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EVER WANTED TO GO SHARK TOOTH HUNTING?

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:26:07 GMT

Ever Wanted To Go Shark Tooth Hunting?

Any easy to read, "click on the chapters" to navigate to what you want to read about, with more than you will likely ever need to know about Shark Tooth Hunting to get you started! Just click on the "Shark Crossing" to get started!

METAL DETECTING; A SURE ADVENTURE AT TOPSAIL ISLAND

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:48:51 GMT

Have you ever gone on a metal-detecting adventure? One can hardly describe the thrill of unearthing something that no one has ever seen. What about discovering an artifact of no apparent value yet you still can't contain your joy! And here at Topsail Island, you would never lack ground for metal detecting.

FIRST LET US DIVE INTO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY!

This much-desired activity must have started at some point, right? It is believed that the first attempts at metal detecting were made to locate bullets and metals in gunshot victims and the like.

Professor Heinrich Wilheim Dove, a German physicist, made the first model of a metal detector around the 1840s. He called it the "differential inductor". Later in the 1870s, David Edward Hughes, an inventor and music professor, made his experiments and modifications to Heinrich's invention to create a device that could identify counterfeit coins. Over the years, more people like Gustave Pierre Trouvé and Alexander Graham Bell made contributions and developed their prototypes.

Alexander Bell is particularly known for attempting to use his model to detect a bullet shot into the back of American President James Garfield. It was futile because the metallic bed springs interfered with the process. Further modifications came about by the contributions of many ardent inventors and physicists including Gerard Fisher and Albert Einstein.

Metal Detecting as a hobby didn't come about until the early 1970s when the very low frequency (VLF) metal detectors were introduced. These were made with a high sensitivity to very small objects and therefore served a wide range of functions. They could be used to eliminate metallic waste buried in piles of sand. Miners also took advantage of them to find gold or other precious metal nuggets.

Today, myriads of people use these detectors daily in the hope of finding something super cool like large gold nuggets, priceless relics, or even just a lost ring.

David Chao | @Flickr

METAL DETECTING AT TOPSAIL ISLAND

Metal Detecting at Topsail Island is sure to hit a soft spot in your heart. Given Topsail's rich history of Pirates and lost treasure, there could be many things yet undiscovered, beneath all this sand.

Remember the "Gold Hole"? It is a supposed bottomless hole at Topsail Beach Town, where many believe that the notorious Blackbeard, a.k.a Edward Teach hid his treasure. Legend says that Blackbeard loved and visited our shores often—so much that he gifted this island his most prized possession: his treasure! A story has been told that treasure hunters visited the "Gold Hole" in the late 1930s to search for the treasure. They dug and scouted the area for about four years. But one morning, without a handshake or a goodbye, they were gone. What did they find? Who knows for sure? Well, we don't, but we do hope that they found some hidden treasures, and we also hope that they left behind some treasure for us!

TOOLS AND TRICKS FOR THE TRIP

If you are a first-time metal detectorist, don’t worry. It is pretty simple and you only need a handful of equipment for your adventures. First, what is metal detecting without a metal detector—your best friend is your metal detector and you best get one that works well in areas with salt water or one with specific beach settings. Most of your adventures may be at the beach and the saltwater conductance may interfere with metal detectors that are not suited to it. A hand trowel or a good sand scoop will be your wingman (sometimes a shovel may be necessary). You would need them to dig up and uncover anything you detect (you also need them to fill back the holes). Like any treasure-collecting adventure, you would need a bag or bucket to stash your findings. Wearing a strong pair of boots would help protect your feet and legs from insect bites and other kinds of injury. Very importantly, you should at least take with you a cool bottle of water, a refreshing drink, and some great snacks; you would need them for all that hard work.

One of the best times to go metal detecting at the beach is after a storm. During a storm, the great waves stir up all kinds of artifacts and maybe even treasures that once lay at the bottom of the sea. Some of these artifacts and treasures were from shipwrecks of the past, especially from the days when the sea was lavish in traffic. Your possibilities are endless: sea shells, sea glasses, lost jewelry, ancient artifacts, a chunk o f gold...or maybe Blackbeard's lost treasure!!!!!

METAL DETECTING SPOTS

If you are not sure where to start detecting, how about the beach right in front of our motel? Many people visit this pristine beach for the crunch of the sand, the caress of the breeze, and the songs of the waves. However, even with many people, the beach is rarely crowded due to its large size. This makes metal detecting very worthwhile because—you guessed it—with its many visitors, there’s a good chance of discovering something worthwhile.

Most of the beaches in North Carolina are also good places for metal detecting. But before you start your adventure on any beach, it will be wise to check with the authorities to confirm that you have the right permission. Some common areas include Carolina Beach which is near the Carolina Beach State Park (do not detect on the State Park; stick to the beach!!), Kitty Hawk’s Beach, Caswell Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. You will also find many others during your trip.

David Seibold | @Flickr

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT METAL DETECTING?

One important thing to know about metal detecting is that different lands and countries have different rules for this activity. Before you pick your detector and go about your scout, you must be aware of the conduct codes and the community guidelines that pertain to the specific area. Generally, you would hardly run into an issue but you also don't want to meddle in places you shouldn't be in. At Topsail Island, you can generally go metal hunting anywhere except, of course, private property and state-protected areas.

Wherever you go for metal detecting, you should always follow these conduct codes. You shouldn't go scouting on historical sites because they are legally protected and you may end up destroying things that were meant to be protected. If you want to detect on a privately owned land of interest, you can obtain permission to do so. You should note that anything found there would belong to the owner unless explicitly stated otherwise. It is advisable to gel a written agreement to avoid misunderstandings.

If you have any waste like empty bottles and food wraps, stash them properly in a bin and not beneath the ground. You should be aware of local numbers you can call in case you dig up anything unusual like bombs, ammunition, unknown or suspicious materials. If you think you've detected something and you need to dig, dig as carefully and responsibly as you can. You don't want to damage wildlife and plants that live there. Once you've made your discoveries, don't just hop away in excitement. Turn back and fill up the holes you dug, will ya?

Pasquale Paolo Cardo | @Flickr

The thrill lies in the fact that you never know what you will find. Even if you don't discover a national treasure, you could still find treasures worth bedecking your shelves with. Have fun playing Indiana Jones for a day!

HURRICANES AND THE ISLANDS OFF NORTH CAROLINA

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:35:44 GMT

Hurricanes are some of the most interesting yet devastating occurrences in nature. They are like formidable forces that arise in the middle of nowhere and then embark on a journey to destroy everything in their path. These forces have often visited the Coasts of North Carolina and the islands off the coasts.

What Are Hurricanes Anyway?

Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that form over the Atlantic Ocean with a wind speed of at least 74 miles per hour (mph). If the wind speed of a tropical cyclone is less than 39 mph, it will be called a tropical depression, and if the speed is 39 mph and above, but less than 74 mph, it remains a tropical storm until it crosses the 74 mph threshold. How then are these looming forces formed? If you didn’t know, you're about to find out!

Tropical cyclones are formed during the late summer months (June through November and peak between August and October), when the tropical waters are the warmest and evaporate readily. Winds coming from the east cause the waters to evaporate more quickly. The warm moist air is then sucked up and moved high into the earth’s atmosphere where it begins to cool and condense into clouds as large as stormy cumulonimbus clouds. As the warm air continues moving upward, it is converted into the energy that powers the cyclone’s circular winds. The winds then cause the large stormy clouds to cluster and spin continuously around a low-pressure center called the eye. The eye of the hurricane is exceptionally calm—surprising even—and can span 20 to 30 miles. Swirling around the eye of the hurricane is the eye wall. It is formed by stormy clouds tossed around by the fastest hurricane winds. Right outside the eye wall are the Rain Bands. They are curved bands of clouds that can span several miles and they are loaded with sheets of heavy rain and sometimes tornados. As soon as a Hurricane hits land, it runs out of warm air (its fuel) and begins to fizzle out. However, because of its speed and wide radius, it usually causes a lot of damage before it eventually disappears.

Credit: Erich Schlegal Getty Images

You've probably heard of popular hurricanes like Hurricane Fran and Hurricane Hazel, but did you ever wonder how these hurricanes are named? Several years ago, the meteorologists of the United States named the storms after their latitude/longitude origin. As you can imagine, it was cumbersome, difficult to remember and, easily miscommunicated. During World War II (1939-1945), military meteorologists in the Pacific started naming storms with female names, likely after their wives or daughters. It was much easier to recall and more efficient in communication, hence, it was adopted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in 1953 for Atlantic Hurricanes. Sometime later, due to rising arguments about gender equality, meteorologists began including male names for the storms. Each year a list of names arranged in alphabetical order is developed. Then, the first tropical storm of the year would be given the first name according to the alphabetical order, and the second would be given the second name and it continues that way till the end of the year. Today, the World Meteorological Organization maintains this list. Some of the names can be repeated after six years, but the names of significant, popular, and severe storms are not reused.

How Are Hurricanes Categorized And Which Ones Are The Most Dangerous?

Hurricanes are generally categorized into five (5) using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale. The scale was developed in the early 1970s by an engineer, Herbert Saffir, and a meteorologist, Robert Simpson, to estimate the potential damage a hurricane could cause. The scale is solely based on wind speed and does not account for tornados, rainfall flooding, and storm surges. Category I has a wind speed between 74-95 mph. It is the mildest of the categories and will most likely result in a power outage for many days due to damaged power lines. It can also cause large branches of trees to snap and shallow plants to be uprooted. In 2018, we experienced a hurricane of this category called Hurricane Isaias, here at Topsail Island. We could barely sleep and only kept praying and hoping the cyclone would pass quickly. We certainly don’t want to experience any of the higher categories! Category 11 has a wind speed between 96-110 mph. It can cause roof sliding and damage with numerous roadblocks from uprooted trees. Power outages from damaged electric lines can last for weeks. Categories I and II can cause significant damage but these aren’t even the major hurricanes.

Category III hurricanes and upward are considered to be major hurricanes because they are a lot more devastating. Category III wind speeds are between 111-129 mph. Even well-built and well-framed houses can sustain significant damage from these hurricanes and many large trees can be uprooted completely. Electricity and water outages can last for several weeks after the storm passes. Category IV hurricanes have a wind speed of 130-156 mph. Most of the areas damaged by hurricanes of this category may be uninhabitable for weeks. Category V hurricanes are the most catastrophic. They have a wind speed of 157 mph or more. Damaged areas would likely be uninhabitable for months till interventions and reconstructions are carried out. Hurricanes with the highest wind speeds are quite destructive but the most concerning aspect of a hurricane is the Storm Surge. Storm surges occur when the winds from an approaching hurricane push water toward the shoreline and cause severe flooding. Sometimes they can take water up to 50 feet above sea level and can extend up to a hundred miles.

Have you heard of the Winter Nor’Easters?

