Today: 33 miles 6.9 hours S/M 309.0
Total: 470 miles 85.8 hours
Departing the marina this morning
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| Bailey needed warmth AND her person! |
Waiting for the Wrightsville Bridge
and one of the dues along the ICW south of the bridge
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| Activities at the Docks in Wrightsville |
There were quite a few fishermen casting from the southern shore of Snow’s Cut. We had a slow ride through due to current and while exiting onto the Cape Fear River, we needed to head more north than previous trips.
The north side of the Cut and the shallows exposing the rocks!
The fishermen on the south shore
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| The Ferry on the Cape Fear River & the bird seeking food in its wake |
Well, we finished off the day right with our cruise down river. We had the current all the way. Pete caught a photo when it hit 11.2!
Sunset around our dock
Monday and Tuesday, 10/11 and 10/12 ~ Days 2 and 3 at Southport
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| High tide and many of the islands are ready to inundate |
Pete was once again, super busy. We planned to stay here so he could work. I did a few chores then gave into the aches from the vaccines. I guess the combo of both vaccines enhanced my reaction. Usually, I only feel off for a day. I really wish I was more like Pete with no reaction.
View from land ~ PEKABU at the far dock (sailboat trimmed in maroon)
We passed on dinner in Southport. My sister and her husband will be meeting tomorrow in Myrtle Beach.
Overcast skies at the end of the day
Today: 37 miles 5.6 hours S/M 346
Total: 507 miles 91.4 hours
Total: 507 miles 91.4 hours
Today's sunrise
Departed at 7 am with party cloudy skies, mild temps (mid 60s), and very favorable currents for most of our trip. Lockwoods Folley Inlet channel was split around a shoal. Corps of Engineers’ dredge was pushed sideway by the currents taking the eastern side, while we were pretty close to shore.
Traffic heading into Lockwoods Folly Inlet
No problems with Shallotte’s Inlet, but just south of it, Pete spied a kayaker in distress. A boat’s wake tipped him and all his fishing gear into the water on the eastern side of the ICW. Due to current, he couldn’t get back into the kayak nor could he work himself, the kayak and paddle across the 150 feet to the other side. We were successful in getting him to the other side of the ICW, near the steps to the fishing camp. Unfortunately, Pete was turning up current so we could get Bill closest to shore without grounding. It was high tide and we only had a foot under the keel. While turning, a second line drifted out from under the kayak and caught in the prop. After dropping the anchor, Bill and his friend, who had swum out to help, couldn’t free the line. It had to be cut. He, his friend, and the kayak made it safely back to shore. Pete monitored everything with the engine to see if there was a problem. Thought there didn’t seem to be a problem, he still called the marina, explained what happened and requested the name of a diver who could check out the prop this afternoon. The marina offered to have it all set up for when we arrive.
Views from the cockpit nearing Myrtle Beach
As soon as docked, Pete went to work prepping for his 2:00 conference call. I took care of the after cruise chores, until I realized that it was 1:30, we hadn’t had lunch, and Steph and Mike were coming at 2!
Pete’s call was done around 3:45. At 4, the diver came. He found 4 feet of paracord wrapped around the prop. It was already starting to melt onto the shaft. Pete definitely made the right call.
Steph, Mike, Pete and I
We then headed out to Barefoot Landing and had a great dinner at Greg Norman’s Australian Grille. We had such a great visit that we will probably repeat it on our return trip in the spring.
Thursday. 10/14/22 ~ Myrtle Beach to Bucksport, SC
Today: 31.3 miles 4.7 hours S/M 377
Total: 538.3 miles 96.1 hours
Overnight, the rains came. It started around 1 am, a mix of moderate to heavy rains, and was done by 8 am. We again headed out by 8. The skies cleared and the temps climbed to the mid-70s.
The area south of Myrtle Beach continues to be developed. At least 3 more new developments have gone in, while some of the other developments are seeing more homes being built.
