Charleston to Beaufort, SC

Yesterday we left Charleston about 8:30 AM.  I got some good pictures of the city sailing across the harbor.

Unfortunately I am only able to up load one!  Over the last two days I took 29 pictures.  Well I will try to explain what our last two days were like.  However I know a picture is worth a 1,000 words and I did take 29 pictures which you may expect a 29,000 word blog, that is not going to happen. 

We had adverse current most of the day and very light winds.  We are in what is called the low country, lots of marsh and creeks.  The ICW meanders around from river to creek to cuts and back to a river.  The scenery is beautiful.  Last night we anchored out in a very remote creek.  The only lights we could see were the flashing red and green lights on the marks.  This morning we headed to Beaufort, SC.  We found this to be one of the nicest ports we have visited.  The water front has been made into a beautiful park.  We borrowed the courtesy car that the marina provides to do some shopping at the Piggly Wiggly.  We did our laundry and then went out to dinner at Luthers where they have $1.00 drafts on Sunday nights.  The marina has wi-fi but for some reason the pictures are just not loading.

We hope to be in Georgia tomorrow.  It is my understanding that the ICW goes through some very remote areas so I am not sure if I will be able to blog, we will see.

Greg 

Georgetown, SC to Charleston, SC

Our goal today was to try and do 50 miles.  We made 59 miles, just short of Charleston.  I can see it from where we anchored.  We were stopped short by a bridge schedule.  The last swing bridge that connects Sullivan Island to Charleston closes at 4:00 PM, we were about 20 min. late.  Now we have to wait until 9:00 AM for it to start operating again.  We were able to cover all those miles because we had a north west wind.  I was able to fly the jib all day, it made the difference.  There isn't much to see along this part of the ICW.  I included a sunrise and sunset picture and a couple of typical pictures of the waterway.  The fancy house was on the Isle of Palms just across the bay from Charleston.  Tomorrow we are not going to do the Charleston tourist thing.  Candy and I have been there, so we would rather move on and stop at some place that we have not been to.

Greg

Little River, SC to Georgetown, SC

On Wednesday we got under way at 11:00 AM.  We had a wonderful time at the Baty's.  Vicki treated us royally.  We had a wonderful home cooked meal, great conversation, did our laundry, watched "Dancing With The Stars" and slept in a real bed!  In the morning we did some grocery shopping and were on our way.  The first picture is of the narrow river. The next is a real curious one, Gondolas going over the river!  I don't know why but I could not resist taking the picture.

I took the next two farther down the river of this house over looking the ICW and then the bridge.  The significance of the two is that the bridge was a private bridge to access the exclusive neighborhood, just like Brian's and my neighborhood's in Weymouth!

We stopped for the night just off the ICW up a little creek in the middle of nowhere.  The boat just stayed side ways to the wind with the current opposed, it was odd but safe.  This morning I changed the oil in the outboard motor, I have been doing that every 500 miles.  Our trip today to Georgetown was only 20 miles.  The next picture is of an abandon rice field.  This area of South Carolina at one time produced over half of rice consumed in the states.  Then I have a few pictures coming into Georgetown.

This afternoon we had a nice lunch at a waterfront restaurant, no Guinness so I had to settle with a Red Stripe.  After that we took a tour of this historic house.  It was a gift to his daughter and it came with 32 slaves.  The last picture is Candy wishing she lived in a different time!

Greg

Wrightville Beach NC to Little River SC

Yesterday we got an early start. The weather forecast called for rain and thunder storms but that did not deter us, we forged onward.  The weather forecast was spot on!  Notice the costume change and the demeanor of the captain!  Below is a shot of a ship we shared the Cape Fear River with.  Then I took the picture of the fishing boat anchored just off the ICW.  We went through two torrential rain storms and ended with T-storm as we were coming to the marina at Sunset Beach, NC.

This morning we set out for Little River, SC to visit Vicky and David Baty, Matt's inlaws.  Our first bridge was a pontoon bridge, the span floats. It is being replaced with the bridge that is in the background.  A short time later we entered South Carolina.  They didn't have a sign (Entering South Carolina) so Candy created one.  The weather was perfect, sunny and warm, I have been waiting for this kind of weather.  The next picture was to show every house has Palm trees.

Today's leg was short, only about 20 miles, so we got to the marina just after 1:00 PM.  After we got the boat tied up we headed to Poo's for lunch and a Land Shark!  Life is good!