Winter Nor'Easters are a kind of storm that can sometimes be more devastating than a hurricane. The winds that form these storms usually come from the Northeast, hence the name. They mostly occur in New Canada and Atlantic Canada but they occur here in North Carolina sometimes. They come frequently in the colder months (September to March) and can cause snow storms, heavy rain with flooding, and beach erosions. If a Nor'Easter is coming your way, prepare several blankets with lots of food and water in reserve.

Blizzard caused by a Nor’Easter. Meredith Nierman / WGBH News

Hurricanes In North Carolina

In the span of 172 years (1851-2022), North Carolina has been affected by three hundred and eighty-seven (387) storms. Three hundred and three (383) of these were non-landfalling storms, while eighty-four (84) were direct landfalling storms. The Carolina Alley, a part of the Tornado Alley between Sandhills and the Carolina Coasts, is notorious for the frequency of massive storms and tornados that pass through it. Three of the most popular hurricanes that paid not-so-friendly visits to North Carolina are Hurricanes Hazel, Fran, and Florence. Hurricane Hazel hit the coasts in 1954 as a Category TV eyclone. It was devastating; crops, livestock, and the properties of many were lost. Hurricane Fran hit the coasts in 1996 as a Category III cyclone. It was determined to cause quite some damage and it sure did. Many places were devastated. Trees, cars, houses, and buildings were damaged, some beyond recognition. One house was split into halves and thrown toward the ocean. By the time Fran had passed over, the coasts of North Carolina were not a pretty sight. Hurricane Florence was a Category I hurricane that hit the coasts in September 2018, but it traveled slowly for days, allowing it to pull enough water to cause storm surges and severe flooding—Wilmington was entirely cut-off. Infact, some of the roads are still submerged today.

Hurricane Florence as a category 1storm near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Credit: NASA

Monitoring of Hurricanes

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) monitors, predicts, and forecasts all tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins around North America. They forecast all information regarding tropical cyclones including the track, intensity, size, and structure of the cyclones, as well as storm surges, rainfall, and tornadoes associated with them. Tracking and monitoring of cyclones are primarily done through the use of weather satellites but ships, buoys, and radars may sometimes be used as well. It is important to always look out for news, updates, and warnings regarding tropical cyclones during the hurricane season. It is extremely important to heed all the safety measures that are given to protect both you and your properties. Simply taking caution can go a long way in preventing severe damage.

But Do These Storms Pose Any Advantage?

While storms and hurricanes can be devastating and annoying, they do serve important purposes in their own way. They help to regulate climate and stabilize the earth’s temperature by moving heat energy from the equator to the poles. They also help to flush out weeds and waste from lagoons and smaller waterbodies nearby. One exciting thing about these storms is that seashells and sea glass from the sea bed are resurfaced and deposited at the beaches. For this reason, you stand great chances of finding rare and beautiful sea shells and sea glasses if you go beachcombing after a storm. Who knows? You may even find an undiscovered treasure or artifact unearthed by the rollicking waves.

Hurricanes aren’t very friendly but the monitoring systems for Hurricanes these days and the prediction of their path help prevent severe damage, especially to the lives of people. If you are in North Carolina, either for a holiday or because you live here, we strongly recommend that you habitually look for updates from NHC, NASA, and the World Meteorological Organization. If you are up-to-date on the forecasts and you follow all the safety measures, you shouldn’t have much to be concerned about.

BIRD-WATCHING AT TOPSAIL ISLAND

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:03:52 GMT

Chit…Chirp! A Hummingbird, was that? Kikikiki…Khahaha! Now, that certainly was a Laughing Gull. Birdwatching at Topsail Island can surely give your trip an exciting twist. These beautiful creatures in nature just don’t cease to give you the giggles. If you’ve never gone birdwatching, then this is your cue. Read on and find out how bird-watching can inspire juicy memories from your time at Topsail Island. It will interest you to discover the origin and history of this heartwarming activity.

HISTORY OF BIRD-WATCHING

It was about the 1880s when bird-watching became a trend. Back then though, it was known as bird-hunting because it was more hunting than watching. The citizens of Great Britain were the first to practice it, then the United States followed up not long after. Interest in this activity grew rapidly and soon enough, citizens all over Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, and older countries of the British Wealth adopted the new hobby. The bird hunters of the time used guns to shoot down flying birds and many times it was only when they had the bird corpses lying in their hands that they would identify unfamiliar species.

Bird-hunting was an enjoyable sport but as you can imagine, it is not much fun to discover a rare species only when its corpse is lying in your arms. Today, technology has helped transform bird-hunting into bird-watching (or birding) through the use of optical aids like binoculars, so that birdwatchers can easily gaze at all the awe-inspiring creatures and discover new species without endangering them. This makes things much easier and a lot less gory!

A Cormorant | Flickr @Mjeedelbr

SPECIES FOUND ON TOPSAIL ISLAND

Seriously, there are over a hundred species of birds that are known to visit our Island. The Gulls are the most common. You’d find many of them cooling off in the sea while some of them wander along the beach probably looking for the next person to steal a snack from. You should hear the Laughing Gulls. They sound like they are laughing at you, especially after stealing one of your French fries. The Herring Gulls move in large flocks and love to sit on fishing boats. The Great Black-Backed Gulls are the largest known gulls. They are much bigger than others and have thicker bills than the rest. They trot about proudly with their blackened backs amid their white feathers. The Hummingbirds are also common. They love to prance about the gardens as they sing sweetly between the flowers. The adult male Ruby-throated hummingbird is named so because of the lovely red hue running from its black chin and all along their throat. The Double-Crested Cormorants are beautifully black-feathered with a radiant orange color at the base of their bill. They can swim like ducks and dive underwater like eagles to catch fish. These pages may not be enough to list all the species that visit the island, but here is a handful of other birds we believe you’d be really excited to find: The Great Horned Owl, Ospreys, Purple Martin, Brown Pellican, RedWinged Blackbird, Carolina Wren, The Bald Eagle, The Fish Crow, and The Blue Jay.

The Blue Jay

WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR IS YOUR BEST SHOT?

You can find birds all year round but spring, summer and early autumn are the most favorable times. If you want to see many species and many birds, look out for spring and fall migrations. Spring migration is when the winter visitors bow out and the summer migrants swarm in. In North Carolina, it starts in late March, peaks in April, and slows down in May. During Fall Migration, the summer migrants then make way for the return of the winter visitors. It runs from August through October. Many birds go into hiding during winter but there’s still quite a number of species that aren’t fazed by the chill. Some of the beautiful species you would find frolicking in the winter are the Northern Cardinals, the Red-Breasted Nuthatches, the Tufted Titmice, and Downy Woodpeckers.

WHAT TIME OF THE DAY FAVORS YOU?

In the early hours of the morning, as the sun rises and the insects start to crawl, the insectivorous birds gear up and get ready to feed. You would also hear them sing sweetly as they establish their territories and attract mates. If you like to identify birds by listening to their sweet songs, the early morning favors you best. As you rise in the morning, you would be greeted by the serenade of the avian orchestra. For nocturnal birds like the owls, mockingbirds, and night herons that are more active at night, they start to emerge in the late evening to feed, then they pull an all-nighter and get their rest in the morning. If you are setting out for particular species, you can research their active hours and decide what best suits you. If you’re birding in the winter, the afternoon is your friend on sunny days. The winter birds like to bask in the sun for sunning. Sunning is when they take advantage of the solar heat to warm them up and their feathers help to trap the heat for colder days.

Northern Cardinal | Flickr @Billtacular

TIPS, TRICKS, AND TOOLS

Birding at Topsail Island is easy and worthwhile. You can find birds pretty much anywhere on the island. You can observe them from flexible positions: your car window, at the beach side, in a garden, an open field, and even through the windows and balconies of our motel.

Birds love to drink water so you would easily find them where there is water. They are attracted to birdbaths and backyard baths. When you’re at the beach side, they contribute to the spectacular view as they cool off in the ocean and keep their eyes peeled for the next unknowing fish to prey. One trick that many birders use is to set up feeding stations that attract birds. If you want to see particular species, it will be helpful to learn about their diet. This will make your feeding stations more effective.

Bird-watching can be done with your naked eye but to make the most of your birding experience, we highly recommend using visual enhancement devices like telescopes and binoculars. Be sure to get good binoculars with high power, clarity, and sufficient brightness. Having a camera with you will be perfect and exciting, preferably a lightweight and waterproof one. Who doesn’t love taking great photos of these wonderful creatures! A bird book is very handy so you can easily refer to it. It’s thrilling when you’re able to identify various species from your handbook.

While birding, you should generally avoid noon times, harsh weather, and places crowded by people. At noon time, the birds take a rest before they proceed with their activities so at this time, you are less likely to see them and you’d probably burn out in the heat of the day while waiting to find them. Birds avoid harsh weathers so you wouldn’t find them in storms or high winds but once the storms pass, they re-emerge. They also prefer places with less human activities so they won’t be disturbed by them.

The best tip of all is to get along with local birders. First of all, the more the merrier (if you’re not the shy one, that is). Secondly, they will be happy to share information with you and help you make the best of your birding.

Purple Martin | Flickr @Carla Davis

A BIRDER’S HEART-WARMING STORY

Ishika Ramakrishna, an Indian birder and blogger wrote at The Wire Science :

“Bird watching was my first real inlet to the world of wildlife. When you grow up in a city like Bombay, wildlife is restricted to the birds that inhabit your extremely urban neighborhood…The only accessible beings in my immediate surroundings, albeit least represented on the macho wildlife shows, were birds… The parakeets, especially, were exciting to me, because they added unusual vocalizations and flashes of green to my otherwise grey-brown-black world of city birds.

Then, around 2007, the most wonderful thing happened. A small green bird with bright red and yellow markings on its face, and a black outline around its eyes showed up on a dying tree trunk outside my bedroom window. It had a tough little beak and it began pecking away at the soft, detritus wood of the old dead tree. It was the first time I saw life on it, and oh what life it was. I watched for days as this bird chipped away at it, deepening dents into crevices and ultimately, holes. Soon, all I saw of my colorful buddy was his beak and eye when he peered out of his well-dug tree home. I dipped into my father’s old Book of Indian Birds to find that this fine creature was a Coppersmith Barbet. I copied down the adjoining paragraph of Salim Ali’s description in my notebook and then ticked off all the behaviors I had observed with a different inked pen. That barbet—I’d like to believe it was the same one—returned each year just a week or two before the first rains hit. He became my weather guide and good omen at the start of each new school year.

Dipping into that bird book opened up a whole new world for me. I found value in my love of watching birds when I realized that others too were just as fascinated—fascinated enough to write books of descriptions and behaviors. I decided that that’s what I wanted to do, even if only for fun.”

An Osprey diving for its lunch. | Flickr @David Hess

What more can we say! If it wasn’t already, bird-watching may just become your new hobby. While you’re at Topsail Island, be sure to enjoy some birding time. It’s fun, absolutely cheap and can be done from anywhere. Just sitting on the balcony of our motel, you can hear them tweet their love songs!

