Rollin’ On The River
Asking my boyfriend to go on a scenic cruise on the Cape Fear River in the dead of Wilmington winter, I honestly didn’t expect a hard sell. This is a man who works outdoors in all weather, a hiker, an Eagle Scout. “Sure,” he shrugs. Then, I tell him there’s a bar on the boat. “Oh, hell yeah,” he exclaims.
Of the varied options Wilmington Water Tours offers, including sunset cruises and black river tours, we settle on a cruise around Eagles Island and along downtown’s waterfront.
On the walk down to the boat, my date says something to the effect of, “Man, I forgot my bird book.”
He is genuinely disappointed, so his face lights up when we see a small table crowded with binoculars and wildlife and plant identification books.
Stepping on board, the crew immediately makes us welcome. We wander the boat, taking in the quite generous bar. The selection is far beyond my expectations, and the beer, wine, and mixed drinks are reasonably priced. There is also a selection of snacks and sandwiches and a restroom on board.
The day is mild, and we take seats at the very front of the boat. A crew member approaches and offers to close the clear plastic window flaps for us at any time should we become too cold.
We set off on the fifty minute Eagles Island Cruise. As spring approaches, the variety of cruises Wilmington Water Tours offers expands, and the custom catamaran can be booked for weddings and private parties year round.
On Thursdays from about 6 to 9 p.m., join the crew for River Club to sit on the boat, have a drink, and listen to local musicians perform. You can experience the thirty-six-foot Willard Vega Trawler for free without ever leaving the dock.
On our outing, as we cruise past the Wilmington waterfront, I am immediately awed at the power of a simple shift in perspective.
The city I know so well looks surprisingly unfamiliar from a new angle.
“It’s amazing how many people have never seen the city from the river,” says Captain Ed Oeters. He points out notable buildings and explains their histories; he describes how places like the foot of Market Street looked long ago; he discusses development projects in the works and what the waterfront might look like in the future.
Then we make a U-turn and head past the Battleship North Carolina and along Eagles Island. The captain talks about the Wilmington port and the river’s history, its dredging, and the slow change from mostly fresh to mostly salt water.
Oeters points out osprey nests and discusses the migratory patterns of the predatory birds, which return to the area in late February.
We relax in our seats, admiring the scenery and listening. We see a few cormorants, and at one point I spot, in low graceful flight through the trees, a blue heron.
It feels a little like victory.
Wilmington Water Tours
212 South Water Street | 338-3134
To view more of photographer Bryce Lafoon’s work, go to www.brycelafoonphotography.com
