*********Carolina Beach Memorial Day Weekend 2008********

[greenseaman]

I'm not sure if I'm gonna make it... I hope so. I guess I'll wait and see!

[BillWright]

So who we got? Brock, Charleston+J**p friend, French on Monday maybe, Jeff maybe during the day.
That it? Two FjCs an 80 and a Jeep?


Hate they've closed off the interior. Is it the same at Ft Fisher? Is there nowhere around there to play in the sand? Ah well, I've not been to the beach in a while. And I love Carolina Beach the town.
b

[charleston]

Make that two FJ's and one White 80 and a few hundred jeeps and chevy's. Are you all right with going all the way down to 19 and 20 or would you guys prefer the first outhouse position 11 & 12?

Dustin

[BillWright]

If I don't find you at 11/12 I'll look at 19/20. I guess I just look for the outhouses. Or are the markers visible by moonlight?

Changed tires today and washed off some Tellico/URE/Gulches property and a lot of pollen, pecan flowers and mildew. I am loaded and locked. I'll be leaving Greer SC 1730hrs tomorrow with a big smile and an nose for salt air. I'm not sure I've been to the beach since Isobel, when I did a hurricane party on Pleasure Island then hauled away my old Holiday Rambler after the wind died down.
b

[charleston]

Sounds good, we will play it by ear as well and find the best spot. I posted my cell up earlier so if you want to call when you arrive I dont mind.

I have a fire pit that I am bringing but I am very limited on space for wood. If you have any room for wood please bring as much as you can. My truck is already loaded with over 500lbs of crap but we should be very comfortable for three days on the sand. It sure would be nice to have the budget of a Saudi or Kuwaite as they really know how to camp in the sand!

Have a great drive!

[BillWright]

No wood here. I could have cut some with some warning. Or gotten some at my (wife's) house in Travelers Rest. If I remember I'll put my chain saw and splitter back in the truck before I leave in a couple of hours. Just got up for water and to pee.
If we have a boat we can run up the ICW to the pirate party and bum some from them. I assume they still do the big party on Masonboro Island.
Also the campground I used to have my RV at by the inlet on the mainland used to have some wood for sale.
If not . . . fire logs from Wal-Mart and charcoal, maybe find some driftwood? Frankly I assumed with all the other rules fire would probably not be a feature.
I wrote down your number. I'll call when I hit NC, that should be about 1.5 hrs out
b

[Brock]

I cant go....wifes mother did her final chemo treatment this week and could not finish it...and had a reaction. i need to stay around area with her so she can check up on her mother for a few days and carry her for bloodwork tomorrow. sorry guys...i hope to make the next event.

[charleston]

No problem Brock, take care of her!

I have some 2x6 that I am stuffing in the car and if I see some for sale on the way up I will pick some more up.

Pirate party sounds fun!

[BillWright]

This was great fun, I'm glad I went.
Dustin aka charleston was still waiting up for us so we could find them when we finally got there around midnight Friday night (several delays, another story). That was a good thing because there were LOTs of folks there.
Carolina Beach's Freeman Park (good name) is about a mile or 1.5 mile run of empty beach at the north end of Pleasure Island. This is the tip of Cape Fear at the north side of the mouth of the Cape Fear river, that is about 10 miles SE of Wilmington. It is open (for a $10 fee) for camping. You'll need a 4wd, the sand is VERY soft and deep in places.
On this weekend is was loaded with people, most weekends it's pretty barren I hear. We were camped right on the beach, just a few yards above the high water mark. You can also camp back by the dunes if you want away from the beach. Very cool sleeping right on the beach in your tent or even out on the sand.
Like I said there were lots of folks there; military, collegiates and various assorted rednecks well represented. You saw about every kind of 4wd rig you can imagine from stock Durangos to lifted big-tired J**ps. Much partying, the people watching was a gas.
Dustin and his posse came well prepared with a pavilion, grill and lots of food. We ate well in good company.
Great place for a weekend at the beach; cheap and because of the 4wd requirement somewhat restricted as to who gets out there. The CB police were very present but polite and non-harassing. They just kept a lid on severely obtrusive and unsafe behavior, and minimized obvious underage drunkeness.

