Still - Vero Beach

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends!

Well! We can truly say we now know why everyone calls this "Velcro Beach"! It sorta just grabs you and holds on forever. When we arrived three weeks ago yesterday, we had no idea we would spend Christmas here. But in all honesty, I cannot think of a better, prettier spot to be anchored/moored in than right here! The reason we are still here is that I have had to have some emergency dental work done as most of you already know. In many respects, I am very lucky because my dental problems started here rather than somewhere in the Bahamas. But, I bet there is even good dental care over there too! After a temporary crown, root canal, and then the permanent crown, I am finally over the hump.

I have spent some time contemplating this Holiday Season and what it would be like to spend it on our boat, away from home and our two precious girls, Lucy and Sally, and away from our family and friends. I must admit that in many respects we miss being home enjoying sharing the Christmas Season with our many loved ones. With that being said, I must share that my next thoughts were about the many blessings we have to be grateful for and the new friends we are meeting along our journey! I just wanted to share with you all a few of these folks.

First, I was really fortunate to find a Dental Office where everyone in the practice treated us so respectfully and professionally. Dr. Overlease and Romona, his Assistant, were especially kind and competent! They went out of there way to accommodate my needs. When totally dependent on such things as the dinghy working, being able to find a space to tie-up at the dinghy dock, and being on time for the GoLine(Vero's free public transportation bus), it can sometimes be a little more complicated when making appointments. These folks were so accommodating and considerate about this. They treated us as if we had been coming to them for 20 years! So, to all of you at Coast Dental, Buck and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Secondly, I marvel at what a small world this really is and how you never know who you might meet and what role they might play in your life. Let me elaborate. When coming into the harbor three weeks ago, we noticed a boat that was already moored named "Bees Knees". Interestingly enough, we had seen this boat in Ocracoke last summer when we were there for the Music Festival. Its hailing port is Beaufort, N.C. I have learned in cruising that the showers and laundry facilities provide great places to get acquainted with your fellow boaters! Interestingly enough that is where I met Ann, the captain and owner, of "Bees Knees". I had just finished my shower when I started a conversation with a gal about crusing with dogs. I am always looking for folks who are traveling with their 4-legged children so that we can share our intimate stories as well as seek advice. Come to find out, Ann lived aboard "Bees Knees". After further talk, we discovered that we have many friends in common back in N.C. even though she if from Ohio originally.  Neil, at Morehead City Yacht Basin, who is a good friend of ours, actually helped her find the boat. She also was at Matthews Point Marina, our marina where we keep our boat, during some of the past hurricanes participating in the hurricane drills. She knows Jet who is the owner of our marina. Somehow we missed meeting her. Little did I know when talking with Ann in the shower what a true angel she would end up being for us. We were cooking one night and all of a sudden, the stove went out. We had used up our first tank of propane. Well, lucky for us, we have a 2nd. tank so we could continue cooking our meal. The next day we started to investigage where and how we could get the tank filled. We learned that Florida has a law that you cannot transport propane on any public transportation - that meant no bus, no Klub Kar(one of the local cabs). What were we going to do? The walk to the propane store is at least 5-6 miles if not longer. Needless to say carrying a filled 10 lb. tank would not be comfortable. Guess who offered us her car so that we could get our propane and any other needs we might have? You guessed it - Ann! Oh, but Ann wasn't finished. On Wednesday of this week, Buck was sitting in the cockpit working on the hand-held GPS and happened to notice that one side of the dinghy was sinking into the water. Yuk!!! That can only mean a hole in the rubber dinghy or some other type or leak somewhere. For those of you who are not boaters, our transportation to land begins with our dinghy carrying us from the boat to our designated area. So to say our dinghy is important and necessary is a true understatement! After getting to shore, removing the engine, lifting the dinghy onto the grassy area, and using a bucket of soapy water, we were able to find the teeny tiny hole about the size of a pin head. What is good about traveling with a competent Captian is his ability to fix things. Thus, Buck was able to patch the hole. That is the good news. The bad news was the dinghy would be out of the water for 24 hours. Oh no! How will we get to and from the boat? My appointment for my permanent crown is scheduled on Thursday and Magic has an appointment with the Vets to get his Health Certificate for the Bahamas . And Christmas Eve is Friday and these places will be closed. I bet you cannot guess who stepped in and helped us out again? You guessed it - Ann, our new friend and guardian angel! Not only did she loan us her van again, she graciously ferried us to and from shore in her dinghy. Ann, you will never know how much we appreciate you and your overwhelming kindness!! We wish you and Lucy (her Springer puppy) the Merriest Christmas ever and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year! We look forward to eating with you tomorrow at the Cruisers' Potluck Christmas Lunch.

