CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2024-2025 (30)

CODA : Camp Lejeune Marine Base

24 October 2024

Mile Hammock Bay, USMC Camp Lejeune, North Carolina  

Michael found a huge free ice freezer (8 feet by 8 feet ) on the docks and got permission 

to get all we could shovel into our bags (x5).

Pulling into Beaufort at sunset last night (from my new favorite place 

to steer the boat in the pilothouse and virtually no bugs unless we let them in).

Beaufort does not only have free ice but a warm climate that supports Palm Trees. If you anchor in front of the downtown waterfront you may see wild Spanish Mustangs that live on the Shackleford Banks (We did not see any this time).

Marc- We used the free laundromat at the marina this morning since we needed to wait for the tidal currents  and height to be advantageous.  The stretch of the ICW South of here has a few shallow spots so you want to have the advantage of having a rising tide and the currents are considerable 2.0 knots.  We timed it perfectly leaving at 11:00 and headed Southeast to the Beaufort Inlet and then turned Northwest to head for the ICW via a major shipping channel.  This is a great departure point for Bermuda or the Bahamas.  Note that the Gulf Stream passes 40 miles offshore.  All that being said the water is warm enough for surfcasters to be out fishing in the bays as well as people enjoying as sorts of water sports.  We continued to be favored with North winds putting us in a beam reach position for much todays 44 mile journey.  There was one exciting shallow point where a strong diesel engine and a 28,000pond boat allowed us to plow through the mud to deeper water only going from 7.2 knots to 5.1 knots for a brief period.  The spot is about an hour South of Beaufort where the 1/4 mile wide channel suddenly shrinks to about 20 feet with a confusing array of bouys (more is not always better when they are inconsistent).  No harm done.  The next is the new Onslow Bridge being constructed by the Marines at the large Camp Lejeune footprint.  The Marines have some of the most beautiful of the barrier islands and there own Inlet as well as extensive mainland territory.  Most of it looks undeveloped except for various mock up tanks, guided missile vehicles, tanks, invasion barges.  Marine helicopters fly over now and then and the Marines shut down the ICW when they are firing munitions.  The new bridge construction closes the ICW from 08:00 to 12:00, opens on the hour from 12:00 to 1:00 and the shuts down from 13:00 to 17:00.  We timed our boat speed to arrive at 16:45.  Mile Hammock Bay is nearby and we found an assembled 8 sailboats and 4 powerboats. I am not counting the Marine vessels passing through.  The Bay is very quiet so far tonight (mill pond calm).

A pelican looks on as we wait for the Onslow bridge to open.

I tried out a new spell at the marina this morning in the small boat section.

"Wingardeum Levio Sa"

Sunset after the wonderful barbecue chicken cooked up by chef Michael.