Log 185; Day 539; November 11, 2009; Hilton Head, SC.

This log starts out in Charleston...where we met (for the first time) new friends, Bob & Charlotte, from Foreign Exchange

It will come as a suprise to no one, who reads my logs, that Deb takes 100's of pictures. It is a daily chore to figure out which ones to put in the log. Here are a couple from Deb's walk around the city. This placque is on the house in the following picture

And this one is from the Veterans Day Parade she went to

We left Charleston on Monday, to another beautiful sunrise


As you leave Charleston, the waterway opens up, and you start to get to what they call "low" country.

There are 6 to 9 foot tides in this area, and as you can see, they build their docks accordingly

Look at how far back this dock is off the deep water. I can't imagine having a boat tied to that dock, and having it sitting in the mud twice a day.

As we wound our way south, we started to see dolphins again.

These two played in front of our boat for a long time

This is our marina at Port Royal

As we left Port Royal on Tuesday morning, we saw Peddler (the boat on the right) and Joy Ann (the one right in front of Peddler). New friends we met in Charleston

As we left Port Royal Marina, and entered Port Royal Sound, we saw several shrimp boats working

We arrived in Hilton Head to warm and sunny skies

This area is full of these beautiful trees

Just across the street from the marina is CQ's...where we had dinner

With our new friends (from top right) Stuart (Joy Ann); Joe & Carole (Peddler) and Joy. Tonight we will be joining them on Peddler for dinner.

Log 185

Day 539

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

8:00 AM EST

Location: Harbortown Yacht Basin, Hilton Head, SC.

Weather: 69 & very cloudy...rain just went through

Happy Birthday Beccah (our daughter) and Jeff (son in law)

Happy Veterans Day...and thanks to all the veterans who keep us safe, and allow us to live this life.

Our time in Charleston...was very nice. On Saturday, which was just an awesome day weather wise, we took the marina shuttle into town, for a “blind date” with new friends Bob and Charlotte, on Foreign Exchange. We had planned to meet at 1 pm, so Deb and I took the 11 am shuttle, to get there early, and walk around the town. Because we do not move at the same pace, we decided to split up, and meet at the restaurant. Deb walked the town shopping district. I found a bar, with sports on TV, and very good micro brewed pilsner. At 1 pm, we finally met Bob and Charlotte, and had a great lunch. They are the kind of people you like as soon as you meet them (Wonder if they felt the same?). After sharing stories, and a great cheeseburger, we all went to the market to stock up on supplies, and the marina shuttle picked us up about 4. At 5, Joe (from Peddler) stopped by our boat and said they were having cocktails on his boat, and we should come over. We first met Joe, and his wife Carole, when we were docked together at Georgetown (the day before). Also, having cocktails, were their very good friends, Stuart and Joy (on Joy Ann). These guys have two beautiful boats, and are traveling together down to Florida. We had a great time getting to know them. By the time we got back to the boat, both Deb and I were tired, and not very hungry, so I made some tuna fish, and Deb had a bowl of cereal. Sunday...was spent just being lazy. Deb took a walk into town, and saw a Veterans Day Parade. I watched the Bears get their but kicked by the Cardinals, and the NASCAR race in Texas. Dinner on board...a very nice day.

We left Charleston at first light on Monday (November 9^th). It was another gorgeous morning, with blue skies, and light winds. There were a few tight spots along the ICW between Charleston, and Beaufort, but in general, it was an easy day of cruising. Much of the day we cruised with the isinglass up, but the closer we got to Beaufort, the darker the skies got, and we dropped the isinglass, because I could see rain on our XM weather. Our plan was to go past Beaufort, and to a marina called Port Royal...three miles further down the ICW (mile 539). By the time we got there (about 2 pm) and started to top off our fuel, it started raining. At first it was a little light rain, but after getting fuel, and getting to our slip, the rains came down hard, for about an hour or so. A little before 4, we walked up to the marina to check in, and had plans to have a beer at their bar. But, after walking in the bar, and seeing people smoking inside, we turned around and walked back to the boat (we like the states where they do not allow smoking in restaurants...South Carolina must not be one of them). Back at the boat, I worked on cruising plans (which I am ALWAYS working on...and love it) and Deb made some spaghetti. The movie was an episode of “The Great Race”. It rained, off and on, all night.

