Thursday July 21, 2011

77°06.731’ W

34°40.798’ N

Dudley’s Marina

Swansboro, North Carolina

Our luck continues to hold with the weather! It’s hot but beautiful and a little windy!

Leaving Surf City

Pink!



Camp Lejeune



Camp Lejeune



Before departing the marina we inquired if the ICW was closed due to training exercises at Camp Lejeune. The dock master told us if we didn’t hear the bombs going off we should proceed ---- so off we went. A few hours later when approaching the Onslow Bridge that needed to open for we could proceed we were hailed by the navy to not proceed any further until the live fire exercise was completed. As we were proceeding closer to the bridge to anchor for a few hours and waiting for the ok to proceed, we noticed a convoy of half tracks off to one side of the canal. With in minutes we were entertained with the sound of machine gun fire and heavy artillery off in the distance. While at anchor I noticed a structure in the brushes close to the canal bank that I couldn’t recognize. After we hauled the anchor and proceeded a hundred yards closer to the bridge we saw that it was a radio outpost with tents set up and marines busy at work. 

Along the ICW



Onslow Bridge



The bridge opened and we were told to move to a location up river secured by navy patrol boats and wait for the ok to proceed. It wasn’t long before we were cruising through a10 mile stretch within an active training area with a lot of activity on both sides of the ICW. As we were exiting the control area we heard the US Navy secure the ICW due to live fire exercises. I must admit - it was the high point in our day!



Tonight we are secured to a face dock at the Dudley’s Marina, exposed to wind and tidal currents! I don’t think it’s going to be a pleasant night of restful sleep!