Monday, November 30, 2009
Nov 30 - St. Augustine, FL. Beautiful here and warm during the day (very cool nights, but they tell us that too will change). We met friends here yesterday and had the tour of a beautiful Spanish influenced city and dinner at their home. It was wonderful to be in a real home again. Our trip down the Florida ICW on Friday and Saturday was so beautiful. Mansions being built along the canal; massive marshes with many, many birds, dolphins playing all around us ( they really want to be in the boat with us); and the tide behind us. We just ran into friends from St. Marys walking their dogs. They are anchored outside St. Augustine. We are becoming a community as we go along our way.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving.
We sailed into St. Marys, GA yesterday afternoon and were greeted by locals inviting us to the Thanksgiving festivities. First up, cocktail hour at 5:30. They served roasted oysters and everyone brought an appetizer. What a huge crowd! Today Bill helped set up for 300 people for the feast. The town provided the turkeys, hams, and desserts and the boaters all brought a covered dish. There are 97 boats in the harbor and the setup was for 300 people with almost all the chairs filled. There was so much food and all of it was wonderful! But the best part was meeting all the other boaters and telling and hearing the stories. We sat with a couple from Vermont with their dog Skipper. Actually, there were probably eight or ten dogs in attendance. This evening there is a live bank and dancing in the park. Tomorrow a parade, tree lighting, etc. St. Marys is a small town but all the people have big hearts and embrace the boaters and I am sure their boost to the economy. We are now on the Florida border so 1,000 miles of Florida here we come.
We sailed into St. Marys, GA yesterday afternoon and were greeted by locals inviting us to the Thanksgiving festivities. First up, cocktail hour at 5:30. They served roasted oysters and everyone brought an appetizer. What a huge crowd! Today Bill helped set up for 300 people for the feast. The town provided the turkeys, hams, and desserts and the boaters all brought a covered dish. There are 97 boats in the harbor and the setup was for 300 people with almost all the chairs filled. There was so much food and all of it was wonderful! But the best part was meeting all the other boaters and telling and hearing the stories. We sat with a couple from Vermont with their dog Skipper. Actually, there were probably eight or ten dogs in attendance. This evening there is a live bank and dancing in the park. Tomorrow a parade, tree lighting, etc. St. Marys is a small town but all the people have big hearts and embrace the boaters and I am sure their boost to the economy. We are now on the Florida border so 1,000 miles of Florida here we come.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Nov 20th. We are anchored in Bull River tonight. We are about 15 miles from Beaufort and are headed for Hilton Head tomorrow. The day was beautiful weatherwise but the ICW was very shallow. We had the tide going with us most of the way, fortunately, so we made good mph, but that meant the tide was going out. We followed a barge through the worst cuts. He plowed the way through very shallow waters leaving a mud wake in this path. The dolphins again kept us entertained with their syncronized swimming. I continue to try to get a good picture of them. We met a boat from Victoria BC along the waterway - I told them I loved Victoria; they said they loved our boat. We continue to get praises and recognition because we are from Maine - even from the bridge operators. We think of you all often and love to read your comments. It doesn't seem possible to us that Thanksgiving is next week!!!
Nov 21st We are anchored tonight in Bull River again, but across from Hilton Head Island. The fog had us socked in this morning, so we sat it out until 9:30 a.m. However, again today the tides were with us so we were able to cruise to Hilton Head after all. We are getting excited as we are only about 200 miles from Florida. I know, it took us long enough. Actually, tomorrow is supposed to rain, so I am not sure how far we will go. St. Mary's has a Thanksgiving feast for boaters so we thought it might be fun to attend - if we can make it. We are missing the big dog show in R.I. this year with all the GSP puppies. It had become a tradition to attend with Erik, Jodi, Jon and Hannah. I certainly will miss seeing all the German Shorthairs, but I wish my favorite breeders and handlers the very best. I will be checking out the winners and crossing my fingers. I am amazed at how many people have one or two dogs or a couple of cats on their boats. You can hear the dogs barking in the dinghy excited to be going ashore. The dogs are big and small, and we've met dogs who have cruised their whole life.
