North Carolina

Since it was not going to be a beach day, Three Sons docked on the west side of the ICW at Holden Beach Marina. Not much on this side except of Provision Company (PROCO) Seafood Restaurant which we had heard good things about. We went for a long bike ride exploring the neighborhoods on this side and stopped at Food Lion for some more produce.

We were unsure of our next destination, but after looking at the weather, we decided a beach stop was the right course. In order to maximize beach time, we took a quick run to Carolina Beach and picked up a mooring ball. Once again, we are traveling on the ICW which has and many stops and attractions along the way, including historic towns, scenic waterways, and beautiful beaches. However, because the waterway is a man-made and maintained waterway, it does require careful navigation and attention to water levels, depth, and channel markers. This segment was one that need particular attention. We had to time the opening of two bridges and transit in between.

Not a typical stop, but we made a point to pull into Hamstead to visit the new residents of North Carolina Ken and Pam! We had a wonderful visit with some very gracious host. They picked us up, gave us a tour of their new community and cooked us a delicious dinner. Their new community and home are beyond beautiful! We enjoyed their company and meeting their new neighbor, Greg. Pam even sent us off with homemade banana bread for breakfast. Not sure if they know what they started, but Hampstead will now be a regular stop!

Our time in Belhaven was productive, exciting and fun but, we were ready to get back on the water. Since we removed parts, replaced hoses and repaired pieces of the engine, we a little hesitant pulling off the dock. Like always, we had a few plans for where we would stop. The engines were happy, the waters calm and the weather bright and sunny, so we ended up going for a long ride and dropping the hook in Beaufort, NC.

Three Sons got a face lift! She has been good to us and deserved some spa days, so we had a planned stop in Belhaven, NC. She was hauled out and we lived “on the hard” for 16 days while she was pampered. It was the first time she was hoisted using a travel lift and the whole process was interesting to watch.

Three Sons has crossed the sound twice and our third trip was definitely the worse! The Albemarle Sound is the largest freshwater sound in North America. Originally this water way served as an essential transportation route for the first colonists. The Albemarle Sound is 60 miles long and 15 miles across at its widest point covering an area of 450 square miles.

We discovered North Carolina is a big state but a beautiful state. Made quite a few stops on leg 2 in NC and had our first mechanical breakdown.