Pulled the anchor at 0800. We had the current against us most of the way to Beaufort, South Carolina, passing there around 1200. The sky was overcast and hazy. Every time dolphins swim over to Seascape to ride her wake, Sailor either hears or smells them and has a fit. If I carry him out to see them, it is all I can do to hold him and his bark sounds more like a scream. Sometimes the dolphins turn on their side and look right at him.
We anchored at 1545 in New River, 35 miles south of Beaufort. The anchorage was appeared to be well protected from a NNE wind. We took Sailor to a launch ramp at Daufuskie Landing. Dora cooked black beans and rice for dinner.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008 - Isle of Palms to South Edisto River, SC
We backed out of the slip at Isle of Palms at 0700 intending to stop at the marina to pump out the holding tank but when we called them on the radio we were told that their pump wasn’t working, so we just kept on going. The passage across Charleston Harbor was rolly but no problem.
We were going to be bucking a strong current through Wappo Creek and Elliott Cut so we decided to kill some time and stop at City of Charleston Marina to pump out. The price for fuel wasn’t too bad ($3.38/ gallon) so we tool on 100 gallons. It was a very well run marina with helpful staff.
Most of the rest of the day was through narrow man made cuts and natural creeks. About 1400 storm clouds started to build to the northwest. As a precaution we quickly made preparations to anchor near Fenwick Cut off the South Edisto River just as the wind started to blow and rain hard. It was all over in less than an hour but we chose to stay anchored for the night. We launched the dinghy to take Sailor to shore and settled in for the night.
We were going to be bucking a strong current through Wappo Creek and Elliott Cut so we decided to kill some time and stop at City of Charleston Marina to pump out. The price for fuel wasn’t too bad ($3.38/ gallon) so we tool on 100 gallons. It was a very well run marina with helpful staff.
Most of the rest of the day was through narrow man made cuts and natural creeks. About 1400 storm clouds started to build to the northwest. As a precaution we quickly made preparations to anchor near Fenwick Cut off the South Edisto River just as the wind started to blow and rain hard. It was all over in less than an hour but we chose to stay anchored for the night. We launched the dinghy to take Sailor to shore and settled in for the night.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - Isle of Palms, SC
We were slow getting started this morning. I put the Texas registration sticker on Seascape, making her officially a Texas boat. Dora stayed on the boat while Sue and I ran some errands. We went to Lowes to buy a hole saw, dropped off a prescription at CVS, stopped by Sue’s condo to drill a hole in her golf cart so we could install an electric gauge, made a quick stop at West Marine for some adhesive to repair a hole in Arleen’s inflatable dinghy, and headed back to the Arleen’s where I put a patch on her dinghy. We had a delicious dinner at Arleen’s and came back later for desert.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - Isle of Palms, SC
Chris and Flor Dowling, friends from our early days in Vero Beach, Florida, came by for a visit around 1030. They moved to Charleston about 15 years ago and have a nice home on James Island. They took us an a short tour of Charleston. We had lunch at an Irish Pub in downtown Charleston and then we went by their home, since we had never seen it. They dropped us of at Isle of Palms and promised to visit us in Palacios.
Sue and Arleen came over for dinner. We fixed chicken fried steak, onions and potatoes, and spinach. After they left we watched the presidential debates.
Sue and Arleen came over for dinner. We fixed chicken fried steak, onions and potatoes, and spinach. After they left we watched the presidential debates.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008 - Isle of Palms, SC
Dora did laundry at Arleen’s house while Barry Ainsworth spent over an hour on the phone helping me fix some problems with my computer that I probably caused. I also worked on the bilge pump in Arleen’s sailboat. Around lunch time we drove to Daniel Island ( about 15 mines) to see Sue’s beautiful condominium on the fourth floor of a new development. We had lunch at a small Mexican restaurant on Daniel’s Island. On the way back, we stopped off at West Marine to pick up some things I needed to fix the bilge pump. Arleen and I went to the boat to finish the bilge pump repairs while Sue and Dora went to the grocery store. We had lasagna for dinner at Arleen’s house.
Sunday, October 5, 2008 - Georgetown to Isle of Palms, SC
I took Sailor to shore at an old, rundown boatyard. I thought we had had it when a large black lab and a gigantic mastiff came up behind me. We were both relieved that they were friendly.
We were underway again by 0800. Except for the Cape Fear River area, most of the day was spent in dredged land cuts. The wind picked up in the afternoon. We had the current with us most of the way.
We arrived at Isle of Palms (Wild Dunes) at 1600 after covering 55 miles. Our friends Sue and Arleen had arranged for us to dock at a privately owned slip whose owner was away. They meet us at the slip and helped us tie up. The four of us went out to dinner Morgan Creek Grill located next to the marina.
We were underway again by 0800. Except for the Cape Fear River area, most of the day was spent in dredged land cuts. The wind picked up in the afternoon. We had the current with us most of the way.
We arrived at Isle of Palms (Wild Dunes) at 1600 after covering 55 miles. Our friends Sue and Arleen had arranged for us to dock at a privately owned slip whose owner was away. They meet us at the slip and helped us tie up. The four of us went out to dinner Morgan Creek Grill located next to the marina.
Saturday, October 4, 2008 - Little River to Georgetown, SC
I got up early because we were starting to get waked by fishing boats speeding by the marina. As soon as sailor was walked we departed. We had an easy cruise all day. The wind was 10-15 from the northeast and the sky was partly cloudy. We anchored in the Sandpit River near Georgetown, South Carolina at 1400. The anchorage across from the town was crowded so we chose to anchor close to shore in the south channel of the Creek near a high bridge and an industrial area. There wasn’t a good place to take Sailor to shore so we lowered the kayak and I paddled him to the adjacent shore. We had to climb a four foot, eroded bank and work our way through high weeds and fire aunt mounds. It was a beautiful, calm night at anchor.
