Gareth McGrath: I was born in England, but here's why I call Wilmington home now

I wasn't supposed to be here for more than two decades.

When I arrived in May 1999, just a few months before Hurricane Floyd changed my views on underestimating the power of Mother Nature, I thought Wilmington would just be a stepping stone in my career as I moved up the journalism ladder.

But a couple homes, two kids, a dog and plenty of great friendships and memories later, the Port City is now home.

As I approach a quarter century with the StarNews (that just sounds ridiculous!), here are some of the most common questions I get − along with a few of my favorite memories.

What have been your most memorable stories?

Having been an environmental reporter for most of my time in Wilmington, getting my boots and hands dirty − and often getting bitten to heck − always made me smile. It's also hard, however, not to think about interviewing then-candidate Donald Trump when he held a rally at UNCW, climbing to the top of one of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge's towers, and flying with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds (and I wasn't sick!).

But the story that I still get questions about to this day is when I had the opportunity to hang out with Michael Jordan for a day. He had come to Pender County to donate supplies to students and families who had lost their homes during Hurricane Floyd, and I was lucky enough to be the Pender beat reporter back then.

When I first met him, we were huddled in a janitor's closet in a school as officials gathered the students who had lost everything into the gymnasium. For five minutes, amid boxes of Hanes T-shirts and Gatorade, we just chatted about Wilmington, life and family like two old friends. He has the biggest hands I've ever seen, by the way. Little did I know years later my kids would end up going to the New Hanover County high school he put on the map.

More: Reporter recalls covering Floyd, its aftermath

What's been the biggest change you've seen?

Like anyone who has been here for more than a few hurricanes and hit teen TV dramas, it's the amazing growth the Cape Fear region has experienced.

When I first moved here, Military Cutoff Road was two lanes, Mayfaire was a horse farm, Hampstead was a little more than a few subdivisions and gas stations on the way to Topsail Island. There was open space between Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, and Leland was centered around Village Road, not U.S. 17.

But even today, with our infrastructure straining to handle the massive number of newcomers attracted to our great community, I still chuckle when people complain about the traffic around Wilmington. Honestly, waiting a cycle of lights to get through an intersection doesn't mean we need a bypass or wider roadway. Just live in London, Denver, Philadelphia or Washington and you'll appreciate rush hour here!

Read more: Here are the latest climate change and environment stories from Gareth McGrath

What do you do for fun?

Being originally from England, I love the pub culture and international flavor of the people and businesses attracted to Wilmington. And as a journalist, I'm incredibly curious. That's why I love traveling and scoping out new places.

Locally, I like biking and kayaking because it gives me the freedom to stop when I want to explore or ask questions.

But it is traveling across the U.S. and especially abroad that really excites me.

I've been lucky enough to visit Asia, Canada, the Caribbean and much of Europe. But it is South Africa, my wife's native land, that still takes my breath away − specifically Kruger National Park, an area the size of Massachusetts where you are the interloper and lions, baboons, elephants, rhinos and the ever-dangerous hippos dominate.

One evening after a long day of wildlife watching, and maybe after a few adult beverages, I was walking around one of the park's rest camps when I ran into a guard carrying an old Lee-Enfield bolt rifle. He was manning the main gate, which like the fence surrounding the camp was electrified.

When I told him I thought having an electric 12-foot fence in the middle of nowhere was a bit much, he smiled, took out his flashlight and shone it into the ink-black night. A slew of dancing eyes about 100 feet outside looked back at us.

Hyenas, he said.

"And to them, you are just a slow gazelle."

I might be a reporter, but I didn't need to ask him another question that night.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: StarNews reporter Gareth McGrath covers climate change and environment