On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:27:51 -0400, DSK wrote:

Sounds like a good time.

Confused me with the reference to Beaufort. Wondered how you got way
down there so quick. Then I looked at map and saw you're talking
about the "other" Beaufort.

I'm familiar with the SC Beaufort. Spent some of my wasted youth as a
guest of the government on the their resort island across the sound
from Hilton Head.

Frank
Early last month ago we spent a week and a half on the boat.
For the first few days we just got things put together &
organized, went out for a few afternoon trips, and one
overnight for 4th of July fireworks.

Then we got organized to make somewhat longer trip from New
Bern down to Morehead City, where fuel is cheaper. This was
the beginning of a 5 day cruise, exploring some parts of our
area where don't go very often... a few places we haven't
been and that I have never talked to anybody who's been.

It's about 40 miles to the Bogue Sound side of Morehead
City's waterfront. We left late morning and got there late
afternoon, before the fuel dock closed. The man was very
friendly and said he was waiting for an 83-footer who called
in to say they were coming in for fuel that evening.

Don't know if they ever showed, but a young couple in a
30-footer came up and asked if they could park there while
they had dinner at the seafood restaurant next door. There
was a current running at an angle to the docks and the young
lady driving the sailboat did an excellent job using helm &
prop walk to keep the boat in position, then eased it into a
tight spot. After they'd gone, I commented to the fuel man
said "She's a very skilled waterman," a nice old-fashioned
compliment.

After this, we anchored out in a chennel of the Newport
River behind Morehead, tucking the boat carefully into a 6'
pocket with some tidal current. We were easily in sight of
the Highway 17 bridge over to Beaufort but we couldn't hear
the traffic. A nice spot for the night. As always the change
of tide woke me when the boat swung the other way, the
anchor was well set.

The next day we headed north, up through the Adams Creek
canal into the Neuse R. We had decided to bypass Oriental
and go around the corner, northward to the Bay River. Anothe
r cruising boat from Florida, on their way to Maine,
traveled in company with us along this leg. The ICW crosses
the mouth of the Bay River and there are two good anchorages
handy. The other boat went into the Goose Creek cut of the
ICW, north to Hobucken (it should be on a good map) and
Pamlico River. We turned off and went up the Bay River.

The Bay River is only about 20 miles long but it is very
scenic. Parts of it are getting built up but most of it is
swamp. Unlike much of the NC coast, it is not plagued with
sandbars; the river is mostly muddy and 7 ~ 12 feet deep.
The creeks feeding into it are surprisingly deep. We
explored several, going into the swamp or pine forest until
we could barely turn around.

I think the Bay River got it's name because it seems to be a
series of connected bays. Open, near-circular areas a mile
across are connected by the river's pass between narrowing
points. These bays make great summer anchorages, far enough
off shore that you don't get carried away by mosquitoes but
well sheltered in the regular summer thunderstorms.

We spent three nights on the Bay River, anchoring in various
bays. We stopped at the very head of the river, at a town
called Bayboro. Actually the river goes a little further, by
this time it is really a creek, but it goes under the state
highway thru a culvert. Not sure a canoe could fit, much
less our tugboat. We tied up for an hour or so at the dock
of an out-of-business crab/oyster plant.

We also went to Vandemere but did not stop. It's waterfront
businesses have fallen on hard times just like the others...
ironically enough, one of the things helping out the NC
coastal environment is that it's currently cheaper to ship
frozen seafood from South America and Southeast Asia than it
is to catch it & pack it here. However you'll still see a
lot of people trawling for shrimp & setting gill nets.

Then we went back around Maw Pt into the Neuse River. Maw
Point is where the ICW meets Pamlico Sound and has earned a
nasty reputation over the years, but we had calm weather
both times we rounded. It doesn't look like much, just a
long line of swamp with some scrubby pine trees far back.

The last night we anchored in a little creek off the Neuse,
although we could have gotten back to the barn that evening.
Next morning would be soon enough to end the cruise. Pretty
much uneventful, but very enjoyable.

Fair Skies
Doug King

Frank Boettcher wrote:

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:27:51 -0400, DSK wrote:

Sounds like a good time.

Confused me with the reference to Beaufort. Wondered how you got way
down there so quick. Then I looked at map and saw you're talking
about the "other" Beaufort.

I'm familiar with the SC Beaufort. Spent some of my wasted youth as a
guest of the government on the their resort island across the sound
from Hilton Head.


