Carolina Shore - Ocean, Seafood, History & More!

[scifan57]

Airlie Gardens - Afternoon Visit After My Walk

Airlie Gardens is just a few minutes from the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge off Wrightsville Beach, so about a 10 minute drive for us. We love to visit every other year and there are earlier posts w/ plenty of pics in this thread, but yesterday I took a bunch more w/ some new images. A little history quoted below (from link - much more there).

One of my favorite parts of the walk is seeing the magnificent live oaks - the so-called Airlie Oak is thought to be over 400 years old (probably a youngster when Jamestown was established in 1607?). The Bradley Creek Pier is another favorite w/ plenty of explanatory signs discussing the tidal creek and the flora and fauna - this time an egret was wading. There are many other sites and gardens to view - another highlight this trip is Susan's new friend on the bench below, and the yellow-bellied sliders are always a joy to see sunning on the log. Dave


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Live oaks don’t grow where I live but on a trip to San Antonio in 2013 I saw a large one at the Alamo. It was large enough that it had metal poles helping to support the branches.

 

[giradman]

Live oaks don’t grow where I live but on a trip to San Antonio in 2013 I saw a large one at the Alamo. It was large enough that it had metal poles helping to support the branches.

Yep, live oaks are common along the Virginia & Carolina Coastal areas and then further south extending across the lower Gulf Coast States into much of southern Texas, as shown in their 'range' map below (same Wiki source as quote). Interestingly, the 'species' name is after Virginia despite its much wider geographic distribution. The limbs often extend horizontally and in the older, larger trees are quite heavy necessitating vertical supports from below, as you mentioned - the curved and horizontal arcs of these huge limbs were favored by yesteryear's ship builders which required less work in forming the lower shapes of the ship - a good example is the use of 'live oak' in the construction of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), as we've discussed before, I believe. BUT 'in person' these old live oaks w/ their Spanish moss & resurrection fern are just magnificent - I never tire of seeing these trees repeatedly. Dave

Quercus virginiana, also known as the southern live oak, is an evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States. Though many other species are loosely called live oak, the southern live oak is particularly iconic of the Old South. Many very large and old specimens of live oak can be found today in the deep southern United States.(Wiki Source)

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[giradman]

Carolina Beach, Shuckin' Shack, Carolina Beach State Park, & Cameron Art Museum

On our second full day, we drove down to Carolina Beach for lunch at the Shuckin' Shack (ate there last year - see pg. 11, post #101 for more details) - shared a dozen oysters sourced locally from Beaufort, NC (just north of us). After lunch, we re-visited Carolina Beach State Park (see more discussion and pics on pg.3, post #25 from 3 years ago). The park has a variety of trails (see map - did trails in black rectangle) and is most famous for the 'carnivorous plants' - the most representative example is the Venus Flytrap, which is found only in this area of southeastern NC (and northeastern SC), and is endangered of becoming 'extinct' in the wild (if interested, check the link).

We did the Flytrap Trail and saw a beautiful 'Pitcher Plant' (pic below) but NO Venus Flytraps - on weekends, there are ranger-guided tours, maybe our next visit. Then headed toward the marina on the Cape Fear River - finally, on several portions of trails back to our car - probably nearly a 3-mile hike - pics below are from various portions of these trails and several from the marina and Cape Fear River - after we drove back toward Wilmington but stopped at the Cameron Art Museum to see several new exhibits - next post. Dave
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[giradman]

Wilmington Museums - Cameron Art Museum

Our last activity after a visit to the Carolina Beach State Park, was a short drive back toward Wilmington to the Cameron Art Museum. Wilmington has a variety of interesting museums, most in this LIST - we've probably been to a half dozen over the years, and several on numerous times - a favorite is the Cape Fear Museum on Market Street - love the large model of an 'early' Wilmington and also the narrative and visual depiction of the Battle of Ft. Fischer - not on our list this time, but the first two pics below.

The Cameron Art Museum attracts us when special exhibits are being held, which this time are described in several of the screen captures below: 1) State of the Art/Art of the State - NC artists were asked to bring in a single work w/i a 24 hr period - a total of 657 works were displayed w/ a wide variety of techniques; the items were arranged to virtually cover the walls w/ free standing displays also - a dazzling appearance in the exhibit hall; and 2) Created by Light - Photographs from NC Collections - over 100 photographs dating from 1887 to 2016 from eight institutions in NC - an assortment of old & modern, B&W and color, mixed media, and various techniques (the digital ink-jet prints were spectacular). Below just 4 photographs seen at the exhibit - the last by Ansel Adams has been one of my long time favorites.

