Windy.com

We woke up Sunday morning and the wind had still not abated.  This storm hung out in the ocean for 48 hours!!!   During that time we had wind coming from the northeast and hitting us on the stern above 30 mph sustained with gusts of 40 – 45 mph.

This is the screen shot from Windy.com at 8:00 AM on Sunday. Keep in mind that we had already had these conditions for 36 – 48 hours previous.

 

This system just kept churning out there– just off shore –forever.  We have heard this storm called several things:   Nor’easter, depression, ocean storm and even hurricane; although, it was not a hurricane.  What it was, we aren’t sure, but it sucked!

Topsail Island had begun placing 2.2 million cubic yards of sand on the beach as part of its beach management plan.  We saw where it had been added to the dunes and also saw the parking lot where the heavy equipment was located.  That work, however much they had dumped, appears to all be washed away.  There was an actual step of sand half way down the way to the ocean on the beach–this morning, during an extremely high tide, you could see that the sand step was gone.  Many of the wood deck walkways down to the beach were washed away or damaged too.  Dee, the marina owner said she has never seen a storm like this hang out for so long!  A highway North of Topsail Island is closed as the dunes were breached and sand and water covered the road!

We drove South to Wrightsville Beach on Sunday to tour a small museum.  The building itself was an actual beach house moved off the beach to preserve it.  It was rather large, not 4 rooms like my grandparents’ cabin, maybe 7-8 rooms on one level.  It’s too bad the young curator didn’t take more interest in her job! She didn’t have much to offer about either the building or exhibits.  We read that there are very few of these original beach houses left with large homes taking their place.

This area is comprised of several small islands and it’s history is rich.  There was a railroad trolley system that went from Wilmington out to the beach.  There were separate cars, called “beach cars” going to the beach homes, beautiful hotels and resorts in the early 1900’s.  None of it remains although the names are used throughout the town.  We saw Lumina Road named for the Lumina Pavillion built in 1905 by the Tidewater Power Co., and named for the 1000s of lights outlining its facade.  This building had 3 levels of games and activities–a dance hall and a movie screen in the surf!

 

A fire in 1934 destroyed over 100 buildings including the Oceanic hotel but it didn’t move to the south end thus sparing the Lumina.

Hurricane Hazel hit Wrightsville Beach, at high tide and with a full moon, on October 15, 1954, destroying about 200 houses and damaging 500 more.  Hazel continues to be the only Category 4 hurricane to make a direct hit on the North Carolina Coast.  The wind gusts were up to 150 mph and 30′ waves battered the coast.  The storm surge was 17′.  There was a post outside the museum that showed the storm surge heights of various tropical storms and hurricanes  Hazel’s mark towered over us!  This post was made as an Eagle Scout’s project.

‘We walked out to the ocean inlet on the beach; it would have been really a nice walk on a nice day!  It was not a nice day.  The surfers were enjoying it though.   We plan on coming back to this beach in February.

November 18

Monday morning, Quiet!   The wind is finally gone but it is a gray day.  We will begin getting the boat ready to pull her tomorrow morning.  We are told that many do not have their boat winterized when leaving it here, but with the fluky weather, we’re going to have it done.  Better safe and all that…….

The morning began by watching an unprepared couple leave the dock in their 36′ Catalina Sailboat and come back about 15 minutes later.  They ran it aground; actually, they went through the area where the foundation for the old swing bridge used to be and ran into whatever the contractor had left there. Probably concrete and rebar. They did not follow the markers out to the waterway.  Lesson – never cut the corner on these channels.  They then went under the high bridge in the wrong spot.  They hit stuff there as well.  The bridge channels are always clearly marked and have fenders/pilings forming a pathway.  The woman thought the boat was sinking but when asked if they had checked the bilge, she said there was always water in there !!  They had just purchased the boat in Beaufort and this was their first marina stop.  Apparently a few issues were had in Beaufort too.  They were lucky a Tow-Boat US happened to be in the area and stopped them from running into a bridge.  We learned they are out there with no navigational equipment only an iPad with no internet connection.  Hope he’s a good chart reader — hope he has charts because we also learned they were “going out” meaning out in the ocean and not down the ICW.  When they left here the 2nd time, they were told to follow 3 other boats out of the marina.  Whew, glad we’re not out there!!!  The consensus is that this will not end well…..

We are watching a steady stream of boats going down the ICW.  Lots of big ones.  People for many miles were sitting still during this storm and now the rush is on!  Apparently many of the larger boats are being delivered South by hired Captains.   We are happy not to be part of this mass.

Tuesday, November 19

Moving day!  We spent the morning doing last minute preparations and getting a pump out.  Hard to believe we’ve been here for over a week.  Hard to believe at the beginning we were basking in the sun!  A foggy morning, grey skies.  We are good with our decision to stay here and pull the boat.  Traveling in this weather would not be great and everyplace will be crowded or full due to the large backup of weather delayed boats!  Fortunately our friends made it to Charleston already so they are ahead of the pack and out of the dreary weather.

Even with the last few days of horrible weather, we are looking forward to our return to Surf City.  Joe didn’t get to the trailer bar yet !!