Beaufort to the Beach

A day of 3 bridges....

Departing Beaufort, Greg and Kate's, we pressed on to Mile Hammock Bay in the heart of the MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. Crossing into the camp you must traverse one of the live firing ranges which has targets on one side of the waterway and Marines on the other. When the range is in use, the waterway is closed. Lucky for us, we were one day ahead of closures from 0700 to 1200 so we were able to pass through unrestricted. Once in, the primary anchorage cruisers use is called

Google Map of Beaufort to Wrightsville Beach NC

Mile Hammock Bay where our U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command's 2d Marine Battalion and Marine Special Operations School train in the waters of this bay. While we were there, we saw jeeps on the beach, helicopters overhead and heard artillery fire both day and night. The next day, we ran  the waterway to one of our favorite towns, Wrightsville Beach, NC.  There we dropped anchor in the harbor and took a short walk to the beach and of course, Kohl's Frozen Custard parlor. Boat buddy Reuben loves ice cream as much as Hayden does!  We love places where we can anchor the boat and dinghy into town and walk to a beautiful beach, Wrightsville Beach is this kind of place.

Dolphin escort down Bogue Sound

Surf City swing bridge

Waterman's interesting boat, motor and platform

Figure Eight Island swing bridge

The race for the bridge

Radeen at the helm of Island Spirit, happy

IP380 PRIORITY raises anchor at Mile Hammock Bay

IP38 MOONDANCE departs Mile Hammock Bay where Bob trained as a Marine

Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge, The bridge tender is in the house top center!

Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge with our parade of boats southbound

Wrightsville Beach, the treasure for today