The Shot: Riverfront Bench

As I've traveled through northeastern North Carolina and along the coast, I've discovered a surprising gem in Elizabeth City.

Pasquotank River

I first came here in 2009, spending two nights on business that afforded me a little time to explore the city in the late afternoon and evening.  Driving into town from Currituck County, I was amazed at the deep blue water of the sound and Pasquotank river, such a drastic change from the muddy waters of the Mississippi I'd grown accustomed to in eastern Iowa.

The settlement that would become Elizabeth City began as a trading post, benefiting from its location at the mouth of the Pasquotank River and its proximity to the Dismal Swamp Canal, along with later developments of various railroads and shipyards that took advantage of its geography.  Known as the Harbor of Hospitality, Elizabeth City is a popular stop along the Intracoastal Waterway, where boaters may dock free of charge for up to 48 hours in the communal slips along the downtown waterfront.

Along with surprisingly good restaurants and the Museum of the Albemarle, the riverfront is home to a quiet park and dock.  Residents set up their fishing lines or come to eat their lunch, while I simply sat and enjoyed the sun on a fall day.  The benches were artfully carved, with wrought iron arms.  The contrast of the iron with the wood, surrounded by the brilliant blue of the water and the sky was too much to pass up:

Riverfront bench