We hope we pay close attention to the navigation marks and we hope we don't end up hard aground like this poor sailor near the Isle of Hope!Well, we stretched our legs today and made a run of approximately 65 miles from Thunderbolt to an anchorage at New Teakettle Creek. We left at 0730 in a light rain and gusting winds after a night of strong and gusty winds at anchor. However, the anchor held and we bounced around a little, but didn't move.
We use Skipper Bob's Anchorages Along the Intracoastal Waterway as the definitive guide to places to drop the hook for the night. Skipper Bob's rates the anchorages on a four point scale...4 = Excellent to 1 = Poor...for six conditions...Holding (ability of the anchor to keep the boat from moving); Wind Protection; Current Flow (how fast the current flows...the slower, the better); Wake Protection (how much boat traffic goes by nearby to disturb you); Scenic Beauty; and Ease of Shopping (how far you have to go to get groceries, souvenirs, etc.). Last night the Herb River anchorage was a 431423; tonight the rating for New Teakettle Creek is 421441.Since we left early, we arrived early at the anchorage and were joined by another sailboat and a 
motorboat and a pod of dolphins that accompanied each of the boats into the creek. As soon as the boats were at anchor, the dolphins left. If we didn't know better, we'd almost believe the dolphins were either representing the local chamber of commerce or escorting each boat to a safe location. The truth is these animals are both curious and very friendly and seem to enjoy being around boats cruising along the ICW.
motorboat and a pod of dolphins that accompanied each of the boats into the creek. As soon as the boats were at anchor, the dolphins left. If we didn't know better, we'd almost believe the dolphins were either representing the local chamber of commerce or escorting each boat to a safe location. The truth is these animals are both curious and very friendly and seem to enjoy being around boats cruising along the ICW.It was warm and sunny in the cockpit and Sarah hauled her computer up to the cockpit to make a Skype call to her daughter, Tiffany and her grandchildren, Sara and Nick. We enjoyed talking to them and seeing them on the laptop screen using Skype Voice (and Video) Over IP, an amazing technology that is cost effective and useful to boaters, or anyone who wants to keep in touch with family and friends (http://www.skype.com/). As the sun was setting, we were talking to our family as if they were right in the cockpit with us.
Other than the pleasures of cruising, the most interesting event of the day was having the US Coast Guard Tug Anvil catch up with us again. Anvil was the USCG vessel that overtook and preceeded us through the Causton Bluff Bridge at Thunderbolt yesterday. Today, she was setting new marks on the ICW where shoaling has taken place. Also, after reading our weblog, friend and contributing author to the Waterway Guides, Allan DeWall sent me an email yesterday telling me that Anvil is a 75' Inland Construction Tender (WLIC) and a member of a family of sister vessels named Anvil, Hammer, Sledge, Mallet, Vise, Clamp, Wedge, Hatchet and Axe. If you have nothing better to do, look for the details at the following web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Coast_Guard_cuttersTomorrow, we should be at Brunswick Landing Marina in Brunswick, GA and making plans with our friends Judy and Greg for the next phase of our cruising to Florida and the Bahamas.
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