Moving Along, But Enjoying A Flashback

Beaufort to Camp Lejeune  |  6.4 Hours  |  38.7 Miles  

The stormy weather of yesterday afternoon was gone by this morning. With a shorter travel day ahead of us, we checked a few more boat chores off the list. Barry went back into the engine room to top off oil levels. I took the chamois out and wiped some of the dirt and dew from the hull of Crossroads. Trash was gathered for disposal, our water tanks were topped off, and the docklines were prepared for departure. We cast off from the Town Creek Marina at 9:00 into bright sunshine and a clear blue sky. Moving along the Morehead City docks, the shrimp boats glowed in the morning light. To say we were surprised when we rounded Radio Island and met heavy fog would be a huge understatement. The warm, moist inland air met the cold ocean water at the inlet and formed another curtain of fog. Concentration levels increased as we strained to pick out other vessels and the Atlantic Beach bridge.

Thankfully, we exited the fog as quickly as we had entered it. We opened the pilothouse door and enjoyed another unseasonable warm and sunny day. There were few noteworthy items for this stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway. A derelict motor yacht in Swannsboro was the most exciting scenery until we reached the boundary of Camp Lejeune. Danger signs warned of possible live fire activity and targets, both personnel and equipment, sprang up from amid the seagrass. The barrier island is quite thin in this area. The Atlantic Ocean can be seen breaking onshore, just beyond the seagrass.

We needed the Onslow Beach Bridge to open for our passage and we revised plan formed to slow down to 4.3 knots, save a lot of fuel, and arrive for the 2:30 opening. A replacement for this old swing bridge is currently under construction. Work crews were busy on each shore. One of the cranes being used was a Manitowoc. For most folks, this would not mean much, but Barry and I immediately had flashbacks to August 2018 when we visited Manitowoc, Wisconsin while on the Great Loop. We have been fortunate to see so many people, places, and things while traveling on Crossroads. One thing we had not seen so far on this trip was a great blue heron. We finally saw our first of the season as it waded in the shallows across from the entrance to Mile Hammock Bay. A single sailboat was inside so there was plenty of room for us. We dropped the anchor and watched as troops emerged from the trees and proceeded to erect something that looked like a radar. As quickly as they appeared, they retreated back into the woods.

An hour later, the day began transitioning to night in a colorful light show as the full moon rose over the trees. We have 850 miles remaining between tonight's anchorage and our final state-side destination of Key Biscayne. Tomorrow morning we will leave at first light, and hope to make 60 miles to Southport.