Allan's Cay to Emerald Rock at Waderick Wells - Wednesday, January 12
Emerald Rock to Sampson Cay - Saturday, January 15
Sampson Cay to Staniel Cay - Monday, January 24
Staniel Cay to Big Majors Spot - Tuesday, January 25
Big Majors Spot to Cambridge Cay - Wednesday, January 26
Cambridge Cay to Sampson Cay - Saturday, January 29
Sampson Cay to Blackpoint Settlement - Tuesday, February 1
Blackpoint Settlement to Sampson Cay - Thursday, February 3
Since January 11, we have spent our time cruising the Central Exumas. These places are actually very close together in that during this time we have traveled less than 100 miles. There is just so much to do at each place and so many people to meet and customs to share. One could literally stay at one location for days even months and still not be bored or lack any number of fun things to do and see! Often times our stay in one location may be cut short because of weather. There are certain anchorages that offer more protection than others depending on the direction and speed of the wind. That is why checking the weather forecast every day and sometimes several times a day is a very important part of our day as a cruiser. It is important to check for the week ahead and then recheck every morning to see if and how it has changed. We make our travel plans accordingly.
We picked-up a mooring ball at Emerald Rock in Waderick Wells after one night at Allan Cays on January 12. This began a 3 day visit where we explored the many trails this area is known for. These trails are as advertised very rugged with rocky cliffs that overlook pristine beaches. These beaches, as well as most of the ones I have seen so far, have the whitest sand I have ever seen. From the top of one of these cliffs, you have a spectacular panoramic view of the clearest, most beautiful water anywhere. The water is amazing with its many shades of blues and greens - from light to aqua to medium to dark.
At times when the water is calm and as slick as glass, it acts like a mirror showing your reflection as you look into it. It is absolutely beautiful!!! One can even see the shadow of the boat! Buck continues to marvel at being able to see the anchor embedded into the sandy bottom of the anchorage. Waderick Wells is part of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park which is a Bahamian National Park that was established to preserve and maintain a "delicate ecological balance between native species". Their motto is: "Take nothing but photographs...leave nothing but footprints".
After getting lots of exercise, we left our mooring on Saturday and headed south to Sampson Cay. What I didn't know at the time and have come to find out since, Sampson would become my home away from home! We absolutely love it here which probably seems obvious to you all when you see how many times we keep coming back to either the anchorage or the marina. Its draw is the people who work here and live here. It doesn't hurt that that the island is beautiful and serene offering many walking trails that end in gorgeous beaches with that same pure white sand and spectacular water as well as nice grassy areas that are beautifully landscaped with gazebos that offer respite from a day in the sun and water. As you might guess, Magic loves Sampson for all the reasons we do. Upon our first visit on land we noticed the "pet stations" that always seem to be filled with bags! He/we knew immediately that he was welcomed.
We have spent a lot of time snorkeling and swimming the different reefs and beaches. The sea life is just as spectacular as the land life! I have become quite enamored with the friendly, harmless nurse sharks that live near the docks at Sampson. They are really beautiful and seem to live for the moment the fishermen come in with their catch. They lay in wait hoping that while cleaning the catch for the day someone will drop the leftovers overboard so they can have a taste.
As I have shared before, one of the neatest parts of cruising is when you pull into an anchorage and you recognize a boat that you have met along your travels. This happens again and again. We really enjoyed catching up with our new friends, Bob and Penny on Pretty Penny and Rita-Kay and Clay on Carleigh while at Sampson. We have actually spent time with them on two separate visits to Sampson. The marina at Sampson offers great protection from a strong west wind so that has become our destination when a strong west is predicted. We have enjoyed sharing lots of laughs, good food, and cruising experiences while hiding from some weather fronts. The food in the Marina restaurant is some of the best we have had in the Bahamas! Heck, several meals have been as good as any we have eaten even in the finest restaurants in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area.
We left Sampson on January 24 to go to Staniel Cay to wait for our friend, Paul, to arrive from the US. We were really looking forward to his visit! We spent 4 days in Cambridge Cay snorkeling, playing on the beaches and just relaxing and reading. Cambridge is part of the Land and Sea Park and is far enough away that even our Bahamian phones and internet services were not available. It was kind of nice but after 4 days I think we were all ready for connecting with the outside world. Again, back home to Sampson for a couple of days to catch up on Internet and family and friends back home. We were also excited about eating a meal or two out.
