Nov 3&4, An interesting anchorage & Wrightsville Beach

We were finally able to leave behind Morehead City and work our way along the intercoastal. It was a pretty, cool & sunny day. The dolphins were having fun riding along with us.

While cruising the ICW, we follow the fixed Navaids Red & Green & use our chart plotters, depth finder, Doyles Guide, Waterways Guide & Active Captain so we are aware of trouble spots before reaching them. Trouble spots are either shallow areas due to shoaling, missing markers or tricky zigzag routes. You learn to hug the red or stay center or stay 200 ft from the docks as you pass, etc. The ICW can be a challenge at times even with staying in the channel, if it is low tide, you may hit bottom.  There are bridges that must open for us & only open on the hour, so you need to time your passage, which isn't as easy due to currents & other boats.

Doug was making an interesting observation of dichotomy between how the wind can be at gale force one day and the next totally calm. One would expect a slow down in the wind not such an abrupt change. We saw that happen this week while stuck in Morehead City.

Naval Osprey over Waterford

Our anchorage tonight, Mile Hammock Bay, is unique being that it is a part of Camp Lejeune which they use as a training & exercise area for the soldiers. It is a protected round cove with marshland surrounding it. As we pulled in, Waterford was in the lead and a Naval security boat with a blue light flashing met him. Security informed us we could anchor but there were live exercises with air & water activity currently ongoing. That did not discourage us in the least, we were looking forward to the entertainment & it did not disappoint. We are adapting to boats anchoring super close to us.  We were the first ones anchored today & then 20 boats entered throughout the afternoon. We wish they would at least put more chain out (officially called scope) and we wish all boats had chain, some have very thin line attached to their anchors.  We also wish they would back down on their anchor to make sure it is set so they don't drag when the wind picks up. Those are our wishes for the day!

Some of the local catch
one of the fish was bit by a shark
as it was being brought into the boat

There is a lot of marsh land along our route as well as houses & Marina's. We see small fishing boats buzzing back & forth.  We even spotted hunters walking in the marshes with rifles:gulp! There is a fairly constant stream of boat traffic moving south with us. The power boats pass us & we pass the sailboats.

There is a saying along the ICW: "Either you have gone aground or you lie". Well, there will be no lying today, we did hit bottom not touch but hit while in the channel but we were hugging the green due to passing a sailboat. It did not stop us but we heard, felt it & slowed down because of it. It is a terrible feeling but again as Garry says "no harm, no foul". Hopefully we just scraped some nasty barnacles off.

A big face dock to tie up to

After a bit of a stressful day where blood pressures rose & tempers flared, we were able to dock on the face dock @ Seapath Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach, NC.  The 2 dock hands were so friendly & helpful. The facilities were nice, the bathroom was small but clean and there was a washer/dryer. We walked out to the beach, stopped @ a shop then visited Mott's Seafood to buy Grouper & Salmon to grill.  Our fresh fish was excellent-I hope to make a seafood lover out of Doug yet.

Seapath Yacht Club, Wrightsville
Beach, NC

After being together on the boat since June
Doug could use this!

Another reminder of how beautiful life is