We left the Camp Lejuene Anchorage at daybreak and managed to ride a favourable current most of the day. The hassles today were caused by 3 bridges, two of which only open on the hour. We cleared the Figure Eight Island bridge at 11:30 and only had 5 miles to the next bridge. However, we had to drift at 2.5 knots and wait for the 1 p.m. opening. The slow pace gave us a chance to observe first hand the damage done by hurricane Florence. This area was where she came ashore and it was sad to see the destruction. The rebuilding is well underway, I must admit whoever has the blue tarp market in this area is making a fortune.

After a relatively uneventful day we arrived in Carolina Beach at 2:30. After fueling and pumping out we found a nice spot to anchor in the well protected harbour. We first stopped here in 2016, it's a funky old beach town with lots of people stuck in the 60s. As long as you remain within the town limits golf carts are allowed on the streets which are lined with all kinds of restaurants and classic watering holes.

Anchorages are always entertaining, for us it's like watching a big screen action TV. Case in point, we just witnessed a boat touring the anchorage looking for a good spot to drop the hook. We're guessing he doesn't have a depth sounder as he ran aground 3 times while he toured the edge of the anchorage. Unfazed he backed off each time then went to the centre and anchored.

We'll spend the night here again before heading down the Cape Fear River and jumping off shore to Charleston. Once we hit the river mouth it's 115 miles to the harbour entrance so we should be there by sunrise Thursday.

Today's picture is of The 3 Musketeers searching breakfast.