Halloween Horror

 We started out this morning heading down the ICW against the tide until we got to the first inlet, Lockwoods Folly where there was shoaling and since we were at low tide we only had about one foot under our keel but we did make it. The next inlet was also close but not as bad as Lockwoods Folly. The trick of "trick or treat" day was doing The Rock Pile, a portion of the I.C.W. that is a narrow channel lined with large rocks just below the surface that claims many boats. Added to the horror was 20 to 25 knot winds on the nose and a nasty chop, anyway time to celebrate we have made it over 1400 miles already and are tied up at Barefoot Landing at Myrtle Beach,S.C. We celebrated our arrival with a meal at a nice fresh fish restaurant just outside the boat. We will stay an extra night to recuperate, last night tied to the fuel dock with huge winds meant poor sleep, besides this area has over 100 restaurants and stores right next to the boat.   Chris

Parade of Sails

As we left Mile Hammock Bay this morning it was like a parade, 12 sailboats and 7 trawlers all leaving at one time and heading South on the Intercoastal Waterway. As we came to the three bridges that we had to wait for, everyone would bunch up and then spread out on the other side. The third bridge only opened on the hour and we could not go fast enough to catch the next opening so everyone slowed way down and coasted until we got there. We decided to go all the way to Southport tonight and just made it by nightfall. The last half of the trip was stressful as Snows Cut from Carolina Beach to The Cape Fear River is not well marked and a strong current was against us.  The only good thing about fighting the current down the cut was when we reached the Cape Fear River we had the current with us and by the time we reached Southport we were cruising at about 8 knots.

At anchor at Mile Hammock Bay

We are at anchor at Mile Hammock Bay which is a part of the Marine Corps base Camp LeJeune. It is a small bay just off of the ICW just before you get to the New River in NC. We saw a few VTOL craft and helicopters over the base and a few shot up Bradley vehicles in the ranges along the route. The anchorage has really filled up since we arrived around 4pm. I am glad we got here when we did so that we didn't have to anchor too close to the shore.

Cruising !

We got 2 wonderful meals,4 wine tastings each of spanish wines plus a bottle of wine on the waterfront at Queen Ann's Revenge for 34 dollars total - I love cruising. We almost feel guilty about all the fun, and great people we are meeting, We miss everyone we left behind but we definitly would not want to miss all of the good times we are having.

The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks, Beaufort NC

We took a boat over to the Shackelford banks this AM to see the beaches and Wild horses.  They are reported to have swam ashore from sinking ships before this area was populated.. They are the Outer Banks wild horses.  Chris did some shelling along the beach and found quite a few.

staying put

We untied some lines and noticed huge current and wind gusts and saw the trouble some big engine boats had leaving the dock so we will stay and maybe try early in the am.I enjoyed walking before the rainstorm last night and found a creepy very old graveyard and many restored gorgeous houses but went too far out and saw Big Daddy`s Groc. And Bailbonds- I turned back there.I can see the shore where the wild ponies live but no sightings yet.This dock is pricey but free pump out,free cable tv and 3 courtesy cars help,other cruisers we have met are staying put so will have company but many empty docks here and are advertising monthly winter rate for the first time-also noted some closed storefronts here too.

Beaufort, North Carolina

We continued South today just 20 miles, and are now at Beaufort, NC town docks. It is a nice town with a lot of shops, restaurants, old homes, and an island across the harbor that is supposed to have wild ponies on it. It is raining hard now with thunder and lightning, but we are tied up at a protected dock.  We did use the courtesy car to go to Piggly Wiggly Grocery store and stock up on more food. Depending on the weather we plan on moving to Swansboro tomorrow.