Nov 22nd True to the forecast, it is raining. However, we did get 30 miles in before we had to tie up. We are in Thunderbolt, GA. We chose to sit out the rain in the Bahia Bleu Marina, do laundry, have showers and heat. The cruise today was quiet and almost lonely. I think most of our sailing companions moved on ahead of us during our stay in Charleston. But we intend to catch up over the next couple of days, weather permitting. We have some very shallow water ahead of us along the ICW, so the tides are also a factor. The tides are 7 to 9 ft. along here, and change without warning as we cross the many channels, inlets and outlets. We did get a break today with the tides. Most of the time they were pushing us along and we had the jib up to add to the rpms. We are told December 1 is the first day of winter around here, so we have got to get moving south. I don't want to face anything colder than what it is now - 55 degrees behind the helm today.
Nov 23 Monday We were up before dawn determined to get a good start with the tides. Well, good plan, but only about 3 miles into our cruise the bascule bridge was only scheduled to open on the hour. So, we dropped anchor and waited our 45 minutes. Next up was Hell Gate, a channel 6 feet wide with water charted 6 feet deep. It was our concern for the tide, and in the end the bridge delay was probably our savior as we had no groundings along the way. How about that!! Bill had to pass a huge barge in shallow water (thank goodness I was washing dishes), holding his breath the entire way. Also a triple decker cruise ship plowed its way past us (and I know he plowed through mud because our fathometer was reading 5 feet) Yes, the ICW in Georgia is shallow. The day was cool, foggy and dreary and we wore our "let's go out to play in the snow clothes" all day. We have also noticed that there is a lot of "paper mill smell" in the air since entering Georgia. We cruised 10 hours, 57 miles. No, we are not fast, but it is our best day yet. We hope to repeat it again tomorrow. Tonight we are anchored off Sapelo River in the mouth of the Julienton River just outside the Sapelo Sound near Dog Hammock and Black Beard Island (only in Georgia).
Nov 24, Tuesday. We are in Brunswick GA at the Brunswick Landing Marina tonight. We decided we had better restock before the holiday and needed water. We again got an early start and did the shallow Georgia waterways. Again the day is dreary and 60 degrees - warm weather gear. We passed a dredging operation in progress. One of these days I will get some pictures posted (I have to have Renee help me). A couple in the boat next to us gave us a ride to the Win Dixie grocery store, and since we had wheels we stocked up. Then we walked downtown and had a wonderful dinner in Brunswick. We have caught up with some boater acquaintances again. There is a family with an 8 year old and 3 year old girl that are on their way to the Bahamas. Obviously, the 8 year old is home schooled so they can do the trip. The laundramat is a wonderful place to chat and hear about other boaters and their lives. The couple that gave us a ride the store today live on their boat and go from one marina to the next, spending a month here and another one there. They are on their way to Fernandina Fl this weekend after being in Brunswick for a month. Tomorrow we will head out for St. Mary's, Florida and stay over for Thanksgiving. We wish all of you the most wonderful Thanksgiving and wish to thank you for being on this great adventure with us. We love that you are here too!
Nov 21st We are anchored tonight in Bull River again, but across from Hilton Head Island. The fog had us socked in this morning, so we sat it out until 9:30 a.m. However, again today the tides were with us so we were able to cruise to Hilton Head after all. We are getting excited as we are only about 200 miles from Florida. I know, it took us long enough. Actually, tomorrow is supposed to rain, so I am not sure how far we will go. St. Mary's has a Thanksgiving feast for boaters so we thought it might be fun to attend - if we can make it. We are missing the big dog show in R.I. this year with all the GSP puppies. It had become a tradition to attend with Erik, Jodi, Jon and Hannah. I certainly will miss seeing all the German Shorthairs, but I wish my favorite breeders and handlers the very best. I will be checking out the winners and crossing my fingers. I am amazed at how many people have one or two dogs or a couple of cats on their boats. You can hear the dogs barking in the dinghy excited to be going ashore. The dogs are big and small, and we've met dogs who have cruised their whole life.
