June 14th to June 23th, 2009 - PRICE CK, BUTLER ISLD, CASABAH CK, WRIGHTVILLE BEACH, SWANSBORO, S. RIVER, PUNGO CK, TUCAHOE INLET & NORTH RVR.

We "speed" up the Inter Coastal Waterway (ICW) on our way to NYC. The only place we got off the boat in this segment was at Swansboro, a small but quaint town. We treated ourselves to dinner out. We lost our depth sounder transponder in this section and had to do the last leg not knowing the depth. A VERY nerve racking job in this narrow section of the ICW. I was straining to see every marker and Sandra was glued to the navigation computer. Thankfully both the marking system and charts are excellent here and we made it, without having to use TowBoat US.


We saw many, many eagle nests in this section. Almost every navigation marker had one, often complete with one or two chicks.


Barges always get the ROW, under the "double tonnage" rule, if nothing else.


Very interesting "Pink Flamingo" home on the ICW.

The last of the "Pontoon" type of opening bridge on the ICW. The footings of the new fixed bridge that will replace it are under construction.

We encounter our first fog in many, many months at Casabah Creek.

Beast on the boat. A dragon fly hitches a ride.

The only lock we encountered in the ICW. Very tame after the Panama Canal.