Saturday May 16, 2009

Left Oriental Marina at 8:15AM after heavy downpours. Tennessee Ronnie still tending the  roasting pig. All quite after navigating to ICW. open water here and easy goin' at 8.25 kt. Destination is Dowry Creek marina around mile 132 0n ICW. Several fronts with rain showers this morning and forecast says the same for next two days.

Dowry Creek Marina, Bellhaven, N.C. Pulled in at 2:00PM. Surprisingly faster arrival than map course suggested. Very nice and several more boats pulled behind us including a man and wife that know Mr. Fleming (our vessel's manufacture) personally. had a great boater's dinner in the boaters lounge. The marina provided the barbecued chicken and everyone brought o dish to pass. We made mixed vegetables that were completely consumed. Some cooking, eh?

Bellhaven, on the Pungo River,  calls itself the Gateway to Pamlico Sound and the Outer banks. With only 1968 population, there's not a lot to do here except boating. However there is the Bellhaven memorial museum which boasts of a "a flea bride and groom" that has to be viewed with a magnafiying glass. You just can't make this stuff up.

Friday May 15, 2009

              Temp:  69°

A little rain late yesterday and last night. Not much just enough to be annoying.  Had to wait for the incoming tide this morning to be sure to leave marina inlet without taking  some ground with us. Left around 8:45 AM to make the bridge opening scheduled for 9:30AM at mile 240.7 on ICW. 

Passed through Moorehead, N.C. today. Very busy working port with a large phosphate plant. The city's roots go back to the very early 1700's when N.C. grated the land to the Shackleford family.  By 1858 a rail line was completed and the shore became a destination spot for vacationers however Federal troops occupied the port during the Civil War. Today the economic impetus is from fishing, tourism, and light industry.

                                                                                 35° 00' 73" N

                                                                                 76° 39' 38" W

Docked at Oriental Marina in Oriental, N.C . around 4:00PM. Quaint location with a lot of local folks beginning and extended happy hour. There's a major "pig barbecue" set for tomorrow and the barbecue master (Tennessee Ronnie - refugee from ZZ Top) started his fires at midnight, tending and adding various chips during the night. Never did see the pig. Took the opportunity to take on fuel in our forward tanks (with discount it was $2.00 / gal.). This  location is a another destination spot since there's no way to get here from anywhere. Retirees abound and every one knows everyone else (as well as their business) and all dogs are known as well. Town (900 population) has one dentist, one doctor and two veterinarians.  Boat next to us had a beagle named Jake, same as our family dog in the '60s and '70s.  (reincarnation?).

Thursday May 14, 2009

                                                                                                                        34° 32' 42" N

                                                                                                              77° 21' 38" W

Leaving Southport Marina at 6:50 AM heading north on the Intra-coastal. Unfortunately we uncounted three bridges that hampered travel. Had to wait for two, one 15 minutes and  55 minutes at the Surf City Swing Bridge. 

Here we are at Swan Point marina, Sneads Ferry, N.C. Wow! What a place. Small but adequate and friendly. Had a great dinner at the locals restaurant, "The Green Turtle".  Home made she-crab soup and grilled grouper. Excellent.

Marina had a courtesy car and we were able to re-provision at the Food Lion (isn't that the company and had the gigantic meat recall?) The loaner van was some piece of work. Wipers only worked on the way back when it had stopped raining. This is where Oldsmobile vans go to die. This one was gasping.

Wednesday May 13, 2009

Southport, North Carolina.  

33 54' 86" N

        78 00' 85" W

Temp 70

Left Georgetown Marina at 6:25 AM to get an early start on what today could be a longer ICW trip.  N/NE winds 15 to 20 kt.  Five to eight seas south of Cape Fear so inside is definitely best again today.                                                     

Arrived at Southport Marina, Southport, N.C. approximately 6:15 PM. Almost a 12 hour run today. However we had to wait for a peculiar pontoon bridge on the waterway for 45 minutes. Difficult because we couldn't anchor and were in a 20 kt. wind.

Southport was originally named Smithville after Benjamin Smith who served with Gen. George Washington in the Revolutionary War. The town started as a small fishing village and now is a community for retirees and commuters working in Wilmington, SC.  

Tuesday May 12, 2009

Georgetown, South  Carolina. 

Temp: 64

Left Charleston at 7:35 AM. Winds E to NE at 15 to 25 kt. Seas are 5 to 8 feet requiring us to run inside on the Intra-coastal. Had plans to go in the Atlantic and come in up north at Cape Fear. No go. So we're with a few other boats and some slower going.

Georgetown. The third oldest city in S.C. founded in 1729 and located on the Sampit River. The area's economy is in paper production, steel wire, and rice. In fact in the mid 1800's, Georgetown produced over half of all rice in the U.S. Ah-so. However bad news. This morning's headlines in  the local paper announced the steel mill will be closing for an indefinite time and 247 jobs are gone (Union still gets 80% of their pay for two years and health care for some time as well).

