We have nothing to fear, but ...

... but for the Cape Fear River (where we are now at).

We're at the beautiful Carolina Beach State Park Marina, on the Cape Fear River.  We have about 10-12 miles to run down the river next, to Southport NC.  It would be better on an ebb tide, giving us a healthy 3+ knots of tail current (but we can also handle the 2 knots of flood, if it works out that way.)  It's only a difference of 1/2 and hour or so.  And we made it through the Snows Cut connection from the ICW [flowing inside the barrier islands], to the Cape Fear River - with a 3 knot foul current (and we still made a good 4+ knots over the ground.)

But it is so nice here, we may hang out for another day or so.  About 2 miles through the park to the city of Carolina Beach (read: groceries, supplies, restaurants, pubs) - maybe tomorrow's road trip will be on a road (if it's nice, we will dig out the bicycles).  There are only about 6 boats in this marina (2 other sailboats, the rest fishing boats), with space for 50 or so.  And they have diesel (filled up), pumpout (will empty out), water, 30-amp power, laundry, showers, shore-heads; everything a real marina would have for less money (just like a state park has cheaper shore camping than a KOA-type campground.)

It was in the 70s today - finally had an enjoyable day; traveled 37 miles.  And NO shoal-ly hits!  But several other boats weren't so lucky; saw one or two stuck hard aground, and there were continuous calls on the VHF to TowboatUS and Sea-Tow.  The ICW was usually 11-15 feet deep except inside the inlets from the ocean.  Thanks to Active Captain (dot-com), we knew where the bad spots were, as reported by fellow cruisers on-line.  Let me repeat:  THANKS ACTIVE CAPTAIN!

Now we have only 76 more miles to reach Osprey Marina, just south of Myrtle Beach, SC.  We have to be there in time to fly out for Thanksgiving on November 20th; that's 15 more days (averaging 5 miles per day).  Piece of cake!

Supposed to get cold again tomorrow - oh, well.