So you see - the spirit of Christmas is wherever you are because it is found in people who are performing kind, considerate acts on a regular basis and are doing it because they care! My wish for each of you this Christmas Season is that you have these people in your life too. My hope for myself is that I carry the spirit of Christmas today and throughout the new year.

We want our family and friends to know that we will keep you in our hearts and prayers today and every day throughout 2011! May God Bless you and your families!

Fair winds and until next time,

Vicki, Buck, and Magic

St. Mary's, Georgia to Vero Beach, Florida

I have written in my previous blogs about the many beautiful places we have visited, the magical anchorages we have enjoyed with their majestic sunrises and sunsets, their abundance of wildlife both on land and in the water, and the many hours spent in methodically meandering down the winding, lazy and comforting ICW with its many creeks and man made cuts.  It seems that each new anchorage and each new stretch of the ICW brings with it equally beautiful places as the ones before it.  Words seem so inadequate to describe the sheer beauty St. Mary's and Cumberland Island.  Each place we visit brings with it many nice, friendly people that are there to help in anyway they can.  This was especially true for us in St. Mary's.  As I said in the previous post, we motored into our anchorage at St. Mary' (on November 15) to find our friends, Dan and Cheryl, whom we had met last summer in Orcacoke.  It was great to get reaquainted with Dan since Cheryl was in New England visiting with her family.  We were sitting in our cockpit enjoying a cup of coffee when a dinghy motored over to us with the couple from Lawanda on it.  They came to welcome us to St. Mary's and to see if we needed anything.  They had a house and car in St. Mary's and offered to take us to the grocery store or anywhere we needed to go.  One thing we have learned is never pass up the offer to go to the grocery store, especially when someone has a car.  So we gratefully accepted.  We found St. Mary's to be a very friendly and welcoming town to boaters. They have an annual Thanksgiving Feast that the town sponsors for all boaters anchored in the harbor.  We would have loved to have stayed for that, but we felt we needed to continue south since Thanksgiving was still a week away.  But before we do that, we took a must-see visit to Cumberland Island.  Many of our friends had told us this was a place we didn't want to miss and we found they were right! Wow!!! What a beautiful island with its serenity, its well-maintained and natural vegetation, and its abundant wildlife.  It was remarkable to see the wild turkeys and the wild (or supposedly wild) horses grazing in the grass.  Then there were the armadillos scurrying around and then hiding under the brush when they would hear our feet walking down the dirt path.  The buildings that have been there for centuries were breathtaking and huge even in their ruins.  The remains of the Dungeness mansion was something to behold!  Standing there in the sunlight and quiet, you could almost feel the presence of those who lived there so many years ago.  It was really an awesome experience.  I am not sure these few pictures do it justice.  It was obvious the the horses looked forward to the tourists who come to visit their home because they would approach with caution waiting for a treat or snack of some kind! We had been asked by the Park Service folks not to feed them so, of course, being the rule followers that we are, we complied with their request.  By the behavior of the horses, it was pretty clear that others had not.

One of the many things I have loved about this trip is the many reminders of the men and women who have committed themselves to keeping our country and its people safe.  We passed by the Kings Bay Submarine Base in Cumberland Sound.  What an impressive complex!  When traveling from our anchorage in St. Mary's to our mooring ball in Fernandina Beach, Florida, the Coast Guard alerted all Mariners that a submarine would be leaving the base and heading out to sea.  What a sight to see!  We were able to just see the black, silhouette of the submarine skimming the top of the ocean headed out the inlet there at Fernandina Beach.  It literally took my breath away.  We should be so grateful to live in this country of ours and at that moment it was never more clear to me as just how grateful and thankful I am!

