North Carolina - Southport to the Alligator River

Southport, NC

At the Southport Marina at 6:00 each evening a retired Navy meteorologist gives a weather and route briefing from Southport to Norfolk.  This briefing was so valuable as we traveled so we knew where new shoaling places were and where we had to time our tides.

The only disappointing thing about Southport was that we only stayed one night. We wish we could have stayed to see our friends Kay and Robert Creech. But, they were at the AGLCA Rendezvous and the weather was perfect for our crossing of the Cape Fear inlet the very next day.

Dockside dancing in Southport. It looked like another "Senior Dance."

If we ran aground or had any route issues running our chart plotter, navionics on my Ipad, and the information from the briefing, we shouldn't be traveling.  Having all this at our fingertips sure does help us out.

In the photo below you can see all five of our navigation aids: our main chart plotter, my Ipad running Navionics software, color copies from our weather briefing, handwritten notes describing the state of the tide at the times we expect to pass each "caution" point, and even a popsicle stick with red a green colors at opposing ends to help us remember which side the markers are on (they change routinely as we travel across various sounds, channels, and rivers).

Even with all of this help, you can't be prepared for the sign below. Yes, it says, "Live firing in progress." This part of the AICW runs through the property of the Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune. Periodically throughout the week, the marines practice firing live rounds at fake targets along the shoreline.

We saw many concrete tanks and other such "targets" as we navigated this section of the AICW. Fortunately for us, the marines were not practicing when we came through. If they were, however, the AICW closes while live firing is taking place - no boat traffic during those times (it can last for hours)

Beaufort, NC

We arrived in Beaufort in the late afternoon and as we walked into town we began to see many Captains preparing their small wooden boats for transport.  Unfortunately, we missed the wooden boat show that was going on.  So we took as many pictures as we could.

In Beaufort they have a short boardwalk where you can find restaurants and shops. The marina, as expected, had more than the usual number of wooden boats.

Can't say enough about the Beaufort Yacht Basin.  Both the dockmaster and his assistant couldn't have been more accommodating.  They offered their vehicles for us to use to go get groceries, a golf cart to go get marine supplies, and bikes if we wanted that form of transportation.  Laundry was free, the RR/showers were clean and well taken care of.  

Brent's soft shell crab sliders at a restaurant in Beaufort.

Apparently Blackbeard was everywhere. We saw and read about his exploits while in Key West and virtually every state along the coast since we left Florida. Now here he is again in North Carolina. Actually, he was finally killed not far from here around Ocracoke Island, NC.

Check out the small license plates on these bikes!

This quaint little wood frame house near the historic district in Beaufort has a separate guesthouse with a common courtyard and is listed for $899,999. Its nice, but it ain't THAT nice!

Oriental, NC

In Oriental we stayed at River Dunes Marina and it has been the nicest marina so far.  The  amenities were like staying in a 5 star hotel.  They had cottages that were for rent in addition to the marina.  The clubhouse, restaurant, and impeccably kept grounds made us wish were could stay more than one night.  That evening they were featuring a boiled shrimp platter for dinner.  We decided to go and indulge and we were very glad we did.  The meal was amazing! After dinner we lit a fire in the fire pit but the mosquitos ran us off all too soon.

Five shower heads and a steamer in this shower. When Brent came back to the boat he was still dripping wet from the steam.

Adorable little cottages.

A view of the clubhouse below from our boat.

The Captain's Lounge below.

Meg and I sitting in the screened-in back porch of the yacht club.

Brent, Mike and George in the library of the club.

Belhaven, NC

In Belhaven we stayed at Dowry Creek Marina.  About 2 months ago a retired couple purchased the marina. They are trying desperately to fix it up and make it a place to return to.  

Alligator River, NC

Although the Alligator Marina was very small, docking was a piece of cake along the long dock.  This marina is quite unique because the owners don't only own the marina but the gas station and small restaurant inside the gas station are all on the same property.  We were told that we needed to try the fried chicken and so for dinner we got that and had a chicken picnic right by the boat with Meg and George.