Anchorage Deja vu

The last two nights we've dropped the hook in anchorages we've been in before.  It's a sort of anchorage deja vu.  On Tuesday night we anchored in Mile Hammock Bay, which is right in the middle of a marines training area. We remembered laying awake at night last time listening to the choppers and military aircraft overhead.  The first indication that you're in such a place is a large sign that tells you that if there are flashing lights that means that live artillery is being fired and tune to 530 am to see what the time schedule is so you don't get blown up. (In other words don't go through the channel!  There's also boats patrolling the channel when they are training, just so someone isn't stupid enough to ignore the large flashing lights.) They broadcast on that frequency the military's schedule for training in the area.  Thankfully no live artillery was being fired in this locale, though as soon as we started pulling into the bay we were greeted by this:

There were about six of these boats whizzing out of the bay.  And then this buzzed overhead:

So all night you hear choppers and military aircraft buzzing overhead.  Along with that we had a steady 30 mph wind blowing us around a bit.  We dropped two anchors last night as the last time we were here some fellow cruisers also dealt with wind and drug into another boat.  Thankfully, no casualties were reported that night.  

The next day we finally got some shots of dolphin.  We had some surface right next to the boat which was pretty cool.  Dolphin are kind of like elk and bear, you never get tired of seeing them, though without the threat of being eaten alive.  

No amazingly fantastic shots, but we've seen quite a few dolphin so far now. Here's a few of the pretty areas we've gone through.  You meander along through remote looking areas, then back into industrial areas, then residential with lots of docks and fishing boats.  It's like a slow moving road trip.  

Here's S/V Stormy Petrel.  We've passed them once or twice on the way.  Such a pretty little boat. You hop scotch boats all along the way.  Some stay in marinas overnight, while those in the cheap seats (us :) plan our day according to the anchorages each night.  Today we hope to make 70 plus miles. We got an early start so it should be pretty easy.  We were going with the current early this morning making over 9 mph, now only about 5 mph.     

Everyday there are a couple of bridges that we have to pass through.  Some open on the half hour, others on the hour or you have to call ahead for an opening.  

It's been in the low 30's when we start out the last couple of mornings.  Boating in cold weather is highly overrated.  I'm not afraid to say I'm a fair weather sailor.  I stay bundled down below in my cozy cabin (probably only a few degrees warmer than outside, but without the wind) while my faithful Captain soldiers on outside.  I do bring him breakfast burritos, coffee and soup all day though and come up once it starts warming up a bit.  We're supposed to hit mid 50's today.  Yahoo!  

We are going to listen in on the Washington, NC meeting tonight.  That way we don't get out of our spiritual routine.  We've been placing tracts whenever we stop along the way.  We are still without a dinghy engine so that limits us a bit.  Although, Terry reminds me that people have rowed for centuries and got around just fine. :)  

Camile