We spent two days in Fernandina and really enjoyed the Historic District.  We even got to see the NC State/Georgetown basketball game in one of the sports bars.  The bartender just smiled at me when I asked him if he would mind turning one of the TV's to ESPNU and I explained who I wanted to see!  Then it was on to Palm Coast where we were going to spend Thanksgiving and meet up with our friends, Vic and GiGi on GiGi's Island.  We were really looking forward to that!

On the way to Palm Coast, we passed St. Augustine but didn't have time to stop.  Maybe next time.  While in the South Amelia River, we enjoyed the many dolphins splashing and having fun.  There were several that came right up beside the boat while we were motoring and would come up out of the water and look at me.  I would talk to them and they would look at me, make a sound, go under and come back up.  I would talk with them again and they would do the same thing.  This went on for about 10 minutes.  Buck's comment was that I could be in the middle of the River and still find someone to talk to!

Palm Coast Marina was a great place to spend Thanksgiving!  We were there from Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Tuesday after.  It was a really great week!  Palm Coast is another beautiful and friendly community.  We enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal on our boat with turkey and all the trimmings!  We were at a Marina so we had cable and were able to see all the ballgames we cared to.  We met our new friends, Bob and Penny on Pretty Penny and enjoyed getting to know them over several dinners together.  They are good friends of Vic and GiGi from previous trips to the Islands.  Vic and GiGi returned from visiting family on Saturday night and we immediately began planning the next leg of our trip.  We would more than likely be buddy boating until and when we cross to the Bahamas.

While traveling from Palm Coast to Vero Beach, we passed another awe-inspiring landmark if our country - Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.  We could see the launch pad from our cockpit where so many space shuttles have been launched.  Another one of those goose bump moments!

Now we are in Vero Beach or Velcro Beach as many mariners call it.  Another boater friendly community where the "Go-Line" (city bus transportation) will take you wherever you need to go for just a donation and "Klub Kar" (city cab service) will take us and Magic anywhere for a nominal fee.  We are loving it here as we are literally tied up with Vic and GiGi on a mooring ball.  We are in walking distance to the beach and Ocean Drive with as many shops as there are boats in the harbor! This town is certainly a "shopper's paradise"!  We will be here a little longer than originally thought due to some dental problems I developed in the last day or two.  I am in need of a crown - yuk!  But the good news is I found a really nice Dentist and we started the process yesterday.  They are rushing the permanent crown and I should have it on the 21st. the day the Lab closes and the day before the Dentist closes for the holidays.  If it had to happen, I feel very fortunate that it happened now and here.

As the Holidays approach, Buck and I remember with fondness the many memories we share with many of you and can only wish that you and your family will have a very Happy Holiday Season filled with all the joys, promises, and blessings the Christmas season brings!

Merry Christmas!  Love to all!  Fair winds to all!
Vicki, Buck, and Magic

Beaufort, SC - Jekyll Island - St. Mary's

As we meander down the waterway, I continue to be pleasantly amazed at how beautiful the South Carolina and Georgia waterways are.  So much of the Georgia coastline remains undeveloped and natural.  There are National Wildlife Refuges and State Parks galore.  As the sun begins to set, the marshes are just gorgeous with the many shades of red, gold and orange.  The horizon is lined with huge, ancient, tall Pines and Palmetto trees nestled closely underneath with the marsh grass swaying in the light breeze.  The wildlife is just incredible.  I think we have seen every type of bird and waterfowl there is.  You can hear them communicating with each other by the many sounds they make.  During our travels since Charleston, we have really begun to see more dolphins swimming and frolicking in the water.  It is not unusual for them to swim right up to and along side the boat.  When they come up for air, it almost seems that they look you right in the eye as if they are welcoming you into their home.  They are such beautiful and graceful swimmers!

