Beaufort SC (2/19) to New Smyrna Beach FL (2/24)

With stops in Hilton Head (2/20), Jekyll Island (2/21), Fernadina Beach (2/22) and Palm Coast (2/23)

The ICW, especially through Georgia, is almost totally uninhabited.  The wildlife is plentiful, particularly pelicans, herons, seagulls and other shorebirds.  Bottlenose dolphins are everywhere, but will not allow their photos to be taken. (Very camera shy.) They love to swim right at your bow, then dive under the boat and come up the other side.  The other day we saw two surfing our wake.  I will keep trying to get photo

Georgia ICW

Many markers have their own birds.

Jacksonville at night

Beautiful homes along the ICW south of Jacksonville...

and these might be your next door neighbors- really!

and on the opposite side is totally undeveloped.

A very happy commander...

but who takes her chores more seriously??

St. Augustine

 

Meanwhile, we are happily cruising along, with every part working as it should.  Mal and Carol learn more everyday, and we  have yet to be boarded by the Coast Guard.  A couple of days ago we thought it was going to happen for sure, since they had 4 boats tied up when we docked at Fernadina Beach.  But they were just there for lunch.  That night we met Harold’s cousin Becky and her husband Joel, who gave us a great tour of Amelia Island, took us grocery shopping and then joined us for a nice dinner at Brett’s.

When we finally made Florida the weather changed immediately.   We left Fernadina at 11:30am on because a railroad bridge just south of us was only open between noon and 1pm,  So today we can only make it to St. Augustine.  Once again, if you’re on a boat and you have a schedule, you’re in trouble.

Yesterday we spent in Palm Coast and the a short run this morning to New Smyrna Beach, where a great art show filled the downtown.  Tomorrow, weather permitting, we are headed to Melbourne.  We cannot always get to updating the blog, as often the marina where we are docked does not have a very good wifi connection.   And I used up all the data for the month on my 4G hotspot!

Admiral at the wheel, Captain H at the watch

Megadocks at Charleston City Marina

Mal's idea of a little beach cottage

On the ICW

Commander at the wheel

Charleston SC to Beaufort SC

We have fallen behind on our postings!  The weather kept us in Beaufort NC for a couple of days, but we arrived in Charleston SC on Thursday and spent the weekend, enjoying this truly unique southern city.  In some ways it is a Southeast version of San Francisco, with many great homes of the same era and an important shipping port.  Great restaurants (great oysters!)

The "Megadocks" at the Charleston City Marina are about 1100 ft long, which means you could probably fit 50 boats one after another lengthwise.  The photo does not do it justice, but you can see the pilings lined up, further than you can see in the distance.


 Today we spent about 5 hours on a gorgeous day on the water, and arrived in Beaufort (Bew-fort) SC, another lovely southern town, very similar to Georgetown SC.  Had a great dinner at Luthers' (ribs, burgers and fish.)

The two men aboard keep complaining about how fast Carol wants to go, and how much fuel is being used at her preferred speed.  She thinks that Twilight Time handles much better at 2200 rpms.   What's a lousy 28 gallons of diesel per hour @$4.16 per gallon??   Cheapskates!!

Early tomorrow morning we are headed for Hilton Head, hoping to arrive before a late afternoon/evening rain storm.  Weather forecast has two good days after that.  The weather is getting a little warmer every day.  Hurray!!

Georgetown South Carolina

...is another lovely southern town on a river, with a shrimping and fishing industry, as well as a paper mill (yuck) on the other side of the river. It is very close to Pawleys Island SC.  Most of the riverfront is commercial, with a number of good restaurants and small shops.  We arrived here on Thursday afternoon, and it's now Monday afternoon, so we're a little bored.  Captain Harold needed to go back to Beaufort and then Fayetteville for an event over the weekend, and now the weather is keeping us here.  Tomorrow we hope to make a dash down to Charleston (65 miles) before another storm arrives.  Of course, we are not really in any danger in a typical rainstorm, but it's uncomfortable on the bridge because you have to keep the curtain open to see, so it can be quite wet.  Here are some rainy day pictures of Georgetown:

Street with Live Oaks

A typical Georgetown SC home.

We spent last night at the North Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, and had a great dinner at their "Officers' Club."  Early this morning we are back on the Intercoastal headed for Georgetown, SC.  We are trying to race there before a big rainstorm hits, so we have left very early and hope to be in by noon.  We have just gone through a very narrow canal called "the Rocks", and fortunately there were no boats coming the other way, or somebody would have to back up.

Day 1  - Beaufort NC to Wrightsville Beach NC
11:00 AM-9:00 PM

Seapath Marina, Wrightsville Beach

We got off to a late start as the fresh water pump was acting up.  We cruised along in very chilly weather for a while, until we arrived in the Camp Lejeune area, where the marines were engaged in bombing practice.  They had the Intercoastal closed for about an hour.  We finally were able to move again, only to approach a bridge that would not open for another 40 minutes.  This happened 2 more times, the last one just as the sun was setting.  Shortly after we were in pitch black, except for the occasional flashing marker.  I was so cold that my hands shook as I tried to hold a flashlight on the depth meter.  I don't want to have that experience every again.  NEW RULE:  Be at a dock or at anchor by 4 pm!