I'm somehwat familiar with Beaufort ("Byew-fort") and Port
Royal, used to race down there several times a year and
cruised through a couple times. It is also getting built up,
but there is still a lot of wilderness. The tides down there
are a lot more concern.

We sailed past Parris Island many times and often thought of
the boots there, but never seen or heard anything going on.
It's a great place to train people to endure heat & sleep in
the swamp, also makes them eager to go to other countries.

One really lovely thing about that area is the dolphins. The
tidal wetlands are prime breeding grounds for all the little
critters that dolphins love to eat; on an outgoing tide
you'll often see them gather at the outflows of little
creeks. We don't see as many dolphins up our way.

Beaufort NC is one of the best jumping-off points from the
ICW to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Often lots of long distance
cruisers passing thru.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 09:11:11 -0400, DSK wrote:

Frank Boettcher wrote:

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:27:51 -0400, DSK wrote:

Sounds like a good time.

Confused me with the reference to Beaufort. Wondered how you got way
down there so quick. Then I looked at map and saw you're talking
about the "other" Beaufort.

I'm familiar with the SC Beaufort. Spent some of my wasted youth as a
guest of the government on the their resort island across the sound
from Hilton Head.


I'm somehwat familiar with Beaufort ("Byew-fort") and Port
Royal, used to race down there several times a year and
cruised through a couple times. It is also getting built up,
but there is still a lot of wilderness. The tides down there
are a lot more concern.

We sailed past Parris Island many times and often thought of
the boots there, but never seen or heard anything going on.
It's a great place to train people to endure heat & sleep in
the swamp, also makes them eager to go to other countries.

Just made me eager to leave Parris Island, although not as bad as
advirtised. ITR at LeJuene was another story, however.

One really lovely thing about that area is the dolphins. The
tidal wetlands are prime breeding grounds for all the little
critters that dolphins love to eat; on an outgoing tide
you'll often see them gather at the outflows of little
creeks. We don't see as many dolphins up our way.

Plenty of them my way. I was in Mexico Beach, Fl in May and we would
stop the boat in a school and some would come right up to the boat,
stick their heads out of the water and let you touch them. I think
some of them have been conditioned to get handouts, even though the
local marine resource people keep publishing fliers telling boaters
not to do that.

Frank

Beaufort NC is one of the best jumping-off points from the
ICW to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Often lots of long distance
cruisers passing thru.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:
Early last month ago we spent a week and a half on the boat.
For the first few days we just got things put together &
organized, went out for a few afternoon trips, and one
overnight for 4th of July fireworks.

Then we got organized to make somewhat longer trip from New
Bern down to Morehead City, where fuel is cheaper. This was
the beginning of a 5 day cruise, exploring some parts of our
area where don't go very often... a few places we haven't
been and that I have never talked to anybody who's been.

It's about 40 miles to the Bogue Sound side of Morehead
City's waterfront. We left late morning and got there late
afternoon, before the fuel dock closed. The man was very
friendly and said he was waiting for an 83-footer who called
in to say they were coming in for fuel that evening.

Don't know if they ever showed, but a young couple in a
30-footer came up and asked if they could park there while
they had dinner at the seafood restaurant next door. There
was a current running at an angle to the docks and the young
lady driving the sailboat did an excellent job using helm &
prop walk to keep the boat in position, then eased it into a
tight spot. After they'd gone, I commented to the fuel man
said "She's a very skilled waterman," a nice old-fashioned
compliment.

After this, we anchored out in a chennel of the Newport
River behind Morehead, tucking the boat carefully into a 6'
pocket with some tidal current. We were easily in sight of
the Highway 17 bridge over to Beaufort but we couldn't hear
the traffic. A nice spot for the night. As always the change
of tide woke me when the boat swung the other way, the
anchor was well set.

The next day we headed north, up through the Adams Creek
canal into the Neuse R. We had decided to bypass Oriental
and go around the corner, northward to the Bay River. Anothe
r cruising boat from Florida, on their way to Maine,
traveled in company with us along this leg. The ICW crosses
the mouth of the Bay River and there are two good anchorages
handy. The other boat went into the Goose Creek cut of the
ICW, north to Hobucken (it should be on a good map) and
Pamlico River. We turned off and went up the Bay River.