Nov 22nd True to the forecast, it is raining. However, we did get 30 miles in before we had to tie up. We are in Thunderbolt, GA. We chose to sit out the rain in the Bahia Bleu Marina, do laundry, have showers and heat. The cruise today was quiet and almost lonely. I think most of our sailing companions moved on ahead of us during our stay in Charleston. But we intend to catch up over the next couple of days, weather permitting. We have some very shallow water ahead of us along the ICW, so the tides are also a factor. The tides are 7 to 9 ft. along here, and change without warning as we cross the many channels, inlets and outlets. We did get a break today with the tides. Most of the time they were pushing us along and we had the jib up to add to the rpms. We are told December 1 is the first day of winter around here, so we have got to get moving south. I don't want to face anything colder than what it is now - 55 degrees behind the helm today.
Nov 23 Monday We were up before dawn determined to get a good start with the tides. Well, good plan, but only about 3 miles into our cruise the bascule bridge was only scheduled to open on the hour. So, we dropped anchor and waited our 45 minutes. Next up was Hell Gate, a channel 6 feet wide with water charted 6 feet deep. It was our concern for the tide, and in the end the bridge delay was probably our savior as we had no groundings along the way. How about that!! Bill had to pass a huge barge in shallow water (thank goodness I was washing dishes), holding his breath the entire way. Also a triple decker cruise ship plowed its way past us (and I know he plowed through mud because our fathometer was reading 5 feet) Yes, the ICW in Georgia is shallow. The day was cool, foggy and dreary and we wore our "let's go out to play in the snow clothes" all day. We have also noticed that there is a lot of "paper mill smell" in the air since entering Georgia. We cruised 10 hours, 57 miles. No, we are not fast, but it is our best day yet. We hope to repeat it again tomorrow. Tonight we are anchored off Sapelo River in the mouth of the Julienton River just outside the Sapelo Sound near Dog Hammock and Black Beard Island (only in Georgia).
Nov 24, Tuesday. We are in Brunswick GA at the Brunswick Landing Marina tonight. We decided we had better restock before the holiday and needed water. We again got an early start and did the shallow Georgia waterways. Again the day is dreary and 60 degrees - warm weather gear. We passed a dredging operation in progress. One of these days I will get some pictures posted (I have to have Renee help me). A couple in the boat next to us gave us a ride to the Win Dixie grocery store, and since we had wheels we stocked up. Then we walked downtown and had a wonderful dinner in Brunswick. We have caught up with some boater acquaintances again. There is a family with an 8 year old and 3 year old girl that are on their way to the Bahamas. Obviously, the 8 year old is home schooled so they can do the trip. The laundramat is a wonderful place to chat and hear about other boaters and their lives. The couple that gave us a ride the store today live on their boat and go from one marina to the next, spending a month here and another one there. They are on their way to Fernandina Fl this weekend after being in Brunswick for a month. Tomorrow we will head out for St. Mary's, Florida and stay over for Thanksgiving. We wish all of you the most wonderful Thanksgiving and wish to thank you for being on this great adventure with us. We love that you are here too!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Southbound
Nov 20th. We are anchored in Bull River tonight. We are about 15 miles from Beaufort and are headed for Hilton Head tomorrow. The day was beautiful weatherwise but the ICW was very shallow. We had the tide going with us most of the way, fortunately, so we made good mph, but that meant the tide was going out. We followed a barge through the worst cuts. He plowed the way through very shallow waters leaving a mud wake in this path. The dolphins again kept us entertained with their syncronized swimming. I continue to try to get a good picture of them. We met a boat from Victoria BC along the waterway - I told them I loved Victoria; they said they loved our boat. We continue to get praises and recognition because we are from Maine - even from the bridge operators. We think of you all often and love to read your comments. It doesn't seem possible to us that Thanksgiving is next week!!!
