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Radeen and Hayden heading out

Charleston, SC, is a special place to go out on a date and take in the city. We always try to make time to revisit and re explore this town. This is a place that has so many fantastic pubs, wonderful restaurants, colleges and interesting people to meet. Just walking down East Bay Street presents you with this vibrant city life. We decided to return to Blossom on East Bay Street where we had such a great time last year with our buddies, Eric & Patricia and Carey and Bobbi. We miss them this year and wished they were here. So out we were, just the two of us….Here are a few photos of our “Date Night.”

An interesting view of the Ravenal Bridge over the Cooper River

Radeen, aboard Island Spirit

East Bay Street, where the action is. A great street to explore.

Typical lovely garden dining, Charleston, SC

Out for a morning walk around Charleston, SC

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church steeple against a beautiful blue sky

Typical Charleston, SC buildings on Broad street

This “Date Night” ended up being multiple days with multiple pubs, restaurants, shopping, and enjoying city life. We need to get out of here before we take up permanent residence here. We do love cities….next town….Beaufort, SC.

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Radeen enjoying the Georgetown, SC waterfront

Completing the Waccamaw River run southbound, it is always a must to turn into Georgetown, SC. Diversity abounds in this quaint Lowcountry town, from a friendly main street to the Independent Seafood Co Op to the industrial smoke-belching paper factory.

Everywhere you turn there is something of interest. The waterfront, named Harbor Walk, provides free daytime public docking and dinghy docking and a beautiful, long boardwalk backed by pubs, shops and great restaurants. It is interesting to imagine Georgetown when it was a commercial hub for the surrounding plantation owners, who became extremely wealthy from growing indigo (before the Revolution) and rice (until the Civil War).

Photos of and around Georgetown, SC

Waccamaw River southern end, where the trees are larger and more open

Waccamaw River, just north of Georgetown, SC

Georgetown, SC shrimp boats

Morning light on shrimp boats as we depart Georgetown

Georgetown Paper Factory

Egret working the salt marsh

Bald Eagle overlooking the ICW (photo credit to Radeen!)

When traveling by sailboat, there is beauty everywhere to observe. Georgetown, SC is a place of diversity and beauty. It is comfortable here, and the people are kind and helpful. There really is a different atmosphere “down south” and we feel this here in Georgetown. Tonite we are anchored in Whiteside Creek (see our map pins) and then onto…Charleston!

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A photo essay traveling southbound from Myrtle Beach, SC into the Waccamaw River Valley. I will allow my photos to tell the story and to show the beauty! (I shot 149 photos today, here are the best 11)

Good Night from Bull Creek, Waccamaw River, SC

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View across the ICW at Barefoot Landing, N. Myrtle Beach, SC

What is it about docking at an outlet mall in North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Landing, that seems so entertaining? Many boaters think this is tacky, commercialized and really crazy…but we find it rather enjoyable. The dock is 500 feet long with side tie, and is part of the Barefoot Landing complex where there are outlet stores, restaurants, theaters, and tigers, oh my! Yes, they even have tigers here!

So, we dock, shop, walk, observe and enjoy because, as far as we know, this is the ONLY place where cruising boats can dock at a mall….Thank Goodness!

                                         Here are some photos of the day (I shot 99 today)

Got Pilings? Tide is low, down 5 feet, but tops are this high for hurricanes. When a storm hits, the waters can rise 10-15 feet in this area!

Good friends Debbie & John met us for dinner at St. James Plantation Debbie, Radeen, John & Hayden

An egret works the low tide for morning breakfast

Waterman raking the low tide for clams

The morning sun back lights a snowy Egret

Brrrrr, it is COLD in the AM, note the hoods on these fisherman

Canal homes of Ocean Isles Beach, NC

Little River Swing Bridge, stops traffic and opens for Island Spirit, the only boat passing through

Radeen brings back the rewards from plundering the IZOD store

Radeen models her new IZOD fleece The rest were summer shirts…because where we are going…we don’t need fleece!

Once again, we have enjoyed the Barefoot Landing dock. We walked the grounds several times, enjoyed the 27 acre lake, window shopped, and bought a few new shirts. It is a fun stop, certainly different, and one not to miss for us. Tomorrow we enter PARADISE, the Waccamaw River Valley, where we will drop anchor and sleep in total isolation. What a contrast to today’s retail adventure!

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A Google Map of this section

This is an interesting section of the ICW, from Beaufort, NC to Wrightsville Beach, NC. Sights range from the commercial shipping of Morehead City to the firing ranges of Camp Lejeune Military Base where 40,000 Marines train each year to the beach resort town of Wrightsville Beach.

This area is also known for its natural beauty and diversity, with several national forests close to the Waterway, the Rachel Carson Reserve and nearly endless magnificent beaches.

Here are some photos to show this diversity…

Orange Lifeboat on the launch ramp of a commercial ship in Morehead City

The same bulk carrier being loaded

Notice the underwater bulb at the bow of the ship. The waterline will be the bottom of the blue paint when fully loaded!

At anchor in Mile Hammock Bay, Camp Lejeune, a simple dinner of salad, chili and red wine after a breezy day. (Thus the wild hair!)

Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge just north of Wrightsville Beach

Island Spirit at anchor, where she is fully loaded and STILL has a waterline!

This is what $1,000,000 dollars will get you in Wrightsville Beach, NC 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 blocks off the beach!

At Johnnie Mercer Fishing Pier. Cold front day, winds 15-20 North, chilly Canadian Air…brrrr

The cold does not stop Wrightsville Beach surfers, paddle boarders, swimmers and walkers who all take to the beach. This is a very active town.

Architecture Study: Typical restored original beach house from early 1900’s.

