Day 269, May 9th, 2010
Slower start today. A little business to take care via internet (Wifi connection here) and John got the fuel topped up again at the gas dock, so we didn't get away till 9:30. Unfortunately Barefoot and Cakaro will be delayed as Wayne went to do his engine checks this morning only to find out his water pump was on the fritz. Thanks goodness we all came onto St. James Marina yesterday instead of the anchorage at Calabash Creek! They will wait for repairs.
Much cooler this morning! But, the wind is all from the north, i.e. on the nose!!! Also, strong current against! However, we set off and the dear old boat putt putted along. Out into the Care Fear River, where it was pretty open and windy.
Passed lots of development again along the waterway, all with long piers out to the water across the marsh. Again, it seems as if there has been so much more building than there was 4 years ago. Loads of activity on the waterway with weekend traffic. Speed boats, fishing boats, jet skis, sports fishers - everybody whizzing by. Cruisers are kind to each other, under sail or power, and call on the radio to ask permission to pass "a slow pass". Everybody else - well, they go whizzing by and we end up slopping from side to side.
We got to Wrightsville - wow it was crazy busy and we had to wait nearly an hour in the channel, to get through the swing bridge. But the timing was good - it was only 4:00 and with a good three more hours of daylight, we decided to keep moving. We ended up in an anchorage about 20 miles north at a point called Sloop point. There was a row of houses on the ocean side and we were tucked behind them in a thin little channel. Going in we passed a motor trawler - he'd tried to put the anchor down a little too soon and ended up on the mud but joined us at the anchorage 10 minutes later with no damage.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
St. James Marina, NC
Day 268, May 8th, 2010
John and I got going at 7:00 again. The other two boats, with their bigger engines, were leaving after us. We set off again and thank goodness it was a little cooler with a bit of a breeze which improved as the day went on.
A lovely day moving north through South Carolina. Wow! what a change since our last visit in 2005. There has been so much development along the waterway with beautiful homes, each of course, with their own long pier across the marshes to the dock. The cable car gondola is still there across the waterway where the golfers move from one half of the golf course to the other.
There was lots of traffic with fast speed boats and jet skis along the way. But it was a good day and we made good progress again with a good southerly breeze pushing us along.
We stopped for the night in St. James Marina, in North Carolina. Cakaro and Barefoot arriving just before us. The last time we were here (with Bread & Roses) the place had just opened. Now its a busy place with lots of boats and all the gorgeous homes are occupied. We had supper in the restuarant with Wayne and Bobbie from Barefoot and then set about to do chores.
John and I got going at 7:00 again. The other two boats, with their bigger engines, were leaving after us. We set off again and thank goodness it was a little cooler with a bit of a breeze which improved as the day went on.
A lovely day moving north through South Carolina. Wow! what a change since our last visit in 2005. There has been so much development along the waterway with beautiful homes, each of course, with their own long pier across the marshes to the dock. The cable car gondola is still there across the waterway where the golfers move from one half of the golf course to the other.
There was lots of traffic with fast speed boats and jet skis along the way. But it was a good day and we made good progress again with a good southerly breeze pushing us along.
We stopped for the night in St. James Marina, in North Carolina. Cakaro and Barefoot arriving just before us. The last time we were here (with Bread & Roses) the place had just opened. Now its a busy place with lots of boats and all the gorgeous homes are occupied. We had supper in the restuarant with Wayne and Bobbie from Barefoot and then set about to do chores.
Thoroughfare Creek, SC
Day 267, May 7th, 2010
Maybe today we'd see Cakaro?!! We left at 7:00 again. It was hot already. Not a breath of wind. It gradually got hotter and hotter - we got out our little thermometer and read 100 degrees Fahrenheit!!! I had a great idea which helped though - got the wash down pump out and had a refreshing rinse on the bow a couple of times as we were going along!! It felt gorgeous!!
We chatted with Cakaro on the radio during the day and agreed to meet them at Thoroughfare Creek. It was going to be a long day.
Fun though - Morning Star was ahead of us and then another traweler called "Skooch". Morninig Star called back to us and said they'd seen an alligator on the starboard shoreline justing getting back into the water. We looked and looked but couldn't see it. Then Skooch called back and told us they saw it on the port side in the water by the pier. This time we did see him - swimming in the water but we could see his head clearly!!!
We got into Thoroughfare around 5:00 and there was Cakaro and Barefoot anchored together!!
