Boogeying up the Bogue Sound

Date:                                  April 25, 2013

Days on the Cruise:             31

From:                                Casper's Marina, Swansboro, NC

To:                                    Morehead City Yacht Basin, NC

Statute Miles:                    27.0

Time:                               3.3 Hours

Cumulative Miles:             1,019.8

On Board:                         Chuck, Susan, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We are in Morehead City, NC tonight. We traveled from the purple pin today.

A major milestone reached today! We passed the 1,000 total mile mark.

We cruised 27 miles up the ICW today. It was cloudy and cool all the way. Winds started out calm, but about 45 minutes out from Morehead City, winds came out of no where and started gusting from the NE at 25 mph. It got very cool and we closed all the Isenglass to stay warm. We saw a boat aground due to the wind and a Sea Tow boat trying to get them off the sand bar.

View out the front door this morning

Looking East across Bogue Sound...A huge expanse of water!!

Coming into Morehead City

Sea Tow trying to free a grounded boat

We had to follow a very narrow channel in Bogue Sound. This allowed us to "Boogey up Bogue Sound", which is very wide and reminds us of some of the big water between Mosquito Lagoon and Stuart in Florida. I am very glad that the wind was blowing from the NE instead of the South or Southwest, because if that wind had come across the expanse of Bogue Sound, we would have been in real turmoil.

We passed under the Atlantic Beach Bridge in Morehead City, then went through a very confusing channel area to get to the ship channel. Just as we neared the port facility, a big ship was coming into the port, assisted by two big Moran tugs. We altered course to let the ship go by, then all of a sudden, the tugs turned the ship and blocked the channel. The ship was turned 180 degrees, then pushed into the dock to take on its cargo. 

Ship coming into the port facility with Tugs hanging on

Tugs turning the ship 180 degrees

Tugs turning the ship 180 degrees

Tugs turning the ship

Tugs pushing ship into the wharf

Tugs pushing the ship to the wharf

We got around the ship and cruised through a railroad bridge and a 65' high highway bridge between Morehead City and Beaufort, NC. Our marina was just South of the port on the North side of Morehead City, and we tied up on a long face dock with no problems. By this time, the wind had completely subsided, and docking at Morehead City Yacht Basin was not a problem.

This marina is magnificent. It is mostly huge sport fishing boats. Morehead City is close to the Gulf Stream, and these sportfishermen go off shore between 50 and 80 miles to get blue marlin and other big fish. During tournaments, this marina pumps $45,000 of fuel a day. On our dock alone, we were told that there is $40,000,000 worth of big fishing boats docked. Big money here!

Morehead City Yacht Basin

Looking at Sportfishermen on our dock

Looking at Sportfishermen on our dock

I love the color of this big boy!

This is the name of our granddaughter

Yes Boss, I am still on the "Job Site". Not sure when I will be back...Ha Ha!!!

The humble "Blue Moon" on the Sportfishermen dock

Looking along our dock toward the shore

Navy ships docked next to the marina

After getting set, we took the marina car to Rite Aid to get two prescriptions and we took the opportunity to get more water-both gallon jugs and another 24 pack of bottled water. Having the car really helped because it rained right after we got to the marina. We ate supper on board tonight. It is very cool and the temps will be in the 40's tonight. 

There is a 1948 cruiser at the marina. The cruiser was built by Huckins in Jacksonville where we get work done on "Blue Moon". The Huckins is in immaculate condition and instead of propellers, she has jet drives. I bet these are not original equipment!!

The "Cherokee", a beautiful 1948 Huckins at the Yacht Basin

Tomorrow we go to Oriental, NC for two nights. This is a huge sailing place and has several big marinas. It is a quaint little town that I have always wanted to visit, so we are looking forward to it.

Thanks for Reading!