SEA GLASS AND SEASHELL HUNTING AT TOPSAIL ISLAND

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 07:37:08 GMT

Did you ever watch movies like Indiana Jones or The Mummy, which featured treasure hunters who overcame many obstacles for just one thing— a boatload of treasure! You even imagined yourself undertaking such great adventures but when you began to think of the perils involved, you heaved a big sigh and decided too just stick to watching them on the TV! Ha! If that has ever, been you…don’t worry, we’re bringing you good news!

Seashell and sea glass hunting might be just what you need. It's as exciting as any treasure hunting activity, it's much less dangerous and costs almost nothing. You don't need to thrust yourself through thick forest trees, plunge yourself into the deep or climb great mountains to get yourself these lovely treasures; they're right at the beach! Any ocean-facing beach is sure to have seashells and since we have plenty of those here at Topsail Island, you'll be in for an exciting vacation when you're here. To top it all off you can take back a treasure chest of your hand-picked sea shells and sea glasses to remind you of your memorable adventures at the beach. For a fulfilling shell hunting venture, we want to offer you some helpful tips. What's more? We'll be featuring some of the most attractive shells you've probably never seen before.

Along the pristine beaches of Topsail Island are thousands of seashells, sea glasses, shark teeth, and other fantastical treasures waiting to be discovered by beachcombers and shell hunters alike. Since Topsail Island is a barrier island, the tides generously array the beach with these treasures, free of charge and twice a day! These seashells were once home to various mollusks like snails, clams and conches etc. The animals when alive would secrete proteins and minerals which would form the framework of the shell and then calcium carbonate would bind to the framework to form the crystals and... BOOM! That's how those lovely gems are formed! When the animals die, the shells are washed ashore by wave action, (there are always more shells than normal after a big storm!) and they will all eventually…many years from now, become a part of the sand. Did you know that sand from white beaches is mostly made up of tiny shell bits?!

Shelling hunting is as simple as it is fun. You only need a few handy pieces of equipment for a successful venture. Take a bucket or bag to stash your precious treasures into. A small shovel may be needed if you want to dig deeper for shells and you'll surely need it to fill the holes back up (Always remember that Turtles HATE unfilled holes on the beach and they can be very dangerous, even small ones). To prevent your feet from getting hurt, a pair of water shoes will be helpful. Feel free to download and print a shell identification guide if you'd like. You should take with you some sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses to prevent the heat from wearing you out before you even have the chance to discover something exciting. It's also important to take a bottle of water (or more!) and your favorite snacks to keep you excited and pumped with energy.

You may find seashells and sea glasses at any time of the day but at certain times the chances of finding a good number or even rare species are greatly increased. Early morning is one such time. All through the night, the tides are decking the sand with precious shells and glasses and in the early hours of the morning, in the cool ocean breeze, before the beach gets crowded, you get to see all the new shells the ocean offered. Going shelling a day or two after a storm is another time that you're sure to make exciting discoveries along the beach. The strong waves and tides from the storm pick up the shells and bring them ashore. When the waters have calmed and the tides are low, more of the beach is exposed for you to explore. Full moons also increase the tidal action at night and increase the number of shells that are brought ashore. It will be helpful to know the daily Topsail tide schedule.

You can find any kind of shell anywhere on the beach, but some parts of the beach can really increase your chances. Places like the tidal pools, around pier supports, seaweeds, and sea grass are great shelling spots. Tidal pools are shallow pools of seawater that remain on the beach when the tide recedes. These pools are likely to have shells of different sorts hidden in them, so don't overlook them even if they just look like a small puddle. If you explore the area around and under the piers at the beach, you're likely to make interesting findings because things tend to collect around there. You may have to dig deeper around the piers, but it'll be worth it. It’s worthwhile to go there before the fishing groups arrive so your chances won't be shortened. Some people avoid seaweed and sea grasses piled up ashore, however those piles tend to hide seashells—floating beds of sea grasses are the public transportation of the oceans and can carry seashells thousands of miles as they just drift along…get messy and check them out!

One place you can safely avoid looking is the sounds and protected inlets. The sounds generally lack wave action and as a seashell hunter, you want waves—they're your best friends for the hunt! You will find much less seashells in the sounds and sea glass is rare behind the protection of the islands

There are many kinds of seashells that have been discovered along the coasts of Topsail Island, some more rare than others. It’s useful to know what shells you want to find and what shells you will find when you head out on the beach. We've compiled a list of common shells that you are likely to find along our beaches— most of these pictures were taken from the beach off our motel!

The Conch

The conch shell has a characteristic fat and conical shape. Conches can grow to large sizes—up to twelve inches long—and are somewhat heavy. It's rare and it can be challenging to find a whole intact conch shell void of holes and missing parts. Take a bow if you find a whole one!

Olive Shells

The Olive shells are long and cylindrical with distinctive spirals and a long opening. They are smooth and shiny and feature dark brownish purple bands. They are small and rarely go beyond three inches but can come in all varieties of beautiful colors!

Scallop Shells

The scallops are commonly found on the Topsail Island beaches. They are mostly shaped like a broad fan which makes them easily identifiable. They come in different shell patterns. The Atlantic Bay scallop shell usually features a molted pattern with dark grey, black, or brown. Some orange, red, or yellow hues may also be noted as well. The stripes on the Calico scallop shells are more pronounced and have brighter colors of pink, red, purple, orange, and brown.

Calico Scallops (right) and Atlantic Bay Scallops (left)

The Scotch Bonnet ©Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Scotch Bonnet

The Scotch Bonnet is creamy-white on the outside with distinctive brown squares carefully arranged around it. It is a rare shell to be found on Topsail Island and it's just about two inches long, so it may be hard to find but who says you can't!

Fun fact: North Carolina named the Scotch Bonnet as its official state shell in 1965. They were the first state in the US to have a state shell. This was done in honor of the early Scottish settlers that founded the state. The shell is similar in appearance to a traditional Scottish woolen cap, hence the name.

Coquina Clams

These cute shells can come in teeny sizes. They are generally less than an inch in length. They come in a variety of colors and have a characteristic smooth, shiny surface. They are also noted for their dual shell which is attached in the center and when opened they look like crystal butterflies. If you're careful with them, you can retain the dual shells. You will often see hundreds together on the sand in the breakers…appearing and burrowing down with each wave as they feed.

The Lightning Whelk

The Lightning Whelk shells can be easily identified by their left-hand spiral. It is grayish white in color with purplish-brown streaks. Its sizes range from 4-16 inches.

Seashells aren't the only belles of the beach. Sea Glasses are also worthwhile specimens for your treasure chests. While seashells have organic components, sea glasses, on the other hand, are formed from broken glass pieces originating from broken bottles, tableware, trinkets, or shipwrecks. These glass pieces are pounded and tumbled in the ocean for years—ranging from 20 to hundreds of years—and they are chemically weathered until all of their edges are smoothed and rounded like pebbles. When “ready” or “cooked”, the glasses slick surface gains a frosted appearance. Sea glass can come in any color depending on the color of its predecessor, but three colors top the charts amongst others: white, green and brown. The white is actually clear glass that appears white after being weathered. Red and Purples are the “Grails” of Sea Glass hunting and can be quite rare.

A jar of sea glass at Topsail Beach

The fun part about it all is that you never know what you may find. You may just find a rare species of seashells or unearth a unique shape or color of sea glass. Shark teeth are also common. You can check out our Shark Teeth Identification Chart and our Tooth hunting guide on our website. Okay! You're all set for an adventurous day of beach hunting. Who knows, you may just discover something no one else has ever seen!

TOPSAIL BEGINNINGS: SETTLERS OF THE PAST ON TOPSAIL ISLAND

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 06:55:11 GMT

Topsail Island currently enjoys the company of over a thousand folks who cherish it as their home. There was once a time when the island was lonely and uninhabited. It wasn’t until about the 1900s, when the military took advantage of the unfrequented island for their operations, that settlements and civilization as we know it came to Topsail Island. So, who were the first settlers? Are their descendants still here to this day? Let’s see what we find out!

Kloudmedia / shutterstock.com

The earliest known visitors to Topsail Island who are still around today are the Tuscarora Indians. It is proposed that in the 1700s, many of the Tuscarora Indians paid frequent visits to Topsail Island. The Tuscarora were a Native American Tribe who joined the Iroquois Confederacy in 1722 to form the Six Nations. They inhabited much of what is now called North Carolina. They are sometimes called “The Hemp Gatherers” or “Shirtwearing People” ... “The Hemp Gatherers” because they grew and used the Indian hemp to make clothes, ropes, and some ceremonial objects… “Shirt-wearing People” because unlike the other Native American Tribes of the time, the Tuscarora Indian men wore shirts (made from hemp). It is said that the Tuscarora did not make permanent residency on the island because of the unpredictable weather the island was exposed to, so they spent their time here mostly fishing and hunting. Sadly, during the Tuscarora war (1711-1715), many of the Tuscarora were kidnapped and killed or sold into slavery by the British Forces. Today, the descendants of the Tuscarora survivors live in various places. Some live in Tuscarora Indian Tribe Reservation in New York. Some others live on the Six Nations Reserve in Canada with members of the other Iroquois nations, while few of them still have tribal communities in North Carolina. Beachcombers have discovered artifacts dating back to the Tuscarora visitors in the 1700s. Some artifacts have even been dated back to Prehistoric Indians. Did the Prehistoric Indians once live on our island? Who knows! If you decide to go beachcombing, you may just discover an artifact… an arrowhead maybe!

For many years, Topsail Island remained uninhabited, overlain by thick forests and coastal plains. During the Golden Age of Piracy (1650s -1720s), the island became an infamous hiding spot for pirates—Blackbeard being the most notorious and the most feared of them! Many of these pirates were of British and French origin. It is said by some that our island got its name from the topsails of the pirate ships that could be seen by oncoming merchants if the dunes were scanned properly. The Golden Age of Piracy came to an end in 1730 under the rule of King George I. Afterwards, fishermen from the mainland began to visit the island to set up their camps, and farmers began to pasture their livestock on the island. The farmers would ferry their livestock daily to and from the island to graze the nutrient-rich pastureland. Tourists also found the island to be quite an attraction for picnics and field trips. All this time, however, Topsail Island was barely accessible since there was no connection by a bridge to the mainland. There were not many people who visited the island and no settlements were established. Those who visited had to do so by boat. This changed in the 1900s after the World War II (1939-1945).

During World War II, the US Army came to the North Carolina coast and in 1940, the government set up Fort Davis or Camp Davis on the mainland at Holly Ridge. Camp Davis was a military training base for artillery units. Topsail Island was leased to the soldiers. They then built a floating bridge to grant their troops access to the island. Many antiaircraft artillery batteries were operated on the island (at present-day Surf City) both for training and seacoast defense. When World War II ended in 1945, Camp Davis was dismantled, and the Army troops were redeployed but the US Navy still had much to do on the remote island. They decided that the island could serve them as a base for rockets and ramjet engines testing. The Navy contracted the Kellet Foundation and John Hopkins University for a high-profile missile project. About two years later, they had launched over 200 missiles ranging in length from 3 to 14 feet. In 1947, a press release was issued, and the Navy revealed their ongoing projects on the island. Finally, in 1948, the experiment was moved to New Mexico and Cape Canaveral. The results from the experiments at Topsail Island tests were instrumental in future U.S jet aircraft and rocket technology programs.