What we founded rather remarkable was the fall colors were are much more noticeable this year. I don’t know if it was the hurricane, cool temps that followed it, or the fact that we are here about 3 weeks earlier this fall. Our ride down the Waccamaw to Bucksport was pretty. Granted, there aren’t as many trees that change colors as there are in the north, but there are color changes. Our biggest surprise was spotting a baby alligator coming out of the trees.
The restaurants at Barefoot Landing
Landing near shore . . . a heron and a dock construction truck on a barge
View along the Waccamaw and a strange whirlpool near the Rock Pile
(on the left, halfway down, with a white tipped nose)
As we called in for a slip assignment, somehow, Bucksport lost our reservation. They were able to put us on a face dock. Pete went to work while I tried to read in the cockpit. I saw 3 wooden boats come in to dock during the afternoon. Earlier this week I found out, when trying to book dockage in Georgetown, that the largest Wooden Boat Show in the Mid-Atlantic is this weekend and there are no available slips in the harbor. We were lucky to get reservations at Georgetown Landing outside on the Peedee River for tomorrow night.
The wooden boats
The rainbows
We thought that the rains were done however, the clouds built throughout the afternoon. The rains came just as the boat coming in docked next to us. I helped them secure and a little later, during a break in the rain, we talked. They will meet us under the pavilion for hamburgers. After dinner with Michelle and Jeremy, we had a beautiful rainbow and sunset, but also the vicious mosquitoes!
Friday, 10/15/22 ~ Bucksport to Georgetown, SC
Today: 29.0 miles 3.9 hours S/M 402.3
Total: 567.3 miles 100 hours
We can tell we are a bit early for the cruising season. We were only passed by 2 boats all day.
My favorite "Old Lady" on the Waccamaw
We fueled up and was securing off for the night at Georgetown Landing Marina, when we noticed that the dock pedestal for electric was not working. The dock hands tried 4 different plugs, but no success. They finally pulled us to the north end of the dock, where one feed on the splitter actually worked. With the cooler temperatures, we will not need the AC or the heat tonight. Apparently, Ian caused a 6-ft surge at the marina, which is just now causing electrical problems. Tomorrow, they will be filled to capacity due to the Wooden Boat Show in the harbor. These electrical problems won’t be welcomed.
While sitting above, trying to read, but really being nosey, a beautiful, old boat docked by us. They didn’t know about the wooden boat show.
JUSTICE was launched as commuter yacht JEM, 1930
~ inside her life rings are the 3 Chevrons for service
Justice - Builder and Owner History
Consolidated Shipbuilding Company ~ Morris Heights, NY ~ 1930
Specifications: Model: Commuter - Hull: Double-planked Mahogany and Pine over Oak - LOA: 75'6" - Beam: 13' - Draft: 4' - Displacement: 31 Tons - Machinery: Twin FPT 825 HP Turbo Diesels - Cruise: 25/33 Max - Original Power: Twin Winton 500 HP Gas Engines - Cruise 25/30 Max - Fuel/Water 900/350 Gals.
Builder History: Consolidated Shipbuilding Company was formed in 1896 in Morris Heights, New York as the result of a merger with the Gas Engine and Power Company and Charles L. Seabury & Company. Between 1917 and 1933 this legendary builder produced more commuters than any builder in the world by a large margin. Many considered Consolidated’s Speedway Series the finest express yachts of the period. Satisfied clients agreed and their number of customers expanded to include the likes of the Fleishmann, Howell, Simard, Bowes, Madsen, Hoyt and Milbank families, the captains of industry and finance during this exciting time in our nation’s history. Like other legendary boat builders, however, Consolidated experienced great difficulty staying alive during the post war period. The last recorded launch at the Morris Heights facility occurred in 1948 whereupon the operation relocated to City Island. In 1956, fire destroyed the entire complex, a disaster from which Consolidated never recovered.
