Enroute to Lake Woccamaw, we overflew thousands of acres of Weyerhauser's pine trees. More than once I thought... sure glad that Walt Ellis just completed the annual on this aircraft!
Located 100 miles southwest of New Bern and west of Wilmington NC, Lake Woccamaw was a stop recommended by an airline pilot acquaintance of Bob's. We were told of fuel availability, as well as decent beaching areas on the west side of the lake.
We circled the west side of the lake, found a suitable area and landed. While taxiing toward our selected beach, it seemed that in every car that passed, a cell phone suddenly materialized in the driver's hand. We beached the aircraft and were in the process of fueling the J3 when we were greeted by the Chief of Lake Woccamaw Police. He informed us that by landed there we had violated their new "no seaplane" ordinance.
It seems that the previous summer, there was a seaplane accident which resulted in an environmental problem. We explained our need to stop and fuel the J3, promising not to cause any environmental problems in the process. The Chief, sympathetic to our plight, suggested we depart ASAP. We did just that. Our takeoffs started directly from the beach. Once airborne, we headed south toward our next stop, the Wacca Wache Marina.