Our next stop was Blackpoint Settlement. This is a place that is more developed than our previous stops. It has Ida's Beauty Shop where you get your haircut sitting outside overlooking the harbor. She also has the cleanest, nicest laundry mat I have seen anywhere! You can't go to Blackpoint without stopping in at Lorraine's cafe (internet too) for a nice, slow, relaxing lunch while catching up on internet. But the place I was most anxious to visit was the school that I had heard so much about. So on Thursday morning, my friend Vic, who is one of the best photographers I know and I put on our best pair of shorts and went to meet with Ms. McKenzie, the Principal. What a neat experience!!! I was so impressed with her, with the teachers and the students. The school houses first - ninth grade. They have 44 students with grades 1-3 in one class, 4-6 in one class, and 7-9 in one class. For my teacher friends, can you imagine the differentiation that goes on when having first, second and third graders in one class!!! Students leave home for their 10-12th. grades and attend school in Nassau. They live with extended family while there. The students were so well-behaved and polite. The school vision incorporates a strong emphasis on character education and it was evident by student behavior. I will be going back in the next week or two to do some volunteering in the classroom. The school welcomes cruisers and readily puts them to work - listening to children read, help them with their writing and math. I may work with one student that I met. So needless to say, I am very excited about that and am anxiously awaiting the time when we go back to Blackpoint.
That is all for now.
Fair winds to all!
Vicki, Buck, and Magic
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Final Leg of our Journey South in the US
Vero Beach to Lake Worth - Tuesday 12/28/10
Lake Worth to Ft. Lauderdale - Friday 12/31/10
Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas - Tuesday to Wednesday 1/4-5/2011
We are finally in the Bahamas! Actually, we are finally in the Exumas working our way down the Exuma Chain of Islands. What beauty all around us! I have never seen water so beautiful and clear except in Bequia a Caribbean Island in the Grenadines. Let me back up and share with you our trip from Vero Beach to Ft. Lauderdale and then our crossing to Nassau.
After many days in Vero(Velcro) Beach and spending a nice Christmas there, we dropped our mooring ball on a bright, crisp, cold Tuesday morning to begin our trip to Ft. Lauderdale. We said goodbye to our new friends, Ann, and her puppy, Lucy on Bees Knees. It was nice for us to be moving again. We anchored that evening in a beautiful anchorage in Hobe sound. It was a really nice evening even though still a little chilly. We noticed on the way to the anchorage a pillar of smoke rising over the horizon and couldn't imagine what was causing it. When we got our anchor down, the smoke seemed to be all around us with still no idea as to what was the cause. The direction of the wind kept the smell and smoke from bothering us until the next morning when it changed. We woke to being engulfed in the smoke, smell and all! It was really uncomfortable but as we pulled our anchor it seemed to be lifting somewhat. We were later to find out that it was a pretty massive wild fire that damaged about half a golf course and many other acres of land between Vero and West Palm Beach. Luckily, none was hurt.
On to our next stop, Lake Worth. It didn't take much for me to talk the captain into going into a Marina for a night or two. After being on the mooring ball and at anchor for more than a month, the boat needed a good bath as well as a good drying out down below. Oh, the condensation really builds up from being on the water and the really cold nights with temperatures in the 20's! So we all welcomed the shore power which meant we could run the heat and humidifier for a night or two. Our friend, Ann, had suggested Old Port Cove Marina at Lake Worth as a great place to tie up and enjoy the more modern conveniences, such as electricity and stepping onto the dock rather than crawling off the stern of the boat into the dinghy. The old knees would certainly enjoy the break. Magic was also happy to be able to lie on the bow of the boat while garnering all the attention from folks walking down the docks, Ann was right. This was a great marina with the nicest people working and living there.
While walking the docks and enjoying the mild temperatures, I noticed a boat named "Lady Anne" from High Point, my hometown. It was a large motor vessel, at least 75 feet if not bigger. It became my mission to find out who owned it and if I possibly new them from my younger years. While taking Magic for a walk, I noticed a guy loading a truck with a NC licence plate. I walked up to him and introduced myself. His name was Warren Winchester from none other than Minnesott Beach right across the Neuse river from Matthews Point. It is really a small world. As we continued to talk, I learned that he was the Captain for Lady Anne. I told him I was from High Point and had seen the boat. He said, "well the owners are from High Point. They are the Vann Yorks". I could not believe it! They were my across the street neighbors when I lived on Brighton Avenue with mother and my step father. We continued talking about cruising and crossing to the Bahamas. He has been cruising the Islands since l986 and willingly shared his experiences with us. WOW! What a neat and unexpected happening. You truly never know who you will meet on the way!
