Aug 31 Southport and Carolina Beach

 Aug 31

Mon. 8/29.  After a great weekend visiting with family at Osprey Marina on the Waccamaw River it was time to get moving. Marina needed us out to make room for another arrival.   Stalled our departure a bit as a rain squall came through. Then we headed out using the pilothouse helm as the forecast was showers off and on all day.   It stopped raining by the time we hit Myrtle Beach but by then we were pretty settled in the pilothouse and decided to forego the flybridge.  

Rainy day running from the lower helm

We've been on this stretch of the ICW around MB for years, but the extra development that has occurred between each transit never ceases to amaze me. Myrtle Beach, Little River, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach all starting to run together with docks along the entire route requesting No Wake speeds.  Sorry, but that ain't happening.  Not gonna push a massive wake, but not gonna idle by for hours to make no wake.  Still wound up being a longish day pulling into Southport marina for the night around 4.   Couple of quick showers to clean us up and then walk over to the waterfront for some seafood at Fishy Fishy Cafe.  Nice sunset as we walked back to the boat with orange and pink skies stretching across the entire horizon.  Nice end to the day.

Sun setting over the water at Fishy Fishy Cafe

Sky ablaze in color back at the marina

Journey for 8-29

Tues 8/30.  We have reservations for 2 nights at the Carolina Beach mooring field.   Only a short 2 hour run so we slept in late, did a few chores, waited for the morning rain showers to pass, then headed up the Cape Fear River using the incoming tide to hurry us along.  The CB moorings have usually been full when we've passed by before but being the off season for transients, we had it all to ourselves.  This was the first time we have ever taken a mooring.  Glad no other boats were around to make us nervous.  Overall, it went pretty smooth with Martha at the helm and John working the lines.  Had to redo one line when I realized it was going over rather than under the railing. Bad on me.  Fighting with wet 3/4' lines is not fun.   Dropped the dingy and took a little cruise around the harbor.   

All tied up to the mooring ball

Resting easy at mooring

Homes surrounding the mooring field light up the harbor

Short Journey on 8-30

Wed. 8/31.   Got up and headed over to the town dingy dock with intentions of getting a few groceries and then some of Carolina Beaches famous Britts donuts.  Little local grocer had what I needed so then off to Britts only to find a sign on the door that they are now only open Fri-Mon.  Then closed for the season after Labor Day.   We made up for it by heading back to the dingy dock and burgers at the Kwik Mart for lunch.   Sounds funny, but they have some of the highest rated burgers in the Wilmington area. 

With 2 bites of burger left I remembered to take a picture.
It was as good as they say. Awesome fries too - but enough for 4 people

Later that evening we were boarded by my brother Pete, his wife Rhonda, their son Logan and his fiancée Kelsey who arrived on Pete's center console.  He lives about 1-1.2 miles down the ICW and they came up for a quick boat tour before we all headed to their house for a delicious dinner.   I just can't believe we once again were negligent in our picture taking of the occasion.   Drove the dingy back in the dark to finish off the day.