Cape Lookout has a natural anchorage, used by sailors for ages. There is a shoal that extends directly offshore, perpendicular to the cape, but, once around that, the natural opening up along Shackleford Island is an easy enough entrance sailors still come in under sail.
We launched the RIB early this morning, and went to the beach for a quick romp. We wended up walking about 3/4 mi down the beach, it is so pretty. I walked back and picked up the small boat while Ellen, Mocha, and Mercy continued on down the beach.
We had a discussion about where to go, corresponding with a discussion about whether I'd checked the gas tank, and we decided to go back to the MERCY and top the tank off. It seems I can't remember how efficient I am, since, I had evidently done that at some point in time. I am still trying to figure out how we can be getting the usage efficiency out of this 4 stroke 20 hp Merc that we are.
Mercy decided to stay at the boat and take a nap rather than run with Ellen and Mocha and I to Shackleford Island to walk the beach. We climbed up on the dunes and saw six ponies at a distance, but none up close today.
We deposited Mocha (unhappily) back on the boat, and went over to explore the grounds around the lighthouse. The NPS has a visitor center and a small museum near the lighthouse. They charge a fee to climb the lighthouse, and there was a group of rowdy school kids waiting to go up. We did a quiet exit left.
We explored the marsh creeks on the sound side of Shackleford Island, and once again, only saw the ponies from a distance.
We came back along the beach, and the old USCG docks, to spend another nice evening on the hook.
The dogs had a last evening romp on the beach after we all had supper, and it looks like another nice night in the anchorage.
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