Some have said this river is their favorite section of the ICW. So far, I'm inclined to agree, even in the late fall/early winter when the foliage is gone. The river meanders through miles of cypress trees with virtually no sign of civilization. Very nice.

But just barely. Three states down, three to go.

Yesterday we tied up to the town dock at Holden Beach. Not a bad facility: electricity, water, a shower and great internet connectivity for a very cheap price compared to some of the "real" marinas we've used. And we woke this morning intending to move along. And the fog rolled in. We couldn't even see the other side of the channel. Unfortunately we couldn't stay as our spot was reserved. So off we went at 11:30. We had some pretty good meanderings back and forth running at just above idle speed. But gradually the fog lifted just in time for the intersection of the ICW with the Shallotte Inlet with shoals and marks moved accordingly.

We went from Carolina Beach through Snow's Cut into the Cape Fear River and to Southport. Staying out of the big fellow's way wasn't too bad except on the other side of us there was some sort of a not-very-well-marked federal restricted area. And it came an anal enforcer dogging us for some miles. He even gave some other poor sucker a ticket. But, it was otherwise a pretty day and we got more experience sharing the road than we did in Norfolk. Tomorrow ought to see us in South Carolina.

Pretty crappy marina, but we needed a pharmacy and grocery store stop and the other marinas were full. The photo was taken from the drawbridge from which the marina and the adjacent restaurant must have taken the name.
Getting through that bridge was a bit tricky. Both it and another bridge a few miles up will only open at certain times, on the hour in the case of the Wrightsville bridge. We knew we didn't have enough speed make to make the 11AM opening, so we poked along in a following current but still got to the holding area above the bridge too soon for the noon opening. The holding area is small and surrounded by shoals, but we only had to share with one other boat. When the bridge did open that following current swept us through the narrow opening like being on a sleigh ride. To make matters worse, some *** in a small boat was in the middle of the channel fishing. I was too busy to call the bridge operator to complain. Then we had to turn around in that current below the bridge in a boat that doesn't like to turn and get back to the marina so we could dock side-to facing upstream.

Cooked in the Omnia stovetop oven: shepherd's pie with turkey, stuffing, and honey baked apples with cinnamon.