Carolina Beach and Kure Beach Sea Turtles Ready to Hatch

Several sea turtle "boils" will take place over the next few days and weeks. A boil is when turtle egg hatchlings emerge from their shells and appear phoenix-like out of the ground. Dozens of volunteers are at the ready to guide the little creatures into the water, a first step in an arduous journey to adulthood.

One of the boils includes the offspring of a rare leatherback sea turtle, a beast that can weigh nearly 2000 pounds. Her nest could hatch over 100 babies.

Stay tuned.

This Just In

Despite the rather dreary weather we've been experiencing the last few days, the free concert at Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area will go on as planned this evening (the radar shows decent clearing through the night).

Tonight’s band is Mako, which features a variety of Top 40, Classic Rock and Blues. The concert starts at 6:00 p.m. so bring your lawn chairs and snacks.

Rock on.

As we slide into the weekend, I'll leave you with a classic scene from the classic mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap":

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don't know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

Beach Overload: Alternate Fun for the Dog Days of Summer

With so much going on these days at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, it's easy to overlook some nearby attractions.

Located in the heart of Wilmington, Jungle Rapids is just 20 minutes from Carolina Beach, and is a terrific place for fun of all sorts. The park features a water slide, go-karts, laser tag, a rock climbing wall, and miniature golf plus free parking.

For more information please visit www.junglerapids.com.

Pleasure Island included in summer travel feature

Carolina Beach and Kure Beach were recently mentioned in The New York Times' Sunday Travel Section. The story, titled "One Summer, 14 Weekends," boasted that the area has "pleasurable beaches for catching a tan," and mentions hiking at Carolina Beach State Park, the wonders of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and the 712-foot-long Kure Beach Pier, where hopeful fisherman can snag mackeral and flounder.

The brief story also cites the Cape Fear River, which "rambles past [the] historic and picturesque city of Wilmington, N.C., widening and creating slivery barrier islands with [the] river on one side and the Atlantic on the other."

Sounds so beautiful and fun, I wished I lived there. Good thing I already do.

They Swim With Their Homes On Their Backs/Update 7/10/09

If you're like me your knowledge of sea turtles comes from those exciting scenes in "Finding Nemo," where the surfer dude turtle cruising the EAC (East Australian Current) marvels at his rambunctious young son, Squirt.

But sea turtles have an even more fascinating life than even Hollywood could imagine.

Consider these facts:

> Female loggerhead sea turtles lay an average of 120 eggs in each nest and may nest up to 7 times in one season.

> When resting, sea turtles can hold their breath for several hours.

> Sea Turtles reach sexual maturity around 25 years.

> Sea turtles swim speeds that can reach up to 35 mph.

> Female sea turtles return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their nests.

For information about sea turtles in the Carolina Beach and Kure Beach area, please visit www.seaturtleproject.org

To see a sea turtle "boil" (hatchlings), please visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO1zV4cYFbo

JULY 10, 2009, SEA TURTLE UPDATE -- On Wednesday, July 8, a rare leatherback sea turtle plodded onto the sands of Carolina Beach to lay her eggs. The endangered leatherback, whose shell is not hard like a loggerhead's, is about half the size of a Volkswagon Beetle, according to Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Busovne. "Since our project began in the 80s, we've never seen evidence of a leatherback. This is truly remarkable."

Ghostly Gator Greets Guests at NC Aquarium

Was it Essau in The Bible who was albino? And what about Johnny Winter of rock and roll fame? (he also played a show in Carolina Beach last year). I think there’s a Chinese model who’s hair is pearly white.

Now, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is getting in on the no-hue action, recently introducing an as-yet-to-be-named all-white alligator. The 5-foot specimen features a typically topographical backside, teeth sharper than a puppies, and freaky pink eyes -- a rarity indeed.

The Aquarium is having a contest to name its newest reptile. Please visit online at www.ncaquariums.com during the months of April and May. The winner will be announced in June.

The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. Hours are 9am to 5pm daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for ages 6 through 17. Free admission for children under 6, registered groups of N.C. school children, and NC Aquarium Society members.

Sandy Paws: Dogs at the Beach

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. -- Roger Caras


Ah, dogs. Any human who's ever had the pleasure of having one own them will happily tell you the fascinating con game their four-legged friend embodies. What? It's 4 o'clock and I usally eat at 5? Time to walk meaningfully around my friend until he succumbs to my charms, and more importantly, to feed me. Huh? Watching TV without scratching my ears? May as well walk back and forth, making faint whiny noises until I get pleasured. What's that noise? A car passing the house? Time to bark like a burglary is imminent.



