Break from the I.C.W.

Today we pulled into Fort Pierce Marina,not a graceful landing as we are in a slip for big boats and took a lot of maneuvering to get ropes set, it's so much easier to anchor out. Today the waterway was very choppy but we got to use the sail for two days in a row. It is now time to get a load of junk off the boat,everything not used in the past year gets taken to our trailer in Lake Wales and sorted. We fly to Seattle Nov 1st for our daughter's wedding and I am ready for a little land life. This I.C.W. Trip was full of rain and a lot less relaxing with a need to get here and not enough time to stop and sightsee. I hope to stay somewhere south next summer and then enjoy the sailing.  I really wanted to scream at Skipper Bob (but he is dead) His beloved anchorage guidebook made us go aground twice in one day. With all the copies sold they could pay Sea tow to actually measure depth yearly,we only draw 4 1/2 feet and went aground as soon as we tried to enter and not at low tide. Fortunately our little engine pulled us out after much coaxing and white knuckles. These anchorages were at mile 785.2 and 786.2.  We found a great anchorage outside of Fort Matanzas. It was deep,peaceful with dolphins and fish jumping all around.  This stretch was full of bridges but mostly 65 feet so few slowdowns. With sun shining it is a joy to meander down the scenic I.C.W. But bad weather can make for long days.  I was promised a special restaurant meal tonight,lots of on board meals prepared this trip. As we cleaned up and strolled up to the marina restaurant I spied the "closed for renovation" sign. He owes me that meal tomorrow.

Noreaster in Georgia

It was provisioning day on Wednesday at Isle of Hope Marina, love those free loaner cars. Last night we anchored out in the South River, thank God for our Manson anchor, it was 20 knots with serious gusts that made it feel like the bow was airborne but the anchor held. Early up after a night of hourly anchor checks and a stop at Golden Isle Marina at St. Simon's Island. Stopping caused me fear with the wind but the dockmaster made it painless. I was treated to a restaurant lunch then a nap made me quit saying "I want to go home". I forgot we sold our home. Anyway all is good and they have live music tonight with the lead singer from Blues Traveler and Ivan Neville, next generation of the Neville Brothers. Weather report sucks for the next several days so tomorrow is a sleep in late day,YEAH!
This I.C.W. trip has been so different. Wind,rain,gloom predominates but we are making progress and this makes the Seattle weather we are to experience next month seem lovely.

South Carolina !

We have made it to South Carolina and are at Georgetown, SC for the afternoon, there were 30 knot gusts forcast for this afternoon so I decided to take a break at the dock rather than anchor in a creek off of the ICW. The last week has been a test of our skills trying to predict where we will stay for the night and timing all of the inlets along the coast. At times we can be traveling at over seven knots on one side of an inlet only to be slowed down to three knots on the other side.Here is a video we took just before a inlet http://youtu.be/TisG_YgZj_k We also have to watch out for low tide around the inlets as there are areas that shoal to around five foot in the channel, so we try to pass those areas at high tide or at least 1/2 tide and rising. 175 more miles to go in South Carolina and then on to Georgia and the nine foot tides!

North Carolina I.C.W.-Not For Wimps

I had a wonderful evening anchored in Mile Hammock Bay-Camp Lajune,N.C. The bombs bursting in air around us did not bother me but we left the beautiful anchorage to a lightening show .Onward we went and arrived at the first bridge to find that the bridge tender forgot to turn on his radio,in the nick of time we got his cell number and up went the bridge.The next bridge opened only on the hour so we tried to idle down to wait.The current then sent us into the shallows . We got out only to be bombarded by fast  flying fishing boats and even one who was setting his net across our path directly  in front of the bridge.When we finally got through at full throttle we found opposing current allowed only 3 knots speed.This was as I watched the weather radio on the phone showing that the thunder we heard was an approaching storm front.
All was good as we found the Carolina State Park Marina almost empty and tied down and enjoyed a dinner and long shower.It was only 30 dollars with electric and water included here but quiet a walk to any town services so it it's an evening of rest.

rain,rain go away!

This morning we are at the docks on the Beaufort,N.C. water.Yesterday we awakened early to a gorgeous sunrise at an anchorage in Campbell creek,all alone except for the mosquitoes that flourish in the constant rain.It was a wonderful day down the I.C.W. until afternoon when a torrential downpour came about suddenly,as much rain as Hurricane Irene and lightening everywhere.I n a narrow section of the canal I prayed while Mike got us safely to the Beaufort city dock. was treated to a yummy soft shell crab then and Mike enjoyed a few well deserved adult beverages.The marina had a free loaner station wagon so off we went( before dinner) to the hardware store and grocery store.
I had picked up a pressure  cooker cookbook -Miss Vickie's Pressure Cooker Recipes- in Annapolis and have been enjoying the tasty and easy meals.It is the best source to learn pressure cooking ,a fat volume with great advice.Pressure cooking uses less fuel,saves time and meats come out very tender even with cheap cuts.
Our fuel and water tanks are refilled and now await a tide change to leave the dock but for the seventh day in a row rain clouds are all around us.

Thank You

A special thank you to John Petrini and crew at his Petrini Shipyard.His hospitality and workmanship were next to none.The location in Spa Creek was an easy walk to downtown and the public bus stop and post office nearby meant no car was needed. We got to enjoy too many good meals and the shopping mall made rainy days fly by.Annapolis is truly the sailing capitol of the world with multiple marine stores available.
We are now ready to cross the Albermerle Sound.I always am glad to leave the noise and encroaching warships of Norfolk but we did enjoy a wonderful German restaurant at Portsmouth,Va.They offer over 350 varieties of beer but with an early start ahead Mike enjoyed just one.The Great Dismal swamp was the next stop and we were serenaded at the first lock by Robert on his conch horn,he is so helpful and makes locking a breeze.We were pre warned that the excess duckweed could clog and overheat the engine but had no problem.We made it through both locks and and ancored last night behind Goat Island.The anchorage was easy to set anchor and we were all alone in a beautiful lagoon with only a few croakers as noise.

Southbound II

Southbound again! We are now on the move down the Chesapeake Bay and heading for the ICW on the way to the Bahamas. We left Petrini's Shipyard  at 7:30 on Tuesday the 20th, and spent last night at Solomons MD. We left there about 7AM and made it to Deltaville VA around 4:30 this afternoon. We will continue on to Norfolk and the ICW tomorrow. We have had rain the last two days and it looks like it won't let up until next Monday but as long as the winds don't build we will press on. Also we have to watch the two tropical depressions that are building and watch out for the falling NASA satellite!