From Charleston we stayed out on the ocean overnight, then came in at Cape Fear River and Southport (NC), thus avoiding some of the shallow and narrow areas in the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). We now had 300 statute miles to go to Norfolk, Virginia. On the 12th and 13th we enjoyed North Carolina for its fewer boats, fewer bridges to wait for openings, and reasonable depths in the ICW of 10-11'. A major disappointment at Morehead City had to do with an intersection in the middle of a small bay where there were many boats traveling every direction, and the channel buoys were unclear. There was a main channel turning, and two auxiliary channels forking off. There were two #2 bouys, 2 #3s, etc. We ended up between two channels on a sandbar in 3.1' Our draft ios 6.5'. Three frustrating hours later, and using a rising tide and welcome boat wakes we moved off the sandbar and back into the main channel. Humbled once again, we moved on to the Morehead City Marina for the night (diesel, pump out, dinner and safe rest. Saturday, the 14th, we will head north for the last 200 miles of North Carolina. We are avoiding the boisterous Cape Hatteras which one cruising guide said "no boats should go around". With Tropical Storms/hurricanes Chris and Beryl off shore, we are taking the safe route northward. Love to see all the homes along the ICW, beautifully manicured green lawns, so well kept up. And yesterday we went through an afternoon thunderstorm at anchor just off the channel. All is well!