4/10/16        Sunday          Wrightsville Beach, NC


Well, today was different. Didn't run aground. No mechanical issues. Relatively (operative word) deep waters. Nothing too skinny or narrow. The Cape Fear River (abt 6 miles for us) was bumpy but nothing like Charleston Harbor. No bridges that needed to open (that starts tomorrow). All in all, a really gentle day.

We left the dock in St. James Plantation before 9:00 and traveled with a rising tide most of the day. One EXCITEMENT was watching the sailboat in front of us go through a bridge sideways. Whoa! We think the captain was going cautiously due to the height of his mast. And we think he changed his mind about continuing just before the mast got to the bridge and started to back up and turn around. We think the current caught him so that he went through the bridge sideways. Imagine that. A large sailboat traveling sideways - bow and stern in the direction of the highway over the bridge...just floating under the bridge. The mast barely cleared. Captain turned the boat forward as soon as he'd cleared the bridge pilings. We applauded and captain and Grace captain talked about the maneuver. Turns out that boat is 63'3". Bridge clearance is reported to be 64'6". I'd have tried to change my mind about going under (at high tide), too.  We, with our 43" just waited in wonder and motored right through once Adventurer (just remembered the name) cleared out.

At another bridge we decided to stop our journey early. This particular bridge only opens on the hour and we wouldn't make the 2 PM opening which would have put us early evening looking for an anchorage. Anchorages were scarce for many miles beyond Wrightsville. So docked tonight at what looks as if it is going to be a free dock at a restaurant called Dockside. We and another boat looked for the harbor/dock master much of the afternoon to no avail and dock master won't return until 8 AM. We're trying to get the 7 AM bridge opening so as to make tracks/waves toward Morehead tomorrow. Oh well. We didn't even buy a drink at the restaurant. We did get a walk, chilly as it is here, to the food store. Lovely village with dogwood trees in bloom.

dogwood branch

Dockside from our deck

Amelia seems to have more energy today but is still having trouble with her bathroom visits. We'll continue her antibiotics and try to get her to eat. She had a little pizza pepperoni tonight. That should do something for her digestive track.

And it IS chilly here. Good to have socks and vests and hats today.

Across ICW - out our other window