We got up early today as we had a long 65 mile run to Beaufort, NC and we expected lots of sunday boat and jetski traffic. We headed out to the ICW following my cookies from yesterday’s entrance. The water was calm the sun was shining and the boat traffic was light. After making it through the S turn at Sneads Ferry we had to wait for the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge with a 12 foot clearance that opened on the hour and 1/2 hour. The tide was slack so it was an easy 15 minute wait.
We passed Camp Lejeune where we saw several tanks and military vehicles station on the barrier island for training purposes. There was not any live training today so we were disappointed.
There were beautiful homes on the ICW approaching Swansboro where the boat traffic starting picking up with the jet ski tour traffic cluttering the channel.
Traveling through Bogue Sound was easy just follow the channel. Winds were light and and the sun was strong giving us the chance to run with all the Isinglass windows open. Passing through Moorehead City, NC was exciting with all the traffic and shaoling on the east side of the channel. This was our 1st time dealing with the cargo traffic since leaving SC. Our reservations for tonight were at the Beaufort Docks Marina, MM 202. In order to get there you have to head out toward the Beaufort inlet then turn 180 degrees leaving the US Navy LST Ramps on your port side snaking your way into the docks in Beaufort. We were given a slip on the t-head in the channel where there was a swift current and a side breeze that assisted in docking. There was a ton of boat traffic as the locals ran up and down the channel all day traveling to all the restaurants along the waterfront but the waking was minimal. The docks all head fueling stations and some had pump-out stations. There were sever boats anchored in Taylor Creek. It was a short walk to the ship store which is basically a table set up at the side of Dock House Restaurant. We did received our 2 wooden nickels that got us 2 free beers at the bar where we sat next to two brothers that had just sailed down from Orient, NC who told us funny sailing adventure stories to include the story of them losing their dinghy on the way to Beaufort the day before. One minute it was there the next it was gone. They took in stride and we exchanged boat cards and went for a walk through Beaufort.
Beaufort has great history dating back to its founding in 1713. In 1718 Blackbeard the pirate ran his flagship the Queen Anne’s Revenge, and his sloop Adventure aground near the Inlet. There is a great Civil War cemetery located a few blocks from the waterfront called Old Burying Ground. Most of the tourist sites were closed because it was Sunday and the restaurants were extremely quiet. We settled in for a quiet night looking over at the wild horses across Taylor Creek and seeing a great sunset.
