Making up for lost time. Or, fleeing from the Marines....

We have been running 10-hour days to make up for lost time and are now back on schedule to enter Chesapeake Bay by early June.  We are presently anchored across from Moorhead City, NC.  The marinas were full due to a fishing tournament, so we are at anchor.  No matter because we have one more long day tomorrow to arrive at Belhaven, NC, where we have reservations for two nights, and will rest up.    

Fortunately, we caught a good weather window and have been able to run in the Atlantic the past two days, avoiding the madding ICW.  The ICW on the east coast is shallow and has many no wake zones that have popped up around the mansions people have built on the banks.  It seems that people everywhere want to live on the water and have the funds to do it!

Yesterday, we went into the Atlantic after Myrtle Beach, and came into the Cape Fear River, at Southport, NC. Today, we left the ICW at Wrightsville Beach into the Atlantic, and came to the Beaufort River Inlet, avoiding closures on the ICW that runs through Camp Lejeune, the Marine Corps base.  During live fire exercises, the ICW shuts down for obvious reasons.  Also, the Onslow Bridge over the ICW on this stretch is being replaced, causing intermittent shutdowns.  So, it was a good day to skip all that and run unimpeded (almost, see below!) in the Atlantic. 

Due to the Cape Lookout shoals, today was the last time we can take the Atlantic until we hit Cape May, NY, after traversing Chesapeake Bay.  So, we will be in the ICW until Norfolk VA, mile 0 and the end (or beginning) of the ICW here on the east coast.  Below are some pics of the last few days.  They loaded backwards-today first.  I am too slow to figure out how to reverse them-I need my grandson, Luke, to do it....

A calm day in the Atlantic today. 

Alexis usually drives.  I dock and generally do what I am told...

Offshore from Camp Lejeune we spotted this aircraft carrier.  It was on a Marine Corps training mission, and we watched hovercraft disgorge from the rear of the carrier, run around, and then pop back inside.  

 We got a little too close for comfort, and the carrier contacted us and told us to move on, as there is a two mile safety zone around warships.  Shortly after that we were buzzed by three large drones from the carrier.  Can you spot them in the above two pics?  I imaged some 19 year old looking at me down the missile sight of the drone.  We left the area post haste!  

Southport is a lovely city, and exudes southern charm. 

Something about this pub appealed to me.  Can't quite put my finger on it....

The above three pics are from Southport.  

Typical home on the ICW!

The above two pics are from a marina in Myrtle Beach.  Notice the Ruth Chris Steakhouse right next to the boat?  Naturally we went in..

We're back!!!!!

Riverside Boatyard in Myrtle Beach has been fantastic, and has us back in the water today, better than ever and ready to go.  We will head to Southport, NC after we provision, and then toward Portsmouth, VA and the mile 0 of the ICW.  We then enter the Chesapeake Bay and continue past Baltimore and into the C&D Canal, to the Delaware River and Cape May, NJ.  From there we take the Atlantic to New York.  Stay tuned and fingers crossed we don't bend these props!!

The rudder post has been rehabilitated!

I had my spare props shipped here from Houma, and the bent ones back home to be refurbished.  

Rudder and props ready to go.  

 

The good, bad and ugly of boating!

 Ah, the boating life!  Most of the time it is great, but there will be not-so-great times as well.  We had ours leaving Charleston.  I had planned to run offshore to our next stop, Georgetown, SC, but the waves were up from T-storms, so we elected to take the ICW.  Mistake.  We grounded in the infamous Isle of Palm area.  I managed to get off and proceeded to Georgetown, but we were taking on water.  The bilge pumps kept up, but I had obviously damaged the starboard rudder, hence the leak.  It was obvious I needed a haul out, but no worries as Georgetown had a yard with a travel lift.  But wait!  When I called bright and early the next morning, the owner told me he had no labor force, so while he could haul me, he could not fix the boat.  Fortunately, we were told about a new shipyard just opened in Myrtle Beach.  They could take us!  So, leaking all the way, we went to Myrtle Beach for repairs.    We were going to fly home out of Myrtle Beach anyway for Memorial Day weekend, so it all works. 

But not to worry, we did have good times.  The stop in Charleston was wonderful, and we got to have time with my cousins.  Here are some pics:

At Gayle's house. 

Gayle and Scott on the boat.  

On the way to Myrtle Beach. 

Fort Sumpter, where the Civil War started.  

Charleston.

The Charleston City Marina is huge. 

These are the two pump out boats at the marina-check out the names...

Perfect Fit on the travel lift.  

Talk about a bent rudder!  

Savannah and Beaufort

We have had a great time with Walter and Trish exploring Savannah, GA and Beaufort, SC.  Both cities have rich history dating back to before the Revolutionary War.  We are underway to Charleston to visit Scott and Gayle.  Here are some pics. 

Underway at dawn on the Beaufort River.  Overtaking the sailboat Forever on the two whistle.  

 

  

We took trolley tours in each city and learned history. 

Beaufort has a magnificent waterfront, and a history lesson to boot. Note-click on any pic to enlarge it to read.  

Note the sign over my shoulder-priceless! 

The above eight pics are all from Beaufort, where the force is strong....

Savannah-the city of squares.  

We found Walter's deceased grandparent's house in Savannah.  He visited here as a small boy.

Incredibly, we found his grandparents resting place in a huge cemetery in Savannah.  

Isle of Hope Marina in Savannah.  Note because of the 10' tides, it does not have a boat launch, but rather a lift to take the boats off their trailers and put them in the water.  

Isle of Hope area.