Pulling the anchor at Mile Hammock Bay was a bit of a
challenge as we aren’t yet used to pulling the combination rode and chain of
our spare anchor set-up. After about 45 minutes we had it figured out and were
moving South with the other snowbirds. This stretch of the ICW has three
bridges, two of which only open at the top of the hour. Beth planned the route
and speeds so that we hit each bridge with only a few minutes to wait before we
passed through. It was interesting that we caught up with everyone that left
before us at the very first bridge. From there, it was a parade all the way to
Wrightsville Beach. The ICW here is lined with huge homes overlooking small
islands and sawgrass between the ICS and the atlantic. The most surprising
sight was a life size statue of a giraffe on the front lawn of one home. Upon
clearing the Wrightsville swing bridge, the group separated with some
continuing South, some pulling into marinas and four boats heading over to the
anchorage in Banks channel. This time we dropped the hook smartly and it set
right away. Unfortunately another boat was anchoring and dragged back too
close, so we spent another hour exploring before finding a better spot.
We launched the dinghy and went ashore to find easy access to the beach.
Lots of folks were surfing and the beach was active for a Saturday in October.
Ate ashore and headed back to the boat just before sunset for a much more
peaceful night’s sleep. The new thing (for us) here is the reversing of the
current in the channel where every six hours the boat is facing the opposite
direction. It is interesting to watch how long it takes for different boat
designs to be affected by the current and the wind.
challenge as we aren’t yet used to pulling the combination rode and chain of
our spare anchor set-up. After about 45 minutes we had it figured out and were
moving South with the other snowbirds. This stretch of the ICW has three
bridges, two of which only open at the top of the hour. Beth planned the route
and speeds so that we hit each bridge with only a few minutes to wait before we
passed through. It was interesting that we caught up with everyone that left
before us at the very first bridge. From there, it was a parade all the way to
Wrightsville Beach. The ICW here is lined with huge homes overlooking small
islands and sawgrass between the ICS and the atlantic. The most surprising
sight was a life size statue of a giraffe on the front lawn of one home. Upon
clearing the Wrightsville swing bridge, the group separated with some
continuing South, some pulling into marinas and four boats heading over to the
anchorage in Banks channel. This time we dropped the hook smartly and it set
right away. Unfortunately another boat was anchoring and dragged back too
close, so we spent another hour exploring before finding a better spot.
We launched the dinghy and went ashore to find easy access to the beach.
Lots of folks were surfing and the beach was active for a Saturday in October.
Ate ashore and headed back to the boat just before sunset for a much more
peaceful night’s sleep. The new thing (for us) here is the reversing of the
current in the channel where every six hours the boat is facing the opposite
direction. It is interesting to watch how long it takes for different boat
designs to be affected by the current and the wind.
Noah has made up a new solitaire game and is reading
“The Secret of Hermit’s Bay” a mystery set in Scotland. He wanted me to type
that it was written in 1962 so people will know to look in a used bookstore if
they want to find a copy.
“The Secret of Hermit’s Bay” a mystery set in Scotland. He wanted me to type
that it was written in 1962 so people will know to look in a used bookstore if
they want to find a copy.
Note to other cruisers: Fuel just south of Swan Point
Marina was $1.91 for Diesel and $2.25 for gasoline, the lowest prices we’ve
seen.
Marina was $1.91 for Diesel and $2.25 for gasoline, the lowest prices we’ve
seen.