Friday, October 3, 2008 - Wrightsville Beach, NC to Little River, SC
I got up early and Sailor and I went to the shore in the dinghy and got back quickly. Dora and I had the dinghy loaded topside and we were underway by 0725. It was a cool, calm and sunny day. Except for the Cape Fear River, most of the trip was through land cuts. Depths stayed consistently 16-17 feet. There were an incredible number of very large homes along almost the entire route. Many of them appeared to be second homes.
Of course we arrived at the only bridge that had to open for us, 45 minutes early, so we had to idle the last couple of miles to avoid having to maneuver at the bridge for a long time.
We docked at 1645 at Crickett Cove Marina (mile marker 345) near Little River, South Carolina. They put us on a face dock parallel with the ICW so we were rocked by wakes from boats that didn’t slow down. It was a nice marina with very clean showers .We paid $1.50 per foot plus $5.00 for electric service. Dora gave Sailor a bath while I tried , with no luck, to download navigation charts using Coastal Explorer and posted two days of our blog. We had pork roast for dinner.
Of course we arrived at the only bridge that had to open for us, 45 minutes early, so we had to idle the last couple of miles to avoid having to maneuver at the bridge for a long time.
We docked at 1645 at Crickett Cove Marina (mile marker 345) near Little River, South Carolina. They put us on a face dock parallel with the ICW so we were rocked by wakes from boats that didn’t slow down. It was a nice marina with very clean showers .We paid $1.50 per foot plus $5.00 for electric service. Dora gave Sailor a bath while I tried , with no luck, to download navigation charts using Coastal Explorer and posted two days of our blog. We had pork roast for dinner.
Thursday, October 2, 2008 - Snead's Ferry to Wrightsville Beach, NC
We had to walk Seascape back to the end of the face dock and pull her around the end because there wasn’t enough room in the small basin to maneuver. Once we got it around, we both jumped aboard and I backed her as far as I could and thin used power and the thruster to swing her 90 degrees out the narrow opening in the breakwater. I was glad that there wasn’t very much wind.
We had to wait 50 minutes at the Surf City swing bridge because it only opens on the hour,15 minutes at the Figure Eight Island swing bridge which only opens on the half hour, and over an hour at the Wrightsville Beach bascule bridge. We anchored in the bight just southwest of Mitts Channel, inside the protection of Wrightsville Beach in 12 feet of water. The 40 miles had taken us five and one half hours because of the bridges.
We took Sailor to shore in the dinghy and bought a few groceries at a small beach market
We had to wait 50 minutes at the Surf City swing bridge because it only opens on the hour,15 minutes at the Figure Eight Island swing bridge which only opens on the half hour, and over an hour at the Wrightsville Beach bascule bridge. We anchored in the bight just southwest of Mitts Channel, inside the protection of Wrightsville Beach in 12 feet of water. The 40 miles had taken us five and one half hours because of the bridges.
We took Sailor to shore in the dinghy and bought a few groceries at a small beach market
Wednesday, October 1,2008 - Morehead City to Swan Point Marina at Snead's Ferry, NC
Dora showered at the marina and we departed Morehead City Yacht Basin at 0930. It was overcast and cool. We had an uneventful 42 mile trip although I never like going through Camp Jejune. We could hear the artillery firing nearby. We docked at Swan Point Marina in Snead’s Ferry located south of New River Inlet. It is a small, family run marina and boatyard that is a little run down. I had to enter the marina basin at nearly full throttle to avoid being swept past the basin opening by the swift tidal current. Dockage was $1.50/ft including electric service. We walked Sailor through the boatyard. Many of the boats were derelicts. A thunderstorm passed through just before dark producing high winds and some rain. We had chicken fried steak for dinner.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - Neuse River to Morehead City, NC
It started raining just before sunrise. I was up at 0700, made coffee and waited for the rain to stop. As soon as it slacked off, Sailor and I went to shore. He knew the routine and did everything in 2-3 minutes and we were on our way back to the boat. We hoisted the anchor and were underway by 0830.
The sky remained overcast and threatened more rain all day. We decided to stay at Morehead City Yacht Basin located northwest of the port facilities. We arrived around 1400. It was a very nice marina with a long face dock. We were able to pump out and take on 40 gallons of diesel right where we tied up. I took a shower while Dora did two loads of laundry at the marina. We shared the $10.00 charge to use the marinas courtesy car with Mary and Charlie and we all set out for WalMart. On the way we stopped at a marine supply store so I could buy some fuel filters. We walked to a nice restaurant near the marina and had some excellent food.
The sky remained overcast and threatened more rain all day. We decided to stay at Morehead City Yacht Basin located northwest of the port facilities. We arrived around 1400. It was a very nice marina with a long face dock. We were able to pump out and take on 40 gallons of diesel right where we tied up. I took a shower while Dora did two loads of laundry at the marina. We shared the $10.00 charge to use the marinas courtesy car with Mary and Charlie and we all set out for WalMart. On the way we stopped at a marine supply store so I could buy some fuel filters. We walked to a nice restaurant near the marina and had some excellent food.
Monday, September 29, 2008 - Belhaven to Neuse River,NC
We left the anchorage off Belhaven at 0800. It was a clear day with light winds out of the northeast. We motored 45 miles to Broad creek on the west side of the Neuse River. There were only wide areas in the natural channel in the creek to anchor. We dropped the hook near the creek’s mouth in nine feet of water at 1300. Many more boats came in later in the afternoon and anchored further up the creek.. We rode the dingy over to Charlie and Mary’s sailboat for dinner. We enjoyed excellent spaghetti and good company. It was well past dark when we got back to our boat. Without any man made lights we could see millions of stars.
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