Week 3 ~ Georgetown to St John's, SC

Sunday 10/25/20 ~
Carolina Beach, NC ~ Day 2

     The rains started around 4 am. By 7, it was raining hard and radar shows heavy rains training this area of the ICW for a good part of the day. Hence, we decided to stay put an extra day. There were lots of people out in the rain catching waves when Pete took Bailey for her morning walk.
    Pete had a work project, so he took care of it today to free up helm time tomorrow. He also moved our reservations for tonight in Myrtle Beach to tomorrow. I did a little work on the blog, but will wait until the photos are settled, probably tomorrow or Tuesday. Pete cleaned the hull. Looks great!
     We had a beautiful breeze and comfortable temps for sleeping.

Monday 10/26/20 ~
Carolina Beach to North Myrtle Beach, NC
Today:    52 miles       9.8 hours           ICW ST Mile:  346.0
Total:    615 miles     84.9 hours

     Winds shifted coming from the north. Pete checked the weather at 4 am. The temperatures dropped so we had to close up. Woke 7 to heavy overcast, temp 59 and that cool breezes. We we underway by 8 am as were most of the boats that moored around us.

The rock ledge showing in Snows Cut

     The current was against us and tide was so low as we traversed Snows Cut, that the rocks on the shelf were visible. That's a first for us. The iPad is becoming more of a frustration. It keeps losing the signal, so more and more it has us on land, going in the wrong direction, etc. Today, we really need it as we were transiting some of the most challenging inlets: Lockwood's Foley, Shallots, and Little River Inlets. The depths are ever changing due to storms and currents.

Impressive Speed!

     The wind and currents were kind as we headed south on the Cape Fear River. We hit 9.9 mph! If we were heading north right now, we would only be doing 4 mph.

     There are no docks at Southport Marina, only the bulkhead as they prepare to rebuild. They have removed all the damaged boats and dock from when Hurricane Isaias had a direct hit on Southport.

South Port Marina without docks

      We came through Lockwood's Folly at dead low and bumped twice. Pete called out a warning to the boats behind us. The smaller boat cleared, but the larger sailboat got hung up and had to wait for the rising tide.

The sandbars east of today's passage
 low tide Lockwood's Folley Inlet

    Passing through Holden Beach, the partially sunk fishing boat has collapsed, with parts of the super structure sticking out further into the channel. Thankfully, they are now marked. The two derelicts at the dock are almost gone below the waterline.

     We had no problems in Shallots or New River Inlets other than AquaMaps going crazy and freezing. We've been through here before so local knowledge was helpful.
     The currents were ever changing due to all the little and big inlets, but we pulled into North Myrtle Beach Yacht Club around 3:30.

     Hurricane Zeta is the latest named storm to hit the Gulf states. This makes the 4th hurricane in 3 months! Those folks have been so battered! Unfortunately, once it makes it to the Atlantic on Monday with winds 30-35 mph just off shore, we have some planning to do. We had hoped to do our Georgia jump near the full moon. Right now we will be at least 4 days past it. We continue to monitor it closely.
     Neither Osprey Point nor Georgetown marinas have space for tomorrow. We think we will stop across from the ramp, 3 miles south of Osprey and drop anchor. Pete will be able to get Bailey to shore.

Tuesday, 10/27/20 ~
North Myrtle Beach, NC to Bucksport, SC
Today:    32 miles        5.7 hours           ICW ST Mile:  377.0
Total:    647 miles      90.6 hours

 

   We left Myrtle Beach around 10 am as we are doing only 4 hours today. The plan was to drop anchor just south of Osprey Marina. That means that Pete would have to dinghy in the dark for Bailey's 9 pm walk. Instead, we were able to get dockage at Bucksport Marina. It a very nice, quiet place. Campground had about 10 camp sites, currently about 1/4 full. Spoke to one woman. They were looking for a quiet spot and this was perfect.
     I was able to walk about 2.5 miles while Pete read. Once back I worked on some photos. There is no internet here. I plan to walk again tomorrow before leaving.

Photos from ICW ~ too pretty not to capture!

    Once the sun was going down the mosquitos descended with a vengeance. We closed up, but then I went hunting and killed over 40 mosquitos down below! . . .AND I still missed some!

Wednesday, 10/28/20 ~

Bucksport to Georgetown, SC
Today:    28 miles        4.0 hours           ICW ST Mile:  402.9
Total:    675 miles      94.6 hours

Fall on the Waccamaw River

 
   We decided to leave at 8:30am, catching outgoing tide. Pete has a conference at 3 pm so we will be docked by then. Digital signals out here on the Waccamaw River are low at best. 

 

     I am fascinated by the water plants in the lower end of the river. Today, I got a good photo of the air bladders that keep them afloat.
     We were only passed by 3 snow birds boating south. However, we did hear that the Socrastee Bridge closed as of 10 am indefinitely due to mechanical problems. I fell sorry for those boaters north of the bridge. It only has about a 4-foot clearance.
     Bob423 (Sherer) revised his track at Foley's Inlet due to Pete's and some later boats reporting bumping in shallow water on the tract. The Waterway Guide by Bob423 is really worth following on Facebook.  It has taken the place of Active Captain, which was bought out by Garmin. They totally destroyed it, as most of the followers predicted. The BIG question is why?  It had such a tremendous following and the databased were huge. Resources covered not only navigation, but recommendations on anchorages, marinas, products, problems, access to land for walking and/or dogs, bridge heights, and the list goes on. Bob423's page is succeeding in filling that void.
     We docked at Georgetown Harbor around 1:30. Pete had to prep for conference so I walked down Front Street. Lots of folks eating outdoors, walking or touring. There were very few empty storefronts. I did 2.6 miles enjoying the architecture, quaintness, Halloween decorations and tree lined streets unlike anything we see up North. 