One interesting fact about the missile development program on Topsail Island is that it was called Operation Bumblebee. Why Bumblebee? It was named so because, like the bumblebee insects, the missiles at that time defeated the laws of aerodynamics. It was said that the wings of the bumblebee were too small for the size of their bodies so they shouldn’t be able to fly. The same for the missiles of that time: the shape and weight of their bodies were rather large compared to their wingspan. But guess what! The bumblebees flew anyway. Call it a miracle if you may!

Permanent residency on Topsail Island only began after the military finally vacated the island. A. H. Ward, with his family, and some other likeminded people were the first families to begin development on Topsail Island. Ward was the Public Works Director and Commissioner at the time. As we can see today, they were successful, and handed down their vision to their successors. Surf City was incorporated in 1949. It was the first official town on Topsail. Tower Three, one of the abandoned missile towers from Operation Bumblebee, remains to this day near the town line between Surf City and Topsail Beach. In 1950, one of the heirs of the tower, Judge John Thomas Bland, converted it into a home. It was destroyed later by Hurricane Fran in 1996. The remains still stand today and is owned by the John Gresham Family.

Topsail Beach was the next town to be incorporated in 1963. The Assembly Building for Operation Bumblebee still stands tall on Topsail Beach. It was used by many businesses over the years; Caison Brothers’ Building Supply was one of them. Today, the Assembly Building is home to the Topsail Island Historical society and the Missiles and More Museum. The Museum holds several artifacts and images from the missile test program. The launch pad for the 200 missiles that were fired is right on the patio for the Jolly Roger Motel and the bombproof observation room is currently a part of the motel’s basement. The Breeze-Way Inn and Café was the island’s first motel; it was simply the refurbished army barracks left behind. Sr. Waitus Bordeaux and his wife ran the motel for a few years before handing over to Eunice and Dewey Justice. It later became the Breezeway Restaurant and Motel.

North Topsail Beach was the last town to be incorporated in 1990. It was once separated from the rest of Topsail Island by Stump Inlet, but it got filled in over time. The neighborhood of Ocean City was brought about by the influence of Edgar Yow, Dr. SamueL J. Gray and the Chestnut brothers: Bertram, Wade, and Robert. They had a vision to create an opportunity for local African American residents to own beach property. North Topsail Beach is famous for the many oysters in the Stump sounds.

Just landward of Topsail Island is a small island named Permuda Island, with about 1.5 miles of coastline. Archaeologic excavations on that island have provided evidence of human inhabitation dating the year 1300—they are speculated to be the Algonkian Indians. The Ashe Island is another small island just landward of Topsail. It was named after a former North Carolina governor, John Baptista Ashe.

Many connections to Topsail Island history remain today, especially regarding the military operations carried out on the island. Seven out of the eight missile towers still stand today. Tower 8, which stood at the northern edge of Topsail Island, was demolished in 1989 because it was an eyesore and many 'bad guys’ lurked around there. Towers 4 and 5 have been bought by private investors and furnished into homes available for rent.

Photograph by Chelsea Donovan

It’s amazing what the Topsail Island communities look like today. As the island developed over, more people began to relocate to the island and so Topsail Island is what it is today. Commercial development started when Operation Bumblebee was concluded, and the Navy packed up. The residents of Topsail Island live a simple lifestyle but there’s a lot to do and find here. Today, there are several luxury resorts, hundreds of beach homes, campgrounds, restaurants, and shops.

After learning all this, you just might become a Historian! If you find yourself on Topsail Island, feel free to visit the Museum and see the missile towers still standing, and then cross them off your bucket list!

THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 06:40:58 GMT

One of the most scenic attractions you’re likely to come across while touring the charming state of North Carolina is the Intracoastal Waterway. Gracefully flowing through nineteen states of the US, this massive waterway was created by both natural and man-made efforts. With an alluring scenery and a fascinating history, there is no debate against your visit to this spectacle. Questions then: How…When...and why was this beauty created? Grab some popcorn now as the story unfolds!

As the name gives away, The Intracoastal Waterway is a water route that lies within the North East and South Coasts of the United States. The ICW (as abbreviated) runs a whopping 3,000 miles from Boston, Massachusetts, southward along the Atlantic Seaboard, through the Southern tip of Florida, and then into the Gulf Coast before finally ending at Brownsville, Texas. The North Carolina Portion of the ICW commences its journey from North Landing River in the north, at the Virginia/North Carolina State Line and it continues southward to the Little River Inlet before ending its journey at the North Carolina/South Carolina State Line. As it runs the length of the North Carolina coast, it provides a passage between the mainland and some barrier islands like Hatteras Island and Holden Beach.

Illustrated by US River Cruises

HOW DID THIS IMPRESSIVE WATERWAY COME TO BE?

For several years prior to the waterway development, many traders and sea vessels had to take long trips through the Atlantic Ocean to access multiple parts of the country. As expected, these journeys exposed the ships to significant damage. Matter of fact: in the 1500s, about 600 shipwrecks took place at the Diamond Shoals alone. The Diamond Shoals are an evershifting cluster of underwater sandbars just off the Cape Hatteras coast and the Outer Banks shorelines. The sandbars are more or less hidden beneath the waves and the formation and depth of these sandbars change frequently depending on the local currents—the shipwrecks can be attributed to this. It was for this reason that some gave it the nickname ‘ Graveyard of the Atlantic .’ It became obvious that there was a need for a much safer route than the Atlantic Ocean to access multiple parts of the country. The government began to take measures to improve the country’s natural transportation routes.

In 1802, the Senate requested that the Treasury Secretary, Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin, presents a plan for transportation development. Gallatin went hard at work and created a detailed plan covering the engineering and construction costs as well as the potential benefits the country would enjoy as a result, including lowered transportation costs. He noted the potential of the inland navigation system that the country possessed—there was an existing waterway from Massachusetts to Georgia but it was interrupted by four stretches of land. Gallatin, in his report, illustrated that these four stretches of land could be dredged to create new canals, making it possible for a sea vessel to travel by rivers, sounds, and a few canals from Boston, Massachusetts to Beaufort, North Carolina, and then to the Cape Fear River. The inland navigation would then be broken by a short ocean flow but would continue within the series of barrier islands off the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia.

Gallatin reckoned that it will cost approximately $3 million to create the four canals and just about $20 million for the entire scheme. He proposed that if $2 million is set aside from the annual Treasury surplus yearly, then it will take ten (10) years to complete the vision. When he presented his plan, President Thomas Jefferson did not buy the idea. Sadly, for this reason, Gallatin’s plan was not implemented. On the bright side, his idea became a reality…eventually! The plan set for ten years ended up spanning over a hundred years! With the War of 1812 and an increased need for improved water transportation, Gallatin’s proposal was reviewed but the execution was slow. Plans to create a waterway between the towns along northeastern North Carolina and Virginia were carried out and by 1829, the Dismal Canal was completed, running through northern North Carolina and the Great Dismal Swamp. It served well as a shortcut for many sea travelers but did not accommodate large vessels so a wider route, the Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal, was created parallel to the Dismal Canal and was completed in 1859.

After the Civil War (1861-1865), railroad transportation became more rampant. However, during World War I (1914—1918), there was an increased demand for bulk cargo transportation, and water transport posed a greater advantage in hauling bulk cargo. Congress then established the Federal Barge Lines to revive the waterway and transport bulk cargo by cheaper means. The Louisiana and Texas waterway construction began in the 1920s to further expand the waterway but the final affront for completing the Intracoastal Waterway came during World War II (1939— 1945). Many merchant ships carrying supplies were sunk off the East Coast by the Germans. It became a matter of urgency to have multiple states in the US reachable from the inland. To accomplish this, a waterway was then created between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Corpus Christi, Texas. That was the last straw for completing the waterway.

The North Carolina section of the waterway was built between 1914 and 1934. Its construction was conducted in three stages. The first route was aimed at connecting Norfolk, VA, to Beaufort, NC. The second route was made to connect the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal to the North River. The last section extends from the Cape Fear River to the South Carolina line. In a short time after the completion of the North Carolina portion, its traffic became very heavy. Many merchants transported their cargo comprising mostly seafood, agricultural products, and petroleum. It also quickly became a recreational site for yachting. It was very crucial during World War II for transporting cargo through North Carolina waters without suffering the peril of German submarines waiting for the next US Ship to sink.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Intracoastal Waterway is a major part of ‘America's Great Loop,’. The Great Loop is a continuous waterway of about 6,000 miles that winds around the Eastern portion of the US and a part of Canada. It loops from the East Coast to the Gulf of Mexico and then runs back up through the central states before hitting the Great Lakes. Many recreational mariners love to travel around it and in fact, anyone who completes the Loop journey is officially named a ‘Looper’!

The Great Loop © Global Creation LLC

WHAT HAPPENS ALONG THE ICW TODAY?

The Intracoastal Waterway poses both economic and recreational benefits to the nation. It has prevented death and damage to many seafarers who would, otherwise, have been exposed to fatalities in the open ocean. Merchants today still use the waterway to transport cargo. Some large ships may still prefer to cruise the open ocean route but the smaller vessels of sea traders, recreational mariners, and commercial fishermen would rather stick to the inland. Traffic on the waterway is especially heavy during fall and springtime. ‘The Fall Migration’ is a term used to describe the dazzling array of sea vessels, both small and large, progressing southward to escape the winter in the North. In springtime, one can enjoy another spectacular view as these sea vessels trail their way back northward.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CRUISING THE ICW

Today, most of the ICW cruisers are recreational sailors and you can be one of them. There few things you can note to help you have an enjoyable time cruising the ICW. If you do not have a boat, there are kayak rentals and fully-guided boat tours available to you. Unless you want to, you don't have to tour the entire North Carolina ICW route to make a memorable trip. Many visitors, fishermen, and locals take day trips to certain regions to enjoy the view and thrilling fishing experience. If you want to go fishing, the Albemarle sound is a great spot for angling. There is a variety of species you are very likely to find: Black Drum, Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, Butterfish, and even flounders, mullets, and sheepshead.

It is a great idea to keep the local towing numbers at hand while cruising. You should always travel on days with good weather and light winds to enjoy a smooth ride, however, if unexpected events like mechanical breakdown, running out of fuel, or engine overheating, occur while you’re on the move, just ring the towing numbers and they will be more than happy to help. There are several stations set up by the US Coast Guard and private companies like Boat US and Sea Tow. Feel free to ring ’em if you need ’em!