We left Charleston on Sunday morning, November 7 for Tom Point Creek.  The weather was sunny but cold!  Again, we were so grateful for the full enclosures because we were able to enjoy the trip in shirtsleeves protected from the north wind. The cockpit truly becomes a solarium with the sun beating down on the canvas warming the inside quite nicely.  Once at anchorage,  it was time to enjoy a cold beer for the captain, a club soda for me, and a greenie for Magic while enjoying the scenery and sunset.  Once the sun sets, we quickly close the boat to keep as much of the sun's heat in as possible. This was really the coldest night so far, except for the nights in Charleston.  But that was O.K. because we were at a Marina and had heat!  This was not the case in Tom Point Creek. I will say that even though it was cold we stayed warm enough with our  cozy fleece pants and sweatshirts.  Of course, I was wearing my fur-lined bedroom slippers which kept my feet very toasty and comfortable! When Buck commented about me and my slippers, I reminded him what a very good, elderly friend of ours used to say: "Well, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do"!  That''s my motto!

We spent two really beautiful days in Beaufort, S.C.  We took advantage of the warming temperatures and strolled the streets of this historic, southern town where the townsfolk seemed to welcome boaters.  We enjoyed a horse drawn carriage tour of the town where our guide pointed out the history behind many of the old southern homes that have been there since before the Civil War.  I would highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Beaufort.  The Waterfront Park is a place that Magic really enjoyed visiting with its beautifully manicured lawn and numerous gardens filled with Southern sub-tropical plants.  The town is very pet-friendly as evidenced by their many pet-waste stations.  I have to say that Beaufort ranks right near the top as one of my most favorite places we have been so far.  I am sure that before we are finished with our trip, I will have many favorite places!

When you think an anchorage just can't be any prettier that the last one, you come to the next one and it just simply takes your breath away!  That's what happened to us when we reached, first, the New River and, then, the Buckhead Creek anchorages. We are now in Georgia.  From our anchorage in New River, you could see the Savannah skyline and the high rise bridge.  It was just an awesome view.  Then the next night, in Buckhead Creek, we found ourselves in a quiet, isolated area where you could look for miles and miles and not see anything but wildlife, marsh, tall Pines and Palmetto trees.  I think this is Buck's favorite place so far.  He just stood on the foredeck of the boat enjoying a cold beverage and looking out over the mass of beauty.  We had just received some sad news that morning so we both were feeling a little sad and melancholy.  His Uncle Smoke, his mother's younger brother, had been in declining health during the last couple of years.  Buck's cousin, Mendy, called to say that he had passed away during the night.  Even though we were in a position that we couldn't physically be in
North Carolina with the family,  they were certainly in our hearts and thoughts in Buckhead Creek.

Our next stop was Jekyll Island.  I have heard about Jekyll Island all my life, but have never had the opportunity of visiting before.  We decided to pull into the Jekyll Harbor Marina for several reasons.  Friends had told us they had complimentary bikes you could use to tour the island and we also needed some fuel.  So we spent the afternoon and the next day really enjoying the hospitality of yet another beautiful area on our journey south.  On Sunday, we rode all over the island stopping first at several shops in the historic district.  I really enjoyed looking around while Buck patiently hung around.  I rewarded him with a nice lunch overlooking the Ocean at Blackbeard's.

We left Jekyll Island yesterday morning and arrived at our current anchorage yesterday about mid-afternoon.  We are anchored in the harbor of St. Mary's, Ga. We are in the St. Mary's River and depending on which way the wind is blowing and the boat swings, we are either in Georgia or Florida. No kidding!  The Georgia/Florida line runs down the middle of the river.  We can actually see Fernandina Beach skyline in one direction and in the other, the beautiful town of St. Mary's.  We are just hanging on the boat today monitoring the low pressure that is here bringing increasing winds and possibly some storms.  We are continually amazed at how the current, tides, and wind all interact together and ultimately affect the boat and its position.  We plan to stay here a couple of days and enjoy the town and its people.  Again, we've been told by friends how boat-friendly these folks are.  We understand that they host a large, pot-luck Thanksgiving feast for all to enjoy.  Wish we could stay for that - but Florida is calling our name where we plan on catching up with our friends, Vic and Gigi on Gigi's Island. 

I can only reiterate how much we have enjoyed our journey through the winding "S" curves through Georgia.  Everyone needs to do it at least once.

