Day 10 of rushing home brought another early morning departure. A favorable weather window allowed for an offshore passage which would save a couple of days of ICW travel. An orange sky brightened beyond Wrightsville Beach's Blockade Runner Resort as I went out to raise the anchor. Masonboro Inlet was eerily flat as we made our way into an equally calm Atlantic. A heavy cloud cover made for a chilly, gray ride. We closed the doors to the pilothouse to stay warm as we crossed Onslow Bay toward Beaufort.
Six hours later, the sun finally appeared and we enjoyed the improved conditions. I spent some time on Fiberglass Beach listening to the gentle whoosh of Crossroads surfing on a following sea. There was little traffic on the water and even less as we entered Beaufort Inlet. Normally boats would be zipping about and the marinas would be full. This afternoon, the Beaufort waterfront resembled a ghost town. We dropped anchor in Taylor Creek and wished the town's stores and restaurants were open so that we could go ashore. We had a great visit here last year, but now its just a stop on the road home. For this leg of the journey the shortest distance was a straight line.
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