14 August 2017


RIVER FOREST MANOR AND MARINA


And It's All About Sandwiches

The Grand Lady 

RFM&M sounds like it should be the name of a railroad, but far from it.  This wonderful stop along the intercoastal water way is built around a very old and charming mansion. The mansion is situated at the mouth of the Pantego Creek and the town is Belhaven, NC. She is referred to as The Grand Lady.  She was built from 1899 through 1904 (Teddy Rosevelt would have been president). This gem of a residence was created by some of the artisans who built the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC and other fine craftsmen from around the state. For many years, she was the site of posh parties and celebrity guests. The guys who now own the marina and the mansion, and there are fourteen of them, all hail from the area. They grew up with the house being an important part of their world and the town they live in.  So when the house and marina fell on hard times, the guys bought it. It has been a successful labor of love ever since.

The Chef Becomes Sandwich Maker

We spent only one night at River Forest Mansion and Marina but had a good time. We took a couple of spins around the old river town in the golf carts provided by the marina and then had a dinner of sandwiches on the boat.

That's right sandwiches.

A couple of trips ago, we four were speeding down the highway to join the boat and do some cruising. I was in the front seat trying to prepare a menu with the accompanying shopping list, when I got turned on by all three of the guys.  They were gentle about it.... but they more or less let me know that my meal preparation was not really appreciated that much and they would just as well like to buy a bunch of sandwich makings and everyone could fend for themselves at dinner time, lunch time, anytime.  Well, if you've ever boated for fifty to eighty miles on a hot summer day, cooking at the end of it really does rank as one of the chores you would rather not do.  So, seeing as how I was out-voted anyway, have a streak of six o'clock lazy and would rather drink a beer and enjoy the evening view, we did it.  The grand thing is, it works fine.  It is not much more expensive, if at all, and best of all, no one complains about the cook. We still augment the larder with plenty of fruit and salad makings so few, if any of us, are in danger of coming down with scurvy. (Another reason, we stock plenty of limes. I won't include the other reason for the limes.)

The Galley, Stocked Against Scurvy 

"Skipper to Engine room"                

By the way,  the boat seems to be doing well enough for now so we have decided to just take it slow and worry about repairs after the trip.  The problems are not of a nature that will cause further damage if left alone or at least for the time being.