Nov 21st We are anchored tonight in Bull River but across from Hilton Head Island. The fog had us socked in this morning, so we sat it out until 9:30 a.m. However, again today the tides were with us so we were able to cruise to Hilton Head after all. We are getting excited as we are only about 200 miles from Florida. I know, it took us long enough. Actually, tomorrow is supposed to rain, so I am not sure how far we will go. St. Mary's has a Thanksgiving feast for boaters so we thought it might be fun to attend - if we can make it. We are missing the big dog show in R.I. this year with all the GSP puppies. It had become a tradition to attend with Erik, Jodi, Jon and Hannah. I certainly will miss seeing all the German Shorthairs, but I wish my favorite breeders and handlers the very best. I will be checking out the winners and crossing my fingers. I am amazed at how many people have one or two dogs or a couple of cats on their boats. You can hear the dogs barking in the dinghy excited to be going ashore. The dogs are big and small, and we've met dogs who have cruised their whole life.
Nov 22nd True to the forecast, it is raining. However, we did get 30 miles in before we had to tie up. We are in Thunderbolt, GA. We chose to sit out the rain in the Bahia Bleu Marina, do laundry, have showers and heat. The cruise today was quiet and almost lonely. I think most of our sailing companions moved on ahead of us during our stay in Charleston. But we intend to catch up over the next couple of days, weather permitting. We have some very shallow water ahead of us along the ICW, so the tides are also a factor. The tides are 7 to 9 ft. along here, and change without warning as we cross the many channels, inlets and outlets. We did get a break today with the tides. Most of the time they were pushing us along and we had the jib up to add to the rpms. We PASSED a huge very long barge being pushed by three tugs. We are told December 1 is the first day of winter around here, so we have got to get moving south. I don't want to face anything colder than what it is now - 55 degrees behind the helm today.
Nov 21st We are anchored tonight in Bull River but across from Hilton Head Island. The fog had us socked in this morning, so we sat it out until 9:30 a.m. However, again today the tides were with us so we were able to cruise to Hilton Head after all. We are getting excited as we are only about 200 miles from Florida. I know, it took us long enough. Actually, tomorrow is supposed to rain, so I am not sure how far we will go. St. Mary's has a Thanksgiving feast for boaters so we thought it might be fun to attend - if we can make it. We are missing the big dog show in R.I. this year with all the GSP puppies. It had become a tradition to attend with Erik, Jodi, Jon and Hannah. I certainly will miss seeing all the German Shorthairs, but I wish my favorite breeders and handlers the very best. I will be checking out the winners and crossing my fingers. I am amazed at how many people have one or two dogs or a couple of cats on their boats. You can hear the dogs barking in the dinghy excited to be going ashore. The dogs are big and small, and we've met dogs who have cruised their whole life.
Nov 22nd True to the forecast, it is raining. However, we did get 30 miles in before we had to tie up. We are in Thunderbolt, GA. We chose to sit out the rain in the Bahia Bleu Marina, do laundry, have showers and heat. The cruise today was quiet and almost lonely. I think most of our sailing companions moved on ahead of us during our stay in Charleston. But we intend to catch up over the next couple of days, weather permitting. We have some very shallow water ahead of us along the ICW, so the tides are also a factor. The tides are 7 to 9 ft. along here, and change without warning as we cross the many channels, inlets and outlets. We did get a break today with the tides. Most of the time they were pushing us along and we had the jib up to add to the rpms. We PASSED a huge very long barge being pushed by three tugs. We are told December 1 is the first day of winter around here, so we have got to get moving south. I don't want to face anything colder than what it is now - 55 degrees behind the helm today.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Welcome new followers!! We love the comments. Yes Geoff the local culture is quite interesting??? Y'all from Maine??? You should see the summer home (one of many) this Piggly Wiggely founder owns! They'll would love to see the snow!! Little do they know! In the 70's here today. We know what they are missing !!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Nov 18 We are here in Charleston, SC Yesterday we finished installed the fresh water pump and gave the boat a good wash down. In the evening we walked to the hotel where Connie and Joe were staying and enjoyed a wonderful meal on Queen Street with Joe and Connie (Connie's treat!) Today we toured the historic district of Charleston on a horse drawn carriage, walked around the College of Charleston, and then drove out to the Magnolia Plantation. We really enjoyed our time with Connie and Joe, and feel like we have inhaled Charleston. Tomorow we plan to leave the dock early and head down the ICW south.