Southport, NC

Southport, NC   ...   Sunday 4^th November 2012

Wrightsville Beach was lovely in the early morning light.  We made our way back toward the Masonboro inlet and then turned to starboard to enter Shinn Creek.  From there we joined the Intracoastal Waterway through a beautiful section of marshes.  After a short distance we entered the section known as Snow’s Cut, which has a reputation for being narrow and shallow.  By staying in the middle of the channel we had no problems. We even seemed to have the current flowing with us. The west end of the cut opens onto Cape Fear River. At this point we started to realize why the guidebooks talk about the problems of timing the currents well between Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River. Our speed over the ground (which we can read off the GPS) reduced from 7 knots to ~ 4 in the transition between the two bodies of water.  Other than slow progress the only problem in the Cape Fear River was avoiding the dredger, liquefied natural gas tanker and high speed ferry to Bald Head Island.  We just happened to be passing the end of the ferry harbor as the ferry emerged.  A few moments of excitement were had there. We turned off the Cape Fear River following the ICW southward.  Then tied up at South Harbor Marina.  This turned out to be a lovely long facing dock where a number of fellow boaters took our lines.  One of these couples we had met at River Dunes Marina while we were waiting out Sandy.  Apparently the other two boats had also been at River Dunes but we didn’t meet the sailors.

Southport had been on our agenda all along because it near to Oak Island where Susan and Clark live.  Susan is my sister-in-law’s sister. Clark and Susan were kind enough to come to the marina and pick up not just us but also our dirty laundry.  Many would say that was well beyond the call of duty.  We spent the afternoon watching Carolina beat the Redskins.  Go Panthers! Then we had a great meal of gumbo, salad and fresh bread. It’s a real treat to be in a home again and have a home cooked meal. It’s embarrassing to admit that Mike and I had seconds but Susan and Clark didn’t!

Gloria

33 55 14.7 N, 78 03 41.6 W

A passing squall at Wrightsville Beach - this didn't amount to much, but we had spectacular thunder and lightening this afternoon

Dredging the Cape Fear River