22 December - Day #20. It's taken almost three weeks but we're starting to get into the cruising groove. This morning, before weighing anchor, we went for a nice long walk in Wrightsville Beach. There was no rush, the ebb tide on the Cape Fear River wasn't until late morning. Today's four hour cruise south is a pretty one. The first two hours are like a canal trip with lots of big houses to look at. The second half of the trip, down the Cape Fear River, is quite different. The river is wide, almost two miles wide in some spots. It can be rough too, especially when the winds oppose a strong current. This stretch of the Cape Fear River is mostly wilderness. It probably hasn't changed much from the early 1700's when tall ships plied the river to Wilmington. Today, with no wind to stir it up, and with a speed boost from the ebb, we made good time. On the west bank of the Cape Fear River, several miles before it empties into the Atlantic, is the seafaring town of Southport, NC. It's quaint, antebellum, and awash in live oaks. Oh ya, it also has several free docks. At the free dock with free electricity ;-) in Southport, NC. 24nm today and 423nm total. DBH
