[/caption]After being pampered by Kate and Greg for three days, it is difficult to leave Beaufort. We say our Sunday morning farewells at the dock and enter the Newport River at 8 AM. Twenty knot northerlies push Cutter Loose downstream towards Beaufort Inlet, then a ninety degree turn to the south takes us under the Morehead City Bridge and into Bogue Sound. Here, the ICW passes immediately alongside low lying sand spits and tiny marshy islands where snowy egrets wade in search of breakfast.
[caption id="attachment_1800" align="alignright" width="300" caption="An impromptu visit from the Coasties"]
[/caption]We are greeted at Bogue Inlet by multiple pods of dolphin, their dorsal fins gliding alongside the hull of Cutter Loose. Shortly after leaving the town of Swansboro astern, we hear the Coast Guard hailing Cutter Loose on the VHF radio. They inform us of their intent to board our boat. Within seconds, a Coast Guard inflatable maneuvers alongside Cutter Loose and three uniformed Coasties hop aboard. Since we are in a narrow channel, they instruct us to maintain our course and speed while they conduct a random safety inspection.
[caption id="attachment_1801" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Mission accomplished...Cutter Loose scores 100% on safety exam"]
[/caption]Working from a lengthy checklist, our visitors politely ask us to produce our USCG Documentation Certificate, life jackets, throwable lifesaving devices, air horn, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment. They comb through the cabin in search of required safety decals and inspect the holding tank system and engine compartment, all of which takes place while Cutter Loose continues to sail south along the waterway. Within 20 minutes, the inspection is completed. Cutter Loose scores 100% on the exam. We thank them for the good work of the USCG in keeping the waterway safe and secure. The inflatable pulls alongside once again to retrieve the crew and the Coasties are on their way.
[caption id="attachment_1802" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Sunset on Mile Hammock Bay"]
[/caption]Our destination today is an overnight anchorage at Mile Hammock Bay, a distance of 42 miles. This Bay is located on the grounds of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. During WWII, marines practiced amphibious landings in this Bay. Tonight, there are 20 pleasure boats at anchor in this remote and peaceful area of coastal North Carolina.
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