We departed St James Marina, just south of Southport, NC @ 0800, turned right and headed for Myrtle Beach, SC. There is a sameness about this section of the waterway that is almost boring, and, at times, depressing. Lots of developments springing up. Unfortunately, they are all the same. Names like Waterway Acres, or Canal View, are commonplace, as are the narrow, tall, and pastel houses. Are all the retired folks that locked into this sort of lifestyle? Its' enough to give me the shivers. There were some pretty spots populated with older homes that had a bit of character & individuality; bless 'em! So much for venting; lots of bridges along this leg. Most can be cruised thru easily unless your boat height is greater than 65'. Some are swing bridges, where the entire bridge span pivots to open up a channel for the boat to go thru. Woe unto the boater that gets too close to the end as it swings open. The most interesting bridge was the pontoon bridge at Sunset Beach, NC. Sadly, it is being replaced by a modern 65' arch. I've tried to show it closed & open. 
Interestingly enough, this is the only remaining pontoon bridge on the AICW .
Apparently there are still some of these in existence on the Gulf Coast waterway. Watching the crane & tugboat crews at work was a special treat. Tons of equipment and materials moved about at the flick of a lever. It is amazing to me. How about flying golfers; (not gophers, Chuckie, golfers). This a photo of the tram cars that transport the little ball smashers across the AICW. Dedicated bunch, these golfers. The wing-like appendages are actually the golfer's bags attached in racks outside t
he car body. Cool idea. Then there was the section of the ICW known as the Rock Pile . Extremely narrow
and edged with nasty rock ledges on both sides. If one meets a tug & barge coming the other way, one better be really quick with the OMG turn around maneuver, or very proficient at backing up. All in all, it was a long day. We were left with the feeling that we had already seen a lot of this before. In spite of that, the construction on this waterway is an amazing feat. It was, after all, not planned as a scenic pleasure trip up the US coast, but as a means of getting wartime supplies from one point to another; undamaged. The trip has been an eye opener in so many ways. Catch you later.
Interestingly enough, this is the only remaining pontoon bridge on the AICW .
Apparently there are still some of these in existence on the Gulf Coast waterway. Watching the crane & tugboat crews at work was a special treat. Tons of equipment and materials moved about at the flick of a lever. It is amazing to me. How about flying golfers; (not gophers, Chuckie, golfers). This a photo of the tram cars that transport the little ball smashers across the AICW. Dedicated bunch, these golfers. The wing-like appendages are actually the golfer's bags attached in racks outside t
he car body. Cool idea. Then there was the section of the ICW known as the Rock Pile . Extremely narrowand edged with nasty rock ledges on both sides. If one meets a tug & barge coming the other way, one better be really quick with the OMG turn around maneuver, or very proficient at backing up. All in all, it was a long day. We were left with the feeling that we had already seen a lot of this before. In spite of that, the construction on this waterway is an amazing feat. It was, after all, not planned as a scenic pleasure trip up the US coast, but as a means of getting wartime supplies from one point to another; undamaged. The trip has been an eye opener in so many ways. Catch you later.
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