April 16, 2016

DYAD

Windy weather kept us on anchor in Enterprise Oxbow for two nights.  The large aluminum catamaran, Dyad, stayed anchored next to us.  It seemed a bit ominous. 
We dinghied around  the area, visiting Osprey Marina nearby.  Then we made our way to Southport, NC. We passed by all the Myrtle Beach areas (south, middle, north)  and a few turbulent inlets from the Atlantic Ocean. Lockwood's Folly was the most blustery. The channel markers look askew and off station, but mariners need to follow them closely, veering close to shore, to avoid going aground as many reportedly do. Navigators must stay alert.

Navigator on duty

Cape Fear River is just north of Southport. This area has what is said to be the largest Military weapons station in the world for shipping and transporting weapons by rail, truck and sea. It is patrolled and restricted and it really looked like they meant it. We gave them as wide a berth as possible.

Osprey

We also spent a night on anchor in Hammock Bay which is owned by the Marine Corp's Camp Lejeune. No dinghy dock available here. This is where the Marines often conduct live fire training. The ICW can be closed for hours with very little, if any, advance notice. It was closing as we passed through on our way north the next morning. We made it by the Onslow Beach  Bridge at the last minute before it shut down for the day.