As I already said, lighthouses attract us, even if it means making a detour from the route. This time we decided to visit the oldest of North Carolina’s lighthouses, Bald Head Island Lighthouse, first lit in 1817. As its name suggests, the lighthouse is located on Bald Head Island, part of Cape Fear. The island itself is unique – besides the lighthouse, there are numerous cottages on it, which are a favourite vacation spot for many who come here by ferry. There are no petrol cars on the island and only converted golf carts and bicycles serve as means of transportation. Despite the rainy weather and the lighthouse being closed to the public, we were able to enjoy the beauty of this island – its completely southern-looking trees, sandy beach with dunes, historical artifacts and green lifestyle.
A full rainbow in the ocean!Oak Island Lighthouse, built in 1958, is 47m tall and replaced the old Cape Fear Lighthouse.Approaching the Bald Head IslandEntry to the inlet in the inner harbourDocked in the Bald Head Island MarinaCautions near the dock, who wants to swim with alligators?:)Christmas funThe board road through the marshesSpanish moss hanging from live oak treeUnfortunately, the Museum and Lighthouse were closed Bald Head Lighthouse, known as Old Baldy, completed in 1817, is the oldest lighthouse still standing in North Carolina. The octagonal brick tower is coated with stucco and stands 34 m high, A stone plaque above the entrance identifies the builder as Daniel S. Way, and the foundry for the lantern room as R. CochranLooks like a real tropical forestCottages all around the IslandBald Head Island is nationally recognized for its sea turtle nesting activity.Dunes and the LighthouseIt is accessible only by ferry from the nearby town of SouthportФ new group of vacationers has arrived, they are being transported to cottages in electric vehicles with passenger trailersResidents drive modified electric golf cartsGolf carts can be rented by visitorsAnd plenty of bikes for rent too!There is free internet on the island, but old-fashioned communication is also availableDirection signIlluminated OceanologGoodbye, Bald Head Island!CTD cast near Bald Head IslandA plot of CTD cast data – a very dynamic salinity range (28g/kg at the surface to 33g/kg at the bottom), low light transmission (backscatter attenuation range (0.04-0.05)m-1) and high concentration of organic matter (35ppb at surface to 15ppb at the bottom), sourced by the Cape Fear River, which estuary is here.
Headlands with lighthouses have always fascinated us, and when we discovered that a brief detour along our route would grant us the chance to visit the uniquely adorned Cape Lookout Lighthouse, situated in a well-protected bay, we enthusiastically decided to dedicate the entire day there before Christmas. How else could one find peace and joy than by dropping anchor at the edge of the earth, beneath the rhythmic flashes of a beautiful lighthouse? Walking along endless sandy beaches, we observed the diverse animal world engrossed in their daily pursuits of obtaining their “daily bread,” or the catch of the day. Our old friends, the Northern Gannets, elegantly pierced the water’s surface with their dagger-like bodies. Pelicans skillfully caught fish with wide-open beaks, and dolphins orchestrated mesmerizing group performances, driving schools of fish in coordinated leaps. The sandy beaches showcased an array of shells, each boasting amazing colours and shapes. Dunes stood as silent guardians over this entire natural spectacle. And yes, we began to feel the warm breath of the Gulf Stream—for the first time, we opted to forgo the services of our diesel heater; 18 degrees Celsius was already warm enough for our evenings. It was an extraordinary day that gave us a joyful feeling of unity with the surrounding nature, offering peace and warmth on this radiant Holiday. Merry Christmas!
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is most renowned for its distinctive black-and-white diamond pattern. Erected in 1859, this towering structure stands at 50 meters tall and boasts a visibility range of an impressive 19 miles.CTD cast near Cape LookoutA plot of CTD cast data
The morning after the night’s anchorage turned out to be completely quiet – the mirror-like surface of the Alligator River reflected both the sky and the trees on the banks, and movement along it bore some kind of surreal image of inverted space. After completing our morning CTD cast, we set out on a journey along the mirror and wondered – why Alligator River? The name seemed to come from the resemblance of the river’s outline to an alligator, but in fact, these animals are present on its banks. We didn’t see any alligators, but again, there were plenty of eagles and other birds. At the end of the day, we docked at the R.E. Mayo Seafood Marina – a fishing boatyard that offers docks for transient boats and charges such a minimal fee for its services ( $16 for our boat) that it beat the prices even of Canadian dock fishermen, who charged $20 per boat. In addition, the marina store had a good selection of seafood at attractive prices.
CTD castPlot of CTD cast dataFind a dog and a hunting biteA pelican – the first sign of the South!Approaching R.E.Mayo Seafood MarinaDocked in the R.E.Mayo Seafood MarinaPirates!Night sky