Front Street, Georgetown

Fungus Among us!

Designed by Mother Nature

     Before heading back to the boat, I bought fresh shrimp from Independent Seafood. The fresh shrimp was yum!
     Hurricane Zeta made landfall near New Orleans as 1 mph short of a Category 3 hurricane! She quickly downgraded to a fast-moving tropical storm. She will affect this area tomorrow. We reviewed the Passage Weather forecast for tomorrow. With winds 20-25 on the nose and with higher gusts, we decided to stay put. Thankfully, the marina was able to accommodate us.

Thursday. 10/29/20 ~

Georgetown ~ Day 2
    

     The winds were substantial today. Weather reported steady winds out of the SSW at 22 gusting to 35 mph. One boater reported on Facebook, gusts of 43mph over at Georgetown Landing, where there is a much longer fetch. Gale force winds with 12 foot waves are reported just off shore. Glad we stayed put.. . .so did everyone else with the exception of 2 larger power boats, who left at first light, planning to make Charleston later today.  I was smart buying the fresh shrimp yesterday. The fishing boats didn't leave the dock today.
     Rains were predicted later today, so I walked earlier. I mailed a bill for Mom, then found a few new (to me) and interesting streets. There was an over-the-top, Halloween decorated home, with a witch on a leaf blower pulling a skeleton on an tombstone (like a water skier,) witches at the door, and the four horsemen: Conquest, War, Famine, Death and of course the Grim Reaper. Oh yea, there was also a skeleton trying to walk a pack of dogs who were also skeletons, but the leashes were wrapped around him!

Wonderful Architecture

I love the trees and the canopied streets

Halloween Decorations

The Winning Halloween Decorated Home is. . .

     Once Pete was through with work, I continued processing photos and was able to load a number of them onto the web. It is still a challenge as some of the tricks I have used for uploading and arranging the photos doesn't work.
     The winds were persistent all day, but the rain showered were only sporadic. We were lucky being east of TS Zeta's track. Those in her way had 3-5 inches along with the winds.
     Turned in early as it will be another early departure in the morning.

Friday, 10/30/20 ~

Georgetown to Isle of Palms, SC
Today:    54 miles        8.2 hours           ICW ST Mile:  456.8
Total:    749 miles     102.8 hours

     The winds persisted through the night, but changed to the NNW affecting our motion at the dock.
     We were away from the dock by 7:30 am. We fought the current all the way down river. We finally got a boost about 6 miles further down on the ICW.
     Gale force winds predicted again for just off shore. The remnants of Zeta and 2 other storms will continue to make off shore jumps unsafe until Tuesday the earliest.
     At the top of the Esterville Maxium Creek, we passed by working 2 dredges, plus a bulldozer and a work barge near the shore.

 

   We had 5 feet under the keel passing through the shallows around McClullenvillle. Came through before dead low so no problems. The large powerboat didn't follow our/Bob423 's track. He just about touched bottom. There was only one area very questionable just south of McClullenvillle.
     We were once again were treated to a show as dolphins played around and surfaced next to us. No matter how many times we see one, we get just as excited as he first time!

     We pulled into Isle of Palms Marina around 4. We were docked at the eastern end of the transient dock which is great for watching the small boats get launched and pulled and walking Bailey. The restaurant is closed for renovations. Pete was doubly disappointed. 1st - that he didn't get his damn good hamburger and 2nd - that the restaurant will reopen as Mexican and under new management.

Saturday, 10/31/20 ~

Isle of Palms to St. John's, SC
Today:    16 miles         2.7 hours           ICW ST Mile:  472.6
Total:    765 miles     105.5 hours

     We left the dock at 7:45. Leaving was interesting as the wind was blowing us into the dock. We were grateful that we were at the end of the dock. With the help of a line, we were able to back up and pivot away from the dock. The NNW winds of 15-17 mph and the outbound tide made it a quicker ride to the Ben Sawyer Bridge. On weekends, it only opens on the hour and half-hour between 7 and 9, then on demand. We planned on being there for the 9 am opening. We were about a mile from the bridge when she opened for a sail boat in front of us at 8:45. The bridge tender couldn't keep it opened, but said she would open after clearing traffic. We and a catamaran waited. Then she informed us that we needed to get closer to the bridge. Pete politely refused stating with this wind and current it would be dangerous. She repeated it again a few minutes later and the catamaran responded with the same. She finally conceded and opened at 9. Cutting across the Ashley River wasn't too choppy and we made good time...once again thankful that we were traveling with, not against the current.
     All the times we have traveled through Elliott Cut, we have never caught it at slack tide...except for today. We have either crawled or flew depending on the current which can reach 4 knots!
     E and crew were there to welcome us at St. John's. We were given the last available dock. When I went up to pay the bill and get the keys to the loaner car, Steve was surprised that it wasn't back yet. We were waiting when Steve came over to explain that it had been loaned out for our time slot by mistake. E offered to drive Pete to the airport for our car rental since we had dinner reservations for 5:15. Everything worked out.
     As there were no reservations left for inside dining when I made the reservations yesterday, we were seated outside. Being away from the water, the temperature drop and wind wasn't a problem. The appetizer of Crab Deviled Eggs was scrumptious. Pete had his Damn Good Hamburger while I had the delicious Salmon. The Pluff Mud Pie was a chocolate mousse pie with Oreo crust. It was lite, not too sweet and unbelievably good! We know why The Fat Hen is considered one of the best restaurants in South Carolina!
     Once back, we prepped for tomorrow's drive to pick up our car in Maryland and tried to make it an early night.

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P