(Temporary Backup) Anchor at Mile Hammock Bay ( Mile 244.5 )

April 19th Monday. Cruising this section of the ICW is really very beautiful especially as the waterway is so close to the Atlantic Ocean. Mile Hammock Anchorage is a well protected spot and very popular with the Loopers. It is at the SE end of Camp Lejeune which is a 246-square-mile United States military training facility in Jacksonville NC. The base’s 14 miles of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training! Now if Nana thinks she is taking the dingy to the beach it is certainly not happening here! On our arrival Nandad saw what he thought was a very large drone , which turned out to be a very large marine helicopter , which spent the afternoon practicing taking off and landing - very entertaining if not very loud. We have also heard several sounds similar to an explosion ( maybe the marines are also practicing bomb targets - hopefully not NH ). Despite all this it is really a  lovely peaceful spot.

Below is the stretch of beach that Nana thought she would take the dingy ride however when she took a look through the binoculars she noticed several marines on the beach so it was quickly decided that that was likely not a good idea. Best watch the sunset from the boat. 

Despite the continued blast sounds this a really a lovely spot. Let’s hope the amphibious vehicles don’t come racing down the concrete ramp early in the morning! If we survive the evening/night we will head for Oriental tomorrow which means we will then cross Pamlico Sound on the Outer Banks 42 miles to Ocracoke.  Nana wanted to visit here last time we were cruising but it was not meant to be. It is supposed to be one of a kind destination.