2021: Beaufort, NC

 2 May 2021

Depart: Mile Hammock Bay anchorage, NC 8:00

Arrive: Morehead City Yacht Basin, NC 1:00

Distance: 39 nm

Conditions: Cool, breezy, pleasant cruise

We targeted the Beaufort, NC area for our next stop to see our dear friends Beverly and Dave who we know from Faro Blanco. The first hurdle of the day was transiting the Onslow Beach Bridge which only opens on the hour and half hour. We planned on leaving at 8:30 for the 9:00 opening but found ourselves ready to depart at 7:45, so we aimed for the 8:30 opening instead. 

Everyone else must have decided to target the 8:00 opening as the absolutely full anchorage last night was now empty save one other boat and us!

Almost empty Mile Hammock Bay anchorage

We made it to the Onslow Beach Bridge with time to spare and had to station keep while we waited for the opening. At precisely 8:30, the bridge swung open!

Onslow Beach Bridge

Traveling on the ICW through this section requires passing by Camp LeJeune. Clark called ahead yesterday to verify that no live firing would be occurring when we desired to transit the area. Thankfully, no firing was planned for today.

Warning sign at Camp LeJeune area

Camp LeJeune observation tower

On the way to Beaufort, we passed a marina whose name always makes us smile.

As Clark calls it ...
Casper - the friendly marina!

We had some oncoming traffic on the waterway that we had to watch out for. It was a two-person, combination sailboat / paddle kayak with outriggers.

Versatile Boat

We arrived at the Morehead City Yacht Basin with the wind pushing us off the dock. The dockhand who greeted us did a great job helping us come in. No sooner did we get settled than another boat pulled in behind us - "Sojourn".  The folks we met on "Sojourn" are the third owners; they acquired the boat in January and are taking it home to Ocean City, Maryland. We have been seeing them on the waterway / hearing them on the VHF radio for the last couple of days, so it was fun to meet them in person.

While Clark checked in at the marina office, I texted our friends Bev and Dave to make arrangements to get together. They were wonderful to us. First they took us to the grocery store and West Marine for provisioning, and then they took us and our laundry home with them, so I could get a clean start on clothes!

They had made a reservation at a restaurant where we could eat outside, so at the designated time, we left the washer and dryer running and went out to eat.

When we talked to the receptionist, she tried to talk us out of eating outdoors due to the wind, but we found a table on the lee side and sat outside all by ourselves. Our waiter appeared happy to serve us regardless of our location. 

After dinner we walked back to the car and saw a "Trumpy" along the way.

"Rebel"

As we walked back to the car, we passed something I thought was an old paddlewheel, but Dave said it was something related to winding trawler nets.

After we left the restaurant, Dave drove us around the area a bit to show us some of the housing growth going on in Beaufort. Then, he took us to see an historic house that he said is a big lie. He told us the house was not built when the sign says it was.

Truth or Fiction?

Was this house here in Blackbeard's time?

At the end of the tour, Dave drove us home where I collected my now-dry laundry. We chatted until sleepiness forced us to leave. Dave and Bev then drove us back to the marina where we said our farewells. 

What a great day with friends, and we accomplished so much in such a short amount of time!