Charleston, SC

18 October 2014

We motored out of Price Creek early yesterday and traveled through Isle of Palms which we were told had really skinny water and should only be navigated during a high tide. We were anxious to make Charleston early so we set off. Remember the tides here are about 4-5 feet. It was low. We stayed in the center and bumped a few times but made it arriving in Charleston around noon.

As we arrived at the Charleston Harbour Resort and Marina we stopped at the fuel dock. A dolphin came along side and looked like Flipper, rising out of the water and doing rolls.

The carrier Yorktown is berthed here and Robin tolerated another WWII ship tour. The ship was really impressive, it saw a lot of successful battles during WWII and also saw action during Korean and Vietnam. 

Off to the city today to reprovision and see the sights. 

John and Rosie Blakely set out from Bowleys today on they way down the ICW, we wish them fair winds and favorable seas. 

Passing through Isle of Palms

Approaching Charleston

Playful dolphin

The Yorktown

A flight simulator, pretty neat, simulated carrier takeoff, mission and landing

Jet Jockey Robin

The Biloxi was a Heavy Cruiser, my dad served on the Biloxi during WWII in the Pacific

Beautiful bridge

A small sailboat race, the ship looked like it was going right through them

Flight Deck

Fort Sumter the start of the Civil War

Business end of an F 18 Hornet

Price Creek, SC

16 October 2014

We left Little River/Myrtle Beach around 1230 on Wednesday and motored down the river and eventually into the Maccamaw River which was picturesque, beautiful cypress and spanish moss, wide and deep. We anchored for the night in Prince Creek, narrow deep and beautiful (see photos below). We had a lovely dinner and had a peaceful nights rest. No sign of the promised begging turtles. 

Back on the Maccamaw on Thursday where we motor sailed for a while then following the ICW through multiple creeks and canals. Today we did see Bald Eagles, dolphin and a wild horse. Much of todays trip was down along the coast, marsh land as far as you can see. It was a bit chilly today, around 70 degrees and mostly sunny, anxious to get to warm weather, we’re told this is cold for this time of year, we did have a cold front move through 2 days ago.

Bella has not yet learned to do her “business” on the boat, she will wait over 24 hours to get to shore, not healthy. We traveled a section of creeks, canals and marshes where there were no stops or marinas. We passed a pier sticking out of no where. We did a “bump and run”, Bella didn’t take but a moment to do what she needed to do and came back a happy dog.

Tonight we are anchored in Price Creek which leads to the ocean. It’s not navigable to the ocean, but we can see the waves breaking on the beach. Looking out over the marsh reminds you of looking over fields of wheat in Kansas.

We traveled 65 miles today, 10 hours, trying to make up for the lost days for repairs (remember we only make about 6 knots average). It’s about 20 miles to Charleston, SC. We are looking forward to spending a couple of days there.

Thank you again to John Cameron and Deborah for showing us around and taking us for provisions. We enjoyed your company very much.

Gondolas to take golfers across the ICW
There are over 120 courses in Myrtle Beach

Always waves

More pretty homes

Price Creek a beautiful, quiet anchorage with 20 - 45 foot of water

Price Creek in the early morning

Price Creek off of the Waccamaw River

Prince Creek on the marsh, it looked like wheat fields for as far as the eye could see

Sunset over the marsh

Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach, SC

15 October 2014

We walked to Harborgate resort and Marina monday night for appetizers and a change of pace. We had martini’s and appetizer’s and met “Skip”, and elderly fellow with the most severe arthritic hands I’ve seen. He has a jet ski and manages to ride it from Little River to Baldhead and back when the sea cooperates, about 60 miles round trip. Nice guy.

The water pump arrived around 1230 yesterday. It took about an hour and a half to install. It went well, it works and no leaks.

We felt a need to put in at least a few miles and motored to Barefoot Landing, a marina and shopping area with restaurants, shops and theaters. The section of the ICW we traveled through is known as the “rock pile”, the bottom is shale and hides many large boulders. We stayed in the middle of the channel and had no incidents.

John and Deborah came down and we had appetizers at a couple of places, walked the mall area and shared good conversation. 

Today there are thunderstorms in the morning and promised clearing in the afternoon. We will walk the shops and try to set out after noon.

Easy to get to

I thought she was real!

