Another long day, but spectacular! From the ospreys to the herons to the cypress to the grasses, I love coastal North
Carolina. Luckily, we were outside and going slowly so we could smell the piney woods and hear the birdsongs. I feel sorry for the people going by on the big, fast million-dollar powerboats. They don't know what they're missing.

Bruce kept telling me that there wasn't much in Coinjock, but i think he's wrong. The town is split in two by the ICW. Neat homes with colorful flowerbeds and tall birdhouses on towers line the banks. There are two marinas, and we are at the one that has almost no boats. All the powerboats are tied up across the way. They are headed into the restaurant over there.

Here there is a huge grassy lawn and I threw a ball for Chip for an hour and wore him out. We sat in the cockpit drinking a beer and watching the herons fish the shallows across the river. There is more than just the difference of sail vs. power. Our slower pace on the water mirrors our attitude toward life in general.

I met a fellow on the dock and he was admiring our boat. He pointed to his powerboat and said, "I've gone over to the dark side."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right."

Fair winds!