INCREDIBLE ATTRACTIONS AROUND THE ICW

There are many towns and attractions worth taking a stop to explore while cruising the ICW. Along the way, you will see many restaurants and shops with great food and souvenirs to give you a memorable experience. Towns like Currituck, Jarvisburg, and Point Harbour are well-known for their signature barbecue joints. They also display fresh farmers' markets, vegetable and fruit stands, and golf courses. Along Dare County's East Lake, you would find wildlife reserves and refuges like the Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve, and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. Lake Mattamuskeet offers an incredible bird-watching view. In fall and winter, thousands of tundra swans can be seen migrating from Alaska and Vancouver regions. Sometimes the lake appears to be covered in snow as these birds squawk and splash all over it. What a lovely view! Beaufort is well known as a pirate haven, especially for Blackbeard, one of the most famed pirates in pirate history. This makes Beaufort one of the most visited places in North Carolina. Feel free to visit The North Carolina Aquarium and NC Maritime seashell museum in Beaufort if you’d like.

The Intracoastal waterway can be explored and enjoyed in any which way. Even those who don’t want to hit the waters can enjoy the ICW. Some waterfront restaurants allow patrons to fish from the banks or just enjoy the view. If you’re up to the task, however, you can acclaim the title of a ‘looper’ and have something to brag about when you’re out with friends!

THE PORT OF WILMINGTON AND BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 06:20:46 GMT

Just about 26 miles from the open sea, on the Cape Fear River, covering 308 acres of land, The Port of Wilmington lies proudly in resplendent scenery. In 2021, this world-class port was ranked as the 4th most productive port in North America, and the 49th most productive worldwide. Its strategic locus on the East Coast of the United States makes it reachable within 700 miles to more than 70% of the U.S. industrial base. The port boasts of modern transportation and warehouse facilities, and it possesses the largest dockside cold storage facility in the United States. But its state of-the-art equipment and excellent service are not all there are to the Port of Wilmington. It also played important roles in the history and wars of North America. Hold still as we walk down the hall of history!

CENTURIES EARLIER

Many years ago, early in the 17th century, the Europeans tried to settle in what is now known as Wilmington. First came the Swedish in 1638, then the Dutch in 1655, when they captured the Swedish settlement, Fort Christina. Unfortunately for them, they were driven out by the British in 1664. Fort Christina is the oldest European permanent settlement in North America. The present-day Wilmington was incorporated in 1739. It was named by Thomas Penn, the proprietor of Pennsylvania in honor of his friend, Spencer Compton, the first Earl of Wilmington, England. In 1765, when the American revolution against British rule started, the first armed uprising occurred where the Port of Wilmington is today. The port site was also used as military headquarters by British General Lord Cornwallis to recruit soldiers after his ignominious defeat at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Later on, he moved on to Virginia to touch base with General Henry Clinton’s army in New York City. After many combats and disputes, the revolution ended with the British peace treaty in 1784.

After the revolution, Wilmington expanded, and business grew quickly at the port site, but much of the growth took place during the United States Civil war (1861-1865). The huge demand for goods and materials was supplied at the site of the port. Businesses produced gunpowder, ships, rail cars, tents, uniforms, shoes, and blankets. In fact, the port produced more gunpowder than the other cities in the country. This prosperity caused the city to expand with many large homes and boulevards. The port also served as an important base for Confederate blockade runners and was the last to fall to the Union forces in 1865 after Fort Fisher fell.

THE PORT OF WILMINGTON BEGINS

It all started in 1913 when the city’s voters decided to build a marine terminal. The idea was to improve business greatly for local industries that manufactured ships, cars, and carriages. A Board of Harbor Commissioners was created to develop an economic development plan for the city's waterfront. The city then purchased forty-one hectares of land from the Lobdell Car Company in 1920 to build the port. The Port of Wilmington was completed and went into operation in 1923. In the first year of operation, the port handled a total of 17,000 tons of cargo. It handled all manner of cargo including lumber, wood pulp, ore, lead, fertilizer, and petroleum products. The port improved and expanded significantly over the years. In 1972, Del Monte Foods, Inc. made the port its ‘principal North American port-of-discharge’ for bananas and pineapples. In 1976, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. chose the port for its Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche automobile imports to North America. In 1995, The Port of Wilmington was purchased from the city of Wilmington by Delaware State. Delaware State created the Diamond State Port Corporation to operate the facility. To date, the port is owned by Delaware State.

Wilmington Marine Terminal in the 1920s

THE PORT OF WILMINGTON TODAY

Today, the Port of Wilmington has been developed to splendor and excellence. It is a deep water port with a channel depth of 42 feet, giving it an amazing ability to accommodate heavy-laden ships (above 10,000 TEUs!) It lies at the confluence of the Christina River and the Delaware River in Wilmington. It surely doesn’t disappoint with its readily available berths for containers and general cargo. It has an automobile berth facing the Delaware River and nine berths facing the Christina River; seven are general cargo berths, one is a petroleum berth and the last is a floating rollon/roll-off (RoRo) berth. Surface transport of cargo from the port is served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern railroads—both of which are Class I freight railroad companies.

The port is incredibly equipped with the latest cargo management technology which enables them to perform a wide range of services. Over the years, they have sought to improve their facilities and quality of service to provide solutions to their customers’ needs. They provide container services with cranes available for loading and offloading containers and sending them on their merry way to their owners. They are also equipped to transport bulk and break bulk cargo and support Ro-ro (roll on/roll off) operations for wheeled cargo. Having the largest cold storage facility country-wide, the port accommodates reefers (refrigerated containers) and all manner of perishables that require temperature-controlled handling. Its numerous facilities and modern equipment enable it to handle various cargo including, but certainly not limited to fresh fruit, juice concentrate, automobiles, petroleum, and even livestock. The Seamen's Center, located in the Port of Wilmington complex, ensures that the visiting seamen are catered to by providing entertainment and transportation to them. The port remains top-notch and intends to remain that way by continually upgrading its facilities and services. Don’t loosen your belts just yet, we are now taking an exciting turn in the hall of history!

BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA

Shot by Robert Whitaker

Just along the Cape Fear River, downtown from the Port of Wilmington, rests one of the greatest weapons in American History, The Battleship North Carolina . In her days of glory, she was considered ‘the greatest sea weapon in the world’. USS North Carolina , as she was called, was built in the New York Navy Yard at a cost of $70 million. She was commissioned on April 9, 1941—she was the first new battleship to join the fleet in nearly twenty years. At that time, the United States still held neutral grounds in World War II (1939-1945). However, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour in December 1941, the USS North Carolina mobilized for war.

For 40 months, USS North Carolina took part in almost every major offensive in the South Pacific, during which she earned 15 battle stars, the most won by any American battleship! In August 1942, she shot down several Japanese aircraft in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons during the Guadalcanal Campaign. Sadly, in September, she was damaged by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. USS Wasp was fatally damaged in that attack but thankfully, USS North Carolina was repaired and returned to battle a few months later.

BSS North Carolina underway in the Hawaiian Islands on 27, March 1943.

After the Japanese surrendered in September 1945, Operation Magic Carpet was conducted by the War Shipping Administration to return millions of American military servicemen home. Due to a lack of transportation, many warships had to be utilized to transport the servicemen. USS North Carolina was actively involved in this operation, bringing many of the brave heroes home. A year later, she was decommissioned and placed in reserve. In 1960, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and was to be sent to the breaker's yard for scrap heaping but she was saved by a statewide fundraising campaign to preserve her as a museum ship. In 1961, she was restored to her wartime appearance and was docked on the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, where she remains to date. She was opened as a museum ship on 14 October 1962 as a memorial to the brave North Carolinians who died in the war.

Today, you can walk the decks of the dignified battleship. As you climb the stairs they once walked on and step into the rooms they once lay in, you would feel the hearts of the heroes who stood dauntless in the face of terror, for peace within our borders. One can spend at least two hours absorbed in the walls of history as each part of the ship tells its own story. The Friends of The Battle Ship North Carolina offers guided tours that should be booked two days in advance. For a memorable and enjoyable tour, your choice of outfit can boost your experience. It’s best not to wear high heels or any shoes with narrow heels; the heels can get stuck in the grates and could cause you to trip at the least. A pair of pants is preferred over a skirt but you don’t want to wear anything that gets to the floor so you don’t risk tripping over it. Also, you’d feel good if you travel light. You certainly don’t want a heavy bag bearing down on your back as you climb up and down the stairs. Bring along a water bottle if you may, especially in the hot weather. With these in check, you can drift into the past as you walk the floor of the valorous battleship.

Shot by Ryan

North Carolina really is full of treasures. Your time spent here is your time well spent! Feel free to visit the splendorous Port of Wilmington when you’re in North Carolina. You absolutely should not miss the opportunity to tour one of the greatest battleships in history. Who knows, you may just get to fire an anti-aircraft gun! Maybe…just maybe!

THE WILD HORSES OF NORTH CAROLINA

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:56:40 GMT

Trotting majestically along the dunes, grazing gracefully on the wild grass, and living as free as the wind, are troupes of sublime creatures residing on the banks of North Carolina's Barrier Islands—the Feral Horses of North Carolina. These horses have lived on the outer banks of NC for some hundred years, but how they arrived here is somewhat of a mystery!

One interesting thing about these dashing creatures is that though they lurk fearlessly in the wild, they are descendants of domesticated stock—hence the name, Feral Horses. Many tales strive to explain how these animals came to live on the North Carolina shores, however, they all point to the Spanish mustangs that accompanied the Spanish colonies beginning in the 1400s.

One story involves Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer and navigator sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. Through many successful journeys, he paved the way for the European Colonization of the Americas. He made an appearance in North America when he landed on Hispaniola Island and in his company were you guessed it— the Spanish Mustangs! That probably accounts for the first entry of these Spanish horses into North America.

Later in the 1520s, a Spanish explorer, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, received a grant from the Spanish King, Charles V, to colonize the eastern seaboard, including present-day North Carolina. He and his team made a good attempt but it didn’t quite end well for them. They kidnapped the Indian children who lived there and sold them into slavery. This aggravated the Indians who rose against the them. Eventually, they sent the Spaniards fleeing with their tails between their legs and leaving behind their livestock. Ayllón and his crew returned to stronger Spanish colonies in Florida, with no plans to return for their livestock...and their horses!

Another story is set in the 1580s. Sir Richard Greenville, an English commander overseen by Sir Walter Raleigh, sailed frequently to transport cargo to and from the West Indies, Great Britain, and newly established English colonies in Virginia. On a certain day in June 1587, he set sail on an expedition to deliver cargo containing food and livestock including Spanish mustangs. Alas, his ship, the Tyger, and the smaller ships with him came across the dangerously shallow Diamond Shoals that served them in the fullness of their terror. Many ships, including The Tyger, and their cargo were and the livestock including the Spanish Mustangs had to swim ashore for safety.

A horse on Shackleford Island. Photo by Megan Squire

Today, these horses can be seen on the outer banks of North Carolina. Shackleford Banks and Corolla Island have the largest herds on them. Ocracoke Island and the Racheal Carson Reserve have smaller herds living on them. It's still a mystery which story truly accounts for the appearance of these horses. Some biologists even suggest that the horses were loaded off certain Spanish ships to lighten the ships and lower the chances of being wrecked. Whichever story is true, we're just glad that these horses are present today and we can enjoy a breathtaking view of them!

