Though it's dredged regularly it's not a deep channel, and we are constantly checking our depth gauge since Obsession draws 4' 6". This doesn't sound like much, but in the ICW where depths fluctuate between 0-18' basically, it can still get you grounded if you're not careful. We read ahead in our cruising guide to see if there are areas of shoaling (basically underwater sandbars that can move like the dunes over time causing treacherously shallow areas) that other cruisers have noted from months previous. Then try to find the correct markers or cans that tell us where these areas are. Thank goodness for GPS which marks the channel and every mile of the ICW but it still causes anxiety at times when your depth gauge starts sounding off.
This afternoon was glorious! It was brisk but the sun was warm and it was nice to sit on the deck just soaking up the autumn sun.
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| Always a bit tense when coming up on a bridge. |
Our first bridge
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| You have to share the road with some big boys once in a while. |
You meet some very impressive boats along the way.
Our first anchorage was in Cedar Creek, NC (the name of the anchorage, nothing there but a few houses). You can't just anchor anywhere along the ICW. So you figure out how many miles you'll make in a day and plan accordingly. The guidebooks provide details on areas that are good achorages. You don't want to get caught out at dark trying to set anchor.
Once we set the hook (dropped anchor :) we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and a glass of wine.
Tuesday:
This morning we've seen several dolphin already, but I have yet to be able to snap a picture. :( There are forecast to be 30-40 mph winds tonight, so we want to get anchored early before the winds pick up.
Camile
