We like the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area and are thinking this may be where we drop the anchor and stay awhile. We are starting to look at homes and have already looked into the schools and are pleased with the elementary, middle and high schools. Being close to the water is super and as I said previously the beaches here are great! More to follow.

Photo: John, Charlotte, Robert, Daniel and Lawrence having fun in the Carolina surf!

We have been stateside for two weeks now. We left Charleston and made our way up the ICW and Cape Fear River to the historic city of Wilmington. We spent four days at the Waterfront Docks getting a feel for the city and enjoying the charm of the Historic District. Charlotte met us that first night and we treated her to some cracked conch fresh from the Abacos! We have moved EIRA over to Wrightsville Beach and are now anchored in the sound. We are a stones throw from Charlotte's house and the wonderful beach at Wrighstville. We are still in the cruising lifestyle mode, having school in the mornings and the afternoons free. Charlotte's nieces and nephews are visiting the beach house for summer so Daniel and John have had a super time playing with all of the kids! The beach is a great surfers beach and the boys are having fun on the surf board and are fortunate to have Deans here ( a real surfer dude!) to give them some tips.

Photo: We have raised all of our flags from the countries we visited over the past 3 years! EIRA looks raather festive!

We were met by dolphins playing in the surf around EIRA as we approached Charleston Harbour. The noticeable difference between the dolphins playing here and those who said farewell to us in the Sea of Abaco was the color and clarity of the water! Nothing compares to the crystal clear waters on the Bahama banks. The Charleston water is a dark muddy brown.
We travelled 460 miles and had a great trip. The days did not have much wind but in the evenings the wind picked up and we had beautiful, brisk sails. No moon, however the night sky was brillant with stars. The Gulf Stream gave us some good speed under Eira's keel, clocking 8-9 knots regularly.
We dropped the anchor in the Ashley River and Customs and Immigrations came to clear us back into the US of A- no problems. We put the dinghy down and took Daisy ashore- she was very happy to be on terre firme once again.