Shackleford Banks is a barrier island that makes up the Northern edge of the Outer Banks. It is uninhabited by humans and it’s only accessible by a ferry, so the horses roam freely about. There are currently over a hundred horses living on Shackleford banks. You can visit on a private boat, or you can take a ferry from Beaufort. Tour and charter services are highly recommended for transportation and guidance because they offer the best opportunity to find the horses when you come visiting.

Corolla Island makes up the southern edge of the Outer Banks. The horses once roamed freely along the undeveloped island. However, in 1987, when the highway NC 12 was extended to Corolla from Duck in Dare County, many speeding cars started coming in and it resulted in a population explosion and development. This forced the horses to move north of Corolla, the remaining uninhabited portion of the island. It's a glorious sight when the horses promenade through the white beaches and the cool waves draw up to wash their feet. To enjoy this splendid view, you may book reservations for off-road tours that guide visitors to see the horses. If you'd prefer, you can rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle to drive up the beach where highway NC 12 ends. It will afford you a good view of the horses.

The horses at Ocracoke could hardly be considered 'wild'. They are sheltered, fed, and provided with veterinary care. After the NC 12 highway was constructed in 1962, the National Park Service kept them fenced in a pastureland of about 180 acres. This was done to protect them from the dangers of the highway and to prevent them from overgrazing the land. There are about twenty horses who live here. They are fed with hay and supplemental feed and so they are larger than the mustangs on Shackleford Banks and Corolla Island. The fenced pastureland housing the pony pens are between the Hatteras Inlet ferry landing and Ocracoke Village, just next to the highway. Getting a view of these horses is not as exciting as viewing the wild horses on other islands because of the tall, intimidating fences that enfold them. Visitors are not allowed to touch, pet, or feed the animal but there is a parking lot for vehicles and a tall viewing stand to help them get a better view of the horses.

Ocracoke horse at a pony pen. Photo by Captain Tucker

The Rachel Carson Reserve is a complex of four islands just south of Beaufort: Carrot Island, Bird Shoal, Town Marsh, and Horse Island. The reserve is named after Rachel Louise Carson, a marine biologist and author of the book, Silent Springs. The book highlights factors that posed damage to the environment. She wrote especially on the effects of pesticides like DDT. It inspired the formation of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and led to a nationwide embargo on DDT and other pesticides.

Like the Shackleford Banks, the Rachel Carson Reserve is only accessible by ferry. The estuary that surrounds it supports the diverse plants and animals living there. It is said that the horses here came from a line of Spanish mustangs that were kept in stock by a Beaufort physician. They carry some characteristic primitive markings of ancient wild horse breeds—a dorsal stripe along the spine running from the ears to the tail. The mustangs are not the only charming creatures in the reserve. Many happy little birds thrive along the marshes of the Rachel Carson Reserve. Over two hundred bird species have been identified across the reserve. Bird Shoal Island offers a spectacular view of these winged beauties. It's a short-day trip from Topsail Island—we have visited the Bird Shoal many times for seashell hunting and wild horse viewing. There are lots and lots of shells on the island making it an exciting shelling spot. Rachel Carson Reserve is a must-visit!

A Shackleford horse drinking from a horse-dug hole. Photo by Chris Capeheart

The wild horses are self-sustained and feed on the grasses of the dunes and marshes on the islands. Since horses don't drink salt water, they drink fresh water either from surface pools or water from holes they dig up. Federal regulations manage these horses, and they are strict in ensuring that they remain 'wild', with almost no human interactions. Human contact such as feeding and touching are not allowed as their well-being can be tampered with. Wildlife biologists sometimes issue contraception to mares to stabilize the population and maintain healthy development.

You’d have a great time observing these lovely creatures with friends and family across the mentioned islands. You can even shoot great photos for your vacation memories. The horses can be seen any time in the day, but they prefer to graze in the cooler hours like morning and evening. For a safe and memorable event, you should take note of a few things before venturing to see the Spanish mustangs. First, it is important to maintain a safe distance of at least fifty feet from the horses. Don't interact with them or try to feed them. Remember that they are undomesticated so if for any reason they feel threatened or they feel that their space is being invaded, they may charge or kick. You can make use of binoculars and zoom lenses to observe the horses and take pictures of them while maintaining your distance. If a horse approaches you, walk away and don't engage them. You may return to your vehicle and if they approach your vehicle, roll up the windows and wait for them to leave. While having fun, you should also keep up your guard and pay attention to the location of the horses. If you bring your pets with you, you should always keep them on a leash if you intend to return with them. For the safety of the horses, please don't leave tripods, chairs, other equipment, or food lying around. That said, be glad to know that the wild horses mostly keep to themselves and rarely approach visitors, but if they do, we trust you know what to do!

Horses are truly beautiful creatures, and the wild horses of North Carolina don’t fail to flaunt that beauty as they prance proudly along the banks. A visit to these islands would be worth the trip. When you do, share your experience with us. We’d love to hear it.

TOPSAIL ISLAND; A WORLD OF BEAUTY

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:38:38 GMT

Does the ocean breeze tickle you? Do your feet enjoy crunching into the sand as soft waves draw up to lick them, just before pulling back into the ocean? Do you enjoy the sound of waves crashing against one another like a contest for the strongest? Topsail Island (“Topsül” as it is pronounced locally) is one of the masterpieces of nature. It is a 26-mile-long barrier island off the North Carolina coast and lies just northeast of Wilmington. This island is home to a diverse collection of fascinating creatures. If you are a sucker for beach vacations, plants, and wildlife, take out your pen this instant and scribble “Topsül” on your bucket list.

Topsail Island is a renowned haven for sea turtles. Sea turtles are its most famed residents, especially the Loggerhead sea turtles.

Loggerhead Turtle, Photo by Kostas Papafitsoros

Loggerheads are named for their enormous heads and strong jaws, powerful enough to crush an adult queen conch. The skin of their dorsum is beautifully covered in brown, cobblestone-like patches. Sadly, these turtles are gravely endangered due to poaching and exploitation. They have been killed for eggs, meat, skin, shells, etc. Their decline can also be attributed to worldwide habitat destruction and incidental capture by fishermen.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City, passionately serves to conserve and protect all species of marine turtles, both in the water and on the beach. They rescue sick or injured turtles, rehabilitate and then release them. They also provide public education on the plight of sea turtles, and learning opportunities for students of biology, wildlife conservation, and veterinary medicine from around the world.

If you’re passionate about wildlife preservation and you can make a commitment of at least 4 months, feel free to volunteer at the Turtle Rescue Center. However, if you are here on a vacation or you just can’t commit to that time, don’t worry, you can still be of great help. Grabbing a beach rake to clean up the beach will go a long way. Stashing away that coke bottle rather than dumping it at the beach can save the baby turtles. You may even adopt a Loggerhead. We at Sea Vista Motel recently adopted two Loggerhead nests and were lucky enough to see the adorable hatchlings emerge from their shells.

Did you know that Sea turtles have existed on Earth and traveled the seas for the last 100 million years? Loggerheads can travel several thousand miles across oceans from their nesting beaches. Adelita, a large juvenile loggerhead was the first sea turtle to be tracked by satellite across an entire ocean basin. She journeyed approximately 6500 miles from feeding areas off Baja California, Mexico, to coastal areas off Japan. A hatchling Loggerhead's odds of surviving to adulthood are a staggering 1 in 10,000 against! Sea turtles play important roles in marine ecosystems. They help in the maintenance of seagrass beds and coral reefs that, in turn, benefit valuable species like shrimp, lobster, and tuna.

Are there sharks at Topsail Island? Absolutely! How likely are you to get attacked by one? Not very likely at all; they may hardly find you tasty but it’s worth learning about them if you will be surfing in this region. North Carolina’s beaches are a major migration route for all marine animals including sharks. The most common species you may find around Topsail island would be the Sandbar sharks, the Blacknose sharks, the Hammerheads, and the Spinner sharks. Fortunately, these sharks are almost always harmless if treated with respect.

The Sandbar Shark by Ken Tam / Flickr. License: CC

The Sandbar sharks are the most common around Topsail Island. They love to hang around here and not just during their migrations. They appear large but despite their size, they are quite harmless and are often chosen to be used in aquariums. Blacknose sharks are smaller with a black nose tip as the name implies. They spend more time close to the shores and sometimes even travel inland via inlets. Who knows what they hope to find here! The Spinner sharks are quite agile. They propel themselves out of the water by spinning and can go up to 20 feet above the water surface. The Hammerhead sharks are generally considered harmless to humans. They are quite intelligent– they’re known to have high levels of cognition. This can probably be attributed to their unusually large head. Ha!

The Hammerhead Shark by Barry Peters, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s extremely rare to be attacked by a shark (11.5 million to 1 against!!!), however, be mindful of these tips to avoid shark attacks. First, don’t swim at night, dawn, or dusk. Sharks are more active at these times, and they see perfectly in the dim light while you probably don’t. Always look out for notices and signals from lifeguards or authorities. Be mindful of things that attract predators such as excessive splashing probably by pets, rapid motion in the water, and sparkly or shiny accessories like jewelry or rhinestones on swimwear as these can mimic fish scales. Finally, stay close to the shores and avoid swimming alone. If you stay mindful of these tips, you will further minimize the chances of a shark encounter, even if there is one nearby.

Cannonball Jellyfish by John Dreyer / Getty Images

Oh! Was that a Jellyfish? Yes, there’s plenty of jellyfish around here so you may encounter one during your trip. Jellyfish season is early July to late August, when the waters get warm. The most common species are the Cannon Balls. They are cute, small and round, and they are pretty harmless. The other species you may encounter are the Lion’s Manes, Moon jellies, Sea Nettles and Sea Wasps. The Lion’s Manes are quite unique – they are the biggest (the largest known Lion's Mane stretched up to 120 feet in length in Australia) and are the only orange-colored jellyfish. The Moon jellies are transparent and can easily be missed. To spot them, look for the pink glands in the center. The Sea Nettles are large but nothing compared to the Lion's Manes. Spotting them can be tricky because they are semi-transparent and can blend into the surroundings. The reddish-brown stripes and small white dots are their notable features. The Sea Wasps are box jellyfish with a small transparent bell and long blueish tentacles that can reach up to 10 feet. At Topsail island, the Sea Wasps are relatively uncommon.

Getting stung by a jellyfish is possible but a sting from the jellyfish at Topsail may only cause slight discomfort. Interestingly, many times these stings are from dead jellyfish. You can avoid getting stung by wearing protective clothing like wetsuits and rashguards. Don’t touch any part of a jellyfish tentacle even when they’re dead. If you spot a bloom or a large cluster of jellyfish, just stay clear. If you get stung anyways and you feel uncomfortable, you can seek medical attention.