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Kate, Greg, Hayden & Radeen in Beaufort With Doodles Gracie and Lucy

Kate and Radeen on their lovely porch, enjoying champagne Note the rosy cheeks and happy smiles!

They surprised us on approach to Beaufort in Kate’s new boat….Greg really spoils her 🙂

Hayden and Greg …Cheers!

Kate spoiling us with a delicious Italian meal

Kate and Greg’s T-top next to Island Spirit

The Need for SPEED, Yamaha 150 doing about 35!

Kate spoils us again with another fantastic dinner How will we ever leave????

Island Spirit in the view from their window

One of two Doodles, Gracie is the lap dog and will be your best friend

Thank you again for your generous hospitality, Greg and Kate!  We will see you in the spring!

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Good friends Laurie and Jim on 350 KISMET hoisted a Code Zero Sail on the Neuse River and I was lucky enough to motor up and take a few (215) digital high resolution photos.

Being nicknamed “PhotoBoy” I could not resist taking a ton of photos. What a fun time.

Here are a few of the best…

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Sunset, Alligator River, NC

Sunrise, Sunset…
Sunrise, Sunset…
Swiftly fly the years…
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.

From the Alligator River, Deep Point anchorage sunset to the sunrise this morning in Bonner Bay, we are being treated to some fantastic displays of nature. Add in the company of good friends Laurie and Jim on IP350 KISMET, and you begin to see the treasures of the cruising life.

Photos of the day. (I shot 95 today and one video)

Sunrise lights up the Pungo Canal

Sunrise over our port side lights the trees to starboard

A Bald Eagle in Pungo Canal

Canal debris pile in the morning light

R. E. Mayo Fishing Docks, mid day light

IP350 KISMET at anchor, Bonner Bay

IP35 Island Spirit and IP350 Kismet share dinner and a sunset on Bonner Bay

Sunset on Island Spirit at anchor

The last glimmer of the sun

Sunset Bonner Bay, NC as seen from anchor

Beautiful sky at sunset

Good Morning….the next day…this is the SUNRISE

Sunrise, Sunset, Sunrise, Sunset….Swiftly fly the years…..
Have a beautiful day!

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Sailing across Albemarle Sound

Crossing Albemarle Sound is one of those passages you hear so many dreaded sailing stories about and sailors worry deeply about making this 15 mile crossing! This concern is valid, due to the shallow depths and long fetch upwind. If the wind is blowing, then the Sound will have short steep waves and your two plus hour crossing can be nasty. Lucky for us, the winds were calm, 10-15 knots, and from the west. With a course of 180, south, and a west wind, we had a beam reach right across the Sound and into the Alligator River. What a fantastic sailing day! Under sail, Radeen decided to make a gourmet hot lunch of Mediterranean Chicken with black olives and capers. What a treat, and served in one bowl, it was easy to eat. Radeen is very good at cooking onboard and making great meals. Check out her site at http://BoatRecipes.com and share your best boating recipes.

The 42 mile sailing day ended when we dropped anchor with Island Packet Buddies, 350 Kismet and 38 It’s About Time at Deep Point. The fresh west breeze was pleasant and the sunset was spectacular. Sally called it right by saying this was a BLESSING to behold. Fortunate we are to be out here cruising…

The best way to share today, is via my photos (I shot 102 photos and 6 videos today!)

Day begins…sunrise at Elizabeth City, NC

Bright sun reflects off the primary winch…beautiful day

IPs 350 Kismet and 38 It’s About Time at anchor

Radeen at sunset as we photograph the colors

Sunset over the Pungo Canal at Alligator River

Sunset beauty

Our Bow at sunset, Alligator River, NC

Another beautiful day on the water. One observation this year is how warm we are. It is one month earlier than we were here last year, and we were chilly. This year, the temps are nearly perfect. 

Note:
Annapolis Sailboat Show opened today, we sadly miss being there. This is the first time in 20 years we . The trade won’t be there. The trade off is worth it…a family wedding in Arizona that we are attending as soon as we get this boat to the Brunswick, GA 🙂

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Close the LOCK DOORS…South Mills Lock

The Great Dismal Swamp ends at the South Mills Lock where you are lowered 8 feet to the Pasquotank River of North Carolina. Riding the lock down is far more calm than riding a lock up, as the water simply drains out of the lock and you are slowly lowered along the lock wall.

Once in the river, we encountered a river full of Duckweed (thank you Bonnie F. for identifying this). And thanks to our lead boat named Ascension, a path was plowed down river through the duck weed. The trip ends at the drawbridge into Elizabeth City where we take their free docks and enjoy their long standing tradition of a wine and cheese party hosted by the Rose Buddies. We were lucky enough to have met the creator, Fred Fearing, a long time ago when we did this loop on our IP27, Cinnamon. Today, the city continues his tradition and it is truly the City of Hospitality. Great Job, Elizabeth City, and thank you Fred!

Here are some great photos of the day…(I shot 87 photos today and one video)

Lock Tender checking the overlap mitre joint of the lock doors

Top of lock, watch us drop 8 feet

Halfway down…more drop to go

8 feet down, the lock doors can now open

Welcome to the Pasquotank River, Good Bye Dismal Swamp

Welcome DUCKWEED as we move south towards Elizabeth City

Our lead boat, Ascension, cuts a path for all 5 boats to follow, thank you

Follow the path in the Duckweed

This does make for beautiful photos

Looking aft, the sun illuminates the colors

Pasquotank River and a sea of contrast

The Elizabeth City Lift Bridge ends this beautiful section of the waterway

Tonight, we will enjoy the town’s hosted wine and cheese party and visit with all the cruisers heading south. This is a wonderful life and we really enjoy the travels and beauty….

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