Jeri and I were most glad we went and thank c'ston and his krew for an enjoyable and memorable weekend.
b

[charleston]

Driving on the sand was not as bad as I imagined but many folks, even with their 4x4 managed to get stuck right at the entrance. Monday was the worst, when we were leaving, two vehicles were high centered at the entrance with traffic onto the beach backed up for half a mile. I did notice two built older Toyotas, one a mini and the other a 4 runner pulling j**ps out left and right.
It was a pleasure to be able to enjoy the weekend with Bill W and his sidekick. We are looking forward to our next adventure with Upstate Cruisers and the lowcountry posse!

On our way home, we decided to take the Ferry over to Southport which was well worth the extra time.

[Trollhole]

Very cool. Very cool indeed.

[waldrtw]

Wish I would have read this post last week!!! I was going to go Monday but I decided not to go. Let me know next time you head to CB.

Tim

[BillWright]

Originally Posted by charleston

Driving on the sand was not as bad as I imagined but many folks, even with their 4x4 managed to get stuck right at the entrance. Monday was the worst, when we were leaving, two vehicles were high centered at the entrance with traffic onto the beach backed up for half a mile.

Indeed the very worst was right at the entrance. One time I was coming back through the entrance* and almost put some Demello Offroad tattoos on the back end of a Land Rover. Moron went screaming up the hill then bumped to a stop and started backing up. I found my horn just in time to save his sorry a$$. Then he charged ahead again and as we proceeded he bogged down again and left me right in the deepest softest stuff. He got out but I had to lock up my rear and go through throwing huge sand roostertails. Then as we went up the beach he was boggin and slewing around in the ruts so I had to pass him charging through the softer stuff on the side. Land Rovers, phew!
*The reason I had to go out was to retrieve some rescue gear I had loaned some good ole boyz that were trying to pull a full size GMC p/u with a little Durango. They were stuck behind our camp. Dustin went back and advised them to air down. I loaned them my superyanker and some shackles, they were trying to pull the big truck with a chain, purt near to yanking some bumpers off. After they aired down and I taught them how the superyanker worked they managed to get on out. I could easily have towed them out but I thought it better to give some subtle rescue/recovery lessons with the experience. I followed them out to get my equipment back then had the dance with the Land Rover.

Fun weekend. Bonnie did great. I had replaced the Swampers with the original Dunlop street tires and never even aired down. What a truck.
We'll definitely make that trip again. Jeri wants to go back in October, that's her favorite beach month.
We'll make a thread when the time gets near.
Meanwhile next planned outing is another whee lurp run, probably Labor Day.
Or any other trail weekend anyone suggests. I'm missing it.
b

[BillWright]

Hey, I just noticed. I'm a Mud addict. I guess I just went over some milestone.
Anybody know what that gets me? Do I have to join a 12 step program?
I'll post the same question on the UC board.

Yota on, troops.
b

[NCjeff]

Im glad you guys had a great time. Very sorry I didn't get to come down there and say hello. I locked my keys in my office all weekend, and everybody was out of town who could let me in.
Oh well, real glad to hear you guys enjoyed the beach.

Jeff

[charleston]

Originally Posted by NCjeff

Im glad you guys had a great time. Very sorry I didn't get to come down there and say hello. I locked my keys in my office all weekend, and everybody was out of town who could let me in.
Oh well, real glad to hear you guys enjoyed the beach.

Jeff

We will do it agian soon, I just got a bunch of kiteboarding gear and will want to go camping and kiting up there this summer. I will keep the board posted.

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

Can I tag along next time you guys go back to CB?

[charleston]

Originally Posted by 4x4CPOSEADOG

Can I tag along next time you guys go back to CB?

Absolutely!!