Swansboro to Morehead City

Swansboro to Morehead City

A bit of a challenge getting off the dock this am.  We were at low tide and the wind was still blowing.  The depth was very low and there is a shoal just beside the dock.  I was able to use the bowthruster to get the bow around and started to head off when I could feel the bump!  Then the stbd engine stalled!  Does not appear to be any problem as bottom is muddy. Whew!!

We proceeded along the Bogue Sound paying attention in a few spots where there is shoaling.  A constant problem in the Carolina’s.

Dagny had sailed from Brunswick to Morehead city and was anchored at Cape Lookout so we decided to go over and say hello.  As we started to go out the entrance, the wind was blowing and the Admiral decided that she would really rather head to the dock we had reserved for the night and get some provisioning done, so we turned back.

 

Helicopter Training

Hovering with Boat

Driftaway decided to do the same shortly after.  It was exciting however going through the harbour.  The Coast Guard was doing training and there was a helicopter moving all around and hovering.  I guess they were practicing extracting a person off of a boat.  We never saw someone on the hoist but did see a lot of hovering over a boat.

 

Jack-up transfer pump

Dredge

Clearly they have a shoaling problem at the ocean entrance.  There appears to be constant dredging.  The dredge sends the material to a Jack-Up barge with a pump, which then sends it underwater to the land.  Quite an impressive sight.

Myrtle Beach to Wrightsville Beach to Swansboro, NC

We fuelled up in the morning and then proceeded to the North Myrtle Beach entrance and back to the Ocean.  There are a few trouble spots on the ICW just N of Myrtle Beach, Lockwoods Folly being the worst. 

The Ocean had calmed down considerably from the day before and there were only 2’ rollers, so it was a very gentle ride with a little bit of motion.  

Large Barge on Cape Fear River

We came in at Southport and proceeded up the Cape Fear River until the turnoff to the ICW.  There is a trouble spot here but we were at high tide so no problem.

Los of Traffic

  Once we reached the area by the barrier islands, the traffic increased significantly.  

Playing on the Sand Dunes

It was a lovely sunny holiday Saturday and the boats were out in force.  You could see a dozen boats heading at you at any one time!  A leisurely trip with lots to see and we docked right at the Wrightsville Beach Bridge for the evening. 

Wrighstville Beach

We sat down, poured a Caesar and watched the world go by.  There was lots to see, as this is a very popular spot. 

We went out for dinner that night to a restaurant 500’ away.  Unfortunately there were bugs (Gnats?) that were quite annoying. Food was okay but service very slow. We did have a very nice conversation with a couple sitting next to us, so a good evening in spite of the bugs.

The next morning a leisurely departure, we caught the 9:00 opening and proceeded north.  We set waypoints for the bridges as here they are on a schedule, not “on demand” so we needed to speed up a few times to get the opening.  We passed by Camp Lejeune.  There is a sign that may light up to stop your progress if there is live firing in the area.  

Target Practice

Fortunately there was not, but we did see the old personnel carriers that they must use for practice.

We arrived in Swansboro in early afternoon and re-united with Jim and Debbie Pyke aboard their 54’ Ocean Alexander.  They have just started the Great Loupe having started from their base in Charleston.

 

See the spout on the front

Going to Jim and Debbies for Easter Dinner

As we sat here a unique dredge docked.  It sucks the sand up from the side, but instead of discharging it into a pipe for remote disposal, they shoot it out of a long pipe on the bow!

Off to Morehead City, the twin of Beaufort today.  A short run.

Talk Later

Bill & Sandy

Brunswick to Beaufort to Myrtle Beach

We did get up early and made the jump outside from Brunswick.  The water was calm and there were no complaints from the Admiral.  Not much to report as there is nothing to see 3 mile offshore.  We did get a chance to “feed the fishes”.

We were unable to get a slip at either the marina we stayed at on the way down or our first alternate so we ended up at the Downtown Beaufort marina.  This would be a great place to stay if you did not have hosts to ferry you around like we do.  We were greeted again by Patsy and Stu Taylor ,who had just returned from 6 weeks skiing in Colorado.  Nice of them to get back just in time to host us! 

Crocodiles outside the house

Other friends from Hudson, Doug and Marilyn Seagrim and Betty Thompson were due into town on the Wednesday evening so we took the opportunity to stop for 4 nights and see them.  As the closest marina to Patsy and Stu has a special, 3 nights for the price of two, we moved the boat on Monday and then off for errands.  We went to Johnson Creek for lunch and the Admiral started on laundry.  The week was a whirlwind with golf cart rides on the course to a Sam’s run and Wal-Mart/Publix grocery shopping.

