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Tag Archives: Beaufort NC

Destination: Historic Beaufort, NC

05 Thursday Aug 2021

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in From the helm

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2006 Mainship 34T, America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association, Atlantic ICW, Beaufort Docks Marina, Beaufort NC, Belhaven Community Chamber of Commerce, Belhaven NC, Blessed, BoatUS, Coastal destinations, Cruising, CruisingTheICW, Friends, Georgetown SC, Grateful, Harborwalk Marina, Hospitality, Life, Love, Mainship, Mainship 34T, Marinas, Memories, Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, Passage Maker Magazine, Reflections, Slow Dance, Soundings, Soundings Online, Swansboro, Thinking Ouside the Boat, Trawler, Waterfront dining, Wilmington NC, Wrightsville Beach

Last year, due to COVID-19 we did no long distance cruising. For this year’s journey, we spent our final night at home on the boat, so we could get an early start . On July 12, 2021 at 7:01 AM we cast off from the dock, idled under the Ben Sawyer, and began CruisingTheICW north!

First stop, Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC. “Slow Dance” seems happy to be cruising again! Since returning from our 2019 summer on the Chesapeake, she’s gotten a new stateroom air conditioning unit, windless, the head serviced, new generator water pump, the hull waxed and new bottom paint, beautiful new Eisenglass for the upper helm, and last but not least, the annual service of the main engine, generator, and transmission. Since 2006, the main engine and generator’s oil has been changed every 100 hours, not counting the annual service done prior to departure for our multi-week cruises. Though we didn’t put 100 hours on her during COVID-2020, we adopted the rule of service annually or every 100 hours, which ever comes first.

While it’s rare for us to spend less than two nights in Georgetown, for a variety of reasons we had to keep pushing back our departure, so Georgetown was just an overnight stop on this journey. As always, Harbormaster Chris and his crew provided excellent service and a beautifully clean facility. And added bonus, it’s hard to remember when we’ve gone into Harborwalk and not seen at least one large and beautiful yacht docked there. If you’re CruisingTheICW through South Carolina, and have never visited Georgetown, put it on your itinerary. It’s a quaint little historic town with a harbor, Southern hospitality, good restaurants, SC Maritime Museum, and shopping,

Second stop, Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, Little River, SC. Since 2017 when we began our summer CruisingTheICW north, the yacht club has been our second night’s destination. Why? Reasonable dock fees, traditionally great fuel prices, great and reasonably priced food at The Officer’s Club private dining for transients and members, and as always, an accommodating and professional crew to help with docking and most anything else we might need. Unfortunately, the The Officer’s Club is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so for the Admiral and me, there’s always next time!

Third stop, Seapath Yacht Club, Wrightsville Beach, NC. When we began CruisingTheICW north in 2017, we made it a point to spend at least a couple of nights in Wrightsville Beach to visit with old friends. Sadly, an old best friend, Bruce Allcorn, the friend that always met us at the dock no matter where we stayed in Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach, passed away unexpectedly last October. This year’s visit without Bruce was tough. To know the guy was to love him. Our friendship went back over 50-years to our high school days and love of Austin Healey 3000s. At his celebration of life last May, the only person in attendance to have known him longer than me, was his older brother. Memories, so many memories.

“Beach Music,” the perfect name for a beautiful vintage Hatteras yacht built in North Carolina, home of beach music and beach bands like the incredible Embers, who made the song, “I Love Beach Music” famous.

Seapath Yacht Club is only a couple of hundred yards “off the ICW,” with limited transient slips, but a quiet, sheltered place to overnight. Their new shower facility has to be one the newest and nicest on the ICW. Another plus is their proximity to some of the finest dining in Wrightsville Beach. For many reasons, Wrightsville Beach will forever be on our northbound cruise itinerary.

Next stop, the new Town Docks at Swansboro, NC. In years past, we visited Swansboro by car, and a couple of years we stopped by the town docks for Kate the Mate’s “nature call.” When I recently read that reservations could now be made for overnights at the docks, we decided to overnight there instead of having such a long day getting to Beaufort. While walking around Swansboro that afternoon, we stopped by the visitors center and learned the town is in the process of putting in shower baths and a washer and dryer for transients’ use, in the Swansboro Visitors Center. While the visitors center is not adjacent to the docks, the new facilities will be no further away than those of some other marinas we’ve visited. It’s great to see small towns like Swansboro welcoming ICW transient boaters. To many, the ICW is their “intrastate highway.”

On to Beaufort, our first multi-night stop this summer. In 2018, our departure from home was scheduled around getting us to Beaufort in time for the Admiral to celebrate her July 4th birthday there. This year it was scheduled around getting her to Beaufort in time to enjoy Saturday’s Farmer’s Market! I’m happy to say we made it.