After a thoroughly enjoyable stay at Old Port Cove, we continued our journey to Ft. Lauderdale on New Year's Eve. What is interesting, exciting, and a little daunting about this stretch of the waterway are the 28 bridges. the often narrow concrete-lined waterway and the heavy boat traffic, especially on Holidays and weekends. Did I mention that this was New Year's Eve and a Friday too?! Oh, well! It was a beautiful and warm day on the water so we just sat back and prepared to enjoy the ride. What was to follow was awesome, somewhat tedious and a little nerve wracking at times. To say it was crowded with lots of boat traffic is an understatement. However, Buck and I both commented that it could have been worse! We really had only one snag along the way. That happened at the Hillsboro Bridge around
4:30 in the afternoon. The bridge tender, bless his heart, lost control of the traffic and literally could not stop the cars going across the bridge. It was bumper to bumper with cars across the bridge and even with his red lights flashing they wouldn't stop. Eventually with a lot of "assistance" and many unkind words from some of the boaters around us and with his supervisor stepping in to help, the police were called in to stop the traffic so the bridge could open and thus alleviating the boat jam on the ICW
What can I say about Ft. Lauderdale is that I have never in my whole life seen so many big, mega houses and yachts! Over the next couple of days, we saw homes and yachts owned by famous athletes, Hollywood Stars, and other big-time billionaire business owners and corporations. It was truly spectacular. Something you want to see once in your life! Just like navigating the bridges, that was a great experience once!!! One home was a 28,000 square foot home with 2 people living in it. I'm sure they could go for days, maybe even weeks, and never see each other.
We anchored in Middle River with Vic and GiGi. We would wait for our weather window to cross to the Bahamas. Our good friend, Galen was coming on Monday to cross with us. We are really looking forward to having him on board with us and thank his family for allowing him to come to cross with us!
I talked briefly about our crossing on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1/4and 1/5/2011 in my last short post. I will say again that it was just spectacular being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, especially during the night! There really is nothing in my life that I can compare it to. I stayed on alert the whole 28 hours looking at every thing in sight and listening to every sound! We arrived in Nassau Harbor to a glorious blue sky with warm temperatures. Checking in with Customs went pretty quickly and we were ready to clean-up, both the boat and us, and head to dinner before making it an early evening. I don't think the 3 adults on the Victoria Gaye got much sleep during the crossing. However, I can't say the same for Magic. He seemed to sleep just fine with his life jacket on. He acted as if he were on his pillow at home in front of the fire. Crossing the ocean for the first time did not seem to phase him in the least!
We used our stay in Nassau to do any last minute provisioning since we had a very nice City Market right across the street from our Marina. Buck and I both were pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of the city and the kindness of its people - at least those we came in contact with. We also enjoyed meeting and having dinner with William and Frances on Yacht Alexia. They are from London which made for a very interesting evening of sharing stories of our past boating experiences.
Another addition to our increasingly long list of "its a small world" happened when we met Bob and Vicki Edelkamp on the S/V First Look. Vic and GiGi had met them on a previous trip to the Bahamas. First Look is an Offshore 40. Upon seeing the boat, we recognized it immediately. We knew her when she lived on the Pamlico River in North Carolina. Her owner was George Parrish and her name at the time was Wahoo. During the late 1980's and early 1990's, Buck raced with George on the Wahoo as well as against her during our racing days in Bath, N.C. Again, what a small, small world. It was really neat to sit in the cockpit with our friends Vic and GiGi and now our new friends, Bob and Vicki, and just relive those days and those long ago friends on the Wahoo! Sharing these memories was such a special, special evening for both Buck and I!
We left Nassau Harbor Marina at 9:00 on Tuesday, January 11 for the Exumas. I can't tell you how long we have dreamed of this day! When we arrived at Allan's Cay, it was like "we finally made it"!!! All the hard work and efforts over the last 30 years were definitely worth it. To see the look on Buck's face was just priceless! To punctuate the arrival, we were to be treated to the most glorious sunset I think either of us have ever seen! What a journey thus far and to think that in many ways it is just beginning. Vic keeps saying we haven't seen anything yet as far as the beauty of the different Islands in the Exuma Chain.
I apologize that this post is so long but internet accessibility can be very limited so I will post when I can get it. It can be slow so posting pictures may or may not be a possibility.
Until next time,
Fair winds!
Vicki, Buck and Magic
Lake Worth to Ft. Lauderdale - Friday 12/31/10
Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas - Tuesday to Wednesday 1/4-5/2011
We are finally in the Bahamas! Actually, we are finally in the Exumas working our way down the Exuma Chain of Islands. What beauty all around us! I have never seen water so beautiful and clear except in Bequia a Caribbean Island in the Grenadines. Let me back up and share with you our trip from Vero Beach to Ft. Lauderdale and then our crossing to Nassau.
