We left Charleston via the ICW, went all the way through Myrtle Beach and anchored in Calabash Creek. The next day I grounded us near the Shallotte Inlet where we adhered closely to the latest navigation alert recommendations but couldn't stay in deep enough water and avoid the dredge that was moving side to side across the channel. The dredge crew pulled us off and we warned cruisers headed that way. We read later that a handful of other boats grounded in the same place. We anchored that night in Wrightsville Beach and had easy access to go outside the next day. We had an easy offshore run to Morehead City, anchored right off the ICW, and ran our final stretch, arriving May 2nd. We had one final blessing of the appearance of many dolphins feeding around crab traps in Adams Creek, shortly before we entered the Neuse River and reached New Bern. We spent 12 days getting the boat ready for the summer and had a bittersweet departure on May 14th.