Sept 27  Isle of Hope, SC to Little St. Simons Island, GA (Morningstar Marina) 

Same old, same old weather.  you know we don’t even look at all those weather apps anymore - we just GO.  ha…nothing can scare me now….(now that we’re in the ICW).

Day showed a bit of sunshine but mostly it was very grey...and this supermoon is greatly affecting the tides and currents - pretty wild really.

We planned to stay at a marina up a creek - ha - but could not get into the creek - charts said we had enough water, the depth finder said we had enough water but the props said otherwise...after two attempts we headed on down the way to the next marina which had plenty of water....

Sept 26  Beaufort, SC to Isle of Hope, SC (Isle of Hope Marina) outside of Savannah

Well the rain will not stop - actually it’s not a lot of rain but just heavy overcast and some fog. 

I just love this Beaufort. i know i said southport was great but i’ve changed my mind…the houses here are SO perfect and cottagey.  we took their courtesy car and went, where else?  to Walmart.  I loaded up on things and told Harry this was it…that this should be our last large provision trip.  

Also took the courtesy car to dinner and managed to take a few photos of the moon before the clouds got in the way...i think it's two days away from supermoon but it looks full doesn't it?

Sept 25 Isle of Palm, SC to Beaufort, SC (Beaufort Downtown Marina)

Another overcast day…so Harry stayed below to drive (he’s taken my seat but that’s okay, i’m now cruising in one of the deck chairs behind him or down below…still in shouting distance from him….although sometimes i act like i don’t hear him…

So we pass through the city of Charleston and are hanging a left when all the sudden i hear sirens…i look back and a orange boat full of coast guard marines are right behind us holding up their radios meaning for us to get on the horn! 

Via the radio they ask when last our vessel had been through a coast guard safety check…Harry replied, ‘never’.  So they said they would board and conduct a complete safety check.  We did not have to stop, anchor or anything like that - they just cruised right up next to us tied one line between the two and up they came.  ALL THE SUDDEN WE HAD COMPANY!!

I’m just glad i made the bed!  and wouldn’t you know…the ONE time i decide to take off my boat shoes and put on my comfy ‘house slippers’ is when we have unexpected guest, all of which are tall, big and handsome…..i cannot believe i was in my fluffies.  

So i drove while Harry complied with all the requests they were making...they had a checklist of things one must have on a vessel (most were totally understandable but some of which were totally laughable - like a hand written note - posted some where in the boat - that declares, 'I will take the trash to shore and not throw it over.')

Harry’s nervous but I'm excited as punch that i’ve got company…..i even told them i wished I’d known they were coming i’d of baked a cake….note: they were not a playful lot..  

A couple of times while i was driving i had to call Harry back to the helm due to a very strong current coming toward us while trying to get through a narrow bridge with a boat coming at us.  They guys understood allowed H to take the wheel and told us horror stories about this spot (Elliott’s Cut - with 6-8 knot current) in particular - so i did not feel like such a wimp.

All in all the inspection went just fine…in fact i think we did really good.  It took them about an hour to complete the inspection - they toured the engine room and other rooms only to check the fire extinguishers.  but for those other boaters out there…here is what they ‘dinged’ us on…they gave us a warning, no fine.  We just ensured them that we’d get these items at our next stop…(shhh…we haven’t gotten them yet.)

• No navigational rule book on board
• No oil discharge placard on board
• Not enough red flares on board - several had expired

I grabbed my camera and told them i wanted a picture (mostly for my sister Jan) but i guess marines are not trained on how to pose - i could barely get them to smile.  but it was mighty exciting…and you could see the ‘oh i’m glad that’s not me’ look on the faces of all the passing captain’s.

Fun day....ten four good buddy!! over and out....

Sept 24  Wacamaw River, SC to Isle of Palms, SC (Isle of Palms Marina) outside of Charleston

Rainy all day so the captain brought all navigational gear down and drove from the captains’ chair/bench.  Stopped at a new place right before Charleston - i wanted to go someplace different and it was nice…enough…Harry did not like being in front of the fuel dock but it was fine…restaurant was very good and the crew was great…a Lexingtonian was the dock manager so we talked of home…he’d just graduated from College of Charleston and was headed home for the big Breeder’s Cup/UK Game/Halloween weekend…he hoped he survive. 

birds followed us ALL day....wake stirs tiny fish to the  top...

Sept 23 Southport, NC to Waccamaw River, SC (Wacca Wache Marina)

No rain, but overcast today and as we were leaving the dock master said, ‘you guys trying the beat the weather?’  uh, what’s the forecast? i asked sheepishly (boaters should know the weather).  He said, high winds 25-30 knots and 3-4 foot seas - with a small craft advisory… yikes.  this would have kept us in place when traveling ‘outside’ but Harry decided to go for it since we were ‘inside’.   

And he was right….nothing at all bothered us on the ICW - HA i laughed ‘small craft advisory - ha…’  We traveled out of Southport and into the Waccamaw River and boy is it gorgeous…Harry calls it the ‘Wacha ma call it’ river.  Saw my fourth bald eagle (3rd on this trip)…they always amaze me.  

Arrived around 4 at another favorite marina…the restaurant is right there and another old Matthews lives here.  As we approached the office a guy yelled, Hi Harry!  ha…it was the Matthews owner that remembered his name from talking to him months ago. 

Sept 22 Sneads Ferry, NC to Southport, NC (Southport Marina)

Waters were a bit wavy today and Finally does not like following seas….and therefore neither do i…  

Southport was recently rated (Coastal Living) the number 1 ‘friendliest coastal city’… and I couldn’t wait to get back there ever since we stopped bringing Dick and Jackie’s Serenity through.  When we missed it on our way up (stopped in Bald Island instead) Harry promised that we’d stop on our way back.

We got in rather early and called the marina shuttle guy (Hank) who for $15 dollars would take us anywhere in town we wanted to go…so off we went to find me some decent wine and Harry some ‘spirits’ and olives with blue cheese.  Those three items took us to at least 5 different stores (never did find the olives).  And then Hank drove us around a bit more to show us the lovely cottages that this place is known for.   As we were back on the boat preparing for cocktails, Hank arrives with the olives!!!  how about that?  

Hank was a retired meteorologist for the Navy and ran this shuttle company.  He was full of information and told us of the best restaurant to dine in this town of 3,000.  His highly suggested dinner place was very good and just a few block walk from the marina.

view from aft deck

My dye job, roots, whatever you want to call it has reached embarrassing lengths...thus, the hat worn at dinner.....

Sept 21 Oriental, NC River Dunes to Sneads Ferry, NC (Swanspoint Marina)

i was a bit worried about the forecast in the Pamlico Sound but it looked worse than it was and soon we were safe in a small canal.  Right now it’s so darn smooth that i’m in the salon writing.  We’re traveling our usual 9-10 knots and not much to see right now, so i’m pleased to be down below for a change.

This marina is in dire need of repairs but has the sweetest owners….they would have done anything for us - she was going to go out and get provisions for us - but we (I) declined - we ate out instead.…  This is a small enough town where the manager of the restaurant came to the marina to pick us up for dinner.  pretty cool….