60 miles from hell

Today started out as any other day in an anchorage. Beautiful sunrise, raise the anchor, clean the mud off the chain, and head out. The first bridge we came to we were 10 minutes late and it only opened on the hour. We had to hang out in the channel for 50 minutes. It's not easy holding a 47 ton boat in a channel 150 ft wide with a current waiting for the bridge to open. The second bridge we only had to wait 15 minutes because it opens on the half hour. The third bridge we had to wait 45 min. with dozens of little boats buzzing around at Wrightsville Beach, an area from hell on a weekend and a channel that is about 100 foot wide. Two hours before and two hours after we had boats buzzing from in front and from behind. Next we headed for Carolina Beach where we were going lick our wounds and anchor for the night. When we arrive at an anchorage we do a 360 to check the depths. When we headed in things were fine with depths around 25 feet, then 37 feet, then another 100 feet and the depth alarm goes off and before we knew it we were grounded. Shrimp boats were no more than 150 foot from us so how could this be? after much wiggling, thrusting with the bow thruster, and a lot of churned up mud we were free. This was the only anchorage in the area so the decision was made to go to a marina another 15 miles away. We slugged our way through a 3 knot tide, 15 knot winds and big waves on the bow in a wide open area of the Cape Fear River. finally arrived at 5:30, a 9 hour day from hell.The whole day the depth sounder was going off (it is set for 6 foot under the running gear) because this whole area of the ICW (inter coastal waterway) in North Carolina is shoaled in. Not all days on the water are great, just most of them. The day ended well with a nice marina, nice Dock Master, a long island ice tea, dinner at the marina restaurant and last but not least, a great dinner partner.

September Song (Mama said there would be days like this)out
Bob


The day started out beautiful but then it was down hill from there

This was in someones front yard

Beaches were packed including cars

3 knot tides