We had any easy transit to the anchorage at Hammock Bay then on to anchoring at Wrightsville. The weather has been sunny so it is warm during the day inside the cockpit enclosure. Nights are cold jumping into the bed but it gets warm after awhile. Was a bit breezy in the Wrightsville anchorage but we had enough protection from the shore to keep the waves down so no problems.
After Wrightsville Beach, the ICW passes through Snow's Cut and into the Cape Fear River where you can encounter merchant ships passing up and down the river heading to/from Wilmington. We had the current against us but a stiff northerly wind helping us sail down the river, staying out of the main shipping channel and away from these big guys.
Other guys to watch out for are the ferries on the Cape Fear River that shuttle across the river. This guy was planning to pass us and cut in front to enter the ferry dock but he decided at the last minute he wouldn't make it without hindering us (we were sailing at the time) so he hit the brakes and then passed behind us. Just to be nice, I started the engine and sped up a bit to clear the harbor entrance quicker.
Safe arrival at the Holden Beach city dock. We stayed here a couple days visiting my brother who has a house at Holden Beach, and my sister who was staying in Myrtle Beach for a couple months getting out of the freezing winter temperatures in Texas.
It was a good time to stop at a marina and plug in to shore power so we had heat plus the electric blanket as the night temperatures were getting down into the 30s.
Sue got to walk the beach a couple days looking for shells. Holden Beach usually has a good selection of interesting shells but this visit all we saw was a variety of clam shells. Beach sunsets are always an inspirational view and this visit was no different. But it was soon time to push on further south for warmer weathers.
