Yes, we are still in NC! After a quiet night anchored in Wrightsville Beach we weighed anchor @ 0830 and headed south on the ICW on the flood tide. This is a very interesting area on the water. Leaving Wrightsville on the ICW you go through Masonboro Sound, Myrtle Grove Sound, Snows Cut (man-made connection) to the Cape Fear River. Along the way you pass a number of inlets to the Atlantic (not navigable, for the most part) and as you approach on the flood tide your speed may drop a knot or two. Then, after passing the inlet, your speed picks up from 3-4 knots. So without touching the throttle we went from 5.5 to 9 knots in a matter of minutes, repeatedly.
While underway we called ahead to Charleston City Marina and found they could not take us until Tuesday, so we needed to spend an additional day getting there and we decided to make it a night in Southport. (Good thing no one is expecting us for Thanksgiving dinner!) Now, despite the cold northerly winds, we are cozy aboard with shore power for the heating system, internet connection and good books. It is like being home with a fire in the fireplace! Tomorrow, South Carolina? Stay tuned!