11/22/15  Sunday

Such a lot of events today for such a short travel day.

Up early so that we avoided low, low tide at our anchorage. Coffee. Cheese toast w/raisins. Brownies. and out of the anchorage at 7:15 or so. It is so unfortunate that  the sailing day can't start simple. We crawled through the entrance to the anchorage, knowing that the sandbar extended. The most shallow was 8+ feet. No problem. But then we arrived at the Wrightsville Beach bridge and this was

barging through at us. Well, it wasn't quite that dramatic. The bridge tender told us a big barge was coming through and than we should pull over to the side out of the way. But David had to keep us in deep enough water, against a tide and current with this coming up the canal. And then there was the warning on Active Captain of the shoaling at a particular inlet. And then there was the Green marker way out in the shallows. Really. Couldn't we start without difficulties and ease into them as the day continued???  But then there was the spotting of 14 (!!) snowy white egrets along the coast all within 30 seconds. They were playing leapfrog - leapegret? - as they made their way along the water...feeding?? And Pelican beach

And then it rained. and rained. and got colder. but we were in Carolina Beach! so who cares?!? We pulled in at Gibby's Dock & Dine as a convenient place to meet Conni and Al later in the day.

At Gibby's Dock & Dine where we are holed up for the night.

And while I was innocently doing bills (!) and calculating receipts and discovering that we can never never again spend a week at a marina because that. is. expensive. And we tend to go out to eat rather than cooking in.....So while I was calculating expenses over the past 20 days, David was shopping Craig's list. Thus his new mode of transportation....matches his clothes (roll my eyes)

And now compacted for boat travel

Does he not look like that veritable cat who ate the canary? David has been lusting after a folding bike for months...more month than we've been sailing and has talked w/owners, ridden a couple, turned one down. Finally, his own which is, for now at least, stowed on the aft deck. So much for my yoga studio back there. Good thing I can get off the boat occasionally for a sun salute.

And then Conni and Al arrived and we dined at the dock then they visited our boat. Conni is my cousin and I claim Al as cousin, too. They brought us mail, having agreed to be a mail drop place on our trip, and some requested onions and toilet paper. What good friends to provide these basics for us. This time we remembered, at the last minute, to take a photo.

They left and we took a windy and chilly walk on Carolina Beach. I don't think I've been here since I was about 7 years old. Lots of beach time in NC but not here as it is quite south and not deserted even 40 years ago.

The beach was steep here. Not what I'm accustomed to at the Outer Banks and it was cold, windy...but so beautiful and compelling. Sigh.

Tonight's task is to stay warm! Expecting low 40s and only into high 50s tomorrow. Hoping to cross the Cape Fear River tomorrow.