Swansboro NC to Surf City NC

Start time and hours           0845                                        3423.19

End time and hours            1345                                        3428.14

 Our next marina stop was going to be Carolina Beach but it was a little too far for one day so we decided on a short day and stopped in Surf City NC.

     We left Swansboro after a good night’s rest and headed on down the ICW.  We passed through Camp LeJeune NC with no incidents.  There are times when ICW travel is halted by the Marines for live fire training.  This can close the waterway for one to four hours at a time.  The last two weeks of October this happened frequently.

     We passed through one bridge opening, the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge.  This bridge is controlled by the Marines and is in Camp LeJeune.  They are the marines so they do not hold the bridge for anyone.  You have to be there even if they are opening for other boats.  Everyone boat must request an opening.

     The weather for our cruise was sunny and warm but a bit windy, maybe 10knots.  We anchored off of the ICW in Motts channel in Surf City.  We were the only boat in the anchorage.  It was mostly calm with the occasional fishing boat passing by and throwing us a wake.  It calmed down at night and was peaceful.  There is a strong current there and the boat swung a bit but the anchor held well.  When you are on the boat looking at the anchorage it looks very small.  You always think that you are either in the channel or too close to the marshes.  From the boat what looks like about 75' is really about 150'.  It looked like this to us when we anchored but when we took the dinghy out we could see that we had plenty of swing room.

   

     We took the dinghy ashore and walked about ¼ mile to the beach.  We walked along the beach for a while and waded into the water.  We then returned to the boat for dinner and drinks and a restful night’s sleep.