The captain departed Southport City Dock at 7:00 AM and mid-morning the first mate awoke to take him coffee and a snack on the fly bridge.  I was happy to sleep late today.  It was a tad overcast but before long the sun came out and it was a beautiful day with exceptionally beautiful cloud formations.

 

We got held up an hour at the Wrightsville Bridge which opens only on the hour.  Ralph called on the radio and asked if the bridgetender would hold the opening for him and was told "If you can be here in one minute, I'll hold" -- that was do-able, but immediately after the transmission, the bridgetender started closing the bridge so we floated around for an hour.  By that time several other boats had accumulated, including our friends, Gary and Christelle on Time and Tide. We ended up going through most of the bridges together, which reminded us of locking through all those Canadian locks.  They were able to scoot through a bridge or two, though, since they do not have the same height restriction we do.

 

Striper is not doing very well today.  She didn't eat her dog food at all, and only a few nibbles of food we were eating.  I gave her another dose of the antibiotic this morning and within a couple hours she looked catatonic and the pads of her paws were cold, as was her body.  We called the vet in Southport who said that she also had the topical dose of Parastar for ticks/fleas yesterday and it may not have settled well with her.  So until she perks up, we are to discontinue the medicine.  We aren't used to seeing her like this.  She's drinking a lot of water which is good and she is asleep now.

 

We are anchored in Jacksonville, NC -- actually beside Camp Lejeune Marine Base.  Aerial maneuvers are going on overhead so it's quite noisy.  Also going on overhead with the lack of ambient light -- there are a plethora of stars out tonight.  The sky is beautiful.

 

We traveled 64 miles today.  Our goal is to be in Annapolis, MD by the 15th -- which is a bit ambitious so we are hoping for no more weather delays.  Here are a few of today's photos:

 

Leaving the Cape Fear, NC area

Beautiful homes on the NC portion of the ICW

Striper was a little droopy today

Waiting for the Wrightsville Beach Bridge to open

Christelle and Gary on Time and Tide

Time and Tide has no height restriction here so off they go!

A particularly beautiful day for cloud watching

Two clammers along our route

A hard aground sailboat along our route, too

This is for Fred -- a tug like his "Tug 44"

This was really pretty, although a bit over the top

Beautiful homes and condos along the water

Some commercial work going on here, too

Entering the Camp Lejeune anchorage

Tonight's back yard