Up early, and left our slip in Port Royal, a little before 7. We only had about 30 miles to go to Hilton Head, but I wanted to get there before the rain and winds from Hurricane Ida were forecasted to get there. We had a very nice 1 to 2 mph tidal current that helped us most of the way to Hilton Head, and it was also very pleasant weather wise (69 and partly cloudy with light winds). We arrived Hilton Head by about 10:30 to sunny and warm weather. We both commented that the last thing we thought we would need to do today is use the air conditioners on the boat, but it was warm and muggy, so we did. After arriving, we took a walk around the complex, and checked out all the boats in the harbor. Deb did a few loads of laundry, while I cleaned the boat, and took a nap. At 6 pm we walked over to a very nice restaurant called CQ’s, which is just around the corner from the marina. The night before (in Port Royal) we had invited both Joe & Carole (Peddler) and Stuart & Joy (Joy Ann) to meet us for there for dinner at 6:30, and so we went early to relax at their bar. We had a GREAT dinner with everyone, and enjoyed getting to know these two couples a little better.

Today...we have planned a “down day” due to the weather forecast from Ida. Although, as I write this, the rain has all gone past us, and we have almost calm winds. Depending on which weather site you want to believe, we will either have winds of 23 mph tomorrow or 15 mph...we’ll take the 15, and hope for the best. Our plan is to go 48 miles to a place called Kilkenny...which is just a wide spot on the water, with a marina that some say is “out of the 50’s”. Great or not, it’s about 1/2 way between Hilton Head, and St. Simons Island, GA, and it will make the run through Georgia easier. (right after I wrote the last sentence, I called the Kilkenny Marina, and he told me “oh man...the weather is supposed to be very bad tomorrow...winds of 35 mph...so I don’t think you’re coming...but I’ll take the reservation anyway”). Who knows...I’ll check the weather throughout the day, and first thing in the morning. If we can...we’ll continue south. If not...we’ll enjoy another day in Hilton Head. In either case, we have been invited over to Peddler, for cocktails and dinner. Looking forward to that.

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob

Log 184; Day 535; November 7, 2009; Charleston, SC.

Thanks to JoAnn for taking us a tour of Myrte Beach and a great lunch spot

The next day, when we left Myrtle Beach, the sun was out, but it was a little cool. Deb said it was freezing.
I, on the other hand, planned for later in the day, when shorts and a t-shirt would be all I needed

A lot of the waterway near Myrtle Beach is a man made canal

Then it joins the Waccamaw River, and is deep and beautiful

The entire river is lined with trees

This is our dock at Georgetown...the boat behind us was heading to Florida as well.

The boardwalk in Georgetown is lined with interesting bars

And, of course, another picture of "us"

Leaving Georgetown, and heading to Charleston, the waterway is a mixture of wide open lowlands...

And narrow waterways with lots of docks in the water

As we got to Charleston, there were fisherman everywhere

When we got to our marina, they told us to go down this long waterway, with boats on each side

and then parallel park the boat in an open slip at the end
Not easy...but we were in good company

And finally...as I was writing my log this morning, a 55 foot boat was trying to leave, when the current got the best of him and wedged him between the dock and a boat in front of him. I watch them try to get it off for at least 15 minutes, and then I walked over to see if I could help. It took a lot of work to get the boat back into it's original slip, without hurting anything, or anyone.

Then once he was back into the slip, everyone agreed, the best way for him to leave was to back out

Which, after a lot of work, he was able to do

Finally...he left the harbor...without even saying "thanks". Interesting.

Log 184

Day 535

Saturday, November 07, 2009

7:20 AM EST

Location: Charleston City Marina; Charleston, SC.

Weather: 59 & bright sun...not a cloud in the sky. Heading to 73 today

Lots of mega yachts lining the docks here at Charleston City Marina this morning. We are tucked up near the end of a long face dock, in the middle of lots of activity. It’s a little cool out, but the sun is warming things up fast. Many yachts started leaving the docks at 6 am...still lots of migration south.