After many days in Vero(Velcro) Beach and spending a nice Christmas there, we dropped our mooring ball on a bright, crisp, cold Tuesday morning to begin our trip to Ft. Lauderdale. We said goodbye to our new friends, Ann, and her puppy, Lucy on Bees Knees. It was nice for us to be moving again. We anchored that evening in a beautiful anchorage in Hobe sound. It was a really nice evening even though still a little chilly. We noticed on the way to the anchorage a pillar of smoke rising over the horizon and couldn't imagine what was causing it. When we got our anchor down, the smoke seemed to be all around us with still no idea as to what was the cause. The direction of the wind kept the smell and smoke from bothering us until the next morning when it changed. We woke to being engulfed in the smoke, smell and all! It was really uncomfortable but as we pulled our anchor it seemed to be lifting somewhat. We were later to find out that it was a pretty massive wild fire that damaged about half a golf course and many other acres of land between Vero and West Palm Beach. Luckily, none was hurt.
On to our next stop, Lake Worth. It didn't take much for me to talk the captain into going into a Marina for a night or two. After being on the mooring ball and at anchor for more than a month, the boat needed a good bath as well as a good drying out down below. Oh, the condensation really builds up from being on the water and the really cold nights with temperatures in the 20's! So we all welcomed the shore power which meant we could run the heat and humidifier for a night or two. Our friend, Ann, had suggested Old Port Cove Marina at Lake Worth as a great place to tie up and enjoy the more modern conveniences, such as electricity and stepping onto the dock rather than crawling off the stern of the boat into the dinghy. The old knees would certainly enjoy the break. Magic was also happy to be able to lie on the bow of the boat while garnering all the attention from folks walking down the docks, Ann was right. This was a great marina with the nicest people working and living there.
While walking the docks and enjoying the mild temperatures, I noticed a boat named "Lady Anne" from High Point, my hometown. It was a large motor vessel, at least 75 feet if not bigger. It became my mission to find out who owned it and if I possibly new them from my younger years. While taking Magic for a walk, I noticed a guy loading a truck with a NC licence plate. I walked up to him and introduced myself. His name was Warren Winchester from none other than Minnesott Beach right across the Neuse river from Matthews Point. It is really a small world. As we continued to talk, I learned that he was the Captain for Lady Anne. I told him I was from High Point and had seen the boat. He said, "well the owners are from High Point. They are the Vann Yorks". I could not believe it! They were my across the street neighbors when I lived on Brighton Avenue with mother and my step father. We continued talking about cruising and crossing to the Bahamas. He has been cruising the Islands since l986 and willingly shared his experiences with us. WOW! What a neat and unexpected happening. You truly never know who you will meet on the way!
After a thoroughly enjoyable stay at Old Port Cove, we continued our journey to Ft. Lauderdale on New Year's Eve. What is interesting, exciting, and a little daunting about this stretch of the waterway are the 28 bridges. the often narrow concrete-lined waterway and the heavy boat traffic, especially on Holidays and weekends. Did I mention that this was New Year's Eve and a Friday too?! Oh, well! It was a beautiful and warm day on the water so we just sat back and prepared to enjoy the ride. What was to follow was awesome, somewhat tedious and a little nerve wracking at times. To say it was crowded with lots of boat traffic is an understatement. However, Buck and I both commented that it could have been worse! We really had only one snag along the way. That happened at the Hillsboro Bridge around
4:30 in the afternoon. The bridge tender, bless his heart, lost control of the traffic and literally could not stop the cars going across the bridge. It was bumper to bumper with cars across the bridge and even with his red lights flashing they wouldn't stop. Eventually with a lot of "assistance" and many unkind words from some of the boaters around us and with his supervisor stepping in to help, the police were called in to stop the traffic so the bridge could open and thus alleviating the boat jam on the ICW
What can I say about Ft. Lauderdale is that I have never in my whole life seen so many big, mega houses and yachts! Over the next couple of days, we saw homes and yachts owned by famous athletes, Hollywood Stars, and other big-time billionaire business owners and corporations. It was truly spectacular. Something you want to see once in your life! Just like navigating the bridges, that was a great experience once!!! One home was a 28,000 square foot home with 2 people living in it. I'm sure they could go for days, maybe even weeks, and never see each other.
We anchored in Middle River with Vic and GiGi. We would wait for our weather window to cross to the Bahamas. Our good friend, Galen was coming on Monday to cross with us. We are really looking forward to having him on board with us and thank his family for allowing him to come to cross with us!
