reason than because it is the only place in the world — we are quite sure of this –where you can observe an actual nesting site of the rare elusive North Carolina dragon.
Anchor out just out by the bridge or use the free town dock if you can snag a space. Walk across the street to The Bean, an essential local and cruisers hang out featuring coffee, tea, ice cream and breakfast pastries and, drum roll … Free wifi!
But I digress.
Don’t go up to The Bean yet. You are really close… Facing The Bean, look to your left, in the tall grasses until you find this official wildlife sign … Now you are on your own to catch sight of the rare North Carolina dragon.
Good luck and let us know if you enjoyed your visit in Oriental, NC, a must-visit stop on the ICW.
Captain Jane
S/V Lady Jane