May 29-31, 2017 Monday – Wednesday
We determined Sunday evening that we could make it above the 35th parallel by June 1 without traveling on Memorial day so we stayed put for another night. We were not the only ones hiding out, about 1:00 a sailboat couple came in and said they needed a break from the crazies. The locals that did go out said it was more like stop and go traffic on a freeway than boating.
We were up early and away from Harbour Village Marina by 5:45 am in order to make the 7:00 am opening of the Surf City Swing Bridge, about an hour upriver. We made it there by 6:55 but could not get the bridge tender’s attention until 7:05, by which time he said we would have to wait till the next opening at 8:00. The water level indicated 13 feet clearance and we are 15 feet with the antenna up, and we think about 12.5 with it down. Rick lowered the antenna and we proceeded with me on the foredeck trying to determine if those measurements were accurate, I think we did clear by 5 or 6 inches and were on our way.
We enjoyed the houses on New River that had matching lighthouses, all very cute. We cruised by Camp Lejeune which occasionally closes the ICW to conduct artillery, small-weapons firing, and amphibious exercises. Many Loopers like to anchor in Mile Hammock Basin, at the edge of Camp Lejeune, in hopes of watching these exercise, since we had a long day planned we were happy that there was not a delay.
We spent Tuesday evening at Homer Smith Seafood and Marina, where we enjoyed watching the unloading of a shrimp boat and meeting a French couple who are sailing the world with their three children.
Tonight we are at New Bern where we will spend a week servicing the boat and enjoying the nearby towns.