What a lovely sight. They were swimming at the beach and it was fresh water!!! What bliss!
We all went for a swim and it was gorgeous. Somebody mentioned there were alligators further up stream but none where we were and that was just fine. The water felt so good!!
After our swim we all brought something and had an impromptu pot luck supper on Cakaro and caught up on everyones' news. A lot had happened since Marathon!
One thought - only very few palm trees to see now, back in the cypress swamps!!
Maybe today we'd see Cakaro?!! We left at 7:00 again. It was hot already. Not a breath of wind. It gradually got hotter and hotter - we got out our little thermometer and read 100 degrees Fahrenheit!!! I had a great idea which helped though - got the wash down pump out and had a refreshing rinse on the bow a couple of times as we were going along!! It felt gorgeous!!
We chatted with Cakaro on the radio during the day and agreed to meet them at Thoroughfare Creek. It was going to be a long day.
Fun though - Morning Star was ahead of us and then another traweler called "Skooch". Morninig Star called back to us and said they'd seen an alligator on the starboard shoreline justing getting back into the water. We looked and looked but couldn't see it. Then Skooch called back and told us they saw it on the port side in the water by the pier. This time we did see him - swimming in the water but we could see his head clearly!!!
We got into Thoroughfare around 5:00 and there was Cakaro and Barefoot anchored together!!
What a lovely sight. They were swimming at the beach and it was fresh water!!! What bliss!
We all went for a swim and it was gorgeous. Somebody mentioned there were alligators further up stream but none where we were and that was just fine. The water felt so good!!
After our swim we all brought something and had an impromptu pot luck supper on Cakaro and caught up on everyones' news. A lot had happened since Marathon!
One thought - only very few palm trees to see now, back in the cypress swamps!!
Inlet Creek, SC
Day 266, May 6th, 2010
We up anchored at 7:00 and were off. It was foggy at first but that soon cleared. It was hot but there was a lovely wind and again we were able to use the jib. The tide was on its way out, which was a bit unfortunate at 8:45 when I took us too close to the edge of the channel and we got stuck on the mud!! I shoved it in reverse but nothing happened. Low tide was going to be at 9:45 and we were making such good progress!!! However, we saw "Morning Star" approaching from behind - a trawler we'd met several times. I called them on the radio and asked if they could give us a fast pass, creating a good wake in the hopes we could hop off. They tried but this didn't work either. They kindly came around, John threw them a line and they pulled us off. Thanks Morning Star!!! It wasn't bad - a soft landing and we came off easily thank goodness.
We were thinking we'd stop in Charleston for the night but did so well we decided to go on further. Especially when we heard from "Cakaro" on the radio that they were just ahead of us and would be stopping in Dewes Creek for the night. We hoped to meet them.
However, there's a swing bridge before Charleston which closes from 4 till 6:30 p.m. and we didn't get there till close to 5:00 p.m. So, there was a nice spot to anchor there so we dropped the anchor and had supper while we waited. Also John fed Periwinkle more dieself and I plotted a route further ahead on the GPS.
The short rest was good, we got through the bridge and continued on. It was lovely to pass Charleston and see the lovely homes on the waterfront and the battery. Got a couple of good shots of Fort Sumter and managed to avoid a freighter.
We didn't make Dewes Creek as the light was failing, so instead stopped at a good spot called Inlet Creek. It was about 8:00 and we were exhausted!!!
We up anchored at 7:00 and were off. It was foggy at first but that soon cleared. It was hot but there was a lovely wind and again we were able to use the jib. The tide was on its way out, which was a bit unfortunate at 8:45 when I took us too close to the edge of the channel and we got stuck on the mud!! I shoved it in reverse but nothing happened. Low tide was going to be at 9:45 and we were making such good progress!!! However, we saw "Morning Star" approaching from behind - a trawler we'd met several times. I called them on the radio and asked if they could give us a fast pass, creating a good wake in the hopes we could hop off. They tried but this didn't work either. They kindly came around, John threw them a line and they pulled us off. Thanks Morning Star!!! It wasn't bad - a soft landing and we came off easily thank goodness.
We were thinking we'd stop in Charleston for the night but did so well we decided to go on further. Especially when we heard from "Cakaro" on the radio that they were just ahead of us and would be stopping in Dewes Creek for the night. We hoped to meet them.
