9 Bridges and a Rock Pile ICW Day #17

posted by Ardys

Sunrise at marina wall along ICW

Very busy day on the ICW yesterday.  I decided to share an example of what is written in NORTHERN STAR's Ships’ Log as we travel.  The following will be verbatim from our Log for Nov 25th, 2015, with the exception of anything in (italics and parentheses) which is information I added for the reader's clarification.  You can see that we are concerned about getting under the fixed bridges. Our mast is 63 1/2' tall.  The water level varies throughout the day with the tides.  So, at low tide, we may have an easier time getting under some of the bridges, but have greater risk of running aground in other places. 

Houses facing Atlantic Beaches just after sunrise

11/25/15    ICW> So. Carolina-> Barefoot Landing    Day # 17

STM 311.1 46 F at 0630.

Up early to catch right tide under several bridges. 

Listening for the "ping" sound of antennae hitting struts

Sunny!                  Departed South Harbour Marina at 0715 with Kintala in lead.    (Kintala is a boat that we met in Annapolis.  We caught up to them a few days ago).

Houses, houses, houses.......mostly big houses, a few more modest.

           0735 Bridge #1   64 F Oak Island Bridge - OK (Fixed 65’ clearance)

Could this be a potential retirement home on land for Carl and Ardys?

               0820 Bridge #2 Middleton Ave. Bridge (Fixed 64 1/2’)

               Favor Red side after G33 — no issues  (“Favor” - stay closer to the side with the Red Mark.  Shoaling to mid-channel).

One of seven fixed bridges that day

                  Hug Red markers after G39

White “hulking” birds?    (I drew a quick sketch of bird so I could look it up later.  I think it was a Cattle Egret).

Bridge won't open with sustained winds of 25 mph.

Lockwoods Folly Inlet (named after Mr. Lockwood who built a deep draft boat at his home in that inlet but could not launch it because the inlet was too shallow,)

STM 320    Favor Red side at R46 Lockwood Folly Inlet - WHEW  (There are several shallow crossing bars where small rivers come through. We were very relieved after making it through here).

STM 323    0920    Bridge #3 Holden Beach Bridge - Fine! (65’)

Yet another abandoned shrimping boat.  Been there long time.

                   Sunken shrimp boats following

STM333     1115    Bridge #4 Ocean Isle Bridge (I stopped writing comments about the bridges if we had no trouble getting under it).

                

Sunset Beach

Miles and miles of houses with very long docks.  Low tide here.

STM              1154    Bridge #5   Mannon C. Gore Bridge (Fixed - 65’)

STM 347      Bridge #6   Little River Hwy Bridge (Fixed - 65’)

                     

        Bridge #7   Little River Swing Bridge (called on Channel 9 to request bridge operator to open bridge)

Can anyone tell me what this is?

STM 349      1342

STM 349.3   Bridge #8   Rob’t Edy Pkway Bridge

Worst —> 349 - 352   ROCK PILE  (notorious narrow 10 mi section of ICW with rock ledges extending into the channel from both sides.  We went through at low tide and could see most of the rocks).

Best to radio ahead to alert other boats before entering "The Rock Pile."  

                     Bridge #9   Barefoot Landing Bridge Swing

Bridge operator's house on swing bridge.

STM 353.7   1510    Barefoot Landing Marina - portside

                    

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