Vessel History: Designed by John H. Wells, “Justice” was originally christened “JEM” and launched in 1930 for owner Jeremiah E. Milbank, who used her primarily for commuting between his Connecticut home and the financial district in Manhattan. In 1973, the boat became part of George Lauder's antique boat collection and her name was changed to “Jessica”. In 1986, the entire collection was gifted to Mystic Seaport Museum with the proviso that Raymond Thombs remain Jessica's master, a position he'd held since 1947. Ted Valpey Jr. of Dover, NH purchased the boat in 1987, retaining Thombs, who then remained captain until 1998 when the vessel was sold to Arthur Halleran. During his six years of ownership, McMillen Yachts executed a major refurbishment. In 2003, the boat was sold to Pepe Fanjul and documented as “Azucar”. In 2006, the boat again changed hands and was renamed “Justice.” In 2007, Moores Marine completed a major restoration and as of 2013 the vessel remains under the stewardship of her New York owners.
During WW2 she served as a patrol boat searching for submarines off Long Island. She had a machine gun located on her foredeck. Her 3 tours are noted by the 3 Chevrons located inside the white life ring on the sides of the boat.
There are a lot of dogs on the dock. There is even a twin to Bailey. His name is Chewie and only a year old. That meant he was full of energy and definitely wanted to play. He even managed to crawl under a gate in the marina office just to say hi to Bailey! Of course, she is currently dealing with a flair up and definitely has no patience for a bounding pup!
Saturday, 10/16/22 ~ Georgetown to Isle of Palms, SC
Today: 54 miles 8.4 hours S/M 456.8
Total: 621.3 miles 108.4 hours
It was a rough night for Bailey and Pete. She asked to go out around midnight. Since we are at one of the furthest points from land and she has little energy, a quick walk turned into 45 minutes. About 2 hours later, she was heaving in the salon. Things then needed to be cleaned. With temps dropping into the low 50’s and no heat available due to the electrical limitations, it was a challenge to get back to sleep.
Pete saw and identified a 3-ft Redfish jump completely out of the water, next to the boat. There were also 2 dolphins + a pod, 3 eagles, and a king fisher looking for breakfast with big splashes along the reeds.
We passed through McClellanville at high tide - lowest depth we saw was 6.5, which would be very “sporting” at dead low with a 5-foot keel.
McClellenville is really pretty at high tide. Out last few visits have been at very low. Lots of mud flats, crab traps sitting on the mud, and nerves on high hoping for deep water!
We had a surprise hitchhiker
We arrived at Isle of Palms Marina around 4. The deck hands informed us that earlier this week, a large yacht came in and when they plugged in, the electric for the entire marina blew, including all the pedestals, fuel pumps and pump out! Thankfully, the temps are mid 70s with light breezes. We sat up in the cockpit and read until dinner.
Bailey had another rough night last night courtesy of a flare up. She just drinks water. She hasn’t eaten since yesterday morning. We are watching her carefully. I will probably have to make the chicken and rice again to get her onto solid foods soon.
It was very noticeable that something changed in Isle of Palms section of the ICW. Boats are traveling at complete idle through the area. Pete read a few weeks back, that authorities had issued speeding tickets to boaters creating wakes that damage the docks along the ICW. Apparently, it worked! Though we are on a dock along the ICW, we weren’t getting rocked. In fact, we barely knew when a boat came by if the guests on board were quiet.
Once the sun was close to the horizon, the mosquitoes came out in force. We hid down below. . . And we needed to go “big” game hunting, using my new electronic fly swatter.
When Pete and Bailey took a walk before bed, Pete noticed that the pedestal lights were on, and boats had power for interior lighting. He plugged us in and, surprise, surprise. . . we had full power! Being able to close up the boat helped to make things quieter. Apparently, when the college games are televised, large groups of fans watch them here at the bar and restaurant. Needless to say, they are very excitable with the plays. Once closed up with the AC on, we didn’t hear a thing.
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
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