ICW
Carolina Beach, North Carolina
November 8 and 9th
After our 27 hour trek, we didn’t do much but walk the town and check weather. Late afternoon, several boats joined us in the anchorage - boats that shared the free dock with us back at Great Bridge Lock! We keep bumping into boats we have either left behind or have left us behind. At 6PM, the mooring manager came by to collect $ from everyone. Matt had already paid online, but apparently there were two Independence’s in the mooring field - one who had paid and one who was free-wheeling. The manager very heartily welcomed us to Carolina Beach and even offered to take our trash. (No, we didn't give him our trash. That seems like a very rude thing to do!)
We’ve spent a lot of time staring at the weather and trying to figure out our southbound strategy. Our preference would have been to make a passage from Beaufort, NC to Miami, FL. We "did" the ICW on our way north, and are anxious to get back to warm waters and family. We did leave Beaufort and headed into ocean waters; but ducked inland after 60 ocean miles to avoid a cold front. Cold fronts have been sweeping through every other day, leaving only 10 hours at a time to travel in between “waiting out the weather”. Do we take on the ocean and put up with an uncomfortable passage? Do we keep slowly going down the ICW? I foolishly hadn't anticipated the constantly bad weather, so I have been sad. The key to happiness is very low expectations; clearly an attitude adjustment is needed.
Hastings is so popular in North Carolina - people will come out of stores to pet him. The locals are all so welcoming and friendly. While some restaurants and stores are closed for the winter, we’ve been able to get coffee and Thai dinner, so we can’t complain too much.
 |
| Hastings used to be chief shade finder, now he is chief sun chaser! |
 |
| Story of our lives - we could have used some fried fat and sugar! |
 |
| Dinghy dock just feet from the mooring field, and steps from the beach! |
 |
| Beach walk |
 |
| Paw prints on the dunes - our kind of beach! |
 |
| Ears flapping in the wind. He can't get any cuter! |
 |
| Enjoying a dinghy ride through town |
 |
| The boat, the pelly and Hastings |
 |
| Sunset over the mooring field |
 |
| Sunset, Carolina Beach |
Note: Hopefully, we are away from internet on the long awaited passage south and will respond to comments when we get back to civilization!
6 comments
Hastings, you're killing me with cuteness! And no, it doesn't get any cuter than ears flapping in the breeze . . . or any better.
ReplyDeleteStephanie @ SV CAMBRIA
He's the best!
DeleteHave a safe and fast trip south, to warmer weather. Expectations are the key to disappointment! Especially on a boat... :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd how nice when expectations are exceeded - like good weather days or dolphins!
DeleteLook at you bundled up on your walk on the beach. You seriously need to get back down to southern Florida and soak up the warm weather.
ReplyDeleteApparently, my fellow Floridians were complaining about the 60 degrees this morning. But it's so hot to us and the sun is so intense we're in swimsuits and sweating! I think my blood thickened.
Delete