However, there's a swing bridge before Charleston which closes from 4 till 6:30 p.m. and we didn't get there till close to 5:00 p.m. So, there was a nice spot to anchor there so we dropped the anchor and had supper while we waited. Also John fed Periwinkle more dieself and I plotted a route further ahead on the GPS.
The short rest was good, we got through the bridge and continued on. It was lovely to pass Charleston and see the lovely homes on the waterfront and the battery. Got a couple of good shots of Fort Sumter and managed to avoid a freighter.
We didn't make Dewes Creek as the light was failing, so instead stopped at a good spot called Inlet Creek. It was about 8:00 and we were exhausted!!!
Pics: First one - where we stopped for supper just before Charleston, 2nd - the gorgeous homes along the waterfront at Charleston, 3rd - Fort Sumter in the distance, where the Civil War started.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Beaufort, SC
Day 265, May 5th, 2010
Cloudy sky but blue patches. Thunder storms a possibility in the afternoon apparently. Anyway, we set off again at 7:00 and the what wind there was was on the nose!
Arrived in Beaufort, SC at 9:45 and fuelled up at the marina first of all. Then moved over to the free dock where we can tie up for the day. We have happy memories of Beaufort - sight seeing with Darvin and Marilyn on our way south in 2005. And stopping again on our way north with Ray and Cheryl. In fact we find ourselves thinking of both and Bread & Roses and Perfect Peace all the time along this route, remembering funny events and stories from before!!! Happy days!!
We're in the Library right now catching up with the Blog and checking our e-mail! We'll get some groceries next and then get back to the boat. We're hoping to push on to South Edisto River, just south of Charleston, tonight but who knows how far we'll get. Oh - by the way, the sun came out and its hot and humid here today.
....Well! Things didn't happen quite as planned. We didn't get back to the boat until 4:00 and felt it was too late to move any further so we decided to anchor in Beaufort for the night.
Just before we let go the lines from the free dock, two people came up to us and said they were Canadian too. The one lady lived in Beaufort and her cousin had just arrived from Nova Scotia on vacation. We chatted for a while and said goodbye. We waited till 6:00 p.m. and then went through the swing bridge just north of the town (Lady's Island Bridge) and went up the creek on the other side of t he waterway. This area is also part of Beaufort, a part we hadn't seen before. We dropped the anchor right infront of some new condos there. Hadn't been there very long when we heard voices calling from the dock - it was the Canadian lady and her cousin. They had just arrived at a party on the dock and invited us to join them for a glass of wine. Off we went in the dinghy! They were such nice people. The host and hostess had just moved into one of the condos and were celebrating with their friends. We had a great time with them. Southern hospitality is really something!!!
Cloudy sky but blue patches. Thunder storms a possibility in the afternoon apparently. Anyway, we set off again at 7:00 and the what wind there was was on the nose!
Arrived in Beaufort, SC at 9:45 and fuelled up at the marina first of all. Then moved over to the free dock where we can tie up for the day. We have happy memories of Beaufort - sight seeing with Darvin and Marilyn on our way south in 2005. And stopping again on our way north with Ray and Cheryl. In fact we find ourselves thinking of both and Bread & Roses and Perfect Peace all the time along this route, remembering funny events and stories from before!!! Happy days!!
We're in the Library right now catching up with the Blog and checking our e-mail! We'll get some groceries next and then get back to the boat. We're hoping to push on to South Edisto River, just south of Charleston, tonight but who knows how far we'll get. Oh - by the way, the sun came out and its hot and humid here today.
....Well! Things didn't happen quite as planned. We didn't get back to the boat until 4:00 and felt it was too late to move any further so we decided to anchor in Beaufort for the night.
Just before we let go the lines from the free dock, two people came up to us and said they were Canadian too. The one lady lived in Beaufort and her cousin had just arrived from Nova Scotia on vacation. We chatted for a while and said goodbye. We waited till 6:00 p.m. and then went through the swing bridge just north of the town (Lady's Island Bridge) and went up the creek on the other side of t he waterway. This area is also part of Beaufort, a part we hadn't seen before. We dropped the anchor right infront of some new condos there. Hadn't been there very long when we heard voices calling from the dock - it was the Canadian lady and her cousin. They had just arrived at a party on the dock and invited us to join them for a glass of wine. Off we went in the dinghy! They were such nice people. The host and hostess had just moved into one of the condos and were celebrating with their friends. We had a great time with them. Southern hospitality is really something!!!
