Troubles in Paradise

Mile Hammock

About 20 minutes down the ICW

       When Pete took Bailey in to shore, the parking lot was starting to fill up again, but the cars belong to soldiers who are training here at Camp Lejeune. As we upped anchor, we enjoyed the sunrise.  SV RESOLUTION, SV STILL CRAZY, and SV SEA BIRD, who we met at River Dunes, also headed out.  We were not the only ones heading out.  Two miles down the ICW, a commercial fisherman’s red boat was beautifully lit in the morning light as it turned to starboard in front of us. I was too late in trying to capture that image, but managed to capture two beautiful sunrise shots!

We are in the lead

    PEKABU was the lead boat for most of the morning.  I was hailed by SEABIRD suggesting that we might make the noon opening of the Figure Eight Bridge.  He could travel faster than we could, so he took the lead and we all “put the hammer down.”  It has been a while since we ran full throttle and we did it for an hour.  Thankfully, there was no change in the engine temperature. As it turns out, the current changes slowed us down in parts and we missed the opening by 8 minutes. 

The infamous PINK island home who's boat must have gotten away

     Our hopes remained high as the Wrightsville Bridge only opens on the hour and we should be able to make the 1 PM opening.  Nothing is ever a sure bet.  The bridge tender warned us that there has been severe shoaling near R 122 due to Matthew.  STILL CRAZY traveled very cautiously, kind of followed the directions of the bridgetender and made it safely through. RESOLUTION followed with no problems, But SEABIRD followed the directions as given and ran aground. We tried to avoid him and we, too, ran aground, but we were off quickly.  It took him longer and we stayed with him until he was free.  As we were waiting, we were passed as the Corps of Engineer’s small boat as they surveyed the area’s depth for proper placement of the new buoys.  Oh, to have them be a day earlier!  Of course, this all took time and we missed the 1 PM Wrightsville Bridge opening.  As a result, we essentially drifted with the current so we would approach the bridge just prior to the 2 PM opening.

Dolphin Pod south of Wrightsville Beach

Another friend

     Pete turned to helm over to me around 8:30 and that where I was for most of the day. Pete's work load today was very intense due to time constraints of the projects.  He could only take the helm when we had to navigate the trouble spots. 

     Our initial plan was to go to Carolina Beach State Park Marina, which would get us thought Snow’s Cut and on to the Cape Fear River for the ebb tide in the morning.  When we called earlier in the morning, they said that they didn’t take reservations, but to call just before we got to Snow’s Cut to see if they had dockage. RESOLUTION also called for reservations and was asked the draft of the boats.  As it turns out, anyone who draws more than 5 feet needs to enter and exit mid tide or higher. We draw 5.5 feet, so that wouldn’t due.  Instead, all 4 boats headed to the Carolina Beach Mooring Field. I guess we are used to Annapolis’s Mooring Field because Pete and I were surprised that there were only 10 moorings, but all 4 boats were successful in grabbing a mooring ball for the night.  Pete called the number indicated, but no one answered.  When he took the dog in for a walk, he checked, but there was no drop box.  The harbormaster came around at sunset.

    Unfortunately, as the day progressed so did a headache.  I took advantage once we were secured and laid down.  Within moments, I was sound asleep.  I had no idea Pete put down the dinghy and left with Bailey.  She really enjoyed this walk with Pete.  The ocean was only two blocks away and they played and walked on the beach for about an hour.  I was still out cold when they returned.

     Greg called before dinner and we visited for a while.  He is waiting to see where he will be assigned come next summer.  He has he three top choices in the New Jersey area.  Hopefully, it will all work out. He is heading to NJ to be with Jenn this weekend and finalize the plans for the wedding. There was a slight hiccup with the conference room reservation for the following morning, but the hotel is sweetening the pot by adding some freebies.  It is hard to believe we are approaching the 60 days until the wedding!

Last of the days's sunlight on the Carolina Beach Mooring Field

     All this fresh aid and beautiful scenery sure take a lot out of us.  We are calling it a day by 9 PM.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P