20 April, 2021. Lazy day; long day

51 SM; 8.7 hours

Great sleep on the mooring ball last night.  No worry of anchor drag.  We took the dinghy to the town dock and spend about two hours walking the beach and just watching the waves and getting sand in our toes.  

There are always 10% breaking the dog rule

Back to Serenity, we secured Kaos, made ready and cast off the lines to the mooring buoy pendant at 1035. Carolina Beach mooring  Weather is coming mid day on Wednesday with high gusty winds and some rain.  Only supposed to last through the night with the next day dying down.  So we planned a long day today to get to a good safe anchorage tonight and if we have to remain here during the coming blow.

Decent day, majority of the waterway was straight as an arrow and man-made.  Some tidal current but nothing significant for or against.  Dolphins frequently seen throughout the day.  Got waked extremely bad by local jerk in sport fishing boat who passed from behind close aboard the starboard side.  Really close, too close and chanel was not that narrow.  Could not raise captain on the radio and there was no name on stern.  Nothing broke, but gear scattered about.  Several interactions with dredging tows and barges today. Serious shoaling along our course today.

blue deeper; red shallow

We have anchored at Mile Hammock Bay, inside of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base.  (map) Secured all at 1750.  

Looking SW toward the AICW

Left overs for supper.  We have been watching MV-22s all evening.  

MV-22 

Sound of freedom for sure. A big trawler and 40 foot catamaran sailboat share the anchorage.  Tomorrow has several challenges.  A swing bridge which is undergoing maintenance and opening schedule confused.  USMC can close the AICW for live range firing for a few hours.  Lastly, we have significant winds forecast for tomorrow afternoon.  Should be an interesting day. But for now, we have USMC aviation practicing all around us and a pretty decent sunset.

3249 SM traveled; 1609.0 hours hobbs