Like Georgetown, Beaufort is a favorite stopping point for large yachts, and this year was no exception. As we entered the Beaufort harbor, the 142′ superyacht, “MISSING LINK” could not be missed. Owned by Jack Link, of America’s #1 Jerky Brand, “MISSING LINK” was designed and built by US builder, Christensen Shipyards at their Vancouver shipyard. The yacht’s interior was designed by Carol Williamson and Associates.

On the right of the photograph is “MISSING LINK,” and on the left is “Slow Dance.” “MISSING LINK” travels with an Invincible center console launch that is the approximate length of “Slow Dance.” It can be seen perpendicular on the other side of the dock between “MISSING LINK” and “Slow Dance.”

We first “discovered”Beaufort when my parents bought a little place on Harker’s Island, a short distance from Beaufort. When visiting the island, Beaufort was where we went for dinner and shopping. Today, we enjoy Beaufort Town Docks, but it’s not the only marina in Beaufort. When staying there, we can walk or cycle most anywhere around town. But, others we’ve met while cruising swear by Homer Smith’s Docks and Marina, the full service Town Creek Marina, and the new Beaufort Yacht Basin.

What to do in Beaufort. Having spent my career in the travel industry, I’m about the worst tourist you will ever meet. We love to travel, but when we visit a destination, we enjoy getting local input on things to do. While rarely do we visit every attraction and museum in the local visitors’ guide! But, in Beaufort, there are some things I’d encourage doing.

  • Visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum
  • Beaufort Historic Site and Museum Visitors Center
  • Old Beauforte Farmers Market (A Saturday event)
  • Water tours ~ there is a myriad of water tours offered in Beaufort. Though I’ve never taken one, but I would encourage a visitor to Beaufort or Morehead City to take two specific water tours, (1) a tour that takes you to Cape Lookout Lighthouse, (2) a tour that takes you to the 5,400 acre Rachel Carson Coastal Equestrian Preserve or the Shackleford Banks to see the beautiful wild horses in their natural habit.
  • For detailed information about the many reasons to visit Beaufort, Morehead City, and all the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, visit the Crystal Coast of NC.

Dining in Beaufort. Years ago when we came to Beaufort from Harker’s Island for dinner, Clawson’s was the old standby. Today there are a number of quality restaurants from which to choose. Some of our favorites within easy walking distance of the marina are Finz, Black Sheep Beaufort, Front Street Grill, The Spouter Inn, Ribeyes Steakhouse, Mezcalito Beaufort, and of course, the old standby, Clawson’s.

Historic Beaufort, Morehead City, and the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Great cruising destinations.

“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.” Henry David Thoreau

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“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.” ― Henry David Thoreau

29 Friday May 2020

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, From the helm, Thinking Outside The Boat

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Atlantic Yacht Basin, Beaufort NC, Belfast ME Harbor Fest, Belhaven NC, Boating, Bridge Tender Marina, Coinjock Marina & Restaurant, Coinjock Marina & Restaurant PRIME RIB, Cruising canines, Dismal Swamp Canal, Food, Life, Marinas, Quotes, Restaurants, Spoon River Artworks and Market, T.W. Graham & Company Seafood Restaurant, The Big Tuna

Friday, May 29, 2020.   I used to associate Thoreau’s quote with time spent aboard our old Cargile Cutter Cruiser, “SunSmiles.”  And then, along came grandchildren.  Know what I mean?

Today, “SunSmiles” is history, the little Mainship 34T, “Slow Dance” has replaced “her,” and our grandchildren have reached the  age where Nana and Poppa are not their #1 priority — which means that the “channel in which our life flows” is evolving back to time split between grandchildren and cruising.  Now, it appears COVID-19 restrictions may dictate our summer 2020 destinations and schedule.  BUT, at least we have wonderful memories of summers past, and making plans for the future.

Have you planned your summer cruising or vacation schedule?  Will you be CruisingTheICW, cruising with your cruising club, or simply enjoying time on the water with family and friends.  At CruisingTheICW, we would love for you to share your favorite cruising destinations, marinas, restaurants, attractions, festivals and events, with us.

Here is a collage of pics from some of our travels.  Recognize any of them?

Where will your life be flowing this weekend?  This summer?

