21 December - Day #19. Brrr, it's 27F. Not that I'm complaining, after all, the winds are down. It's 7am and we're off before sunrise. The ICW crosses a live-fire range at Camp Lejeune. Apparently they're sleeping-in so we march right through. Coming under the bridge at Wrightsville Beach we wave to a north bound USCG patrol boat. They did the dreaded u-turn and hailed us on the radio--oh boy, let the games begin. Four young guys come aboard; two instructors and their students. The guys are cordial and very professional. I'm not sure the question "How much maintenance does a tug like this require?" comes right out of 'the Manual', more like from a boat lover's heart. In the end, and like Jean Valjean from Les Misérables, we get our yellow ticket of leave--the yellow copy of the boarding report means no infractions ;-) As the guys are getting off Nellie I thank the patrol boat's helmswoman for doing a good job of staying away from our new paint job. Her eyes light-up, she gives me a big smile and says, "I sure try.". At Anchor in Wrightsville Beach, NC. 49nm today and 399nm total. DBH