While there are many fantastic marine animals, Topsail Island doesn’t fail to display eye-pleasing flora. The fire wheel is an iconic wildflower that’s found all over the island. Like a diamond that’s beautiful and strong, this flower is resilient – it blooms a wide span through the seasons, from early spring through late fall, sometimes even through the first ice. It’s a real tough nut! The petals have a red base with yellow tips, making them look like little flames. It’s a composite flower – its center comprises many tiny flowers so it attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, to feed from the multiple nectar sources within it. How generous!

Topsail Island is a lovely vacation site. We’ve just chosen to sample a few creatures you might see on a vacation here. There are many other exciting creatures to be in awe of. There are also many activities and tourist attractions to keep you bustling while you’re here. We’ll tell you more about them in the coming weeks. Enough talking now! Come visit us and see them for yourself.

PIRATES AND LOST TREASURE OF TOPSAIL ISLAND

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 04:21:43 GMT

"If ye be brave or fool enough to face a pirate’s curse, proceed." — Davy Jones

You've probably watched the Disney film series, Pirates of the Caribbean. You may have heard the chilling stories of the sea raiders who terrorized the coasts of North Carolina in their times. Are those lores true? Yes, at least some of it is! Topsail Island shares a very important part in the Golden Age of Piracy. Folklore has it that Topsail Island was so named for the pirate ships that hid behind the island with their topsails visible from the sea. Some believe it's a fable and that the name in fact came from New Topsail Inlet. Which story is true, we do not know. We do know, however, that you're about to take a smooth ferry ride through Topsail Pirate History.

In the 17th century, England and Spain were at war and Queen Anne of England had hired pirates or "privateers" to attack and loot Spanish ships. But, after the war, she laid them off, leaving most of the “lot of Privateers” unemployed. These pirates, however, saw an opportunity for themselves in the business of self-privateering. The sea traffic in those days was so heavy that there was hardly any need for the pirates to set sail to search for their prey. Instead, they would steer their ships through the shallow inlets of present-day Topsail Island and hide in the channels between the island and the mainland, then they would quietly watch the sea lanes off of our shores for other ships. Eventually, the merchants became aware of their tricks and hiding places, so they began scanning the dunes for the “top of the sails” of the pirate ships. When the pirates sighted an unlucky victim (merchant ships loaded with gold, silver, spices, and supplies), the hot chase began and once they caught up with the merchants, they did what they knew best to do: pillage, plunder, rifle and loot!

If you stand in front of the Sea Vista Motel on the sand, looking out to sea….you can almost hear the thunder of the cannons and the screams of Piracy. It all happened…. right there in front of you.

The Pirate “Blackbeards” Flag. He was not a nice person

Topsail’s history tells us of famed Pirates like Stede Bonnet and Charles Vane, but the most notorious of them was Blackbeard, also known as Edward Teach. The very mention of his name left many with the hairs on their skin standing upright. He was feared across the seas from Barbados to New York. He was known as the cruelest pirate and a master of psychological warfare. He often used his fearful appearance to terrorize and manipulate his opponents — he was over six feet tall with long beaded beards in which he tied cannon fuses and sulfur matches that he would light up before torturing his victims. This gave them the image of an evil creature; a giant with his beards on fire and smoke emanating from his head. He always had three pistols strapped to his chest with a sling, and a cutlass strapped to his hip. He was known to show no fear and give no ‘quarter’ (mercy). Aren’t you glad you weren’t on the earth in that era?!

Blackbeard a.k.a Edward Teach

The terror and life of Blackbeard ended when he encountered Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy in Ocracoke (His vessel, The Queen Anne's Revenge (a French Ship formerly called La Concorde which he stole and renamed), went aground in 1718 just offshore from the Beaufort (Not that far to the North of Topsail). A few months later, Lieutenant Maynard and the Royal Navy came upon them. It is said that Blackbeard took a glass of Liquor and drank to Lt. Maynard with these words: "Damnation seize my soul if I give you quarters or take any from you" and Mr. Maynard responded boldly to him, that he expected no quarters from him, nor should he give him any. The battle was brutal and left many dead with the sea tinged with blood. Alas, it ended badly for Blackbeard even though he fought with much valor — despite receiving several shots and lethal wounds to his body, he stood his ground and fought on till his body dropped, lifeless. The men that remained on Blackbeard's fleet were attacked, though some begged for 'quarters' to grant them a few more days to live. The Lieutenant caused Blackbeard to be decapitated and he had his head hung at the bowsprit of Maynard’s ship for all to see that the mighty Blackbeard had fallen. Maynard then sailed to Bath Town, to get relief for his wounded men. The wreck from the battle was found in 1996 by Intersal Inc., private salvagers based in Palm Bay, Florida. The remains of The Queen Anne’s Revenge are now the property of the North Carolinians.

Blackbeard and Lt. Maynard, painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (c. 1863–1930)

Blackbeard was gone but the secret of his treasure’s location died with him. Maynard rummaged Blackbeard's ship for hints of this treasure but found only supplies and letters. Captain Charles Johnson in his book, A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates, accounted that the night before Blackbeard was killed, one of his men asked him as they drank, whether his wife knew where he had buried his treasure. He answered that only himself “and the devil, knew where it was, and the longest liver would take it all”.

Legend says that Blackbeard visited our shores of Topsail often and even gifted this island his treasure! There is a supposed bottomless hole in the town of Topsail Beach which the locals call the “Gold Hole”. In the mid-1900s, a team of treasure hunters speculated that, the “Gold Hole” was the hiding place for Blackbeard’s treasure. They spent several years (1937-1941) searching for his treasure in the hole to purportedly no avail. They suddenly disappeared one morning without a trace…they found the treasure? It was never found? Who knows!

Of course, for all we know…the treasure could be sitting just underneath that blue house’s front porch that you just drove by on the left. No-one knows where it is now…I mean, do they?

There are legends of Ghost Ships from the Golden Age of Piracy along our shores. At the southern end of Topsail Island, there is a barren island called “Lea Island”. Many say that if you are sailing with your radar on, just as you pass Rich’s Inlet, Lea Island’s southern inlet, you may notice a “blip” on your radar screen sitting just inside the inlet. When you look back, you would see nothing, but as you cruise by, the “blip” will begin to move slowly out towards the inlet, coming into the ocean just behind you and then rapidly begins to track behind you before suddenly disappearing off the radar. It is just as Blackbeard did over 300 years ago! A local history buff, Chris Rackley, attests to seeing this Ghost Ship on his radar as a child even in broad daylight. Is it an anomaly or Blackbeard's ghost ship, Queens Anne’s Revenge? Who knows

During the American Civil war (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865), many boats, ships, battleships, and blockade runners were wrecked and sunk along our coast! Many of these shipwrecks are scattered off our Topsail Island’s sandy shores. The CSS Phantom was a 500 tonne, 170 horsepower blockade runner, built in Liverpool, England whose wreck is said to have been found just off the coast of Topsail Island, in the New Topsail Inlet. The Phantom was designed in 1862 to transport cargo from Bermuda to the CSA’s Ordinance Bureau. She made two successful trips between Bermuda and Wilmington, but on her third journey in 1863, she made her last stop. On her way to Wilmington from Bermuda, the USS Connecticut sighted her and chased her to the shores near New Topsail Inlet...just a couple hundred yards south of “Serenity Point” (as it is called today). To prevent the enemy ship from accessing her “valuable cargo”, the Phantom crew scuttled the ship and escaped in lifeboats. The vessel's fate was recorded in The Wilmington Journal on Thursday, Oct. 1, 1863. It is speculated that the 'valuable cargo' contained gold worth at least $2.4 million. So far, efforts to find the Phantom treasure have been unsuccessful. If you are a dauntless diver and a sucker for adventure, here are the wreck coordinates in the New Topsail Inlet: North Latitude 34° 22′ 23″, West Longitude 77° 39′ 29″.

An extremely weathered copy of the Wilmington Journal.

(Port City Daily photo / COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

Whether the Ghost Ships or the treasures are real is up to you on what to believe…, but as the renowned Captain Jack Sparrow once said, "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." If you are up for casual treasure hunting, you can make a hobby of beach combing for shark teeth and seashells. Topsail Island offers great shelling spots since it is a barrier island, so grab a bucket if you may. For a real hunting experience, it is true that Seashells may not cut it, but for a fun adventure, they are still worth it, plus it is a much safer hobby than “Pirating!” Me Mateys!

CAROLINA BAYS: AN ENIGMA OF NATURE

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:26:49 GMT

Over the past several years, many thrilling discoveries of nature have been made the fascinating Fault of Saint Andreas in California, the enthralling Chocolate Hills of the Philippines, the awe-inspiring Marble Caves of Chile, etc. But some things have puzzled the daylights out of researchers and geologists! They pose mysteries that elude explanations. Among these are the Carolina Bays. Several thousands of these landforms array the eastern Atlantic coastal plains of America. But what is so special about them? And what about them has confounded many researchers? You are about to be amazed.

WHAT ARE THE CAROLINA BAYS ANYWAYS?

Carolina Bays are a multitude of wetlands with characteristic oval-shaped depressions. Despite their name, they aren't bays at all and neither are they confined to the Carolinas. They are more like pocosins and some of them are

found in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia; many of them, however, are concentrated in the Carolinas. What's really striking about these bays are their numbers and the unique features. At least 5,000 of them have been identified along the Atlantic coastal plains. Some have been destroyed over time but at least a thousand of them still exist in the Carolinas.

The Carolina bays vary in size (from 30 feet to almost three miles across), but they all share distinct features. First is their shape; they all come in oval shapes that point in the same direction-the base at the northwest and the apex at the southeast. Next is their surface level; it is lower than the surrounding ground but they are encircled by sand rims raised above the surrounding ground. Also, they exhibit a soil texture that differs from the surrounding soil. Finally, their water supply is independent of rivers and other inflowing or outflowing water channels; their water is drawn from underground water or rainfall. The bays aren't obvious from ground level but when viewed from above, the egg-shaped mini craters come alive. But these bays that share similar features and exist in large numbers over a large area, cannot but make us ask one question: how exactly did they come about?

Two Carolina Bays. Photo from Wikipedia

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEIR FORMATION?

At best, scientists have come up with hypotheses, researchers have made speculations, geologists have created theories, and many people have their beliefs, but here's the thing: no one is certain yet about how these uniquely shaped pocosins came about. But let's explore some of the ideas that have run so far. Some of the theories that were brought up have gone extinct for one reason or the other-some because they lacked substantial evidence, and some, well, they simply didn't make sense. One theory suggested that at a time when the region was submerged underwater, the holes were mined by underwater currents and eddies. Another theory suggested that the bays were once lakes that were elongated by magnetic forces from redeposited iron compounds. Some believed that the bays were once mammoth wallows. Some others even believed that the bays were fish nests made by large schools of fish. But when you consider these bays in their numbers-even before the thousands were discovered, many of them had already been disturbed unknowingly by man made forces-many of the theories just don't cut it.