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Nov 15th We departed from Georgetown, finally, at 7 am. We are now anchored in Whiting Creek across from Capers State Park, 3/4 of a mile from the Atlantic Ocean, at mile 451 on the ICW. We are in good company with other boats we've met along the way. We will be in Charleston early tomorrow. We plan to anchor tomorrow and then pick up a marina on Tuesday. We will meet Connie and Joe on Tuesday afternoon and hopefully spend the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday with them seeing Charleston. The weather today was beautiful, sunny and in the 70's. We had no wind, but it was almost a relief after the past 4 days. The ICW passed through the Cape Romain Wildlife Preserve today. We saw many Bald Eagles, white and blue herons, another heron that resembles our Green Heron but larger, and the dolphins were around us all day. They know of I love them. I just can't get a picture of them -they are too fast. However, I continue to be challenged. Bill contends he saw an allegator next to Allegator Creek. I missed it. The water along the ICW today was very shallow and commanded constant attention at the helm. That's my excuse for missing the allegator. I send you all thoughts of sunshine, beautiful scenery and temps in the 70's. May tomorrow be a repeat.
Nov 16th. We've been on our trip for 2 months now. The day is again beautiful and sunny. We traveled the ICW where the piers are very long from the homes in order to cross the marshland to the water, and everyone hauls their boats out of the water because of the constant wake from boats traveling the ICW. Everyone with a home along the ICW has a pier and at least one boat. Again today the dolphins played around us as we sailed. We are always trying to make the bridges that only go up on the hour. We just made it today. This bridge was the railroad swing bridge that was scheduled to close on the 11th of November and they pushed the date forward to the end of November. We are in Charleston Harbor tonight at Charleston City Marina. We decided to come into the marina because the fresh water system pump decided to quit last night, which necessitated a visit to West Marine today. Bill is trying to get the new pump installed now. We'll stay here to visit with Connie & Joe tomorrow and maybe Wednesday. We are definitely feeling like we have made the South now.
Nov 16th. We've been on our trip for 2 months now. The day is again beautiful and sunny. We traveled the ICW where the piers are very long from the homes in order to cross the marshland to the water, and everyone hauls their boats out of the water because of the constant wake from boats traveling the ICW. Everyone with a home along the ICW has a pier and at least one boat. Again today the dolphins played around us as we sailed. We are always trying to make the bridges that only go up on the hour. We just made it today. This bridge was the railroad swing bridge that was scheduled to close on the 11th of November and they pushed the date forward to the end of November. We are in Charleston Harbor tonight at Charleston City Marina. We decided to come into the marina because the fresh water system pump decided to quit last night, which necessitated a visit to West Marine today. Bill is trying to get the new pump installed now. We'll stay here to visit with Connie & Joe tomorrow and maybe Wednesday. We are definitely feeling like we have made the South now.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The wind was blowing hard again this morning, so here we are still in Georgetown. The surprise was the sun came out this afternoon and it was sunny and warm. This morning we worked on the boat. Bill changed the oil and filter and replaced the main halyard while I did dishes and cleaned up inside. We washed the hull and the dinghy. Then we treated ourselves to crab sandwiches at the Goat Island Grill for lunch. We walked many miles looking for a hardware store. No such thing within walking distance. We again hope to set out tomorrow toward our Charleston destination.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Tropical Storm IDA
