Rogue ICW Day 16

It was a clear sunny morning in Wrightsville Beach when we loosed the lines and left Docksides at 7:50 a.m. Yes, 7:50 precisely.  There is a swing bridge less than a quarter mile away that only opens on the hour.  We got in line behind a sportfisher and waited for the bridge to open.  At exactly 8:00 the bridge swung open and we passed through after the large sportfisher.  Of course after getting through he promptly left us in the dust and we never saw him again. We had deep water for most of the day, and it was pretty much just following the channel markers.  This part of the ICW is not nearly as challenging as some of the other sections we transited earlier.  Almost boring.  One thing I haven't really mentioned in my past posts are the dolphin sightings pretty much every day.  They come in pairs, or sometimes in bunches of six or more. They surface and then dive back under the water just off the bow of the boat as it moves through the water.  You are afraid you will run them over with the prop, but they know what they are doing.  We have been seeing them several times a day.  The dolphins are quick to surface and just as quick to disappear again.  Taking a picture is nearly impossible.  By the time you get your camera ready they are long gone and pop up somewhere else.  Rick tried for several days and finally gave up.  Rousby tried once today and quickly realized how fruitless it is.
We continued on past Camp Lejune's live firing range.  They put up signs with flashing lights warning you not to enter the area while exercises are going on.  Right, like I wouldn't hear artillery shells exploding nearby, or the guns going off.  Thanks for the warning Marines.  On past Camp Lejune, we had to pass a couple more bridges that have restricted openings.  At one bridge we had to wait almost twenty minutes for it to open, so we went in circles like a dog chasing it's tail along with a sailboat that was also waiting.  After that we had to go the length of Bogue Sound which is about 18 miles long.  The ICW took us inside a string of small barrier type islands the separate the channel from the main part of the sound which is shallow with MLW depths of less than four feet.  As has been the case lately, the winds began to build throughout the day and as we came out from behind the string of barrier island we had to deal with it and aft quartering seas. Not a smooth ride.  We finally reached our destination for the night at Spooners Creek.  A great little place with a small basin with room for a few boats.  When we pulled in, the boat that had been tied up in front of us at Docksides last night was also here.  It took us four tries to get the anchor to hold so Rousby got his indoctrination using the windlass.  It finally held and we are settled in for the night.  After a couple of beers and some snacks we cooked dinner.  This is my final task of the day, so goodnight my friends.

Statistics for the day - 74 miles traveled, 8hrs 47mins. moving time, 35mins stopped, 9hrs. 23 mins. total time.  1072 total miles traveled.

A few pictures

 Maybe he should have turned left??

 Did you hear something?  Were those lights flashing?

 Our anchorage for tonight.  Boy are we in the wrong neighborhood.

  Do you think they will let us stay?