Thursday, December 5, 2013

Our Trip Down to Brunswick, GA

In our last post, we talked about being on our way down to Brunswick.  We have been here two weeks already, and the weather is INCREDIBLY WARM!  We have had a couple of cold days and tomorrow is supposed to be a high of 52, but 52 is better than 32!  Besides that, it will be back into the 70's by Tuesday.  I think we can handle it.
Our trip down was a first for us on the ICW for 5 days and an overnight 16 hour outside jump from Beaufort, SC.  We were hoping to just hop out into the ocean from Southport and make here in 40-something hours, but the weather wasn't favorable, so we left on Sunday, November 3, and arrived Sunday, November 10.  We enjoyed all of it tremendously as it was great experience, and we met so many people we hope to stay in contact with or hope to see again along the way.

Day 1 - Sunday, Nov 3, Southport NC to Barefoot Landing Marina at North Myrtle Beach, SC

Here we go!



Don't think they will be contributing to our seafood fetish anytime soon.
We don't think we've ever seen an RV campground on the water...but we suspect they are more prevalent than we think.
Lucky enough to be following someone through the "Rock Pile" before Myrtle Beach, SC.


At Barefoot Landing Marina, SC



 Day 2 - Mon, Nov 4, North Myrtle Beach to Harborwalk Marina in Georgetown, SC

My attempt to stay warm as it was quite cold in the mornings...a little over kill?  Nah!

Wendi and Burry Vanderveer on S/V Seahawk X with the fog laying on the water and the sunrise just hitting the bridge.  We didn't know them at the time, but hailed them shortly after this picture, and we stayed in contact for the rest of the trip. 

Capt'n Doug!
180 deg South...very good documentary on YouTube, by the way, if you've never seen it!

Georgetown, SC...we went to eat and went straight to bed...lol, but we loved seeing a prop and anchor like this beside a building.



Day 3 - Nov 5 Georgetown, SC to Toler's Cove Marina at Isle of Palm, SC

Leaving at sunrise...just beautiful!  Cold, but beautiful!


M/V Aphrodite.  We met the delivery crew the night before, and they passed us this next morning.  What a unique boat!  I believe they were heading to South Florida.




I don't know if you can appreciate this picture, but this new construction home was out in the middle of no-where with no other houses around...now, that's seclusion!




Arriving at Toler's Cove Marina...don't ever come in here at low tide if you draw more than 5'.  As a matter of fact, don't ever come through between the Isle of Palm Connector Bridge and the Ben Sawyer Bridge if you draw more than 5'.  We saw 5'2 and realized we were lucky for making it in.



Day 4 - Wed, Nov 6, Isle of Palm to Bull River (anchorage), SC


Charleston Harbor, SC



Wappoo Creek Bridge just on the other side of Charleston Harbor


We met up with Wendi and Burry Vanderveer on S/V Seahawk at the bridge and were able to talk with them again.




Some other boats coming through the bridge.



S/V Wonderful Life - Doug, Kathleen, Abe, Jack and Ella.   If you can see it, their three kids are taking turns spinning out on the halyard.


SV Wonderful Life, SV Slow Flight, Steve Elliott, and us taking a by-pass-so-to-speak around the Ashapoo Cutoff to Bull River.  We just missed Mary Lee by an hour or so...that Great White shark tagged by ocearch.com who pinged in the sound a little after we came through.  She would've been quite a site!


Us at anchorage in Bull River with Doug, Kathleen, Abe, Jack, Ella, and Steve.  Steve was generous enough to make some incredible cookies for us...well...they were for Abe, Jack, and Ella, but Doug, Kathleen, Doug and I were able to have some as well, and they were very tasty!





Day 5 -7, Thurs-Sat, Nov 7-10 Bull River Anchorage until we left from Beaufort, SC


Sunrise out of Bull River







So...we made it to Beaufort, SC.  Our next blog will cover Beaufort, SC to Brunswick, GA...plus two weeks...since we have been here for that long...time flies when you are having fun!!!  Talk to you soon! 


Thursday, November 7, 2013

To Carolina Beach and Back -

Aug, Sept, and Oct 2013

We moved the boat up to Federal Point Marina in Carolina Beach, so that we could be closer to the hospital for call days.  We were able to see the couple from whom we bought the boat, meet new people, try out new toys...we had a great time.  We were there for about 2 months before moving it back down to Southport for some repairs.
 

 
This is Dirk and Nancy's Vagabond (the couple from whom we bought Pieridae). They were on their way up the Cape Fear River to Federal Point Marina 
 
 
Federal Point Marina is located in Myrtle Grove Sound.  It is a beautiful dead end to the right off Snow's Cut.
 
There were fireworks every Thursday night
 
Weekly air conditioning clean-outs.  Our air conditioner seemed to suck up everything that came by...and there was a lot.
 
 
Afternoons on the paddleboard
 
Evening tormentors for Mizzen
 
An installation of our new autopilot...thank you again Dirk : )
 
Beautiful mornings
 
and nice evening dingy rides. 
 
 

Back in Southport

Jimmy and Doug's dad helped move the boat back for the last 3 or so weeks for some work.
 
The haul out
 
The culprit of our perpetual leak
 
The incredible sunsets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The repairs and bottom paint
 
 
New Cushions and propane covers
 
 
Going back in
 
 
Did I mention the sunrises and the sunsets?
 
 
Well, we are on our way to Brunswick, GA as I type, but we have truly enjoyed our entire time here in Southport and Wilmington over the past six years.  We have met some incredible people and had some very fun visitors from Asheville, Tennessee, Michigan...and maybe some other places that I can't remember right now.  We will miss all of them greatly and look forward to seeing them again!