Drambuie Returns Home

Saturday, Jason and me brought Drambuie back to St. James. The trip was uneventful and at times rather monotonous but the pass through Wilmington is kind of fun since we pass the battleship USS North Carolina (now a local tourist attraction).



The battleship is sited directly across the Cape Fear river from downtown Wilmington. This picture shows the city waterfront viewed from beneath the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.



The Wilmington Port is located a mile or two further downriver. I recall just a few years ago the excitement in the California Bay Area when some new container cranes (also known as portainers) were shipped into the bay from Japan. There was some suspense involved as to whether they would fit under the Golden Gate Bridge. They did.

Last month there was a good deal of interest here in the Wilmington area when four new container cranes arrived from China - they may have not had to go under the Golden Gate but there was drama involved in their arrival. The ship carrying the cranes was manunvering too offload the cranes when it came too close to a dredge anchored on the opposite shore. All four of the cranes struck the bardge. I've heard that damges were several million dollars but question that since they are scheudled to be in service by April 1st.

The four blue cranes in the foreground are the new arrivals. This link provides information on the cranes and a photo of the cranes being shipped up the river.