to Oriental

      We were able to get a good start from Enterprise Landing and continued through Mytrle Beach SC to Indigo Plantation Marina in Southport NC.  This is a good stop as rates are reasonable and the laundry is free. We were met by Dave and Hayla and they loaned us their truck to go shopping. the following day we were lucky enough to get through the Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island bridges as we approached, very unusual not to have a wait.  We anchored at Topsail Inlet, a new anchorage for us, and Skipper had a small island to himself.  During the night we swung around and on to an oyster shoal, which required a bit of Mguivering to get off.  With the windlass, motor and a little help from the wind we managed to get off.   Our neighbor, another sailboat, was not as lucky.  They were hard aground and we  wanted to help, but could not get close enough to pull on them.  The tide was on its way out and I fear they had to wait for high tide to get off.
    We continued to Morehead City, motoring most of the way.  This is another good stop for fuel ect. at Portside Marina.  We met a German family who had sailed over from Germany to the Virgin Islands and then north.  They were headed for New York City and left to go on the ICW part way.  The weather lived up to itself with wind on the nose and rain all the way to Oriental NC.  Our concern was the Neuse River to cross and a very lot of fetch for the wind and waves.  It is about a 3.5 mile of open water with about 20 miles of fetch for the wind to  set the waves on end.  Crossing to Oriental  started with about 20 knot winds and finished  with 40 knot winds that sent Skipper below deck under the table hiding under his blanket.  we had called ahead to the marina to make sure we had a slip in case the anchorage was full.   We managed to get their last one and were told to make sure all was lashed down on deck as other boats had been beat up pretty good crossing.  It was a bit of a rough ride and we were glad to see the marks for Oriental.  Once inside the breakwater things calmed down some.  We tied up, put things back together and took Skipper ashore. A large powerboat following us in was not as lucky.  Their table was ripped right out of the cabin sole and thing were quite a mess all over the boat.  We will spend a few days here.