Swansboro

395 nm  N34 41.165   W077 07.153

Today's plan was to leave Oriental, cross the Neuse River to Adam's Creek, through the canal, down the river to Moorhead City to the coast, and down the coastal ICW to Swansboro.  We had a reservation at Dudley's marina there.  We had considered pressing on further to Mile Hammock, which would position us better for the next day, but were uncertain if we could make it there before dark.

The day started off well enough.  I noted some beautiful anchorages on Adam's creek, and these would be useful in the future for being able to skip Swansboro and make it all the way to Mile Hammock (or vice-versa on the way home).

Adam's Creek

Hurricane Damage along Adam's Creek

Once out on the river, we were able to roll out the jib and motor-sail a bit until we got to Moorehead City Harbor, where our turn westward put the wind too close on the nose.

We got in to Swansboro fairly early.  That's when the fun began.  Had we known what was in store, there would have been just enough time to continue on to Mile Hammock.  Instead, we called Dudley's and followed their instructions to the fuel dock first.  Unfortunately,  Dudley's has become badly silted in since our last visit there, and we were unable to get to the fuel dock without running aground!  Fortunately, its soft mud, and easy to spin off of.  We tried to find a path in repeatedly, but failed each time.  And it was getting worse as the tide was going out.  On top of that, the entrance to the dock they wanted to put us on was past the shoal we kept hitting, so there was no way to get in!

So now we were in a bind.  There was no longer time to get to Mile Hammock, and we knew from past experience that there was no good anchorage south of here before then.  Our only hope was to go into Swansboro harbor and look for a dock we could use (the anchorage there has large currents and poor holding).

Casper's marina was closed (again!) with Hurricane damage to the docks.  The Swansboro town docks were damaged, but the damage seemed to be confined to the fixed docks, with the floating docks mostly intact.  There's about 10 slips there, and a few boats were tied up.  So in we went.  Although the floating dock was in fine shape, the shoreside facilities and restaurant were trashed, and still in the early stages of repair.  Nobody was around.   We figured we'd hang here unless somebody showed up and threw us off!  Fortunately, that didn't happen.   Only two of the pedestals on the dock had power, so we stayed disconnected for the duration.

Shoreside Facilities Destroyed

Docks Damaged

Swansboro was hit pretty badly by flooding from Florence, and they are slowly rebuilding.  But small towns like this don't have much funds, and this limits what they can do.  Big strips of shops were closed, empty, and trying to repair and repaint.  Only a few shops and one or two restaurants were open.  We walked the town and went in a couple of shops that were reopened.

Mermaid Sighting in Swansboro

Clearly, the ducks by the dock were used to handouts from the restaurant patrons.  They immediately surrounded Joanie looking hopeful.

Food???!!!

Tomorrow, we'll try and get all the way to Carolina beach and take a slip in the state park, but it's an ambitious distance, and everything has to go just right to make it before dark.  Our backup plan will be to stop at Wrightsville Beach and anchor there.

Life is good.