November 16, 2014

November 16, 2014

0815 – Wind NNE 5 knots – 43 degrees F

We left Swansboro under cloudy skies. Rain predicted for later today. Headed out into the ICU past Bogue Inlet. Speaking of inlets – and taking into consideration that the ICU is basically a channel running north south between barrier islands to the east and the mainland to the west – the waters between the barrier islands are basically inlets to the ICU channel. Each inlet offers a way out to the Atlantic Ocean and conversely a way in. The waters of the ICU are protected from off shore winds/weather and passage therein is relatively pleasant. However the channel is narrow, in some places shallow, and shifting sands (shoaling) can make navigation treacherous. Going “outside” – off shore - can sometimes be advantageous – but that means (besides confronting a number of other hazards) negotiating these inlets– where currents and water depths are constantly shifting. Sometime soon we are going to go outside – so we have to pick the right inlet – and “weather window” – a two day NNE, NNW, N or W wind to “blow” us south. More on that later – when we get the balls.

 

 

Back to today’s adventures; we motored south with an unbroken string of Mc-mansions to the west, each with its own sometimes very long pier jutting out into the channel, beautiful broken wetland areas and small islands to the east and beyond that to the actual Atlantic coast – where another unbroken string of Mc-mansions and commercial interests marched stiffly southward. (Let’s have us a big hurricane.) Not soon after we left, at buoy 48A, bottlenose porpoises arrived on the scene – thirty or more. Marvelous creatures….dancing along Flicka’s side. I swore I heard them cry, “Come on Flicka…come on…go faster!”

 

Onward in a narrow channel, trying hard not to run aground, Great blue heron just flew across our bow. Brown pelicans all around. Another great blue. Entering camp Lejeune, a very large marine base, and we will dutifully salute as we go through. The marines may be dedicated to blowing stuff up – but here is a thought – Lejeune in the most protected marine ecosystem in this area – every other piece of real-estate is given over to Mc-mansions and commercial enterprise. I vote for more marine camps!

Mark 59 – in Lejeune “firing range” - more dolphins, brown pelicans. Lots of dolphins. Go marines! Another great blue flying east to west across our bow on his way to a breakfast smorgasbord somewhere.

0930 – Passing through Onslow Beach Swing Bridge – got here just at the half-hour opening. Perfect timing. I served breakfast – hot oatmeal, brown sugar and bacon. Not bad!

 

 

1100 – Swan Point – 17 miles into our day’s journey. A race against time. Trying to make Surf City Swing Bridge – opens on the hour. And we did it – made it with a minute to spare. But now a strong current setting to the east (against us) is slowing us down – not good because we are trying to make Wrightsville Beach before dark. (Navigating at night is nerve wracking.)

Just north of the Wrightsville Beach - something you don’t see every day. A deer – I might add - a very brave deer – entered the ICU and swam its entire width – passing off our bow – against a pretty strong current. We watch in amazement as it fought the current and landed successfully. A first for me, but I bet the deer does that often. Or maybe not. I just don’t know. Brings up lots of questions. For instance - Why does a deer walk up to a body of water a half-mile wide and decide to cross? – and don’t say…. “To get to the other side”. What’s in it for the deer? And, if you have not noticed recently deer hooves are small, almost delicate things – certainly not flipper like – but this honey was gettin’ it! I have never considered whether deer are good swimmers or not but this babe sure was. I have seen deer walk gingerly through the forest and swiftly but delicately bound away in a hurry, but swim?

 

 

 

 

Soon after that gift came a very quick weather change – cloudy, light rain and fog – just as we make our way into Wrightsville.

1630 - Waiting for the Wrightsville Bridge to open in a steady rain. Finally proceeding into a narrow channel in diminishing light – a few hair-raising turns’ around confusing marks and – here we are safe and sound on anchor in Wrightsville Harbor with 15 other boats.

A big 47 mile day. Tomorrow on to South Carolina.

Sleep well

Steve and Emily