In closing,  one of the most interesting and amazing things about cruising is the people you meet and how you can totally by chance run into them again along the way.  As we motored around the harbor looking for the right spot to set the anchor, we suddenly came upon "Curieuse", an Island Packet 32 belonging to Dan and Sharon whom we met in Orcacoke at the Music Festival last summer!  I wonder what the odds are of this happening!  Sharon has gone to visit her family in New England but Dan came over in his dinghy to have a beer and we "gammed" until dark! For you non-boaters, a gam is a meeting at sea where people gather on each other's boats to catch-up on the news!

Until next time - fair winds!
Vicki, Buck and Magic

Cruising the Waterway

We have really enjoyed cruising south on the waterway.  There is a lot of difference in the North Carolina and South Carolina waterways.  The North Carolina waterway is very developed with houses of all shapes, sizes and colors.  There are many man-made channels that have been dug out so that houses and small docks could be built on either side. Our waterway seems almost overdeveloped as compared to parts of the South Carolina low country.  We left Southport on Saturday, October 30 with beautiful skies and cool temperatures.  Like most mornings we began the day in sweatshirts and a jacket and then later on were able to change into shorts and short sleeve shirts.  What is there not to love about North Carolina fall weather!  We never seemed to be alone on the water.  There is always a boat coming up behind you that may be faster and want to pass or you may meet a boat going the opposite direction that you need to respect and give them room to pass.  There are "rules of the road" for boaters and it is interesting to see how the other boats respect them.  One of the things I like the most is to see all the local folks fishing in their respective home waters.  They are usually very friendly to us and don't seem to mind the fact that we are just passing through their waters.  I am sure this time of year they are used to the constant interruption from the transients.

The first night we anchored in Calabash Creek right across the waterway from the Little River Inlet.  It was a really nice anchorage with one other boat, Viking Star, coming in to stay the night with us.  We would later see Viking Star anchored in Charleston.  What is really neat about cruising is meeting new people and following them down the waterway or hearing them converse over the VHF radio as the week progresses.  You may not get to know everyone on the boats but you begin to know the boat names which makes you feel you do know the folks on them, especially when you hear them frequently over the radio.  You become somewhat invested in hoping they reach their destinations safely.

On Sunday we were off early to our next stop - an anchorage on the Waccamaw River.  We knew this would be an especially meaningful day. Buck grew up at Lake Waccamaw right outside of Wilmington. Lake Waccamaw is the beginning of the Waccamaw River so he felt like he had returned to his roots.
We anchored in an oxbow right off the river with absolutely beautiful moss hanging from the trees and little frogs sunning themselves exposed logs.  The Waccamaw is very swamp-like but so serene and quiet in there that I almost forgot about all the alligators I have seen in Lake Waccamaw when visiting Buck's family during summer family reunions.  I was convinced I would see one in this anchorage and even cautioned Magic to be really careful while walking around on the deck.  Much to my delight, we didn't see the first alligator or snake!!

I wish I had the words to describe what it is like to start the day with a steaming cup of coffee, fog coming off the water just meeting the rising sun, and so quiet you can almost hear yourself breathe.  It is just the most beautiful and peaceful time of the day.  It must be what is meant by being "one with nature".  We  have had many of these mornings during our short journey thus far.

The next two anchorages were equally as beautiful but the terrain was very marshy. It seemed as if you could see for miles and miles from the bow of the boat. You really didn't see a lot of development, especially close to the waterway because of the marshlands.  You would have to really look to see the houses built way back in the marshes.  We spent Monday night anchored in South Santee Creek and Tuesday night in Dewees Creek.  We knew the weather was predicted to change and certainly felt low pressure that was hovering just over the horizon off the coast.  We woke up Wednesday to clouds with a cold north wind that made it feel much colder than it actually was.  We were so grateful for our full enclosures because we were so very toasty and comfortable for our short trip to Charleston.  Thank you, Rick!!!!

