10/19- 10/28 Wrightsville Beach, NC to Charleston SC

Oct 19
A cool day with lots of sunshine and beautiful water as we are traveling on the ICW just beyond the ocean dunes.

Pepromenon underway

Waiting our turn after the drawbridge has opened

Beautiful NC water

We anchored at Wrightsville and dinghied ashore to walk on the beach.

On the way back, Bob rescued a dinghy that had come untied from the mothership.

Oct 20
Took a short trip to Carolina Beach State Park and docked at their new facility. Did some hiking including a carnivorous plant trail. The plants were tiny and difficult to find.

Oct 21
Down the dreaded Cape Fear River!  Bob had timed the tide so we raced along with it at up to 9 knots.
Docked at St James Plantation Marina.  Bob's sister, Randee, drove out to see us. She took us for a tour of the quaint village of Southport which included some killer Bloody Marys.

With Randee and Dave and Cherie at Fishy Fishy dockside restaurant

Pelicans hanging out 

Then Randee joined us for dinner, along with Dave Fooks, an old marina neighbor who recently relocated to NC.

Oct 22
We hit South Carolina today! Low country! Made it through a tricky cut known as "The Rockpile" entering Myrtle Beach. Stayed at the shopping mall tie up. There are sooo many golf courses here, even one with a gondola that crosses golfers over the ICW.

Oct 23

On to Georgetown, another waterfront town.  Had a nice walk through the historic homes and bought shrimp right off the docks and steamed them onboard.

Oct 24
We travelled on to Whiteside Creek outside of Charleston. Very windy today!  We watched dolphins herding fish onshore while at anchor. And eagles up in the trees. Very remote. The current has started now and you must time your entry into the docks in Charleston and on through Georgia. We learned a lot by mishaps last year!

Oct 25-28
We headed to Charleston for 3 days on land in the big city! We had our first front move in with wind and rain.  Luckily we found a free trolley to ride around town. This year we were able to stay at The Charleston Maritime Center right downtown. Sampled lots of great food (Pearlz Oyster Bar, Hanks Seafood Grill) We toured Magnolia Plantation with its interesting history. It was a rice plantation and was burned by the Union Army along with all but 1 of the Charleston area plantations. The one plantation escaped burning by displaying a smallpox quarantine sign and the soldiers did not stop.

Oops- forgot to get a picture of the house!!

Live oaks line the entrance drive

Magnolia Plantation is famous for its gardens

These trees are hundreds of years old.

Slave quarters

Even alligators living in the ponds

10/12- 10/18 The Dismal Swamp to Camp Lejuene

Oct 12
As of Portsmouth, we are officially on the ICW. We started down the Dismal Swamp and spent the night at the free dock at the Visitor Center.

Entering the Deep Creek Lock at the start of The Dismal Swamp

Cruising along the narrow manmade canal

Entered into NC!

Seven boats tied up at the Visitor Center. We all met at the park pavilion for Happy Hour and grilling. One couple on a trawler had just completed the Great Loop.  Al and Arlene on Blue Heaven from our home marina joined us also.

Oct 13

On to Elizabeth City.  It was a gusty, but short day. The city has free docks and puts on a Happy Hour nightly for cruisers.  The mayor presides.  Met another couple from Delaware!  We had dinner together and it didn't take long to find people we both knew.  That's living in a small state!

Returning from the laundomat

The docks are free but require acrobatic skill!

Oct 14
Today we sailed the Albemarle Sound and entered the Alligator River. It was warm and calm and we enjoyed the sun. Anchored at Tuckahoe Point. The star gazing was incredible!  The Milky Way stretched from one side of the sky to the other.

Oct 15
Onto the Alligator-Pungo Canal to the Pungo River, then the Neuse River. Saw a buck on the side of the canal and eagles also. We anchored in Broad Creek.

Oct 16
We took a lay day and checked into River Dunes, a resort marina near Oriental, NC. Used the bikes, courtesy car to grocery shop, pool and hot tub!

River Dunes Marina

Carol swimming laps

Happy Hour at the fire pit

Oct 17

We motored over to Beaufort, NC. This is a waterfront town and our dock was right in the action.  Toured the Maritime Museum and had our first shrimp and grits at the Dockside Grill. Even did a little shopping!

Relaxing in Beaufort

Our dock was downtown

An interesting beer

Oct 18

Headed on down the Bogue Sound.  It was very windy with a narrow channel and several boats were aground. Entered into the Camp Lejeune security area and anchored at Mile Hammock Bay.

Camp Lejeune banks. Sometimes they close the ICW for firing practice.

Oct 7- 12 And we're off! Down the Bay

Oct 7
We arrived in Rock Hall and loaded the boat with supplies. Food, beer and wine, clothes, spare parts…

Carol's clothes for the next 7 months

Bob had to dive on the propellor to replace our zinc. This sacrificial zinc saves the prop and shaft from corrosion and must be changed periodically.

Bob is a real DIY-er!

We pulled away from the dock! But first we needed to "pump out". Boats have a holding tank, which is where all the pee and poop from the toilet goes. Then you "pump out" when full at a marina. So, we pulled up and started the process. Suddenly, there was a backfire or something and Carol is covered head to toe in holding tank contents.  There was a lot of foul language used!! She hosed off with cold water on the dock then had to take a real hot shower. Ugggggh!!!! Disgusting!!!!

No picture of this!

Finally left and motored to the South River.

Back at Sea

Had a nice cookout and relaxing evening after Carol's traumatic event.

Oct 8

The bay was like a lake today, so we decided to take advantage of this and motor sailed 72 miles all the way past the Potomac to the Great Wicomico River and Mill Creek. A 12 hour journey. Saw our first pelicans. They are so fun to watch!

Saw sunrise over Thomas Point Light

And sunset in Mill Creek

Oct 9

Started out of Great Wicomico. What a difference a day makes!  Very windy with huge waves right in our face! We didn't make much progress so we turned back and returned to the calm Mill Creek anchorage. Reentering the creek we came upon a pod of dolphins feeding.

Oct 10
Motor sailed to Jackson Creek on the Piankatank River in Deltaville, VA.
Rough seas behind us and following winds.

Met up with our friends Bill and Ken on Tamarak and Dave and Cherie on Blue Sky who will

travel with us for awhile.

Oct 11

On to Portsmouth! Norfolk is a challenging place to get through, so much commercial and military traffic on the water.

We tied up at the ferry dock in Portsmouth. This is right downtown.

Pepromenon in front

Across from us was docked a cruise ship named "The World". Google told us this is a unique resident owned boat.   There are 165 apartments onboard and the ship travels around the world! Some people live onboard full-time and others come and go. Interesting idea!

The World cruise ship

We returned to The Commodore Theatre for dinner and a movie. A beautifully restored theatre. Food and drink are ordered from a phone at your table.  We saw "The Intern".  

Our group 

Bob ordering dinner.

2015-2016 Preparations for Round 2 Down the ICW

2015-2016 Preparations

After much discussion this summer, we decided to DO IT AGAIN!
We did some updates and repairs to the boat. And the usual chores, bottom painting, waxing, etc.

Before- These are our outdated 1980's cushions.

After- Carol redid the cushions in Ultraleather.
It took Bob a week to stop sitting on the floor and move up to the couch!

Bob replaced our battery bank.

We sure will miss our little grandson, Charlie!

Pepromenon awaiting departure!