May 19-22, 2021 Passing Georgetown, Sandhole Creek, Bird Island & Carolina Beach

Our intention was to leave 5 Fathom Cut to move the 20 miles up the ICW to Georgetown.  Having called ahead a few days ago, we knew there was not going to be a place for us at the marina, but we remembered boats anchoring around the area of downtown.  After quick stop at the fuel dock, we tried anchoring in 3 different places, but couldn't get the anchor to hold. (A note for anyone who might stop here in the future, even though there is a marked channel all the way around the island at downtown Georgetown, there is not enough water on the far side for even a very shallow draft boat to get through. )

So with nowhere yet identified to spend the night we continued on, thankfully with several hours of daylight left.  Friends had told us to check out Thoroughfare Creek, but although it was beautiful, there was too much fishing boat traffic and the water was too deep in the narrow river for us to anchor and have swing room if the wind direction changed.  On we go.

Next we tried Sandhole Creek, a few miles further up the intercoastal waterway.  It looked good on the charts: uninhabited and running through a wildlife refuge.  We cruised upstream a couple miles, disappointed to again find depths that were 20+.  Too deep, let's turn around.  Then just a few hundred yards inside the mouth of the creek, we found it. 14 ft deep, wide enough to swing with wind and/or tide, and a very pretty spot to boot.  

⁸

The float in this picture is tied to a strong extra line running to the head of our anchor.  This tag line was rigged to provide some hope of retrieving our anchor should the anchor become entangled in the many sunken logs we observed nearby.  

One of the friendly neighbors stopped by to welcome us to the neighborhood.

As the sun set, the music of the marsh began.  Thousands of birds coming to roost in the trees, squawking and singing about the day's adventures.  From the base of the trees came the croaking and squealing of frogs and insects.  Fish occasionally splashed at the water's surface to catch the last buggy meal of the day.

Back on the move early, trudging up the ICW through the parade of boats moving north after spending winter months in the warm south.  The day was uneventful. Looking at the banks crowded with vacation homes and lined with dock after dock of motor boats reminded us why we love our quiet river home so much.

Up ahead our AIS systems shows a boat named Kohina.  There can only be one boat with such a unique name, and that would belong to Russ and Phyliss, who came over to meet us in the Bahamas.  When we first saw Kohina in the Bahamas we instantly understood Kohina was another Maine Cat.  

Gradually as the day went on we closed the distance between us, and finished the day motoring right behind Kohina into the anchorage.  It was nice to visit with them again, and a wonder that our paths would cross again after so many miles.

The anchorage for the night was Bird Island, the most southern barrier island in North Carolina.  Yes, North Carolina!  North Carolina makes us feel so much closer to home...but in reality there are many miles to go.

So early in the morning Second Star is again plowing a wake in the intercoastal waterway.  The tide fell through the morning and by mid day the waterway had shrunk to a muddy ditch in a broad plain of exposed muck.  But we timed our travel intentionally to catch the rising tide up the Cape Fear River.  The tidal currents in the Cape Fear are very strong.  We caught 2 knots of incoming tide, plus got some sail up to give us a speed over ground of 9 to 11 knots.  That was fun.  

After about an hour we turned off into Snow Cut to rejoin the intercoastal waterway.  Here we were immediately greeted with 3.5 knots of current going opposite our direction, making for a slow final few miles to Carolina Beach.

We had a reservation for a mooring at the Carolina Beach Town Marina, but when we arrived all the balls were occupied. We bided our time while Larry, the harbormaster, came and shooed an unregistered boat away.  There's a lot of motor boat traffic in and out of the harbor, but everyone is generally respectful & keeps their speed & wakes to a minimum.  All noise stopped at dark.  All in all, it's a very nice place. 

The next morning we walked to the Publix supermarket.  We have again eaten through most of our groceries.    We had to make carefull selections balancing the strong desire to stock up on goods we cannot get at home with the raw fact that whatever we buy we must fit into four shopping bags which we will put over the shoulder for the notable walk back to the dinghy.

Speaking of the dinghy, suddenly our old and reliable dinghy engine is acting up.  We are "those people"

putt-putting through the harbor with the cover off the engine.  Brent has a screw driver in hand to tweak the throttle as needed.  We know exactly what needs fixing, it just is not possible with the many tools on board.  Hoping for the best here as we cover the last leg of our journey home.  

At the recommdendation of the harbour master we went to enjoy the best burger in town, served at a local gas station.  Yep, in the back of the kwiki market is an exellent little joint serving a very nice burger.  

We have elected to spend a second night here.  We had passed right by Carolina Beach on our way south months ago, but now find it is a fairly nice tourist village with temptations for cruisers who have been away from civilization for a while.