Mile Hammock Bay

A sunrise walk on Wrightsville Beach this morning started our day. The beach was beautiful, and many runners, walkers and treasure hunters armed with metal detectors kept us company. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our hunt for shark teeth.
We popped into Robert's Market, bought a few items including their 'World Famous Chicken Salad' (which was delicious!), and returned to Cee Jem to get underway.
Upon leaving the anchorage area and entering the main channel, we were immediately hard aground. A bit of running around the deck trying to adjust the angle of the keel, paired with a lot of power from our trusty engine, and we were soon off. Though we missed the bridge opening, which only happens on the top of the hour, we made good use of our wait time by stopping at a marina and filling with diesel.
The wind continued to build as the day continued, prompting us to conclude that it is always windy in this part of the world....we recalled it being equally windy in this area on our way south.
We figure we have seen the last of the native palm trees, only seeing them now planted in landscaped yards. The surroundings are beginning to look more like home. We even passed a raccoon swimming across the channel today.


We are anchored tonight at Mile Hammock Bay, part of the Camp Lejeune US Marine Base. We have been entertained since our arrival by three military aircraft doing circuits from a nearby field. From what we can see, they appear to be the V-22A Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. They have vertical take-off capabilities like a helicopter, and then tilt their propellers to enable them to have efficient forward motion like a regular airplane.

The guidebooks recommend an early northbound departure from here, to avoid being delayed by the closure of the ICW for ordinance practice. From what we can surmise, the ICW runs through a military training ground, and they often have live fire practice across the waterway. We will heed this advice, and be on our way brit and early!