Beautiful homes everywhere

Little River, SC

13 October 2014

Well…

We motor sailed from Bald Island to Little River Inlet, about 24 miles on Friday. It was a beautiful day on the ocean, not much wind, we were out about 5 miles. We anchored for the night in Calabash Creek. While doing routine maintenance checks I noticed a bearing failure in the fresh water pump. It didn’t look good. We called the nearest marina, about 4 miles away, and told them we needed a pump, “I’ll get on it right away” I’m assured. We pulled anchor Saturday morning hoping to make it to the marina. Nope. The pump lasted about 2 miles, right at a sign with the local Towboat US phone number.  15 minutes later “Thomas” and his Boykin Spaniel, Beau, came to tow us to the marina. He did a great job and was very friendly. David, the marina manager, helped us tie up and assured me he was working on getting the pump. “It might be a couple of days, it’s Saturday and things close at 2, tomorrow is Sunday, (nothing happens) and Monday is Columbus Day.” 

We had been talking to our Bowleys friends, John Cameron and Deborah. They are vacationing at their condo in Myrtle Beach. They picked us up and took us out for the evening, cocktails and dinner. We had a wonderful evening, catching up and learning about Myrtle Beach.

Sunday was Robin’s Birthday and John came to take us to the store for some provisions (Deborah stayed home working). Later we launched the dinghy and went to the Little River Shrimpfest. What a great time, we ate, drank (of course), browsed the vendor stalls, and listened to live music. We were blown away by a rock band of young, 12 - 15 year old, musicians. They were from something called Dave Capone’s School of Rock. Their sounds were amazing and their stage presence awesome. They played Queen, The Beatles, and Kansas. I wish I could share with you just how good they are. 

Today, Monday we are taking care of maintenance items, defrosting the fridge, washing the boat and vacuuming. Waiting to hear from David. 

The weather here has been good, we had cloudless skies until yesterday. It’s cloudy now but 80 degrees and 65 at night.

"DILLIGAF" is an acronym see if you can figure it out.

"POO'S is a popular biker bar at Anchor Marina, the name best describes the food.

Beau, Thomas the TowboatUS operator's Boykin Spaniel

Deborah

John Cameron

Lighted menu's and check, a great idea in a dark restaurant. The Benny Rappa's Restaurant.

We are sorry we have not posted recently. We had a freshwater pump failure and have been waiting over a long weekend for the part.  We are in a boatyard, Anchor Marina, in Little River, SC. The pump will be here today. We will update you all when we get to wifi again.

Baldhead Island, NC

9 October 2014

Wilmington was very nice, we had dinner at the Black Sea Mediterranean Grill. We met Cere, the owner, he helped us with our meal and wine selection. Great assorted platter appetizer, Robin had Kofta and I lamb, dessert was a fried philo with a honey sauce a la mode, with Turkish coffee. If you like coffee and not had Turkish coffee you’re missing something, it makes expresso taste like decafe.

Wednesday morning we visited the Battleship North Carolina. I have a huge respect for the men and women who fought in WWII. The ship is really impressive, 9 16” guns, 20 5” guns, 60 40mm’s, and 53 70 cals. A 16” gun can fire a 2100 lb explosive round 21 miles with rifle accuracy. You can go into many spaces below decks and get a feel for what life was like. You can also climb in the 16” gun mounts, it is amazing how much technology was available in the early 1940’s and the amount it took to fire these guns.

30 knots, 166 gals/mile, carries 2 million gallons 

The breach of a 16" gun, the bags are 6 powder bags loaded behind the shell

We left Wilmington around 1200 and with a strong tide pushing us, we averaged ~ 6.5 knots to Baldhead Island on Cape Fear. Baldhead Island is an exclusive community of beautiful beach homes. The shoals extend off shore 20-30 miles making passage from the north hazardous. We met a group of guys last night, Andy Swain, his dad Glenn, Mark, and about 4 others. They own vacation homes here but were here for a guys weekend. They were all gentlemen even though drinking and having fun, not one foul word. “Toad” (Andy, his father named him that after he wrecked his first car) was most gracious, he lent us a golf cart so we could tour the island and his membership card to the “Shoals Club” so we could enjoy a lunch or dinner. He even told us to put the tab on his account, (of course we didn’t) what friendly warm people. 

Frying Pan Shoals

Only golf carts on the island, the road thru the woods like a canopy

The Shoals Club

Nice house

another nice house

Little Munchkin garages for the golf carts

Sunset

Maybe an off shore sail tomorrow to Little River Inlet, just North of Myrtle Beach.