Sunny Days: Southport

This is a perfect little seaport village at the mouth of the Cape Fear River with perfect weather—plus the price is right. We are anchored in the heart of the historic port in Robert and Kay Creech’s front yard (this basin can hold about 2-3 boats and is a 3 minute dingy ride to shore. We took the bikes to shore and plan on spending Memorial Weekend here. We rode a couple of miles to their Walmart to restock and in the process rode through the city and saw some neat restaurants and shops. The Southport Maritime Museum is within walking distance and there we learned about Stede Bonnett (the Gentleman Pirate—so named because it seems he was a wealthy planter and decided to embarrass his family by going into pirating they haven’t come up with another reason). This Gentleman bought a ship and hired his crew (unusual) and learned the trade from Blackbeard. He was hung in Charleston in 1718. We also saw exhibits on The Frying Pan Light boat that helped with running the Yankees blockade of NC ports during the Civil War- a mobile lighthouse. The Eatery proved to be a great place for an early dinner (and the doggy bag for lunch the next day). Saturday we went to dinner at around 8pm and were told there was about 2-21/2 hour wait at the many restaurants. We went for ice cream—one of the best dinners ever—and were snoring before we would have gotten a table. Great live music came from the venues, had a great new drink—3 Sheets to the Wind (Malibu Coconut Rum, NC Cranberry Wine, NC Blueberry Wine, equal parts with a skewer of fruit—easy Sangria and yummy), but the best thing is the weather. Sea breezes take on all new meaning to me—the high has been about 78 degrees and the low about 60 in the middle of the night—add the light breeze and it is just perfect. Andy and Mary have vacationed here for many years—now we see why. Radio is from 106.3 The Dude?!?