Tracking A Straight Line

 Southport to Morehead City |  12.3 Hours  | 91.6 Miles  

We were on deck this morning for a 6:00 am departure. The relentless wind from the past three days had finally blown itself out. There was, however, still a strong current running lengthwise along the transient dock. We were fortunate that the boats forward and aft of us were earlier birds than us. Their departure made our exit tremendously easier. One boat was not so lucky. The current caught it and turned it broadside against the boats at the end of the dock. As we made our turn to exit, several folks had gathered on the dock to help fend off. Definitely not the way to begin a day. The sky took on the appearance of cotton candy with both light blues and pinks ushering in the morning. Off to our starboard, the Oak Island lighthouse still produced its reassuring beacon for travelers. The sun hit the treetops as we reached the end of Southport and turned from the ICW up the Cape Fear River.

The incoming tide gave us a little push and we saw speeds in excess of 10 knots. With that little push, it was no time before we were angling into Snow's Cut. It was another still morning with nice reflections of the trees and eroded red-sand banks. A large sampling of waterfowl waded in the shallows of Myrtle Grove and Masonboro Sounds. We were making great time and were running ahead of our schedule. At 9:15 we escaped the low water and low bridges of the ICW and passed through Masonboro Inlet to the Atlantic. 

Travel conditions were perfect for an offshore run which allowed us to cut out a full day of travel. A one day offshore passage would cover the miles of a two days on the ICW. The shortest distance from Southport to Beaufort is a straight line across Onslow Bay. We had a great run and each of us was able to relax. Entertainment was provided by a few flyovers by F35s around Camp Lejeune and several different pods of dolphin that came and went in our bow wave. Barry even came out on the bow to watch their shenanigans. Clouds mounted as the afternoon passed, providing a show of their own. The offshore weather window was beginning to close. 

We came back into the ICW through Beaufort Inlet. We were definitely not alone in this travel plan. The spring migration of northbound boaters is in full force. Our AIS showed dozens of boats already anchored in Beaufort's Taylor Creek. Since we would not be going ashore we elected to turn left to Morehead City and anchor off of Sugar Loaf Island with five other boats for the night. The clouds created a nice sunset as the full moon rose to the east. Our track for the day confirms that the shortest distance was indeed a straight line.   

Friendsday Wednesday

Southport   

Our final day in Southport was bookended by visits from friends. This morning longtime boating friends Pete and Denise came by the marina for a visit. We have known them through their sailboat and trawler days in Deltaville. While many things have and continue to change, friendship endures. They are now building a new retirement house here in Southport (which we got to tour). It was so good to see them, and dog Gracie. We look forward to keeping in touch and seeing them again soon in either Richmond or on our next stop in Southport. In the afternoon we walked back to the park we visited yesterday. Five large boats had moved into the anchorage. We recognized Puff Card from Virginia Beach as folks we met at the Chat N Chill Pig Roast in George Town.

We found our favorite bench and I enjoyed some quiet time watching the white clouds travel across the deep blue sky. We joked about finding stars in the playground sand. Not quite the sea stars on a Bahamian beach, these were pieces of children's cereal. A pair of cardinals was hopping through the low limbs of the waterfront trees. In the open field, an ibis pranced along unfazed by our presence. The Cape Fear Yacht Club sits outside the marina property. A gray squirrel munched on low hanging seed pods. The final few hours of afternoon were spent preparing Crossroads for tomorrow's early departure. 

At 6:00 we walked up to the parking lot to meet David and Sue. As I waited in the sunshine, a strange looking, short, and squatty palm tree caught my attention. We went to Smoke House for dinner and enjoyed Carolina pork barbecue dinners with the special regional treat of red slaw. Ah, yes, home cookin! David and Sue will be following us by a few days up to our shared home port of Stingray Point marina. They are beginning their Great Loop journey and we shared stories and tips as they make their final preparations for the year-long journey. They were most generous in dropping us by Walmart to pick up a few items. We talked in the marina parking lot for another hour before saying goodbye for now. We'll see them as they pass through Deltaville and I'll return the favor of a provisioning trip to Walmart.