Home Again

We got home about 10:00 AM yesterday. The wind was howling but we arrived safely. The challenge now is to get the boat unloaded, stripped and into the boatyard for fuel tank repair. This will be the last blog entry until we start another cruise next fall.

96 Miles to Cedar Creek

A almost record run today; 96 miles vs the 99 mile record. From Wrightsville Beach to Cedar Creek; 20 miles from home. Home by 10:30 tomorrow. Some pictures: (1) Strange lawn decorations; this is one of many unsual "decorations" (2) The hideous house (although they obviously think its beautiful) that when we see we know we are close to home (3) More eagles nesting for this years family

Wrightsville Beach Tonight

The weather started off more than terrible but improved during the day. The 10 miles up the Cape Fear River was slow but non eventful. The weather service as usual was 100% wrong about everything. Made good time here and docked about 4:00 PM. Not bad for 75 miles. The plan is at least Morehead City tomorrow and home by noon on Wednesday. On we go.

Boat plans are written in sand at low tide

The weather has caught up with us. A cold front yesterday afternoon and another due tonight will create almost gale force conditions Sunday and Sunday night making it impossible to cross the Cape Fear River on Sunday. We have moved up to Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach and will sit this out until Monday morning. The revised plan is Wrightsville Beach on Monday, Swansboro on Tuesday and home on Wednesday. Some pictures (1) The spring osprey breeding season is in full swing. Here is one of many nests with residents sitting in it (2) The Barefoot Landing swing bridge pictured here is the swing bridge that was on the Neuse River in New Bern before the high rise bridge was built. It was disassembled and shipped down here and put back in service.

Wacca Wachee Marina in Waccamaw River

Anther position report. We are where we expected to be, in Myrtle Beach (as opposed to North Myrtle Beach)at the Wacca Wachee Marina. Tomorrows target is Southport. Marching on.

Past Charleston to Isle of Palms

No Pictures tonight; a position report. We reached Isle of Palms Marina, 13 miles north of Charleston this afternoon, earlier than we expected after a 80 miles day. The weather is turning bad but we will be inside so there should not be any problem. The target tomorrow is Wacca Wachee Marina about 80 miles from here. Julie will remember stopping there when she helped us bring the boat back after my leg injury. Moving on.

Outside to Beaufort, SC

Anther successful outside shortcut; from Walburg Creek to Beaufort, SC. Again this could not be done in one day on the ICW. The sea was like a mill pond; no wind and no waves. Some pictures: (1) the sunrise as we left Walburg Creek (2) The busy location is the Savannah River. Here a large gas carrier is just entering the channel (3) Others have to wait. This ship anchored outside the entance to await his turn. In contrast the Beaufort channel is 22 miles long and carefully maintained. In 15 years we have NEVER seen a ship enter Port Royal Harbor. A waste of money. Off to Charleston tomorrow.