Nov 30, 2022 Beaufort, NC and Mile Hammock Bay

 Mon. Nov. 28   Beaufort, NC  42 miles

Beautiful weather set in for a couple days of early winter cruising.   We finally got off the dock at 8:45 Monday morning and jostled about for a few minutes waiting on the New Bern bridge's 9 AM opening.  Sunny and 60 made for a fine start down the Neuse River.   Despite a steady 10mph wind it was at least at our stern, so the net effect was it felt like no wind.  Boat started right up and ran flawlessly despite sitting idle for 3 weeks.  

Heading out the New Bern Bridge - which the bridgetender
was quick to remind me was called the Alfred Cunningham Bridge

While a nice day to be out boating it was a rather uneventful day.   The Neuse River is wide and open with little to see as was the transit through Adams Cut.  Then a bit more open water and we entered the side entrance to Beaufort passing Homer Smith marina on the north end of town before working our way to the anchorage across from the town docks.   We arrived a bit past 2 and the field was already full of sailboats.  We circled around before finally settling on a spot and dropped the hook. By nightfall there were easily 25-30 boats at anchor but just one powerboat - us!!  Finished up the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers and some homemade Leek and Cauliflower soup for dinner.  The wind died off and the only movement of the boat was swinging as the tide came and went. 

Twilight arrives at our anchorage

Beaufort holiday lights 

Journey for Nov 28
NEBO update has some bugs to fix

 Tues Nov 29  Mile Hammock Bay 39 miles

7AM start was a bit chilly requiring layers and a toboggan for warmth.  The cool morning was due to a change in wind direction from the NE which picked up over the day but stayed nice and sunny. We wound our way out from Beaufort and past Morehead City before the winds picked up but by then we were in the protected waters of Bogue Sound.  Passed a few sailboats who had left even earlier than us.   Then wound our way past Swansboro and the dangerous shoaling that develops there as evidenced by a a large motoryacht heeled over in the mud. 

Stuck until at least the next king tide

Highlight of the day came next as a big pod of dolphins decided to play in our wake.  Several of them lined up on each side playing, surfacing and jumping in our side wake.  Even better, they stayed with us for an extended time. At times swimming along on their sides near the surface and clearly looking up at us.  

We could watch dolphins playing beside the boat all day and never get tired of them

 

Next up was a successful navigation around a series of dredges working to clear the constant shoal that develops around Browns Inlet.  Ever since my unfortunate grounding years ago while navigating past a dredge, they always make me nervous. No issues today thankfully!  Our timing was perfect for the 11:30 opening of the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge which meant we were nearing our destination.  

Dredge hogging the channel but clearing a bad shoal

Onslow Beach Swing Bridge - the slowest opening swing bridge on the ICW

Mile Hammock Bay is a routine anchoring stop for us when traveling the ICW and always a favorite.  It's on Camp Lejeune property so no leaving the boat and touching their grounds, but there's always something military going on.  As we approached, we got the percussions from some explosives being detonated in the distance.  Once we were anchored (first ones here) we saw a military issue black inflatable moving around and then realized they were following swimmers in wetsuits.  Several teams went through this training. Unfortunately, we couldn't convince them to do a quick bottom cleaning for us!!   Final fun was watching multiple touch and go landings of an Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.  Pilot got lots of practice with non-stop landing. First coming in from the NW and then from the SE.  

Marines - by land, sea and air

Nice evening to fire up the grill.  Steak, asparagus and a nuked sweet potato.  Osprey landing got a bit tiresome after dark with them finally finishing close to 10PM!!   Nasty weather coming in overnight.  Rain and stronger winds so we plan on spending Wed just anchored here and relaxing.  

Nice sunset in Mile Hammock Bay to end the day

Journey for Nov 29

Wed, Nov 30 - Apparently, Tues. is Osprey practice landing day and Wed is helicopter day.  Same routine in between rain showers.  Even have the frogmen out in the water again. 

Marine Corp Camp Lejeune training in action.
Frogmen in the water, choppers in the air and gunfire on the land!!