Myrtle Beach to Georgetown, SC...was an easy 60 mile run, and some of the prettiest waterway along the ICW. The northern part of the waterway is really a man made ditch that travels through the Myrtle Beach area, and has hundreds of homes, all with a dock on the ICW. It’s slow going, but very interesting. Then you drop into the Waccamaw River, and things change considerably. There are no more homes; the waterway widens a little; and it is lined with solid trees on each side. The waterway (in most areas) is also deep all the way to the banks, and very easy to navigate. It is just a beautiful 5 hour cruise. We arrived at Georgetown, Harborwalk Marina, just ahead of a crowd of boats. The chatter on the radio was very busy, as the marinas were trying to find spots for all of the folks looking for slips, and many were turned away. Why they do not make reservations is a mystery to me? Especially this time of year? After getting settled in our slip, and helping tie up a few boats, who came in behind us, Deb and I took a walk into town...just 1/2 block away. We were on a quest for a bar that had popcorn, and good draft beer...but no luck, so we came back to the boat. The rest of the afternoon was spent reading, and returning emails. We had dinner on board, and watched the movie where Eddie Murphy goes to Washington (can’t remember the name...but a good movie).

Georgetown to Charleston...is also an easy run. The first thing you do is head out in the Sampit River, and into Winyah Bay...which leads to the Atlantic. But, in our case, after about 3 miles, we make a hard turn to starboard (right) and join the ICW. The ICW in this area is similar to others, in that it is man made canals, that join several rivers to create the ICW. About the only real town you go through is McClellanville, SC. After about 55 miles of this, you come to the large Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor. To get to our marina we had to cross the Charleston Harbor and join the Ashley River. The City Marina is on the Ashley River, where it joins the Wappoo Creek...the continuation of the ICW. Once there, we got our slip assignment...which was a little interesting. Picture driving a car down a dead end alley, with cars (or boats) on both sides, and just enough room to drive down. About 3/4 of the way down, is a spot where you have to parrallel park. The good news is we made it without hitting anyone...but I can’t help but wonder what it’s going to take to back out of here We arrived at Charleston about 2 pm, and immediately started washing the boat. It did not have a lot of salt on it, but we did not wash it in Georgetown the day before, so it did need a good cleaning. After a complete cleaning, and checking in, it was almost 4 pm, so we settled in for cocktail hour; shrimp and rice for dinner; and watched the Mentalist, and Survivor.

Today...we plan to make it a lazy morning, and then head to downtown Charleston to meet another boating couple (Bob and Charlotte on Foreign Exchange) for lunch. We have never met Bob and Charlotte before, but they know our friends Andy and Mary on Good News, and we have crossed paths several times, and spoken on the radio. So...we decided to meet for lunch, while we are both in Charleston (although, at different marinas).

Tomorrow...is Sunday...and a day of rest. Or...a day of football and racing.

Monday...we plan to continue south, with our first stop being Beaufort, SC (pronounced Bu fort), and then Hilton Head.

Also...

· Deb and I want to give a special thanks to Deb’s Aunt JoAnne, for showing us around Myrtle Beach, and buying us lunch at a terrific spot.

· I also want to give a “shout out” to Pam at Wells Fargo Advisors. Pam works with Gary Hedge (a very good friend, and our financial advisor) and is an avid boater, and hopes to someday go cruising. Gary will sometimes pass along my logs to Pam, so she can have an idea of what this life is like. Go for it Pam!

· As we were cruising the waterways the last couple of days, I have called a number of my friends to tell them how much fun we are having. Not really to rub it in...just to remind them. As one of my friends told me...this work thing is WAY overrated. We are very fortunate to be able to do this...and the good thing is...we know it, and are thankful each day.

· We’re on track to be in Florida, and at Cape Coral the first week in December.

As another friend said...”Life is good on The Tour”

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob

Log 183; Day 531; Norember 4, 2009; Myrtle Beach, NC.