We have one more full day and plan to drive into downtown Wilmington - not sure what our activities will be, but the subject of a few upcoming posts. Dave
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[giradman]

Well, a bonus post - the ocean is just more active today, so tried a 10 sec movie on my camera and just uploaded to YouTube - the sound of the sea is easily heard in the condo - quite soothing! Dave

 

[giradman]

Burgwin-Wright House & Cape Fear River Cruise - Out Last Day Activities

In the morning, we relaxed in the condo and watched (and listened) to the ocean - then headed out for an afternoon of the two activities above. The Wilmington Historic District is large and impressive w/ many buildings included (see quote & source below for a list). Three houses that warrant a visit are the Bellamy Mansion (topic of previous posts in this thread), the Edward Latimer House, and the Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens, the latter which we visited today (may have been our first time?).

The Burgwin-Wright House is one of only a few colonial structures remaining in Wilmington - construction begun in 1770 on the ruins of the city jail dating from 1744 - the ballast stone foundation remaining from the burnt down jail was used for the foundation. In 1937 the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina purchased the Burgwin-Wright House for $21,000 and restoration efforts began soon after (link above) - otherwise the house was meant for demolition to be replaced by a gas station - MY GOD! If visiting this historic city district, see this house and beautiful gardens. Many pics below, mainly my own (inside images w/o flash, so not great - enlarge pics w/ writing to improve readability, some fun facts). Dave

P.S. Could not upload over 20 images - last 4 in next brief post, sorry.

The Wilmington Historic District is a national historic district located at Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina. The district encompasses 875 contributing buildings 38 contributing sites, and 3 contributing structures in the historic core and surrounding residential sections of Wilmington. The district developed after Wilmington was laid out in 1737, and includes notable examples of Queen Anne and Bungalow / American Craftsman style architecture. Located in the district are the separately listed City Hall/Thalian Hall and Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse. (Source)

Built in 1771, the Burgwin-Wright House is the only structure in Wilmington, North Carolina from the colonial era open to the public. Built for merchant, planter and government official John Burgwin, the house today offers a unique opportunity to view a fine example of Georgian architecture and experience what life was like during pre-revolutionary Wilmington. All rooms are furnished with 18th and 19th century antiques and showcase hundreds of objects. Built on the original walls of a former city jail, circa 1744, the house retains many vestiges of its previous incarnation such as outdoor and sub-basement jail cells and a freestanding kitchen house with a massive hearth. Occupying two-thirds of an acre, the colonial style gardens consist of seven distinct areas, including an orchard with pomegranate and fig trees, a kitchen garden and a rose garden.(Source)

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[giradman]

Burgwin-Wright House - last images (jail remains and gardens) - ALSO, click on the previous text images for better reading, if interested - Dave
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[scifan57]

Burgwin-Wright House - last images (jail remains and gardens) - ALSO, click on the previous text images for better reading, if interested - Dave
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It would have been a very shortsighted travesty if this house had been replaced by a gas station.

 

[giradman]

Hi SciFan.. - you're so right in your comment on the Burgwin-Wright House - the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America has saved and led to the restoration of many historic sites (for those interested, check the two link given). The North Carolina Branch was founded in 1894 and its state offices are above the kitchen of the B-W House, shown in my previous posts. Dave

The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America is an American organization composed of women who are descended from an ancestor "who came to reside in an American Colony before 1776, and whose services were rendered during the Colonial Period." The organization has 45 corporate societies and over 15,000 members. The national headquarters are at Dumbarton House in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The organization was founded in 1891, shortly after the founding of a similar society, the Colonial Dames of America (CDA). The main difference between the two is that the CDA was created to have a centrally organized structure under the control of the parent Society in New York City.(Source)

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[scifan57]

Historic buildings are not the only thing lost because of short sighted thinking. Here’s an article about the FIRST Los Angeles subway system. https://gizmodo.com/90-years-ago-the-los-angeles-subway-was-born-in-this-l-1744653992

 

[giradman]

Historic buildings are not the only thing lost because of short sighted thinking. Here’s an article about the FIRST Los Angeles subway system. https://gizmodo.com/90-years-ago-the-los-angeles-subway-was-born-in-this-l-1744653992

Thanks for the link - was aware of its past existence but knew little of the history - interesting article w/ some great pics! Dave

 

[giradman]

Boat Ride on Cape Fear River - Wilmington Waterfront - Port of Wilmington

Downtown Wilmington ends on the banks of the Cape Fear River - shops, restaurants, carriage & boat rides are readily available - last year we took the boat company shown below (first pic) and rode north (previous posts in this thread) - this time we picked another boat for a 60 minute narrated tour which first headed north w/ great views of the Wilmington waterfront, a Coast Guard ship, and the USS North Carolina, a famous WWII battleship (see several pics - one older one from web before restoration equipment obscured the view of the ship - also quote summarizing the ships achievements).

The tour boat then headed south and highlights included a colonial house (moved to site and dating from the late 1700s), passage under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge (a steel vertical lift structure), and a look at the Port of Wilmington, an important one for the area but certainly not one of the larger United States ports - some description quoted below and plenty of interesting pics, e.g. a large 'wood pulp' pile, several huge ships (Finland and Hong Kong origin), and gigantic cranes used for a variety of purposes, such as container movement, petroleum products, and other commercial items. Dave

BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA - Imagine you are at sea, searching the sky for WWII enemy aircraft aboard the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, a heroic ship and her crew that fought in every major naval offensive in the Pacific during WWII, earning 15 battle stars. At the time of her commissioning on April 9, 1941, the battleship was considered the world’s greatest sea weapon. Armed with nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA proved a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines. A tour of the ship provides information on the ship's history and a look into the life of the ships' crew during the war and more. (Source)

The Port of Wilmington is strategically located on the East Coast of the United States within 700 miles of more than 70% of the U.S. industrial base. Recent and ongoing improvements to regional and national highway networks make surface transportation supporting the Port of Wilmington superior to neighboring ports. And CSX Transportation provides intermodal rail service with best-in-class transit times, as well as daily service for boxcar, tanker and general cargo services. The Port of Wilmington is one of the few Southern ports with readily available berths and storage areas for containers and cargo. Specifically, it offers terminal facilities serving container, bulk, breakbulk, and ro-ro operations. It offers a deep 42-foot navigational channel, nine berths with 6,768 feet of wharf frontage and four post-Panamax container cranes. Modern transit and warehouse facilities and the latest in cargo management technology provide a broad platform for supporting international trade to the fast-growing Southeast U.S. market. (Source)

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[giradman]

Cape Fear Memorial Bridge

Just some more discussion of the iconic Wilmington bridge - the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge was completed in 1969 and will soon be 50 years old! Some facts in first pic and quote below; North Carolina's only 'vertical lift' bridge (see pic w/ a Coast Guard masted ship passing underneath the raised bridge). The bridge is rusting, requires expensive maintenance, and will need replacement in the near future - well, the proposed project is called the Cape Fear Skyway (last pic - check link for HIGH COST and location details, if interested). Dave

The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is a steel vertical-lift bridge in North Carolina. It carries US 17 Business/US 76/US 421across the Cape Fear River between Brunswick County and New Hanover County. It also carried U.S. Route 74 until that designation was shifted to the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge. It features a lift span that can be raised 135 feet (41 m). The lift span is 408 feet (124 m) long. (Source)

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[giradman]

Oysters - North Carolina Resurgence

For those reading this thread who may be visiting the Wilmington area, seafood is certainly one of the main eating attractions - so, just a list of the restaurants we visited this time (changes on each return): 1) Boca Bay Restaurant; 2) Ceviche's Panamanian (first visit); 3) Chop House (first visit); 4) Shuckin' Shack (lunch Carolina Beach); and 5) Brasserie du Sol - Boca Bay Restaurant & Brasserie du Sol are repeated returns.

Susan and I shared a total of five dozen oysters (raw) and from 8 different locations (Gulf Coast, New England, Virginia, and North Carolina), BUT what was unexpected this time were the number from coastal North Carolina, i.e. 5 different locales, including Stump Bay & Beaufort - this was a thrill for us and is a reflection of the shellfish restoration efforts being made in the state and along the entire east coast of the United States - SO, if an oyster lover, there are now some surprise local offerings!

Below, just some initial pics on North Carolina oyster industry - finally, our favorite dinner (saved to the last night as we intended) was at the Brasserie du Sol - our usual start is a shared salad and then a shared shellfish tower, i.e. Plateaux De Fruits De Mer, as seen in the pics below - a three tiered tower loaded w/ the items listed - the dozen oysters were 3 types, 4 each from North Carolina x 2 & Connecticut Long Island Sound - we may have to return in the spring and repeat the dinner! Dave
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[giradman]

Hurricane Florence Now Devastating the Carolina Coast and Moving Inland Toward Us!

Hurricane Florence has been stalled along the Carolina coast and dumping historic amounts of water (measured in feet) causing massive flooding, power outages, fallen trees, and property damage. Virtually all coastal communities in North Carolina are affected - many of which have been discussed in this thread. Landfall was Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington (we were planning to visit in a few months?). Pics below of a number of the towns flooded, including historic New Bern.

The storm is heading inland and will impact us in Winston-Salem mainly today and tomorrow and will also cause coastal damage along the South Carolina coast - Myrtle Beach being affected now. We are expecting wind (likely 20 - 30 mph w/ gusts) and 3-6 inches of rain (just hard to predict) - our main worry will be basement flooding and possibly falling trees - still have power and hoping for the best. Dave
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