I talked briefly about our crossing on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1/4and 1/5/2011 in my last short post. I will say again that it was just spectacular being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, especially during the night! There really is nothing in my life that I can compare it to. I stayed on alert the whole 28 hours looking at every thing in sight and listening to every sound! We arrived in Nassau Harbor to a glorious blue sky with warm temperatures. Checking in with Customs went pretty quickly and we were ready to clean-up, both the boat and us, and head to dinner before making it an early evening. I don't think the 3 adults on the Victoria Gaye got much sleep during the crossing. However, I can't say the same for Magic. He seemed to sleep just fine with his life jacket on. He acted as if he were on his pillow at home in front of the fire. Crossing the ocean for the first time did not seem to phase him in the least!
We used our stay in Nassau to do any last minute provisioning since we had a very nice City Market right across the street from our Marina. Buck and I both were pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of the city and the kindness of its people - at least those we came in contact with. We also enjoyed meeting and having dinner with William and Frances on Yacht Alexia. They are from London which made for a very interesting evening of sharing stories of our past boating experiences.
Another addition to our increasingly long list of "its a small world" happened when we met Bob and Vicki Edelkamp on the S/V First Look. Vic and GiGi had met them on a previous trip to the Bahamas. First Look is an Offshore 40. Upon seeing the boat, we recognized it immediately. We knew her when she lived on the Pamlico River in North Carolina. Her owner was George Parrish and her name at the time was Wahoo. During the late 1980's and early 1990's, Buck raced with George on the Wahoo as well as against her during our racing days in Bath, N.C. Again, what a small, small world. It was really neat to sit in the cockpit with our friends Vic and GiGi and now our new friends, Bob and Vicki, and just relive those days and those long ago friends on the Wahoo! Sharing these memories was such a special, special evening for both Buck and I!
We left Nassau Harbor Marina at 9:00 on Tuesday, January 11 for the Exumas. I can't tell you how long we have dreamed of this day! When we arrived at Allan's Cay, it was like "we finally made it"!!! All the hard work and efforts over the last 30 years were definitely worth it. To see the look on Buck's face was just priceless! To punctuate the arrival, we were to be treated to the most glorious sunset I think either of us have ever seen! What a journey thus far and to think that in many ways it is just beginning. Vic keeps saying we haven't seen anything yet as far as the beauty of the different Islands in the Exuma Chain.
I apologize that this post is so long but internet accessibility can be very limited so I will post when I can get it. It can be slow so posting pictures may or may not be a possibility.
Until next time,
Fair winds!
Vicki, Buck and Magic
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Finally Here and Happy New Year!
Yes, we are finally in the Bahamas! I have been trying to enter a post for several days now but one of the things we have been dealing with in entering a new country is connecting with their internet service. Even though we are in Nassau until 9:00 this morning, we have not been able to get on internet on our boat. Thus, I have been walking to Starbucks, only across the street, buying a cup of coffee, and receiving an hour of internet usage. Hard life but someone has to do it!!! The crossing last Tuesday was a little rough with 6ft. swells that none of our weather reports predicted. It did settle down and we ended with a beautiful crossing. The sunrise Wednesday morning was as beautiful as I have ever seen. There is really something to say about being in the middle of the ocean. You are truly one with nature! I thought I may be a little nervous since this was my first overnight experience in the ocean, but I felt very comfortable with the boat, the Captain(of course), and the crew! Galen was great crew and we really did appreciate him being there to experience this with us! Magic really loved having another person on board! Speaking of Magic, he has been awesome and really been a trooper! I think he really likes this life and has just adapted so well. That's what English Cockers do!
This is going to be short because I don't want the others waiting for me. I will post again as soon as I can get internet down the way. I have so much to share about our final days in the US and our stay in Nassau. Have taken some good photos too that I will share.
So for now, we are off to Allen's Cay for snorkeling and then on down the Exuma chain!
Until next time -
Fair winds!
Vicki, Buck, and Magic
This is going to be short because I don't want the others waiting for me. I will post again as soon as I can get internet down the way. I have so much to share about our final days in the US and our stay in Nassau. Have taken some good photos too that I will share.
So for now, we are off to Allen's Cay for snorkeling and then on down the Exuma chain!
Until next time -
Fair winds!
Vicki, Buck, and Magic
Friday, December 24, 2010
Still - Vero Beach
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
Saturday, December 11, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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
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
Saturday, November 6, 2010
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Robert Ruark House
Captain Thompson's House
Our Southport Friend, Robert, on his boat