One theory that was surmised for a while was that the depressions were created by meteor collisions over 12,000 years ago. It was devised by William Frederick Prouty; articles of his works were published in scientific journals of the 1950s. But it was considered to be too dramatic an event. Other scientists believed that an earthly event was more likely than a cosmic one because the crater sizes of the bays are more shallow than known impact craters. Also, no remnant meteorite fragments have been found in them. As such, this theory was considered implausible by some and as more investigations were carried out, other theories were surmised.

A theory that is currently being considered is the effect of both aeolian and lacustrine forces. Raymond T. Kaczorowski in 1976 suggested that the bays were once shallow lakes that were shaped by prevailing wind patterns. He believed that the sandy rims at the edges of the bays were consistent with bimodal wind patterns that occurred during the late Pleistocene Epoch-also known as the Ice Age. Some other geologists also believed that the oval shapes of the bays were created by the action of strong winds on the surface of the waters that caused circulatory currents at both ends of the bay. They believed that this same wind-water action created the shallow depressions of the bays. The peat then formed by decayed plant material cemented the sand below and allowed the bays to retain water. So, which theory strikes the best chord with you?

Water-filled bay. Photo by Our State Magazine

THE BAY ECOSYSTEM

We may not be certain of the formation of these bays but we do know for sure that we are thankful for their existence. Since these wetlands are mostly flooded or saturated with water, an anoxic environment is created in the soil, and the vegetation is adapted to the anoxic hydric soil. Also, their independence from rivers and water channels causes them to sometimes experience seasons of wet and dry, so the animals that thrive here are adapted to the variations in the water level. As such, they possess some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems there are.

The infestation of insects and reptiles in some of the bays has left only the bold and undaunted to explore them. A field survey of the Carolina Bays carried out from 1983 to 1988 revealed eleven ecosystems with thirty-six vulnerable species and twenty-three endangered species identified.

Threatened animal species that frolic in this habitat include salamanders, gopher frogs, and wood storks. You can also find turtles, herons, egrets, and mammals like opossums, raccoons, skunks, and deer. Some of the endangered plant species that thrive here include the venus fly traps, spoonflowers, pond spice, leatherleaf, and Canby's dropwort. Carolina bays are also inhabited by carnivorous plants like bladderworts, butterworts, sundews, and pitcher plants. Other delightful plant species you'd find flourishing here are water lilies, bald cypress, pond cypress, buttonbush, sweet bay, magnolia, maple, sweet gum, gallberry, etc-almost too many to list!

Knees of Cypresses. Shot by Curtis Cabana

BAYS OF THE CAROLINAS

Today, many of the bays exist as marshes, but a few of the larger ones remain undrained and exist as lakes. Some bays have been altered by various activities, mostly farming, because the peat in the soil serve as excellent agricultural grounds. Many of the bays are being used for various purposes.

Carvers Bay in South Carolina is a drained bay that is currently used for tree farming. During World War II, it was used as a range for bombing practice which caused it extensive damage. Woods Bay and Bennett's Bay, both in South Carolina, were designated a state park and Heritage Preserve respectively to preserve them in their pristine state as much as possible.

Of the bays that remain undrained, Lake Mattamuskeet and Lake Waccamaw are two of the most famous. Lake Mattamuskeet is a shallow lake (2-3ft in depth) located in Hyde County, North Carolina. It was named by the Algonquian Indians. It is the largest natural lake in North Carolina. Several attempts were made to drain the lake and access the rich soil beneath the water but eventually, they just gave up and chose rather to establish the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge there. The refuge became a famous migration site for geese, ducks, and tundra swans.

Lake Waccamaw is a large Carolina Bay located in Columbus County, North Carolina. It gets most of its water from surrounding swamps. Its lovely tea color comes from the organic matter from the decaying vegetation of the swamps. Certain species of fish are found only in or around the lake: the Waccamaw silverside, Waccamaw darter, and Waccamaw killifish. A diversity of mollusks, clams, and snails call this lake home. Alligators also live in the lake. The lake is currently managed by the Lake Waccamaw State Park. In 2008, scientists uncovered a whale fossil in the lake. They made efforts to restore its skull and they were successful-it is currently on display at Lake Waccamaw State Park. Some other thrilling discoveries were made in the lake: a 300-year-old Indian canoe, marine fossils, Waccamaw Siouan Indian artifacts, and many old photographs, all currently exhibited in The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum. You may visit the museum on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. It is handicapped accessible to make sure everyone can explore the unspoken tales of Lake Waccamaw.

Sunset at Lake Waccamaw. Photo by Doug Sasser

What a world of wonders we live in. The existence of these bays is truly phenomenal. So far, no solid explanation for these landforms has yet been made. But hey, who says you can't come up with your own theory? Feel free to explore the Carolina Bays yourself if you may!

THE SANDS OF TIME...HOW TOPSAIL ISLAND WAS FORMED

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:32:19 GMT

As you may already know, Topsail Island is a barrier island off the North Carolina coastline—specifically the coastal shores of Hampstead, Sneads Ferry and Holly Ridge, NC. Topsail Island spans about 26 miles in length—the second longest barrier island within the Onslow Bay section of North Carolina! Like a beautiful damsel floating on a raft in her pool, our lovely island rests gracefully on the Atlantic Ocean. The island is adorned with pristine beaches and maritime forests. However, history suggests that this island didn’t exist here since the beginning of time. It was formed in the process of time and is now home to people, and a variety of flora, and fauna. While here on a vacation, it’ll be interesting to know the origin of the land you walk on. If the sands could speak…the stories they’d tell! Stick with us and you will see just how this beautiful barrier island was born.

Barrier islands are elongated stretches of land that lie parallel to the coastline. They are usually quite strong but slim (< 1-3 km wide). There are three major theories about how barrier islands are formed. The most accepted is the Submergence Theory rendered by William John McGee, an American Geologist, in 1890. This theory suggests that in the Pleistocene era (2.85 M – 17,000 years ago), there were several massive glaciers, meaning the sea level was much lower—by about 85 meters—than it is today. However, as these glaciers began to melt, the sea level began to rise and the beach ridges on the shoreline were submerged. It didn’t stop there! As the sea level rose further, the ridges were pushed with the waves towards the mainland and were separated from the mainland by lagoons,

bays, tidal creeks, or sounds.

The other theories are the Offshore Bar Theory and the Spit Accretion Theory. The Offshore Bar Theory was the first theory to be rendered. It came up in 1845 by Jean- Baptiste Élie de Beaumont (Ha! If you think that’s a long name, believe us, that is only the short version of the name; there is more!). He was a French Geologist who suggested that

the waves approaching the coastline had deposited sand at the ocean floor, forming a sand bar and over time it accumulated till it reached the surface of the ocean. As more sand was deposited over time, the barrier island was formed, and separated from the mainland by a lagoon, creek, sound, or bay.

Sketch by Mr. Chukwuma John Okolie and his team

The Spit Accretion Theory was brought about in 1885 by Grove Karl Gilbert, an American Geologist. A spit refers to a stretch of the beach beyond the headland and out to the sea. It is formed by a longshore drift where the prevailing winds and the sea waves cause the beach material to be carried along the shore in a zigzag fashion until an extended stretch of beach material projects out to sea but remains joined to the mainland at one end. Gilbert

believed that over several thousand years, the spit will get larger and longer and eventually, when a heavy storm or large hurricane hits, its connection to the mainland is broken off.

You may be surprised to learn that barrier islands are constantly changing but once you learn how the transformation process works, it will make a lot more sense. There are four major factors that cause the island to change shape over time. Let us start with the Long Shore Drift. The Long Shore drift is what we mentioned in the formation of a spit. The prevailing wind causes the waves to hit the beach at an angle and then they pick up

sediments from the beach and then draw back into the sea at a right angle. The waves then pick up the sediments, hit the shores and draw back again in the zig-zag fashion. As it occurs repeatedly, the beach material is washed off the beach and deposited elsewhere and this causes the beach to change shape over time.

Another way barrier islands change shape is through Inlet Migration. An inlet is an indentation in the shoreline. It is usually a long and narrow water channel between a closed bay and the open sea. Topsail Island has two inlets: the New River Inlet at its north and New Topsail Inlet at its south. Inlets migrate because of longshore drifts. As longshore drift occurs, sediments are added to the upstream part of the inlet causing it to grow. The downstream side, however, is eroded. This causes a migration of the inlet, but the size however is maintained.

The third transformation factor is the Summer-Winter Change. Seasonal variations in the prevailing wind direction and speed cause the beach to change shape and size between winter and summer. During the winter, prevailing winds are from the Northeast and the wind speed is greater due to the increased temperature difference between the poles and the equator. The warm air from the equator rises and is then replaced quickly by the cold air emerging from the poles. This causes stronger wave energy that pulls off some of the beach material and stores them offshore in sand bars. The beaches in winter are therefore much smaller. During summer, however, the prevailing winds are from the Southwest. The wind speed is less, and the waves are gentler and more regular. The waves then take the sand from the offshore bars back to the beach and this causes the summer beaches to be much wider and more enjoyable! The cycle is repeated as the seasons change. The fourth transformation process is called Over wash fans. They occur during major storms and are quite important because they cause major changes to the shape and location of the island. They move the island landward (toward the coastline). During this process, sand is moved all the way from the beach front to the back of the barrier island. Now it makes more sense to you why the island is constantly changing. As you can imagine, barrier islands have different zones or environments as you go from the shore face to the back of the island where the lagoon, bay or sounds are formed. From the shore face, the first zone is the Shoreface sediments which is simply the beach area. It consists of the offshore sand bars, the beach ridges, runnels (water-filled troughs along the beach) and the beach berms. The next zone consists of the sand dunes which are crossbedded sand that form mounds of sand. They may only get flooded when there is a storm and in some cases some of the sand dunes may be run over by over-wash fans. The plants that may be present on the dunes are important as they help them maintain the dune shape. If you are visiting here, please do not walk on the plants so the dunes do not get destroyed. The next zone is the shrub forest with many shrubs, grasses, and bushes. This is followed by salt marshes: shallow water and organic-rich mud. The salt marshes are home to many crustaceans like oysters, crabs, snails, periwinkles, and birds like wading birds, ducks, diamondback terrapins, etc. The low tidal flats come next and are followed by the maritime forests. Finally, we get to the lagoon, bay or sounds which separate the barrier islands from the mainland. Topsail Island is separated from the mainland by several small sounds and channels that are part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Barrier islands are especially important to the mainland. They are critical to protecting the coastlines and ecosystems from harsh weather as in severe storm damage and flooding. The grasses and beach dunes on the islands absorb the shock from wave energy before it gets to the mainland. In other words, like the name ‘barrier island’, it serves as a barrier or shield that protects the coastline of the mainland. Despite their slender appearance, they have protected the shorelines for centuries. Barrier islands also serve as a home to distinct species of wildlife. They do this by providing a safe environment for estuaries and marshes to form behind them. These areas also serve to purify the water. These islands are a huge blessing.

So which theory do you think relates the most to Topsail Island: The Submergence theory, the Offshore Bar theory, or the Spit accretion theory? Now that you know how barrier islands are formed and what you find on a barrier island, we bet your Geography teacher got nothing on you. Ha!