Okay. I understand this trip may be boring for all of you, but I need support here. Where are your comments that I loved reading??? I love Bill dearly, but really, I do need outside input. A 30' sailboat is VERY SMALL during a 4 day storm in which you are anchored in a very small town. Actually out of self preservation we hauled anchor this AM and pulled into a marina here in Georgetown (fortunately some much larger boat decided to leave the marina). The winds are still blowing and the weather is still not safe for us to be out and about. The fresh shrimp is wonderful and Piggily Wiggily provided transportation back to the boat. And the marina has a shower and laundry. PERFECT ! Our friends we met along the way contact us to get the lastest locations and the people we have met along the way are the greatest. It seems that the coastal community and the ICW know the mariners are against great odds. We love you all. More to come.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Nov 7, Saturday. Again today it was sunny with temps starting at 50 and hitting 60 at one point. We still are wearing winter clothing behind the helm during the 50's however. There were white herons, ducks of all kinds, unknown sea birds galore, and the dolphins playing their games around our boat. The homes and landscapes with green grass, flowering bushes and waterfront piers were beautiful along the ICW. We watched a sailboat that was on hard, REAL HARD, tried to be towed by TowBoatUS with no success. We have no idea how the boat could have gotten into the shoal so far. We had five bridges today, two that opened on the hour. We missed that hour opening on both by five or ten minutes. That really slowed us up today. After running out of daylight, we anchored in Snow's Cut, just across from Orton Point, south of Carolina Beach Inlet, NC. It crosses Cape Fear. There is a bridge in Charlestown that we are trying to get to before they close for construction for a week on November 11th. A big paddleboat all lite up just passed us playing music. It looks like it might be a casino cruiser. People along the ICW do a lot of fishing, with boats or without. This would be a great place to be a child with shallow water vessels. There are so many marshes, inlets and places to explore, and the wildlife is fantastic.
Nov 8, Sunday. Just a beautiful day in North Carolina. We are just a few miles away from Little River, South Carolina anchored in a little cove off the ICW. Our journey today along the ICW was just a fraction of a mile away from the Atlantic - at times the two joined. The homes were back to back on the ICW and Atlantic. The area is really beautiful. We managed to make the one bridge at opening time today. It was a pontoon bridge at Sunset Beach, the last one remaining on the Atlantic. Zero clearance. I guess there is local interest in preserving it. They decorate it at Christmas time. However, a new high level bridge is under construction. Lots of activity on the ICW today, fishing and pleasure power boats, jetskis, and kids playing on the beaches. We travel with familiar boats, all of us heading to a warmer climat. Tomorrow we must get another early start and get some miles in again in an effort to get to the Charleston bridge before the 11th.
Nov 9, Monday. Left the anchorage at 6:30 am proceeding back into ICW. The current caught us, drifted us sideways onto a sidebar, grounded again. We spent 20 minutes kegging off and went on our way toward Georgetown. However, around noon we discovered the alternator was not functioning. We called Hague Marina, the oldest marina on the ICW (and it looked it) and they had a mechanic available to look at our problem. The marina was located in back of an island with a narrow channel entrance. Well guess what, we got hung up on shallow water again. However, this time we were lucky enough to back out. It was like chocolate pudding down there. Long story short, the mechanic turned out to be very efficient, found a broken wire immediately. He also traced our problem with the running lights that had recently developed. It was a corroded socket in our deck light (the one mounted halfway up the mast). So he cut the power to the deck light so at least we have running lights now. The marina was awful! No anything except water. They did tell us that construction on the Charleston bridge is being delayed to the end of November. We gave the boat a bath and then ourselves to at least get our money's worth charged by the marina. Spent the night.
Nov 10, Tuesday. There is a tropical depression looming in our neck of the woods. However, we had to escape the dreadful Hague Marina. So we took our chances and headed out of the marina as soon as we hoped we had enough water to get down that narrow channel heading back in to the ICW. WE MADE IT! We were lucky enough to get to Georgetown, SC, anchor the boat, get some walking and shopping time in, get diesel fuel and get back on the boat before the rains came. Now we expect to be here tomorrow as heavy rain is predicted.
Nov 11, Wednesday. Yes, heavy rains it is. So we sit and try to be patient. Bill did maintenance on the diesel. I cleaned the boat and oiled the interior wood. We have pumped out the dinghy once but the rain is coming down hard and it is filling up again. We decided we didn't like our anchorage. The holding wasn't that good. So we hauled anchor and moved to a different spot here in the harbor. The prediction is for rain tomorrow too, especially in the morning. Good book time.
