Waiting for the weather to pass (rain, strong winds, cold temperatures), our time in Oriental was both fun and productive, complete with dancing at the Halloween Party, walks, laundry, picking up some items at the marine supply store, shopping at the farmers market right outside our door, getting two jerry jugs of fuel, and borrowing the complimentary loaner bikes with baskets on the front to go to the grocery store. On the first day we arrived, a familiar face came walking along the dock; it only took us a moment to figure out the connection; it was Annie of s/v Makani Olu; we had interacted with she and her husband Tom in several locations during last year's snowbird voyage; they keep their boat nearby, and were planning to start their snowbird voyage after the weather was more favorable; thanks, Annie, for the ride to the hardware and auto parts stores; look forward to seeing you both as we voyage! On Monday after the morning temperature had a chance to rise, we cast off the docklines at 10:00 AM. After the 1:30 PM opening at the Beaufort Bridge, we anchored for our first time at 2:00 PM near the Fort Macon Coast Guard Station. About an hour later s/v Makani Olu was anchored next to Grace.

At 2:45 AM on Tuesday the anchor was up, and we headed out the Beaufort Inlet for our first time. Despite what was forecast, after turning onto our course, both the wind and waves were against us, causing us to make extremely slow progress, and with the chart-plotter showing an arrival time well after nightfall into Wrightsville Beach, the crews of both Grace and Makani Olu were back at anchor for some more rest by 4:00 AM, at which time the offshore forecast was updated to show what we had just experienced. Later that morning we motored for about an hour and a half, pulling in to anchor for our first time in Peletier Creek. Kevin rebuilt the engine coolant pump.

Wednesday's 8:00 AM departure was timed for high tide to allow more water below Grace's keel as we got back out of the creek. That brought us to the border of Camp Lejeune, just at Noon, which was the published time for transit on the ICW to be off restriction; this was our first time ever to experience a restriction due to military operations on that portion of the waterway. As we approached, it looked like an ICW pile-up, with boats anchored, some rafted together, and others of us approaching the scene (pictured above) slowly. There were over forty vessels that travelled southbound when the restriction lights were turned off. Now it was low tide at the "navigational alertness required" spot at Browns Inlet, where the lack of "alertness" became immediately evident as many went aground, causing even more congestion for the rest of us to try to get around. We patiently waited for the narrow passageway between the floating red and green buoys to clear before proceeding, and were one of the thirty-four who passed by the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge's 2:00 PM opening. Despite what Kevin was told when he previously telephoned the number provided, the anchorage at Mile Hammock Bay on Camp Lejeune was available; thanks to Annie of s/v Makani Olu for letting us know that they were not "kicked out" the previous night! At 2:45 PM we were anchored in Mile Hammock Bay, watching the entertainment of all the military personnel around there.

Getting underway before 7:30 AM on Thursday allowed us to make the 10:00 AM opening at the Surf City Bridge, the 1:00 PM opening at the Figure Eight Island Bridge, and the 2:00 PM opening at the Wrightsville Beach Bridge, dropping the anchor shortly before 3:00 PM. The next morning we dinghied to the western shore and walked to West Marine and the grocery store, bringing back not only a heavy rolling cart of groceries, but a new VHF radio. After roughly a year of intermittent AIS signals being received, we are relieved to have the new radio with AIS receiver showing AIS information from other vessels on our chart-plotter once again. Following the installation and successful test of the new equipment, for our first time ever we dinghied to the eastern shore and walked along Wrightsville Beach, where several surfers were attempting to catch a wave. After our return to Grace, we got to watch the local sailing club's evening race adjacent to Grace's cockpit.

Today's anchor weighing at 10:15 AM was timed to catch the ebbing tide on the Cape Fear River (aka "Daisy Patch" onboard Grace). The passage was concluded about 2:00 PM when we anchored in Pipeline Canal.

During these passages we have gotten to see dolphins, pelicans, and jellyfish.