Morehead City to Southport

Our destination today was Southport, NC.  It was going to be a long run so, as usual, we were away from the dock at first light.

Houses on stilts

You really know that you are in the Carolina’s by the architecture along the water.  Houses are painted in pastel colors and many of them are on stilts as flooding is a common occurrence.  We did not see very much damage from Matthew along the route but we are on the Intracoastal.  When you look to the ocean-side, you see all of the houses on the barrier islands that would have taken the brunt of the waves.  We may see more damage as we head further south.

Interesting colour scheme ...

... and lawn ornament!

Partying on the sandbars

As it was Sunday and a beautiful sunny day, the route was jammed with small boats.  At many of the outlets to the ocean, shoaling occurs and sandbars appear.  The boaters gravitate to these areas and party on the resulting “islands”

In many of these areas they have placed temporary buoys to try to help you avoid the shoaling.  We had to pay particular attention as we were going through at low tide.  On one spot, a sailboat was aground and we arrived just as Sea Tow got him off and pulled him directly into our path!

Surf City Swing Bridge

A particular area that needed vigilance was as we waited for, and then passed under, the bascule bridge in Wrightsville.  A 2 knot current was flowing south and we had to manoeuvre to avoid collisions.  There is a boat launch just before the bridge and many kayakers.  As the bridge opened you had to navigate to avoid the boats that barged through from the south only to be held up in the middle of the bridge from the boats launching and kayakers.  All the while we were being pulled downstream.  I did hear a boat horn to try to hurry the kayakers along.

Where's Waldo?

We went past Camp Lejeune that fortunately was not conducting exercises that can hold you up for a few hours.  This whole stretch is lined with marshes and abundant waterfowl can be seen on the edges of the canal.  In particular we saw a lot of egrets and herons.

The dolphins play in our wake

Shrimp boats use the ICW too!

We arrived at Southport just at 5:00 - our planned time.  This had required numerous on and off plane stretches due to the traffic.  Southport, along with nearby Wilmington, was used as a backdrop for the filming of the television series “Dawson’s Creek” and many films as well.

We elected to go out for dinner and chose the “Yacht Basin Provision Company”.  This is a campy little restaurant.  You enter and order at the counter then grab your drink from the cooler and return and replenish as desired during your meal.  They had single-serving wine bottles in 4-packs (like coolers)!  The Admiral and I had the special:  ½ lb steamed peel and eat shrimp and a crab cake.  The Crew had a burger & fries!  After finishing, you go back to the counter, tell them what you had and pay.

Morehead City to Southport

The challenge going back to the boat was the road we had walked along had now flooded as the tide came in.  We took a circuitous route back which gave us another view of the charming town with their century old clapboard houses.  Fortunately, it wasn't too dark as the moon this evening was magnificent, a “Hunter’s Moon”, very full but we were unable to capture it on film.

By the way, we learned that last night's port, Morehead City, is home to the Bald-Headed Men of America.  Their motto is “World’s only organization that grows because of a lack of growth”.  Unfortunately the Captain is ineligible.  MFP, how about you?