Skull Creek, near Hilton Head, GA
Day 264, May 4th, 2010
Off again at 7:00 a.m. The weather didn't look too bad. The thunder storm that had been forecast overnight never happened and we thought all was well. We heard a weather warning on the radio that a severe storm was meant to happen 20 miles off shore with water spouts - so were glad we'd made the decision to go "inside". Anyway, about half way through the morning it started to drizzle and then clouded over completely. The rain got harder and continued without stopping all day. Visibility wasn't bad though so we kept chugging along. Very little wind so no fun! I'm glad it was John's day! There he stood in his rain jacket, soaking wet all day!! I retreated to the cabin. Finished knitting a sweater for Abby. Made a nice salad for lunch - handing it out to the poor Cap'n. And made stew and home made biscuits for supper!!
Managed to get to Hilton Head (didn't see any golfers this time) where we found a really good anchorage at Skull Creek. Little more cover this time with trees and some lovely homes.
Just as we got settled, wouldn't you know it, the sky broke up, the sun came out and there was a beautiful rainbow!!! By the time we'd finished the chores, i.e. fuelled up, plot the course for the next day, had supper and done the dishes, we just had time to snuggle down and watch a movie!!!
Off again at 7:00 a.m. The weather didn't look too bad. The thunder storm that had been forecast overnight never happened and we thought all was well. We heard a weather warning on the radio that a severe storm was meant to happen 20 miles off shore with water spouts - so were glad we'd made the decision to go "inside". Anyway, about half way through the morning it started to drizzle and then clouded over completely. The rain got harder and continued without stopping all day. Visibility wasn't bad though so we kept chugging along. Very little wind so no fun! I'm glad it was John's day! There he stood in his rain jacket, soaking wet all day!! I retreated to the cabin. Finished knitting a sweater for Abby. Made a nice salad for lunch - handing it out to the poor Cap'n. And made stew and home made biscuits for supper!!
Managed to get to Hilton Head (didn't see any golfers this time) where we found a really good anchorage at Skull Creek. Little more cover this time with trees and some lovely homes.
Just as we got settled, wouldn't you know it, the sky broke up, the sun came out and there was a beautiful rainbow!!! By the time we'd finished the chores, i.e. fuelled up, plot the course for the next day, had supper and done the dishes, we just had time to snuggle down and watch a movie!!!
Cattle Pen Creek, GA
Day 263, May 3rd, 2010
My day to drive!! (We're still holding to our plan of alternate days at the helm. We both enjoy being captain for the day and on our day off we read our books in between supplying the cap'n with food and drinks and managing the jib if need be.)
Another beautiful day - hot sunshine with lots of wind from the south! Perfect! Jib was out all day as we meandered up the ICW through the marshes. I kept John busy jibing the jib so he hardly had time to read a couple of pages consecutively!! We were lucky too with the tides - we hit the shallow areas (Jekyll Island and Little Mud River) on a rising tide, and the currents seemed to push us along too. At one point we were going out one of the Sounds at 8.3 knots!!! Good old Periwinkle!! (Hull speed 6.5kn.)
We finally called it a day around 6:30 p.m. when we reached a lovely spot called Cattle Pen Creek. One other sail boat was anchored there - a young couple heading south. I was totally exhausted and could only come up with egg on beans on toast for supper, an old English standby!! By the time we'd finished our chores we climbed into bed!!
My day to drive!! (We're still holding to our plan of alternate days at the helm. We both enjoy being captain for the day and on our day off we read our books in between supplying the cap'n with food and drinks and managing the jib if need be.)
Another beautiful day - hot sunshine with lots of wind from the south! Perfect! Jib was out all day as we meandered up the ICW through the marshes. I kept John busy jibing the jib so he hardly had time to read a couple of pages consecutively!! We were lucky too with the tides - we hit the shallow areas (Jekyll Island and Little Mud River) on a rising tide, and the currents seemed to push us along too. At one point we were going out one of the Sounds at 8.3 knots!!! Good old Periwinkle!! (Hull speed 6.5kn.)
We finally called it a day around 6:30 p.m. when we reached a lovely spot called Cattle Pen Creek. One other sail boat was anchored there - a young couple heading south. I was totally exhausted and could only come up with egg on beans on toast for supper, an old English standby!! By the time we'd finished our chores we climbed into bed!!
Pictures above show a Naval installation at King's Bay Channel, where we passed a submarine and other Navy ships. You can't see the sub very well at all -left hand side of the first picture.
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