Greg

Beaufort to Wrightsville Beach two days

We left Beaufort Saturday morning.  This part of the trip, the ICW is closer to the ocean.  We are just inside the outer banks.  The land has been mostly developed, I have included some pictures of some of the houses.  I could not resist taking the shot of the giraffe. I would have to say much of the money that was made over the last ten years have gone into real estate in North Carolina!  The ICW cuts through Camp Lejeune, it is very beautiful, lots of birds and marshes, plus we didn't get shot at! Today we were challenged at all the bridge openings.  Timing is very important especially when the current is pushing you toward the bridge before it is ready to open.  One of the boats ahead of us ran aground waiting for the bridge opening.

We are anchored in Wrightsville beach.  This evening we went into town with a young couple that we had meet in Beaufort, they took the outside route, we took the inside route.  Our quest was to find Guinness on tap.  We did succeed! 

Greg

Oriental NC to Beaufort NC

Today was a nice easy day.  The trip down from Oriental was very pleasant.  I took some pictures of some typical homes along the waterway.  It was nice to be back from the wilderness and get cell service again!  We got here before 2:00 PM so we had a chance to walk around town.  It is real nice, I recommend it.  Candy and I had a fun time with the last picture of the yacht named "Indiscretion".  Why would you name your yacht Indiscretion, then we came up with the only logical reason.  The "wife" caught the "husband" fooling around and she took him for everything he was worth, then bought the yacht and named it "Indiscretion".  The marina is nice plus we got two chits for free beer!

Beaufort is port that many sailors use as a jumping off spot, to head to the Caribbean.  This is the first time we have seen the Atlantic ocean since the New Jersey coast,  The ocean smells great compared to some of the inland waterways we have been through.

Tomorrow we will have to keep our heads down, we will be sailing through Camp Lejeune.

Greg

Pungo Creek to Gale Creek to Oriental, NC

We are back in contact with the electronic world.  We have been out of cell service for three days.  Tuesdays blog was missing pictures.  The above are pictures for that blog.

Yesterday we were fogged in until after noon.  We were going to sail to Oriental NC about 50 miles, that was not going to happen. We got about half way to Gale Creek and anchored for the night.  This morning the fog was with us again, but it cleared by about 10:00 AM.  Oriental was ours before 2:00 PM thanks to the wind coming from a favorable direction for a change.  Oriental is the Sailing Capital of North Carolina.  It is a quaint little town.  We are tied to a free town dock across the street from a coffee shop that has Wifi,  I can pick up the signal.  This afternoon we went grocery shopping, about a two mile walk!  We just got back from a nice dinner at M&Ms, a local favorite.  We are headed to the Tiki Bar after I am finished this.  The pictures are from today's trip.

  

Alligator River to Belhaven NC

Here are some pictures of our trip yesterday.  We are out of cell service so the blogs may become sporadic.  We are in a marina that has Wifi. Sorry I only was able to load two pictures.  More next time.

Greg

Elizabeth City to Alligator River

We left Elizabeth City late because I had to return the rental car.  As I mentioned Candy has joined me so we are off on a new adventure for our marriage!  It was a smooth ride down the river to the bay and over to the mouth of the alligator river.  We have stopped at a marina a little early because it was the last chance to fuel up for the next 50 miles.

On the way down the river I got a picture of a big blimp hanger.  They manufacture blimps there.  all the blimps that we see, except the Goodyear blimp were manufactured here.  Also Elizabeth City is home to the largest Coast Guard base in the USA.

Tomorrow we will be getting off early to make Belhaven NC about 50 miles away there is nothing between here and there,  It will be a long day.

Greg

The Dismal Swamp to Elizabeth City NC

The pictures above are the ones of the Great Dismal Swamp Canal that I wasn't able to load into the last blog.  The first one is inside the lock before we were raised up the 8 feet.  The last two were taken at the "rest area".

Today's blog covers the trip from the rest area to Elizabeth City.  I left at 7:15 to make sure that I made the lock and bridge at the end of the canal.  Six boats locked through with me, this time we went down 8ft.  It is amazing how fast the water comes in and out of the locks.  I didn't time it, but it took less than 10 min.  The river that the canal leads into was very twisty and very beautiful.  My goal was to stop at Elizabeth City.  I had read about the "City of Hospitality".  Many years ago, two old retired guys wanted to do something for the visiting boaters.  First of all the town provides free dockage.  When I arrived there were several older gentlemen ready to take my dock lines and help me into the slip.  After I was tied up Gus, one of the volunteers welcomed me and all the boats that came in at the same time.  We were then invited to a wine and cheese party at 4:00 PM.  This is all provided free of charge, it is all volunteers and donations.  No wonder it is called the "City of Hospitality.  All the woman also get a rose! I am spending the weekend here for two reasons, first the weather was to be too windy for the next leg.  Second and most important I have rented a car to go pick up Candy at Colleens to join me for the rest of the adventure.  We will leave Elizabeth City on Monday morning to head to the Alligator river. The following pictures are of the trip to Elizabeth City and of the water front.

Greg