BELHAVEN, NC

After the USMC helicopters finished their night training at the field near the anchorage at the Mile Hammock the night was peaceful and quiet. We had another bridge to time for opening four miles to the north so we had another early start along with ESCAPE.  There were signs along the shoreline warning that traffic on the ICW would be stopped if there were live firing exercises taking place.  Fortunately we didn't have to contend with that.  We made the bridge in time and noticed that it was operated by the USMC so the ICW must actually pass through the southern part of Camp Lejune.
Would you believe we were stopped by the US Coast Guard again.  This time they did not board our boat but asked a few questions over the radio and allowed us to move on to MOREHEAD CITY, NC where we spent the night.  The ESCAPE crew had a car at the marina, their homeport.  They took Sue and I for a brief tour of Morehead City and Beaufort before stopping for dinner.

This morning we had another early start so that we could put some miles under the boat. The character of the ICW changed again once we left Morehead City. We now have more open water to contend with. The Neuse River and Pamlico Sound were churned up by strong winds that created rough seas for a good part of the day that the boat handled very well. However, there was no way I could operate the boat from the fly bridge because of the winds and salt spray. We got a brief reprieve going through Hobucken Cut before dealing with the open water when we joined the Pungo River and made our way up to Belhaven.  We are now anchored in the semi protected harbor Belhaven Harbor.  Tomorrow's weather prediction is calling for severe weather beginning in the afternoon so we probably move to a dock and take a weather delay.  It all part of the adventure.

Y'all stay vertical,

Capt John and First Mate Sue