The beauty of a sunset to end a day of cruising.
The beauty of a sunset to end a day of cruising.
Nothing like stretching out on the bow after a good dinner.
Nothing like stretching out on the bow after a good dinner.
Leaving Coinjock, NC
Leaving Coinjock, NC
Coinjock Marina's "world famous" PRIME RIB DINNER!!!
Coinjock Marina’s “world famous” PRIME RIB DINNER!!!
The beautiful "Lady Kath" spent the night off our bow, in Coinjock.
The beautiful “Lady Kath” spent the night off our bow, in Coinjock.
Leaving the Great Bridge lock
Leaving the Great Bridge lock
"Pretty maids all in a row" at AYB, as we idle past the face dock and head to Hampton.
“Pretty maids all in a row” at AYB, as we idle past the face dock and head to Hampton.
Southbound for parts unknown
Southbound for parts unknown
Spoon River Artworks & Market dining room
Spoon River Artworks & Market dining room
Belhaven's finest restaurant
Belhaven’s finest restaurant
What better day than Saturday to remember the incredible "fresh off the boat" fried shrimp dinner at T.W. Graham's in the little fishing village of McClellanville, SC., on the ICW north of historic Charleston.
What better day than Saturday to remember the incredible “fresh off the boat” fried shrimp dinner at T.W. Graham’s in the little fishing village of McClellanville, SC., on the ICW north of historic Charleston.
Atlantic Yacht Basin
Atlantic Yacht Basin
When we leave the South Mills Lock, we'll be in the Dismal Swamp Canal. In the left of the picture you see the dreaded Duck Weed floating on the surface of the water. While we saw Duck Weed thru parts of the canal, when I checked the Slow Dance's raw water strainers at the Welcome Center, very little of the Duck Weed was ingested into the raw water system.
When we leave the South Mills Lock, we’ll be in the Dismal Swamp Canal. In the left of the picture you see the dreaded Duck Weed floating on the surface of the water. While we saw Duck Weed thru parts of the canal, when I checked the Slow Dance’s raw water strainers at the Welcome Center, very little of the Duck Weed was ingested into the raw water system.
Cruising's a chance to catch up with old friends, and relive our younger days when our favorite transportation was our Austin-Healey 3000s
Cruising’s a chance to catch up with old friends, and relive our younger days when our favorite transportation was our Austin-Healey 3000s
The BIG TUNA in Georgetown, SC
The BIG TUNA in Georgetown, SC
Belfast, ME Harbor Festival
Belfast, ME Harbor Festival
A flea market treasure
A flea market treasure
Our incredible "dock mate" in Beaufort, SC
Our incredible “dock mate” in Beaufort, SC
Shrimp boat's acomin'
Shrimp boat’s acomin’
"Conch Man," the lockmaster loves conchs -- and can actually play them! He was a pleasure to meet, as professional as he was personable.
“Conch Man,” the lockmaster loves conchs — and can actually play them! He was a pleasure to meet, as professional as he was personable.
There are those times the "Admiral" enjoys sitting out on the bow and enjoying the solitude and scenery.
There are those times the “Admiral” enjoys sitting out on the bow and enjoying the solitude and scenery.
Cruising together from Camden, NC to the Dismal Swamp Canal
Cruising together from Camden, NC to the Dismal Swamp Canal
When the bridge opens, we'll pass thru, and on to the lock, meet "Conch Man," hear a tune, and then pass on thru the lock and end our cruise of the Dismal Swamp Canal.
When the bridge opens, we’ll pass thru, and on to the lock, meet “Conch Man,” hear a tune, and then pass on thru the lock and end our cruise of the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Kate "the mate" with her, "What next captain" expression.
Kate “the mate” with her, “What next captain” expression.
Belhaven, NC truly appreciates cruisers!
Belhaven, NC truly appreciates cruisers!
July 4th - the Admiral's birthday, in Beaufort, NC
July 4th – the Admiral’s birthday, in Beaufort, NC
Calm at sunrise at the Bridgetender Marina, Wrightsville Beach, NC
Calm at sunrise at the Bridgetender Marina, Wrightsville Beach, NC
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
Big Tuna's tuna with house salad
Big Tuna’s tuna with house salad
The beautiful Marlow, "Blue Heron."
The beautiful Marlow, “Blue Heron.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!!! Beaufort, NC even celebrated your birthday with a parade!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!!! Beaufort, NC even celebrated your birthday with a parade!
The 1977 30-foot Cargile Cutter Cruiser known as "SunSmiles"
The 1977 30-foot Cargile Cutter Cruiser known as “SunSmiles”
Cruising is for friends and fellowship
Cruising is for friends and fellowship
This boat launched CruisingTheICW
This boat launched CruisingTheICW
Illusions

“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.”

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“Follow In My Wake”

An early sunset casts a warm light on the "Next Chapter," a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
An early sunset casts a warm light on the “Next Chapter,” a beautiful 130 ft Westport, at the popular Southport (NC) Marina.
Captain Buck's Port Chef James Kohler
Captain Buck’s Port Chef James Kohler
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Big Tuna, Georgetown, SC
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill features the best hot dog on the planet!
Bridge Tender Marina
Bridge Tender Marina
Southport Marina
Southport Marina
Starboard sunset
Sullivans Island skyJPG
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.
The Admiral enjoys reading, while Kate the Mate stands by the captain.

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