Great and Ever Changing Scenery

       Bailey was walked and lines cast by 7:45 this morning. 

     The lighting is great at this time of the day. Top that off with being in a beautiful area, and I opted to wait to prepare breakfast for a while and enjoy the beauty. From wooded areas and golfing greens, new homes, condominiums and mansions, from smaller river homes and fishing shacks to forests of old trees, cedars and pines, to marshes; the sights are ever changing and interesting.

Departing The Landing Marina, western side, at sunrise

Sunrise over Barefoot Landing Marina, eastern side of ICW

View heading south from Mytle Beach

Cool reflections

Some of the mansions

More graffitt; colleges nearby?

high water mark remaining on the fencing

   Once past the Socrates Bridge, the high-water marks on fencing and vegetation were dramatic. So was the property damage! The water is still high, but the flood water was another 5-6 feet.  One house that had a “For Sale” sign on its damaged dock and also had about and 18-inch water mark on the house.  A small boat from the Coast Guard was patrolling this area, and a notice to mariners is being broadcast informing all of the 6-mph speed limit now enforce due to the damage and remaining high water.

Damage in Myrtle Beach

More damage from Matthew

Debris ontop

    We were lone travelers until we passed Osprey Marina, where two trawlers joined the south bound trek.
      A little further down on the Waccamaw River, I spotted periodic, large splashing in the water near the tree line. I thought: “big fish;” Pete thought: “alligator” as they were reported in the area on Active Captain. That’s a pretty good reason not to swim in this area!

Water Lily floating free

         We again discussed tomorrow's options. Do an outside jump from Georgetown to Charleston; an 84 mile /12-hour day, or doing the ICW for 74 mile /11 hour day depending on the timing of the tides in McClellanville? If we leave Georgetown at 6:30, we will be in McClellanville around 9:30 or 10 depending on currents.  After checking the tides numerous times, we verified that it will be the middle of the ebb tide, giving us plenty of water to pass through.  We love the scenery between Myrtle Beach and Charlestown and would hate to bypass it.

Yep, 9.3 mph!

   

Current though the marina

  As we continued down the Waccamaw River, the current continued to increase.  We were cruising at 9.3m/h for a while.  The negative of this strong current comes into play when we need to dock in Georgetown with that 2.5-knot current against us.  We arrived at the marina around 3.  There were 3 big boats already docked.  We are now docked behind the biggest (around 130 foot).  This is the first time we have encountered a dockhand, who really didn’t know what he was doing.  In this current, he only looped the forward line around the bits, then did the same with the aft line. Of course, we started to be pulled away from the dock then he had to scurry and haul us back. 

       Pete enjoyed taking time to read while I tried to get the blog ready. I had to get a new computer this summer.  We transferred my Light Room and Photoshop, but it took some finessing to make it work under Windows 10.  I thought all was resolved, but the Photoshop has reverted to tiny lettering, but more importantly, many of the functions, including my favorite: dodge & burn and the stamping tool don’t work.  When we return to Delaware I plan to meet with the Photo Guru at the Windows store to see if he can figure it out.

       It will be another early night for us as we need an early wake up in the morning.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P