Friday; April 15, 2011

Wrightsville Beach Anchorage to Beach House Marina, Surf City, NC:  We got going early enough to make the 08:00 opening of the Wrightsville Beach Bridge; then we had to make the 08:30 opening of the Figure Eight Bridge about 5 miles up river so we ended up going 3000 rpm's to get there.  We made it just in time.  Next we had 2 hours to make the next bridge which was 17 miles away; made it with no problem.  At about Mile 266 we saw a dredge working.  It got very shallow in the channel-we got down to 1.4' below our props.  Needless to say we went very slow through that area-we did dig up quite a bit of mud.  Right after our 3rd bridge for the day we got to Beach House Marina, Surf City, NC.  We had planned on buying gas but the dock master told us that it was considerably cheaper 8 miles up the river at the New River Marina, NC.  He had just bought fuel and his price for gas went up to $4.75/gal; we are waiting.  Thought it was nice of him to tell us about the cheaper fuel. 

We are staying 2 days here because the weather forecast was calling for thunderstorms again.  Surf City is a cute little town right on the Atlantic Ocean with a beautiful beach.  Surf City is in the middle of Topsail Island which is 26 miles long. It is a very laid back little community and there are no high rises on the Island. We spent the afternoon exploring and had a nice dinner at a restaurant on the beach.  We also got some more seafood at a local store.

CO's comments:  I am already getting tired of bridge openings on the hour or half hour rather than on demand.  It is going to be a long trip to the Great Lakes if this keeps up.  A Sea Ray Sundance met us and passed very close without slowing down.  15 minutes later he came by again and passed very close on our starboard and giving us another big wake.  We came up to an inlet and he was sitting there; not moving.  Then he came barreling past us again at Wrightsville Beach in a no wake zone.  We saw him go into a Marine Max  with a "For Sale" sign on the back of the boat.  After we anchored I called the Marine Max owner and expressed my displeasure.  I told him his sales people were giving Sea Ray's a bad name.  He apologized and said he would have words with his sales man.  At dinner Friday night there was a table full of Marines from Camp Lejeune.  I stopped and talked with them and I was asked if I was at Iwo Jima.  I said I was not quite that old but I was ready to join them any time.   They all gave me a big warm smile and said Semper Fi.

Pelicans flying in formation
at the Surf City Beach

Beach at Surf City, NC
on April 15, 2011