Before our move, our investigations covered a lot of territory, but we eventually narrowed our search to Carteret County for some good reasons. The area met our needs and offered us the opportunity to be on the water at a reasonable price.
I spent our first winter here examining our boating options. In early summer 2007 we bought a boat, and we have been enjoying the area's waters ever since.
We actually don't take many long trips mostly because there is plenty of water to enjoy within a few minutes of our house. Part of my dream was to be in a place where it was possible to continue working but be able to grab a few minutes on the water when the weather conditions are right.
The nice thing is that we can boat most of the year. While an early summer morning trip out Bogue Inlet is a definite delight, there is nothing wrong with a quick trip like I took with a couple of neighbors on Tuesday October 19, 2010.
We all had some chores to do in the morning so it was noon before we pulled away from the dock behind our home in Bluewater Cove.
The boating weather was less than perfect because of some surprise winds, but it was warm and already almost eighty degrees. We have enjoyed great fall weather this year so having a warm day in late October was just continuing a pattern.
We spent about three and one half hours on the water and really enjoyed ourselves. Of course we were still all dressed in the uniform of the coast, shorts and tee shirts.
With a beautiful coastal river at my back door, the ICW only ten minutes from my dock, and Bogue Inlet less than twenty minutes from the house, there is plenty to explore. We sometimes wander the waters behind Bear Island-Hammocks beach. The Point near Emerald Isle is one of our favorite haunts.
A couple of times each summer I venture out on the river to catch a sunrise. It is not unusual for me to go out three or four times in a week just to catch a sunset on the White Oak River.
If it sounds like being on the water is a big part of our life, that is no accident.
Of course the best time of year on land or water here on the Southern Outer Banks is fall.
Sometimes that last gasp of summer seems to stretch for too long, but this year fall came as expected
One of the reasons the best of seasons is fall is that it is a time when you can fully enjoy the waters of the Crystal Coast with no crowds unless you happen to run into a school of spots that have been found by the fishermen. Also there is no lingering August humidity to cause heat problems during the day.
Fall makes for some memorable afternoons on the water here along the Southern Outer Banks. If you have never visited us in the fall check out my Swansboro, Emerald Isle, or Beaufort travel guides.
There are still some weeks to enjoy a visit before Jack Frost finds us. The fifteen day forecast shows only one day where the evening temperature drops to 39F. Eleven of the days have temperatures in the seventies, and I see at least one day has a forecast that we will make the eighties.
Come on down and enjoy our fall and find out how much fun you can have on the water is this time of year.
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