10/29/14
New River, Sneads Ferry NC
Position: 34 32.600N, 77 21.616W
Posted by Bill
We left Beaufort this morning with joy in our hearts, thinking that I solved the alternator problem. It ran correctly for 2/3rds of our trip today, only to revert to the new normal…intermittent charging. Sunrise was outstanding:
The passage today had lots of traffic, starting with a war ship coming in from sea:
We had to stay the hell out of the way of this big boy.
As we motored past Morehead City we saw lots of big ships again:
After Moorehead City, we cruised through Bogue Sound, which had huge homes to the west and the barrier islands and beaches to the east:
The string of mansions went for at least 20 miles.
We saw pods of dolphins again today:
They were really close today. And also saw Egrets:
And then some abandoned military equipment:
As we came close to Camp Lejune, we could hear the firing. They blocked the ICW off until noon so they could complete their firing exercises.
There was a long line of boats heading south, it was incredible. Here is the group we went through the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge with:
As we came in to the New River Inlet we ducked into one of the only anchorages in this section of the ICW, called Mile Hammock Bay. It is on the south side of Camp Lejeune and is known to be an anchorage of poor holding. We pulled in and the place was packed with boats. We tried to anchor in the southern portion of the dredged area but could not get the anchor to set (probably why there was still open space where we tried to anchor). We dropped back to the north side and set the anchor, but we were really close to other boats, and the swing proximity of the boats at anchor could have caused collisions. We didn’t like the spot, and didn’t have any other room, so we bolted for a marina. There are only 2 in the New River area, one was full so we went to New River Marina…another version of deliverance county, but the people were really nice and we were alone on the fuel dock. A few minutes after we docked, another power boat came in for fuel, and then that was it. Nice and quiet.
I was walking back from the bathroom when a pickup truck pulled up beside me and asked if I was on that boat, pointing to the fuel dock. I said yes, and the guy went ballistic, pointing his finger and yelling in a rage of anger that could easily invoke a stroke or heart attack. He accused me of causing a huge wake that almost tipped the local fishing boats over and told me of a story where a local guy got capsized from a boat wake and was killed. Part of the conversation went like this:
Guy: “You people need to think about others. They shoot people in North Carolina for doing that”
Me: “Doing what?”
Guy:”Driving a boat like that. You should be ashamed. You should have your ass kicked. They shoot people in North Carolina for that!”
Me:”Look…I am sorry but I don’t know what I did.” I am thinking…I have a sailboat…I can’t make a wake that would tip your beer over let alone capsize someone.
Guy:”Don’t give me that. You don’t know how to drive or you are stupid and ignorant…blah, blah, blah”
I want to choke this guy, but I had visions of him getting his red neck fishing buddies in the middle of the night at messing up our boat with crow bars. So I ignore him and walk back to the boat. I take one step on to the boat and he says:
“You are on the sailboat?”
Me:”Yes”
Guy:”Sorry man…I meant this power boat” (the one fueling next to us) And he proceeds to rain the wrath of hell on these guys for making a wake. He was really pissed off and I had visions of a mass shooting! He took off and everything mellowed out, which is the normal state of life in Sneads Ferry. It is a very laid back and beautiful place. We talked to several of the locals and they were very friendly and trustworthy. Many were retired military. Nothing fancy here, but nice and quiet, and very beautiful. Glad we tied up here. A piece of paradise in it’s own right. I’ll try to get some pics of the marina in the morning and post tomorrow…what a hoot!