What can one say about Charleston but that it continues to be a gorgeous southern town filled with rich tradition and history.  It is certainly a mariners town and the City Marina could not have been more accommodating.  Even though anchoring in different magnificent places each night, marina life can be fun too. It is a time to replenish the boat, the supplies, and ourselves.  It is also time to have heat since we are plugged into shore power.  That is why we decided to be wimps today and stay one more night in Charleston since tonight is going to be the coldest night yet.  We have thoroughly loved walking around the battery, through the historical section,  and down the water front.  I loved, you notice I said "I", walking through and just browsing the elegant and upscale shops on King, East Bay and Meeting Streets.  My favorite, though, was The Market with each vendor and their handmade wares they display so proudly!  Charleston has been surprisingly busy and alive with all kinds of people - students, families, other boaters, etc.  There was even a Waterway Cruiser that docked here at the City Marina on Friday.  But, remarkably there seems to be plenty of room for all of us!

Time to close for now since Buck just came down below and asked "what are we doing for supper?".  We will leave in the morning to continue our way south toward Beaufort, S.C.

Oops!

As you can see I'm still learning how to import pictures.  There are some at the end of our day today but they aren't where they should be.  It's getting late and you know sailors - early to bed!  My very good friend, Alice, reminded that she showed me how to do pictures this summer, but I can't remember. Oh well, maybe next time they will be with the corresponding post!

Another Beautiful Day!

What a beautiful day today has been!  After a week of August like weather, it was really nice to wake up to crisp autumn air and a crystal clear blue sky that makes North Carolina so special this time of year.  I am sure that over the next several months I will see many beautiful places and people.

We left Wrightsville Beach on Thursday morning after staying 3 days longer than originally planned.  We really enjoyed visiting with friends and family!  We did run into a few minor boat issues that we wanted to address before we left the area since we had access to a car from both Pierce (Buck's cousin) and Hollis (Buck's close childhood friend). Thank you Pierce, Bill, Hollis, and Carol. We love you!

We are learning that being on a boat everyday is different from just weekend live-a-boards.  The systems are running all the time as opposed to just on weekends and this is different for us and for the boat.  But we are becoming more comfortable and confidant as each day passes. Storms and wind also kept us at anchor for an additional day.  So we just enjoyed our time there and reminded each other that we started this trip saying we were going to take our time and enjoy every minute of it.  We plan to do just that!

We arrived in Southport yesterday on Thursday afternoon and absolutely love it here!  We came into Southport Marina and have really enjoyed visiting this lovely Southern town with its beautiful homes, quaint streets, and many, many beautiful boats.  But the most memorable part of this town is its people!  We have walked throughout the town and met some of the friendliest people anywhere.  Early this morning with a 2nd. cup of coffee, we got off the boat to take Magic to shore.  As we were walking down the dock admiring our surrounding environment, we heard  "good morning".  "Be careful walking up that ramp.  The tide is unusually low this morning".  He was exactly right. The incline on the ramp was very high.  We proceeded to talk and this very nice man introduced himself to us.  His name is Robert and he has a house and a boat here on the water.  We stood there and talked for a while sharing stories about our childhood visits to this beautiful town by the sea.  Before he left, he made sure we knew he was available if we needed anything while in Southport.  After exchanging boat cards, he made sure we knew how to find him.  We have felt welcomed and appreciated everywhere we have gone.  This is my first visit to Southport as an adult and I can guarantee you it will not be my last.  The memories of today will stay close to my heart.

Tomorrow we are continuing our journey south and will probably be anchoring in Calabash then to the Waccamaw River and then onto Charleston.

Happy Halloween to All! 
Fair Winds!
Vicki, Buck, & Magic

No Disappointments!

Monday, October 25, 2010.