The truth is more and more people can't live without their pet dogs. And that means more and more are taking vacations with four-legged friends in tow. The problem is many places either don't accept pets (although this is changing with demand), or impose restrictions on pets in public places.


The following is a short publication about leash laws in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, courtesy of a friend:

THE POOCH POST

As fellow pet-lovers, we at United Beach Vacations would like to welcome you and your dog to Pleasure Island! We have lots of tips and great advice to ensure that you and your pet have a great time. First, let’s get the not-so-fun stuff out of the way. There are places dogs can’t go at certain times of the year. But don’t worry, because we’ll follow that up with some great places that dogs CAN enjoy!

CAROLINA BEACH-Dogs are allowed on the beach from November 1 until February 28. During these times, your dog MUST be on a leash, and you must have in your possession a container to pick up dog waste.

KURE BEACH-Dogs are allowed on the beach only from October 1 until March 30. During these times, your dog MUST be on a leash, and you must have in your possession a container to pick up dog waste.

OK-now that we have that out of the way, see below for some great places that you and your pooch can enjoy together:

FREEMAN PARK: This area is located at the north end of Pleasure Island. With a $10.00 day pass, you can bring your 4-wheel drive vehicle (and your dog!) onto this beach. Dogs are required to be on a leash from April 1 to Sept 30. From October 1 to March 31, dogs are allowed off leash as long as they remain under voice command and the owner is within a reasonable distance from the pet. For more please visit http://www.carolinabeach.org/site_new/pages/FreemanParkRegistrationForm.htm

FORT FISHER STATE PARK: This is a state-owned park located at the southern tip of Pleasure Island. A $10.00 day pass and a 4-wheel drive vehicle gives you access to beach fun for you and your pet. Dogs are allowed at all times but must be on a six-foot leash.
For park hours and more info: http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/fofi/home.html

CAROLINA BEACH STATE PARK: This is a beautiful 700 acre park with miles of trails through many different natural habitats for you and your dog to explore. There is no cost to hike in the park, and doggie waste bags are provided for you to use. Dogs MUST be on a leash at all times. For park hours and more info go to http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/cabe/home.html

OFF-LEASH FUN: There are two off-leash dog parks in the area where your pooch can make new friends:
In Carolina Beach, check out the fenced in dog park located in Mike Chapell Park on Dow Road. For more info call Carolina Beach Parks and Rec at 910-458-2977. In Kure Beach, check out the Gurney Hood Barking Lot located on the corner of K and 7th Ave. For more info go to http://www.ghbarkinglot.org/aboutus.htm

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Pooch Post, and have a great time here on Pleasure Island with your best buddy! If you have any questions, please call our office.

Continued drought is bad for area, good for visitors to Carolina Beach

From The Wilmington Star-News, a report that most likely means lots of sunny days ahead for visitors to the area:


"The Wilmington area and the rest of the state are now back in drought conditions.

The designation by the U.S. Drought Monitor comes as the region endures La Nina conditions, a weather pattern prompted by a cooling of the waters in the equatorial Pacific that generally means drier conditions in the Southeastern United States.

Through Thursday, the National Weather Service had recorded 2.95 inches of rain at the Wilmington International Airport for 2009. That’s more than 4 inches below normal precipitation levels for the first 50 days of the year."

Surfing, fishing report, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, United Beach Vacations

There's so much to do in the Cape Fear region that it's sometimes the obvious that gets overlooked. Just yesterday as I was walking my dog on the beach during a spectacularly sunny and unseasonably warm day, I was struck by how many surfers bobbed in the chilly water, taking turns gracefully gliding along the swells.

But surfing isn't the only year-round obession in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Local fisherman swear by the great bounty of marine life available. Beginning today, United Beach Vacations will proudly provide readers with a periodic fishing report, courtesy of Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Fishing Charters. Here's his report for this week:

We've been successful catching a few speckled trout in the 2- to 3-pound range on live shrimp. We've also been catching a few red drum in the 16- to 18-inch range, on shrimp and lures. Additionally, the spiny sharks and black sea bass have been biting real well on the reefs and wrecks close to shore. There are a few fish around, you just need to know where to look.

Interested in booking a fishing trip in our area? Contact Capt. Robert at 910-264-1807 or visit his website at www.carolinaexplorer.com.