Along the waterway, south of Wrightsville Beach there are many places where the ocean and the ICW come together

But, still, the waterway is narrow...this is a boat dredging the channel as we enter the Cape Fear River

Along the way there are hundreds of homes on beautiful property

And plenty of property decay as well

About 7 miles from Myrtle Beach is the Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge

Hard to believe, but this pontoon takes the bridge and moves it aside, so boats can pass (click here to read about it)

As we got close to Myrtle Beach we could start to see golf courses

But we also saw boats left abandon on the side of the ICW

This is the entrance to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club

And the view from our stern as we sit in our slip

Log 183

Day 531

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

5:35 AM EST

Location: Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, Myrtle Beach, NC.

Weather: 56 degrees and no wind...going to be 70 and sunny today

It took a little longer to warm up the helm area this morning, as it is only 52 degrees out. I could work on the computer and write these logs from the salon, which warms up easy, but somehow that does not seem right. I love sitting on the back deck...no matter what the weather. Speaking of weather, we have got a fantastic high pressure system over us for the next 5 to 7 days. All the forecasts, for the places we will be, show a bright ball of sun. It also shows light winds for the next few days...great for cruising.

We’re sitting at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club this morning, which is in one of the most northern parts of Myrtle Beach. We have stopped here a couple of times before, and we really like it here.

Getting here...turned out to be a very nice cruise. As I sat on the back deck yesterday and wrote my log, it was very cloudy and cool, and did not look to be a nice day. But, as the morning wore on, the clouds went away, and it became very sunny. The wind also died down. We ended up leaving the slip at about 7am. Even though the current was against us, I knew, that before too long, it would turn, and we would get some help.

(Side note: A couple of interesting things about cruising in this area. 1) because there are so many places where the ocean enters the ICW, you are switching back and forth between having the current with or against you. If you think about an outgoing tide...if you are a few miles north of an inlet, the current pulls you along, as it tries to go out. As soon as you reach the inlet, and keep heading south, the tide is now against you. And, this same thing is repeated several times, up and down the ICW. With the same rpm (say 1100) you go from 11 mph to 8 mph...and this can make a huge difference. 2) While you think you are going south...you are actually going west. If you look at a map of North Carolina, the most SE tip is Southport (where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic) and from that point, to Myrtle Beach, is almost due west. Hey...it’s interesting to me...ok?)

Anyway...the ICW in this area is very straight forward. Most of it is fairly deep, and easy to navigate. From Wrightsville Beach, heading south to Carolina Beach, the ICW is right next to the Atlantic, and many times, you just look over a low sand dune and see the ocean. From there you follow Snow Cut (man made) and that takes you to the Cape Fear River. Follow that south a few miles and you make a hard right at Southport, and the ICW heads west. Along the way we only had one bridge that we had to be concerned about, and that is what they call the Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge. I mentioned this on our trip north. This bridge is built on a pontoon, and every hour, they unhook the bridge on each side, and use a pontoon (a floating platform) to swing the bridge out of the way so boats can pass through (you can Google it and see how it works). As I described in my log yesterday, I set a waypoint for this bridge, and kept changing my speed in order to arrive for a 1 pm opening. It was close (we were the last boat to make it through the bridge) but we made it. From there...another 7 miles (now on the Little River) and we were in North Myrtle Beach. We arrived at 2; topped off with 180 gallons of fuel ($2.69 @ gallon); washed the boat; and were sitting on the back deck with a cocktail by 4 pm. For dinner, Deb made chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy, and “the movie” was an episode of Castle.

Today...we plan to stay one more day in Myrtle Beach. Deb’s aunt JoAnne will be at the boat late this morning, and we plan to have lunch with her, and see a little of the area by car. And, it’s going to be a prefect weather day...70 and sunny.

From here...we plan to leave Myrtle Beach on Thursday, and head to Georgetown, SC...and end up in Charleston, SC for the weekend. After football, and racing, on Sunday...Monday we plan to head to Beaufort, SC and then to Hilton Head. We’re not sure from that point if we’ll head out in the ocean, and skip the ICW in Georgia, or follow the ICW, and maybe go to Savannah. We’ll see.

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob