Swansboro to Columbia, NC

April 28, 2015

 Watchtower at Camp Le Jeune Gunnery Range

 

 Warning Sign on the ICW entering Camp Le Jeune

 

 Courtesy car at Dudley's Marine (notice the Duck Tape on the rear window)

 

and the luxurious interior!

 

We picked up our anchor at 7 a.m. and by 9 a.m. we were through Camp Le Jeune and at our day’s destination: Dudley’s Marina in Swansboro, N.C.  Despite its rough docks right on the waterway, it is a great location for us to get groceries and other supplies with the use of their “Courtesy Car”.  It is also in this town where our boating friends, Tom and Melesia Goodman live, who are fabulous America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association “Harbor Hosts” for their area.  As such, they have hosted many boaters not only at their home for dinner, but some as well as for some much longer stays when needed, and they also take members shopping, sight-seeing, etc.  We first met them in 2010 when both our boats were docked at Alligator River Marina, and since then they have completed the “Great Loop” aboard their Monk 34 trawler, “Journey”.  Unfortunately, Melesia was out of town on today’s visit, but Tom came over to see us on our boat, and then we all went out to dinner at a local restaurant, “The Swannsborough Yacht Club”.  The seafood there was great, and the décor was basic with not a Commodore in sight! In addition, we made it back in time for the 10^th Anniversary of “Dancing with the Stars”!  Thanks, Tom!

 

April 29, 2015

 

Sunrise in Swansboro, NC

 

 Tug "Mary Bennett" pulling a line of barges, dredge pipe, and a tow boat 

 

 Army Corps of Engineers dredge

 

Morehead City, NC 

 

 Abandoned Furnace on island near Beaufort, NC

 

Dolphins at play next to "Reflection"

 

"Lucy will you marry me?" sign on Adams Creek

 

 

“Reflection” left Dudley’s Marina at 6:15 a.m. for a 60 mile trip to River Dunes Marina in Oriental, N.C.  The skies were somewhat overcast, and with temps in the high 40s/low 50s, we were wearing full storm gear with extra jackets beneath.  This journey took us past Morehead City, across Beaufort inlet, and then past the city of Beaufort itself.  Eventually we entered Adams Creek which led us to the open waters of the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. At 12:30 p.m. we arrived at River Dunes, which is a beautiful planned community with a wedding chapel, inn, pool, and marina, but it is quite a distance from the community of Oriental itself.  After getting our lines squared away, Pat headed immediately for the laundry on the premises, and when she returned back to the boat a few hours later, we noticed that a Grand Banks 42’, “Patriot”, was docked a few slips away. It was flying a white AGLCA burgee, signifying that they were in the process of doing “The Loop”, so we stopped by to say “Hello”. The owners were Chuck and Vicky Stapleton from Mobile, Alabama.  They joined us for cocktails aboard later, and they told us that they had our first book aboard, which had been given to them by the dock master at Amelia Island Yacht Basin.  Apparently their boat was there for some extensive repairs this past fall.  It turned out that we had autographed that book and given it to the dock master after some work we had done at that same marina last spring.  He passed it on to Vicky and Chuck, telling them, “You need this book more than I do! What a small world!  They were a lovely couple, and former FBI agents, who we are sure to meet up again on our way north.

 

 

April 30, 2015

 

 

 R. E. Mayo Co. Seafood and Docking - Goose Creek, NC

 

"Boat of the Day"

 

 Alligator-Pungo Canal, NC

 The water in the Canal is as dark as coffee!  This is caused by the Cedar forest on both sides of the Canal

Foliage and potential "dead heads" along the waterway
 

 This bear swam across our bow then ran into the forest!

 

Today we got set for a long day, because we decided to amend our plans of going to an anchorage on the Pungo River today, and then going on to Alligator River Marina tomorrow, because of some threatening weather ahead. Instead, we will head directly to the marina today – a trip of 92 miles, because a storm with gale force winds is expected to hit the area tomorrow afternoon.  So, we again pulled away from the dock at 6 a.m., and with luck we will be tied up at Alligator River Marina by 4 p.m.  This trip took us up the very open waters of the Pamlico and Bay Rivers, through the narrow areas of Goose Creek, onto the Pungo River, the Alligator-Pungo Canal, and then up the open Alligator River.  We ran the boat from the lower helm most of the day, because not only was it chilly, but also because we encountered winds out of the N/NE at 15-20 almost the entire day, so we were always taking some degree of wind and spray on the nose except for Goose Creek and the Canal. Though the winds were originally predicted to be much lighter, when we passed through the Alligator River Bridge, the bridge-tender told us that it was blowing over 22 knots on the north side. Our biggest excitement for the day, however, was seeing a bear swim across the Alligator-Pungo Canal.  We couldn’t believe our eyes – this was a first!  We’ve seen alligators and deer swim across various bodies of water in the past, but never a bear!  The proof is in the photo that George was able to quickly take when it emerged on land. We arrived at the marina at 3:35 p.m., and were warmly greeted at this marina, where we have stayed many times before.  Pat laid down for a nap a short time later, and while she was sleeping, George responded to a knock on the door by two young “Loopers”, who were excited to see “Reflection” tied up here, and decided to stop by and say “Hello” because they owned our first book!  What a delightful gesture!  We spent the rest of the evening watching old movies, and having a delicious Chicken Fricassee dinner.  Tomorrow morning we can sleep in, because we are staying put!