 

Patsy,Betty, Sandy, Stu, Marilyn, Doug

Wednesday around 5 the guests arrived and a merry time was had by all.  Stuart cooks the best hamburgers!!

Early the next morning we were off to Seas the Day and the next leg of our journey continued.  We stayed in the ICW headed for Charleston.  The only problem areas on this stretch were about 15 miles away and our departure time allowed us to go through them at high tide.  We arrived at Charleston around 4:00 and stayed at a Marina on the ICW just past the Charleston Entrance.  Quite a nerve-racking trip up the small river where it is located.  Mud on the port and boats on the starboard.  I figured that if they can make it so can I.  Tied up for the night and off the dock at 7:00 for the jump outside headed for Myrtle Beach.  The sea gods were not as kind today.  Waves of around 3 to 4 feet made it a lumpy crossing. 

Air boat on River

We had decided on a backup plan of going in at Georgetown and continuing on the ICW.  At least this route bypasses the worst stretch around McLennanville.  It was slower but the Admiral was much happier.

Interesting stretch as you approach Myrtle Beach with some lovely homes.  Some people have done a magnificent job of landscaping the area from the home to the ICW while others have not.

We also passed under the cable car that I took with Doug and Marilyn when we stayed with them at a time-share two years ago.  It takes you from the parking lot across the ICW to the course.  Fond memories

Did they have a sale on paint?

Melbourne to Daytona Beach to St Augustine

Yesterday was a long day.  We did 76 miles.  An early start, on the water by 7:00 am!!

A first on this trip, we had just come out of the Haulover Canal ,which separates the Indian River from Mosquito Lagoon when we saw a Tow Boat US trying to free a 50’ motorboat from his grounding off the channel.  When he saw me he asked if I could get up on the plane and create a big wave.  I did but it did not work.  Still, that is the first time I have been yelled at to make a wave, not stop making a wave!

This particular cut has a lot of Manatees, dolphins and waterfowl and is a very popular place on the weekend.

We did see a lot of osprey nests on the posts, but the Admiral decided wisely, not to ask the captain to get closer for a picture.

Scenery was varied, and we saw a lot of boats aground that we had seen on our way down still there.  I guess the owners just want to get out from under them and let the Insurance company have the hassle.  This picture shows that the Coast Guard has checked out the boat and noted it.

Lots of housing developments along the water, including ones with manufactured homes.  Trailer parks as well.  A lot of people spend their winter in Florida!

We did not go out at the Ponce de Leon outlet but did get a picture of the Lighthouse.  Looks quite historic, inkeeping with its location. 

We spent the evening in Daytona Beach at the Halifax Harbor marina. We had stayed there on the way down.  It is a large municipal marina, very well kept and it appears a lot of people winter here.  Spoke to one man who said he started here but it was too cold so he moved to Melbourne, Just 70 miles south.  The marina is so large that the dockhands get around in Boston Whalers.  They have all of the materials to check you in as it would be a very long walk to the Office.

We were woken up by Thunder and Lightning around 5:30 and when we got up at 7:00 the sky was dark and unsettled.  As we did not have a great distance to travel today, we postponed our departure until 8:30.  A good thing too as a major shower went through while we were waiting.

Weather has changed today, from hot and muggy yesterday to cool, clear and very windy.  It is supposed to go down to 12 tonght. I actually put on my fuzzy. Gusts were forecasted to be 50 mph.  There was more traffic today, all heading north as the annual migration begins.

We passed a very nice residential area, Fox Cut just around Flagler Beach.  One of the nicest areas we have seen on our trip. Great homes and a nice walking  and cycling path between the homes and the ICW.  See the picture of the house.  Sandy thinks it is some kind of club.  I think it is one of the .05% ,

 

Sand bars next to Channel

We did pass an area where there is obviously a lot of silting.  The sides appear to be sand dunes and the dredge seems to pipe the dredged material 2 to 3 miles.  They even appear to have an interim pumping barge halfway to the discharge. 

The wind gusts and the shallow areas made navigation a real challenge today,

We finally saw one of the boats that services the crab pots.  We wondered why this boat ahead kept going in circles and then discovered that it is how he captures his pots.  He comes up to one, grabs the line and then swings around to check it before resetting.  In this stretch, the pots were directly in line at the edge of the channel and had very visible floats. Unfortunately they are not all like this, so you have to keep a sharp lookout.

That’s it for now.  Off to Hurricane Patti’s for dinner.  See you later.

Admiral Sandy and Captain Bill