The Bay River is only about 20 miles long but it is very
scenic. Parts of it are getting built up but most of it is
swamp. Unlike much of the NC coast, it is not plagued with
sandbars; the river is mostly muddy and 7 ~ 12 feet deep.
The creeks feeding into it are surprisingly deep. We
explored several, going into the swamp or pine forest until
we could barely turn around.

I think the Bay River got it's name because it seems to be a
series of connected bays. Open, near-circular areas a mile
across are connected by the river's pass between narrowing
points. These bays make great summer anchorages, far enough
off shore that you don't get carried away by mosquitoes but
well sheltered in the regular summer thunderstorms.

We spent three nights on the Bay River, anchoring in various
bays. We stopped at the very head of the river, at a town
called Bayboro. Actually the river goes a little further, by
this time it is really a creek, but it goes under the state
highway thru a culvert. Not sure a canoe could fit, much
less our tugboat. We tied up for an hour or so at the dock
of an out-of-business crab/oyster plant.

We also went to Vandemere but did not stop. It's waterfront
businesses have fallen on hard times just like the others...
ironically enough, one of the things helping out the NC
coastal environment is that it's currently cheaper to ship
frozen seafood from South America and Southeast Asia than it
is to catch it & pack it here. However you'll still see a
lot of people trawling for shrimp & setting gill nets.

Then we went back around Maw Pt into the Neuse River. Maw
Point is where the ICW meets Pamlico Sound and has earned a
nasty reputation over the years, but we had calm weather
both times we rounded. It doesn't look like much, just a
long line of swamp with some scrubby pine trees far back.

The last night we anchored in a little creek off the Neuse,
although we could have gotten back to the barn that evening.
Next morning would be soon enough to end the cruise. Pretty
much uneventful, but very enjoyable.

Fair Skies
Doug King

Sounds like a nice week of exploration. I like to follow rivers and
creeks as far up them as possiable. Lots of neat stuff to see and do.
Did you fish, or shoot anything?

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com..
..

Sounds like a nice week of exploration. I like to follow
rivers and
creeks as far up them as possiable.

without a paddle, right?

creeks as far up them as possiable.

without a paddle, right?



Scott Vermon gays up another thread.



RB
35s5
NY

Joe wrote:
Sounds like a nice week of exploration. I like to follow rivers and
creeks as far up them as possiable. Lots of neat stuff to see and do.

Same here. I enjoy watching the herons, especially the great
blues. Usually we can keep count of how many we see during a
day, this time we totally lost track.



Did you fish, or shoot anything?


Nah, left the critters alone if they left us alone... killed
about a million horse flies one day at a place called Bonner
Bay near the mouth of the river, just off the ICW...
ironically enough this is a highly recommended anchorage in
most cruising guides, it is deep & well sheltered and close
to the ICW... but it's also a haven for big bugs that bite.

Years ago I used to do a lot of deer hunting in a place just
north of this area.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:
Joe wrote:
Sounds like a nice week of exploration. I like to follow rivers and
creeks as far up them as possiable. Lots of neat stuff to see and do.

Same here. I enjoy watching the herons, especially the great
blues. Usually we can keep count of how many we see during a
day, this time we totally lost track.



Did you fish, or shoot anything?


Nah, left the critters alone if they left us alone... killed
about a million horse flies one day at a place called Bonner
Bay near the mouth of the river, just off the ICW...
ironically enough this is a highly recommended anchorage in
most cruising guides, it is deep & well sheltered and close
to the ICW... but it's also a haven for big bugs that bite.

I hate horse flys. Masn they can put a hurting on you, make mosquitos
feel pleasent

Years ago I used to do a lot of deer hunting in a place just
north of this area.

I haven't done deer hunting in 15-20 years. I did have to put one down
on the edge of Johnson Space Center bout a year ago. A car hit it, and
tore it's leg in half,luckly I had a 9mm under the truck seat. The
guards at NASA would not come and do it, yet they are the ones who
raise and harbor all the deer around here. One shot at 20+yrds.

We just sailed the bay a bit then anchored in Clearlake close to the
fireworks barge on July 4th.

http://image57.webshots.com/757/3/44...6idpRMA_ph.jpg

Joe


Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Joe wrote:
We just sailed the bay a bit then anchored in Clearlake close to the
fireworks barge on July 4th.

http://image57.webshots.com/757/3/44...6idpRMA_ph.jpg



Nice pic, thanks. The red, white, & blue streamers are a
nice touch. That anchorage doesn't look too crowded, on July
4th you could walk across the river at New Bern, stepping
from boat to boat.

DSK