Ahoy, y’all! I’m back in London and starting to sift through the notes from my latest road trip. This one was along the US Atlantic coast of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia on the trail of fact and fiction pertaining to one of the world’s most notorious pirates: Blackbeard.
2018 marks the 300th anniversary of the death of Blackbeard. Beyond the treasure trove of myth related to this infamous villain, little is known except for the tales of his extremely short lived maritime crime spree. However, it is well documented that British Naval Lieutenant Robert Maynard killed Blackbeard on 22 November 1718 off of Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The chance to explore some of Blackbeard’s haunts was the inspiration for my itinerary, which turned out to be exceptionally rich fodder for all sorts of fun – piratical or otherwise. Ocracoke was, of course, a key stop of the trip – as were Greenville, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. Everywhere I visited, the food and drink were delicious, the locals were warm and accommodating, and the history was all but tangible and present. There were so many other spots awash in pirate legend that I had hoped to hit, but prior commitments and time constraints got in the way.
I’ll get cracking soon writing with more details about my travels in Blackbeard’s Wake with plenty of tips to help you design your own adventure.
Smooth Sailing with Hertz
My route was one of smooth sailing thanks in large part to the Ford Fusion I hired from Hertz. It was my first experience driving a hybrid. I felt good about going with the greener option. I felt great wherever I stopped for petrol and the cost was way cheaper than I otherwise expected. I’d hire the same again and can easily recommend the Fusion for anyone looking for a comfortable and fuel efficient ride.
For more road trip inspiration, head to the Hertz Road Trip Planner and discover iconic and off-the-beaten track routes, downloadable maps and insider guides:
hertz.co.uk/p/american-road-trip-planner
Hurricane Florence
This blog remains a reserve for fun-loving content and a place where I like to share ideas on how to enjoy the good things in life. But I’m not writing this series in a vacuum, and it would be remiss and insensitive not to mention what’s obviously on everyone’s minds with respect to the Carolinas at this moment: Hurricane Florence.
Soon after I drove on from the coast for inland adventures, Florence set in battering and flooding the region. I got lucky with my schedule and mobility. The situation for too many others is far different.
The immediate threat of Florence is over, for the most part. Now comes the less sensational but more arduous phase of coping with and adapting to the new realities of life after the storm.
To help people deal with the aftermath of Florence, prepare for the all-too-inevitable disasters yet to come, and promote sustainable change and stewardship for a less harrowing future, have a look at these organisations:
- Mutual Aid Disaster Relief: mutualaiddisasterrelief.org
- Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice: iacjva.org
- Cajun Navy Relief: cajunnavyrelief.com
I’m certain that before too long the coastal communities of North and South Carolina will once again be fine destinations for vacationing and leisurely pursuits. Until then your awareness, involvement and donations are appreciated.
Keep a watch out for more posts to come in my Blackbeard’s Wake miniseries.