Nov. 12, Thursday. We are having a wonderful lunch at the Goat Island Grill here in Georgetown. Yes, still here, anchored, waiting out the persistent storm. We are told we are on the back side of Ida, but it is still very windy and cold. We will probably move into a marina here tomorrow to do the usual shopping, laundry, showers, water, etc. This is a pretty good place to be stuck though. It is a very pretty town with lots of shops and good restaurants. Our love tol everyone. Wish us better weather on Saturday. We would like to get to Charleston SC by Monday.
Nov 8, Sunday. Just a beautiful day in North Carolina. We are just a few miles away from Little River, South Carolina anchored in a little cove off the ICW. Our journey today along the ICW was just a fraction of a mile away from the Atlantic - at times the two joined. The homes were back to back on the ICW and Atlantic. The area is really beautiful. We managed to make the one bridge at opening time today. It was a pontoon bridge at Sunset Beach, the last one remaining on the Atlantic. Zero clearance. I guess there is local interest in preserving it. They decorate it at Christmas time. However, a new high level bridge is under construction. Lots of activity on the ICW today, fishing and pleasure power boats, jetskis, and kids playing on the beaches. We travel with familiar boats, all of us heading to a warmer climat. Tomorrow we must get another early start and get some miles in again in an effort to get to the Charleston bridge before the 11th.
Nov 9, Monday. Left the anchorage at 6:30 am proceeding back into ICW. The current caught us, drifted us sideways onto a sidebar, grounded again. We spent 20 minutes kegging off and went on our way toward Georgetown. However, around noon we discovered the alternator was not functioning. We called Hague Marina, the oldest marina on the ICW (and it looked it) and they had a mechanic available to look at our problem. The marina was located in back of an island with a narrow channel entrance. Well guess what, we got hung up on shallow water again. However, this time we were lucky enough to back out. It was like chocolate pudding down there. Long story short, the mechanic turned out to be very efficient, found a broken wire immediately. He also traced our problem with the running lights that had recently developed. It was a corroded socket in our deck light (the one mounted halfway up the mast). So he cut the power to the deck light so at least we have running lights now. The marina was awful! No anything except water. They did tell us that construction on the Charleston bridge is being delayed to the end of November. We gave the boat a bath and then ourselves to at least get our money's worth charged by the marina. Spent the night.
Nov 10, Tuesday. There is a tropical depression looming in our neck of the woods. However, we had to escape the dreadful Hague Marina. So we took our chances and headed out of the marina as soon as we hoped we had enough water to get down that narrow channel heading back in to the ICW. WE MADE IT! We were lucky enough to get to Georgetown, SC, anchor the boat, get some walking and shopping time in, get diesel fuel and get back on the boat before the rains came. Now we expect to be here tomorrow as heavy rain is predicted.
Nov 11, Wednesday. Yes, heavy rains it is. So we sit and try to be patient. Bill did maintenance on the diesel. I cleaned the boat and oiled the interior wood. We have pumped out the dinghy once but the rain is coming down hard and it is filling up again. We decided we didn't like our anchorage. The holding wasn't that good. So we hauled anchor and moved to a different spot here in the harbor. The prediction is for rain tomorrow too, especially in the morning. Good book time.
Nov. 12, Thursday. We are having a wonderful lunch at the Goat Island Grill here in Georgetown. Yes, still here, anchored, waiting out the persistent storm. We are told we are on the back side of Ida, but it is still very windy and cold. We will probably move into a marina here tomorrow to do the usual shopping, laundry, showers, water, etc. This is a pretty good place to be stuck though. It is a very pretty town with lots of shops and good restaurants. Our love tol everyone. Wish us better weather on Saturday. We would like to get to Charleston SC by Monday.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Nov 4, Wednesday. We have been incommunicato for a couple of days - no phone, no Internet and no wireless. Tonight we are anchored just outside the ICW in Bay River, NC. Tomorrow we hope to make Beaufort, NC. We need to keep putting the miles on while the weather is good. Today was another sunny day in the mid 60's. Some wind, but in the narrow canals of the ICW it is difficult with sails up. We traveled through a wild life preserve today. It was beautiful. We saw Bald Eagles and many other birds. We are now seeing familiar faces as we travel - or should I say boats, or both. We traveled again today with another 30' sailboat that has knowledge of the course. We took the dinghy over to their boat for cocktails this evening. Early to bed and early to rise with the time change. Hopefully tomorrow we can communicate with our world.
