Carolina Beach State Park Marina to Dowry Creek Marina

Kim’s Korner:
From Carolina Beach State Park, we stopped overnight at Swan Pointe Marina. This marina had recently changed hands and did not have the personality that we had heard about. We had planned on anchoring outside Camp Lejeune but we were tired as we hadn’t slept well the night before and the wind had picked up so were glad just to have a place to tie to and get some rest without worrying about whether the anchor was drifting in the middle of the night. The next morning, we left in water that looked like glass – a definite change from our arrival the day before – and headed north to Beaufort, NC.
I have found that I like Beaufort, NC very much. We arrived on a Saturday after dodging weekend boaters. After getting settled, we found our way down to the waterfront district which was bustling with people and had a delicious meal at The Front Street Grill. Afterward, we walked the streets enjoying all the old historic homes – some big, some small but all were well maintained, many with pretty gardens and patios. It was interesting that the riverfront area was full of life and a street away was quiet and peaceful – both really nice. During our stay, we saw wild horses on the uninhabited islands where boaters gather at low tide with folding chairs to enjoy the water and sunshine. I found myself overwhelmed at the Beaufort Olive Oil Company but after sampling more than my share, I finally made a purchase. If you are interested, check it out at http://www.beaufortoliveoil.com . We met some very nice people while we had breakfast at the Beaufort Cafe and enjoyed fresh shrimp right off the boats at Homer Smith’s Dock and Marina where we stayed.
We are still learning about how the tides, currents, and wind all work together and how they can affect a slow moving boat like ours. We normally average about 8 MPH and a strong current can slow us to almost 2 MPH or it can speed us up to 11 MPH. Currents and the wind can also make a larger body of water rough and choppy. Inlets, bays, and sounds (basically all the same thing – openings to the ocean) can also make travel interesting. It can get stressful at times trying to decide if it’s safe to go or best to wait. We have weather apps we look at it but when they all say something a bit different, what do you do? Our boat does not handle waves from the side very well – I mean, she can handle them – it just makes for a very uncomfortable ride. We zig-zagged across the Neuse River due to it being choppy and having some rollers hitting us on the side but the zig-zagging worked so we are learning.
We stopped overnight at Whittaker Pointe Marina in Oriental, NC and left early in the morning to continue on to Dowry Creek Marina near Belhaven, NC. We were given the best place in the Marina as our aft deck looks out onto a virgin creek. It seems like we are anchored here and are the only ones within miles – very nice. We have good wifi for a change but no cell coverage – lol. Storms and winds are expected tonight and tomorrow so we plan to wait here until the weather cooperates again. We made it into Belhaven last night for an absolutely wonderful meal at Spoon River Artworks and Market. I wondered about the word “art” being in its name but after seeing how the food was presented and how it tasted, I totally understood that this food was definitely a work of art. This is one of those unique restaurants you find only a few times in your life where the whole meal makes for an unforgettable experience rather than just another good meal. The owner explained to us that she and her husband had just finalized that day the purchase of additional buildings on the block where they plan to expand their kitchen, have a separate room for private functions as well as a store for their homemade items such as jams, jellies, and bakery items. I expect their endeavor to be extremely successful!
Carolina Beach State Park Pictures!
Beaufort NC Pictures!
Belhaven NC Pictures!