Thus far, there have been no disappointments in our trip.  Traveling the ICW from Morehead City to Wrightsville Beach has been beautiful with spectacular weather, gorgeous sunrises, and a magnificent full moon!  The captain and crew have settled in to a comfortable routine enjoying the sights along the waterway.  After our first night in Cedar Creek and waking up to a morning of early fog so deep that we could only see a couple of 100 feet ahead, we pulled up the anchor and headed to Swansboro.  The trip was fairly uneventful except that we had the wind on our nose and the tide running against us.  The tide is new for us since there really isn't any in the Neuse River.  But we motored along enjoying the old and new houses along the way.  We decided to spend the night at Casper's Marina in Swansboro and we were not disappointed!  The people working the marina are native to the Swansboro area and couldn't have been any nicer.  We enjoyed a quiet dinner on the boat and then a nice walk through town.  It was a beautiful night with just a little crispness in the air and that beautiful full moon I mentioned earlier rising just above the horizon.  With the brightness of the moon, we didn't even need the new lanterns for the cockpit that we had purchased.  There are parts of Swansboro that are pretty much as we remembered it, but other areas certainly show the growth and development that all the coastal areas of N.C. have experienced.  There were new more elegant stores and high-end resturants on the waterfront but a few of the old standby's, such as the coffee shop and the tourist shops.  Lucky for Buck, it was evening and the shops were closed!  But, I'm not sure we can put anything else on the boat until we eat some of the food we have stored on board.

As I mentioned, we have settled into a nice routine.  Living on a boat is very different from living on land with all the modern day conveniences such as a car, groceries stores, etc. close by.  Conservation is the word that most often comes to mind when I think about my day.  As some of you know, I have been called the "Water Czar" since our trip to Ocracoke last summer.  Now, Buck (lovingly I hope) is calling me the "trash czar", "power(battery) worrier", and the "food hoader".  But so far the boat is doing great and we seem to have everything we need and want.

After leaving Swansboro last Friday morning, we headed to Wrightsville Beach to spend the weekend anchored in Banks Channel.  We have family and friends who live in nearby Wilmington that we enjoyed visiting with over the weekend.  We are in walking distance from some great restaurants, the beach and Roberts grocery that has been here for years!  One of the newest, most interesting things we have seen in Banks Channel is a big commercial vessel converted to a pleasure craft with a Honda CRX car on the foredeck.  Another new thing that we had not seen before is paddle boarding.  I guess that is what you call it.  It is like a great big surf board where you stand upright and paddle with a long paddle.  It looks very uncomfortable and takes a lot of effort.  But all the young folks seem to be doing it.  It looks like way too much effort and work for this old crew!  Magic loves leaning over the side of the boat looking at all the activity.  After checking with the weather last night and this morning, we elected to stay over another day.  There is a front coming in from the west early afternoon which is supposed to bring severe thunderstorms and wind.  Oops!  It just started raining earlier than expected.  Good decision!  When we do leave here, we plan to go to Southport to visit the town for a day.  Our good friend Vic has said this is a must for us especially since Buck is so fond of Robert Rourk and his books.  Robert's grandfather lived there and I believe we can tour the house as it is a Bed and Breakfast Inn.  I've been told there are great antique shops as well as other shops to occupy my time as well.

So for today, it is a day to get caught up with boat chores, do some reading and relaxing, and just enjoy the gentle sway of the boat as it turns with the wind and tide.  Hopefully, it will stay gentle!!!

Until next time!

Fair Winds!
Vicki, Buck & Magic

Bon Voyage

The time is finally here, we hope!  Most of you who know us know that we have dreamed of this day for as long as we have been together.  Our life-long goal has been to head south on the boat of our dreams in October.  We just never realized that this dream might really become reality.  Well, after months and months of preparation on the boat and at home in Durham too, we are finally ready to begin our journey.  It is a gorgeous day at the Point with a light west wind and beautiful October blue skies.  It is warm enough to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts, but quickly gets chilly when the sun sets in the evening.  Perfect sailing weather or motoring weather which will probably be the case while traveling on the ICW!  We hope to cut the dock lines first thing in the morning and begin this adventure.  If all goes well and as planned, we will not be back at the Point until June.  Our cruise will include Buck and Vicki and our precious little Magic. As Buck likes to say, our three dogs (Magic, Lucy, and Sally) drew straws and Magic lost.  That is how he got to come.  Lucy and Sally will be staying at our house in Durham with our good friend, Charlotte.  We are so lucky that she loves dogs and is willing to stay with them while we travel.  One dog is a challenge on a boat for any length of time, but 8 months - just think how 3 would be!!!!  Yikes!  But we do love them and will miss them terribly.

I hope to use this blog as a way to share this wonderful experience with our family and friends. We invite you to come along with us and hope you enjoy every minute!

Fair winds!

Vicki, Buck, & Magic