Nov 5th and 6th. We stopped in Beaufort, NC on the 5th. Did grocery shopping, watered up, washed the dirty boat and had soft shell crab sandwiches for dinner. Delicious! It was another beautiful sunny day. We watches the dolphins play around the boat as we cruised the ICW.
On the 6th we left Beauford bound for Swan Point - Jacksonville, NC. Just a little marina with a lot of shrimp boats. We passed a Vt boat with two pups aboard. We watched the pelicans in action. Passed Camp Lajeune Marine reserve where they were playing all sorts of war games. Today was sunny, but cold all day. We just need to keep putting on those southbound miles.
Nov 5th and 6th. We stopped in Beaufort, NC on the 5th. Did grocery shopping, watered up, washed the dirty boat and had soft shell crab sandwiches for dinner. Delicious! It was another beautiful sunny day. We watches the dolphins play around the boat as we cruised the ICW.
On the 6th we left Beauford bound for Swan Point - Jacksonville, NC. Just a little marina with a lot of shrimp boats. We passed a Vt boat with two pups aboard. We watched the pelicans in action. Passed Camp Lajeune Marine reserve where they were playing all sorts of war games. Today was sunny, but cold all day. We just need to keep putting on those southbound miles.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Returned to the boat Saturday evening well provisioned after a wonderful visit with Harrie and Patti. We left the dock Sunday morning accepting an invitation from the cat next to us to follow them across the bay to Mile Zero and the beginning of the Virginia Cut and the Dismal Swamp along the Intracoastal Waterway (hereinafter the "ICW"). We tied up to a pier just off the entrance to the Dismal Swamp, Willowby Creek, but not until after we practiced the technique of getting stuck on a shoal, rowing out the dinghy, dropping one anchor, hitching that anchor line to the halyard to haul us off the shoal, dropping the primary anchor once off the shoal, hauling the assist anchor in, breaking off the windless anchor switch, rewiring a switch, all the while trying to keep from going back on the shoal again! We have been told this is a practice one must follow to be welcomed to Chespeake Bay. Our reward was an invitation for apple pie from the cat friends.
Sunday we were off down the Virginia Cut, through many bridges and negotiated our first lock. We had the lock to ourselves - never a dull moment around here. The wind and sea kicked up in the afternoon followed by rain. We headed for Coinjock, NC and are tied up at a pier. Hopefully, the weather will break tomorrow.
Nov. 2, Monday. Well, we didn't leave Coinjock. Weather too iffy to cross the canal. We have met a couple from Florida who are bringing home a 30' sailboat and we may follow them outside as a bridge in Charlestown, NC is closed for over a week for repairs. Laying over gave Bill more time for those minor repairs and fix ups. I spent my time drying wet clothes from yesterday's rain and cleaning up the boat. Miss everyone!
Sunday we were off down the Virginia Cut, through many bridges and negotiated our first lock. We had the lock to ourselves - never a dull moment around here. The wind and sea kicked up in the afternoon followed by rain. We headed for Coinjock, NC and are tied up at a pier. Hopefully, the weather will break tomorrow.
Nov. 2, Monday. Well, we didn't leave Coinjock. Weather too iffy to cross the canal. We have met a couple from Florida who are bringing home a 30' sailboat and we may follow them outside as a bridge in Charlestown, NC is closed for over a week for repairs. Laying over gave Bill more time for those minor repairs and fix ups. I spent my time drying wet clothes from yesterday's rain and cleaning up the boat. Miss everyone!
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