Hertford, NC

After leaving Hampton, VA, Captain Keith and I cruised the ICW to Coinjock, NC then into the Albemarle Sound in NC to visit a few of the towns along this stretch of water.  Our first stop was Hertford, NC.  This town has a very long history dating back to the 1660's when the land was purchased from the local Native Americans, the Yeopim Indians.  The town was incorporated in 1758.  Therefore, there is a colonial heritage to this area.

Southern Style at the dock in Hertford, NC

Walking in downtown Thursday morning

The town is the home of baseball pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter.  Hunter was born and raised in Hertford.  He excelled in both football and baseball, but baseball became his calling.  He was signed to play for the Kansas City Athletics 4 days after graduating from high school in 1964.  During his career he played for the Kansas City/ Oakland A's and NY Yankees.  Hunter was an 8 time All-Star Selection and 5 time World Series Champion.  He is also in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  In 1979 at the age of 33 Catfish Hunter retired from baseball and returned to Hertford, NC.  He settled back into the life he loved of fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.  Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) in 1998, he passed away at his home in Hertford a year later at the age of 53.

In addition to "Catfish" Hunter, Belivdere, NC, which is just a few miles from Hertford, is the final resting place for the DJ, "Wolfman Jack".  While Wolfman Jack was not originally from Belvidere, he married a girl from there and he and his wife retired to the small town in the 1990's.  Wolfman Jack passed away in Belvidere in 1999.

After visiting the Catfish Hunter Museum in the visitors center and getting a great tour from "Sid" Eley, who is on the town council and grew up with "Jimmy" Catfish Hunter, we went to Woodard's Pharmacy for lunch.  Woodard's Pharmacy still has a small lunch counter and 4 booths inside the store.  It was truly a step back in time.  Keith and I had pimento cheese and turkey sandwiches and Keith got 2 scoops of ice cream for desert.  The ice cream was $1.07 (you just cannot beat that).

Woodard's Pharmacy

The Hertford "S" Swing Bridge is said to be the only remaining one in the country, and it is soon to be no more.  This unique bridge crossing the Perquimans River and connecting the greater Hertford area to downtown was built in 1929.  It is called the "S" bridge because of the significantly curved road approaches to both sides of the bridge. For over ten years the state has been exploring replacing the bridge, however locals love the bridge and wanted to keep it.  Unfortunately as of July of this year, work has begun to construct a new bridge.  We were lucky to be able to experience this historic bridge before it is gone.  It is said that the bridge was the inspiration for Benny Davis' song Carolina Moon.

The "S" swing bridge in Hertford

Getting ready to replace the old swing bridge, this crane and barge were parked just alongside the swing bridge

I took a late afternoon kayak paddle up the Perquimans River.  This is really a beautiful area.  I would say it ranks right up there with some of the best kayaking I have had as far as scenery.  The cypress trees are really cool.

My kayak paddle up the Perquimans River

Our next stop will be Edenton, NC.  I am excited for this stop as there seems to be a good bit of history in this town as well.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  It has been quite toasty, and they are calling for possible showers and thunderstorms the next several days.  Maybe it will bring some more fall like temperatures.