The Bridges of Harlowe Canal

Bridge 2
(KiwiBird paddling,  photo by SandyBottom)

The 2011 WaterTribe NC Challenge is coming September 30.  Hurricane Irene left her marks on the 100mile course:   fallen tree limbs in the Harlowe waterway,  large floating / semi-floating debris in the rivers and sounds,  scrambled pound nets in Core Sound, and a very healthy crop of hungry mosquitos.  As recently as a week ago there was also a large shrimp boat parked in the center of Harlowe Creek.  And... no doubt the shoals are not exactly where we left them a year ago. 

The 2009 NCC featured clouds, light rain, hard rain and high winds.  The 2010 NCC served us hot sunny weather with light and vanishing winds.  It seems the 2011 NCC may have its own unique challenges.  Think of what to say when the Coast Guard asks why you have a chain saw in your boat.


The Three Bridges Video

Here is a brief  (1 min 27 sec) look at the three Harlowe bridges before Irene.

Most of these photos are from a cruise by DSWB and SOS from Oriental to Beaufort and back on May 21-22, 2011.  I took them with my mobile phone,  which explains the low resolution.  

National Bridge Inventory database

The Harlowe Waterway  versus  the ICW on Adams Creek

On that cruise, for a change of pace, we decided to enjoy sailing north on the Harlowe waterway. Considering how much quieter and more scenic the Harlowe was relative to the the ICW (Adams Creek, ICW Canal, Core Creek), we regretted using the ICW to sail south. No boat wakes and barges on the Harlowe.

Oriental to Beaufort via the ICW on May 21 (red)
Beaufort to Oriental via Harlowe on May 22  (blue)

Oriental and Beaufort

We launched the 'Dawn Patrol' from this well-kept public boat ramp at about 9:30am Saturday May 21 and returned at 3:00pm Sunday May 22. The boat ramp is in a great location for access to Oriental's harbor and the Neuse River. I would recommend it. Special thanks to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Great public boat ramp in Oriental

Out of Oriental we crossed the Neuse, sailed/motored down the ICW south-bound to Newport River, and entered the Beaufort area. We sailed past sailing replicas of the "Nina" and "Pinta" near Beaufort's Smith Airport. The drawbridge operator said he liked our "sharpie".  In Beaufort we stayed docked on the waterfront overnight. 

Arrival at Beaufort Docks

Summer Practicing and Some Are Not

On arrival in Beaufort we met some WaterTribe friends there:  DogsLife and his son Mike were arriving at  "Checkpoint 1".   They completed the entire NCC 100mile course.  Well done!

DogsLife and son Mike practicing for the NC Challenge

At checkpoint 1 of the NC Challenge

North via the Harlowe

Sunday we sailed north on the Newport River and entered the Harlowe waterway  (Harlowe Creek, Harlowe canal, Clubfoot Creek).  The Harlowe is a beautiful  route for boats that can pass under its three fixed bridges.  Relative to using the ICW,  we spent less time inland and more time on the Newport and Neuse Rivers.

On this short cruise the winds were often light or vanishing, the weather hot, and we were on a limited schedule so we did use our 2hp Honda motor --especially on the ICW and under the Harlowe bridges. 

The winds finally kicked in as we crossed the Neuse River.  Flying into Oriental on a fast spinnaker run hitting 10 knots was a happy ending.
 


Great dinner Sunday evening:  Little Italy in Bayboro, NC