Feb 28, 2021 Wilmington to Southport, NC

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If you have followed our blog for a few seasons, this might look familiar
But it's not Maine, it's North Carolina. We are fogged in this morning.  We had a tight schedule planned of bridge openings and favorable tides, that hinged on being 5 miles down the road at 8AM.  It's now 8:30, so some refiguring is going on, and we may just take the day off. Might not be so bad at that.

There were pancakes for breakfast. And we had some visitors in the rigging to serenade us. I might have to make this into a little quilt!

10AM-  the fog has suddenly lifted so we can head out.  The next bridge only opens on the hour and we arrived 15 minutes early. It's not like you can pull over & wait, you just have to try best you can to maintain a reasonable position, fighting wind & current & wakes & shallow water, and of course there's a boat ramp right next to the bridge with people launching their fishing boats. We did several circles.  And then.... the bridge tender called us on the radio to say there was a problem with the bridge's lifting mechanism and it would be a few more minutes.  LOL we were SO glad to get through and moving again.

Motoring down this unending ICW at 5-6 kts (sometimes much less) becomes a long slog for a couple sailors who are used to much more open water. But there are some interesting sights along the way:

This is oe part of the Zimmerman's Marine facility, sister to the one in Mathews. Obviously it's the big sister!

I thought this restaurant had a cute name. Turns out our friends Karl & Nancy have eaten there and think it's good.

We are at St James Plantation Marina in Southport, NC for the night. Nice enough place in a fancy retirement community, but I don't think transient overnighters are a big part of their business.  The dockmaster was very nice & was from Norfolk.  He just bought a Gemini so wanted to talk all things sailing catamarans.

Here's what date night looks like for us: laundry and a few hands of cribbage in the marina facility.



Comments

Jane said…
Where is my map??? :)
March 1, 2021 at 4:46 PM
Lois said…
Ok, ok! Here's your map! LOL
March 1, 2021 at 5:05 PM
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