                                                                               

Sorry we're not going to be here for the rest of the week since this 'Bikers Week". Harleys, Indians, Hondas, Yamahas, etc. all starting to appear. Signs everywhere welcoming them. Annual event and stop on the Biker Road.

Monday May 11, 2009

Charleston, S.C.  

Left Hilton Head with slightly foggy visibility at 7:35 AM. 

                                            Temp: 72.

Ran on the out side with changing winds and seas two feet. Great experience today. Surrounded by a school (bevy, pod, herd, ?) of at least a thousand sting rays heading south. Really cool. Long channel in to Charleston harbor with winds now 15 to 20 kt.

Here is Ft. Sumter. Easy to see how it guarded the harbor and historically, prompted the Star Spangled Banner. The opening offensive of our Civil War. (Civil War; "the recent unpleasantness" as some South Carolinians still refer to the war). 

 Docked at The Harborage at Ashley marina. Friendly staff and nice facilities. Courtesy van (on demand) to take and pick up your party around Charleston. Walked a little to see the the old market, the Four Corners of Law, and some of the antiques shops. Many more rest aunts and name brand stores then there used t be twenty five years ago. But the charm is still there.

Sunday May 10, 2009

 Sunday May 10, 2009            Temp; 90⁰                                    32⁰ 08’ 19” N

                                                                                                          80⁰ 48’ 44” W

            Hilton Head, S.C. home of the Verizon Heritage played, on the Harbortown Golf Links,  and the well known big red and white stripped lighthouse.  That’s the on you see on TV behind the eighteenth green.  We’re docked in the yacht basin immediately below the shops, restaurants, and lighthouse.

            This is one big complex with not only world-class golf but also the equivalent tennis. Well developed since the seventies its busiest times are April, June, July, and August. Nice seafood café there with live entertainment. 

Friday May 8 and Saturday May 9, 2009

Brunswick Landing Marina.                                           31⁰  09" 18 N                                 81⁰ 29’ 59” W

 

Marina is stretched out along a river for ¾ mile and excellent boaters facilities. Free laundry, large air conditioned boaters lounge, and spacious showers.  Even with 7’ and 8’ tides, floating docks made it easy.

            Oow. Trouble. Our fresh water stopped working. Lucky brother Frank is an engineer and we explored every alternative in attempting to get it working again. No luck. By chance there was a mechanic working on the boat next to us (a 40’sail boat that had been struck by lighting and had all the electronics fried) came aboard to help. Having better electrical tools he was able to diagnose the problem as a malfunctioning solenoid. A quick run to the local West Marine store for a new part and ½ hour installation and we’re go to go.  However we had to stay one extra day.

            The couples, Ed and Connie Dooley, on the boat with the toasted electronics were very nice and offered to drive us to wherever necessary. Made a required trip to Winn Dixie for provisions and invited them for cocktails afterwards. On Saturday they invited us to go to Jeckely Island, turn of the century “cottages” for Vanderbilt’s, etc. We shared two pounds of boiled shrimp and drinks and then took a walking tour of the 1895 accommodations. Worth going there someday to see it all and stay for a night or two.

            Brunswick, GA. In addition to the fleet of shrimpers was a major provider to the WW II in the 1940’s. Here 16,000 people build “liberty ships” (four a month) to transport supplies and troops. These gray monsters were 800 feet long and basically looked ugly. But they certainly did the job and more.

Thursday May 7, 2009

                Jacksonville. 

Docked at the Jacksonville Beach Marina.                                 Left St. Augustine at slack tide 8:10AM – much better to maneuver (vs. our docking).     Had to slow down at U.S.C.G. admonition  to let warship #55 out of the St. Johns River for maneuvers with several vessels. The ocean here is a great training area for instrument calibration and seaman training. Numerous U.S. Coast Guard boats completely armed and being sure to keep everyone away, patrol everywhere. They certainly make sure no one or boat gets between them (each has a fully loaded and manned 50 caliber machine on the forward deck) and the Navy’s ship. Normal distance to avoid the Navy ships is 500 yards, which they continually broadcast.  Boy, can those ships move for such a large vessel. Up to 25kt. without much effort.

            On to St. Symonds Island and Brunswick landing Marina. We’re on the outside with a S/SE wind and 2 foot waves. Easy goin’. Took a while to get up both the inbound channel and river to the marina but it was worth it. Lots of shrimp boats here. Important industry in this part of the U.S. Great for locals who always get fresh shrimp, plenty of it inexpensively and can even go out with a crew and catch those little boogers and cook them right on board. Would be fun if we had more time. 

                                                                                              30 17’ 31” N

                                                                                               81 24’ 97” W

Great seafood restraunt on premises – Appalachicola oysters, 12 for $4. Place understandably was packed.  Attractive diesel prices and we took on 450 gallons not knowing what’s ahead.  With full tanks and running at 8kt., we could go 2000 miles, however many times run at 10.25kt. Which really takes away that advantage.  Major new highway bridges being constructed parallel to marina row.