New Years Eve in New Smyrna Beach

Time to put on the provisions. Larry using the little red wagon helps to carry all the food and essentials needed.

We are getting together with our friends Charlie and Cindy, for dinner at their condo. We will be lucky if we are awake till midnight. I can assure you we won't make it. Next year!

At Anchor in Daytona

The picture is of the boats that are at anchor tonight with us. This is our first time anchoring since September. It feels good to be warm enough not to worry about being warm.

St. Augustine, Florida

The picture is of the entrance to Old Augustine Village. The village has about 9 restored homes of which 7 are open to tour.

The city of St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the US. It was founded in 1565 as a Spanish military outpost. This city is beautiful with buildings dating back to the early 1700's.

We arrived here at about 1:30 and went out on foot to tour the city. We definitely will stop for a longer stay in the Spring. There was so much to see it will take at least three days to take it all in.

Mayport, Florida Yeah!

We made it! Florida or bust! We are in the town of Mayport today. We pulled in about 8:30 AM. We decided during the wee hours of this morning to add about 30 miles to our trip. We made terrific time, as terrific as you can on a sailboat. The original plan was to pull into St. Mary's, GA. When were arrived at her channel it was still dark and we didn't want to play tag with the freighters going up the channel. We felt what's 30 more miles when you have been up all night. It worked out well. It was just daybreak when we arrived at Mayport's channel. We could hear on the VHF radio that there was fog. We couldn't see it at least not off shore. When we came up the channel we saw what they were saying. It didn't last long and was only thick in one spot. We arrived safely at Jacksonville Marina.

This is a fishing village and as you can see in the picture has many resident pelicans. They tend to perch themselves every where.

Well we haven't had many hours of sleep and a nap this afternoon just wasn't enough. I keep making typos and it is time to get some much needed sleep.

Off Shore in the Atlantic

This morning we pulled away from the dock at about 8:30 AM. We had a swing bridge that we needed to wait for the first opening at 9 AM. We cleared the bridge and were under way. We traveled the ICW for about 2 hours then we were able to enter the Atlantic Ocean at Port Royal Sound.

Doing an over night was not exactly what I was looking forward to. It reminded me of the many overnight Scotch Bonnet Light races we did. Sailing friends of ours, Rich and Julie can relate. The night portion of it can chill you to the bone. I sucked it up and did it anyway.

The ship in the picture was one of several encounters we had. During the day when you can see them is ok but at night when all you can see is a lighted city block coming at you and your not sure of the direction. Well all I can say is it is over and I'm glad.

We traveled 130 miles, which equaled about 3 days in the ICW. During the night I reflected on the many 24 hour trips straight through the night to Florida by land yacht. It amazes me by boat 130 miles and 26 hours, by car 1400 miles and 24 hours, you do the math.

Relaxing After Christmas

We decided to hang out at Lady's Island Marina today. The weather was not conducive for travel off shore in the Atlantic. The wind was blowing 35 to 40 knots and the waves were 3 to 4 feet and building. Good choice.

We invited Joe the marina manager and his wife Candie for dinner aboard our boat. We enjoyed listening to their trips to the Bahamas and looking at their pictures. They have lived aboard their boat for about 6 years. They say they don't know what the next 6 will bring. It's great to have options.

We are planning to leave early tomorrow morning. We will be going off shore for an overnight. Weather permitting.

Christmas Day on Ladies Island

It was raining this morning but the clouds broke way for the sun to shine. It was warm and beautiful the rest of the day.

This is Daisy the resident dog. She is at the moment a lap dog posing with George waiting to have her picture taken. They joined about 14 of us boaters for a Christmas feast. We had turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. We gathered about 1 PM and broke up about 3 PM. It was enjoyable to exchange our stories.

We are going to attempt to go the theatre this evening. When we got there last night there was a sign saying they were closed. The sign that gave holiday hours said different. Well we'll try again. The dockmaster and his wife also came over to the theatre. They gave us a ride to check out church times for today. When we got to the Catholic Church they were just getting ready for a service at 7 PM. We stayed and to our delight we were treated to extraordinary music. They had a small symphony and two singers that were wonderful. All worked out for the best. Our walk back was dry unlike what it would have been this morning.

Christmas Eve in Beaufort, SC

This is Kristen and Wilbur our personal tour guides of historic Beaufort, SC. They gave us a carriage ride for approximately an hour with a narrated history of the town and many houses dating back to late 1700's. Kristen was very pleasant, informative and interesting. Wilbur was very entertaining as he would wander off the path while walking. Kristen says he was being nosier than usual. Kristen tells us one day he wandered too the sidewalk where a woman was carrying a loaf of bread. Wilbur is a retired plow horse from amiss country. He is ten years old and will work as a guide horse for ten more years then be put to pasture. No glue factory for him. Kristen is a third generation resident here in Beaufort and says as long as her mom lives here so will she.

After our one and a half mile walk back, we went to the store to gather a few items for the dinner among the boater here tomorrow. We are going to take in a movie at the theatre across the road tonight. Then we will turn in early so Santa can come visit us.

Our Day at Ladies Island Marina

The picture gives some idea of the tidal range here. This is not complete low tide but close to it. I find it amazing how the water can be deep then shallow all in a matter of a few hours. It's great when the docks are floating, no need to adjust dock lines to compensate for the change. The reflection on the water makes for some difficulty knowing where the water mark truly is but it you look close you can make it out.

I did do laundry and groceries today. Larry got a ride to the marine store to buy 50 feet of chain for our anchor. Now that we have that it will make anchoring more comfortable in high winds. Not that we plan to anchor in high wind but you never know what will come up during the night.

Tomorrow we plan to go into historic Beaufort and spend Christmas Eve day browsing the shops.

Ladies Island, Beaufort, SC

The picture is of sunrise this morning. Sunrise was at 7:18 AM. I know because we were well under way by that time.

I attempted to get a picture of the amazing tidal range here but it was not quite light enough before 7 AM. Low tide right now is after dark and before dawn. The tidal range were we are tonight is 7 1/2 feet. Thank you for floating docks, otherwise I would need a very long ladder.

We are in Ladies Island Marina and will stay put for Christmas. Tomorrow we will hang out and do laundry, a necessary evil for air quality aboard the boat.

Christmas Eve we plan to walk across the bridge to Historic Beaufort, SC and spend the day shopping in the little shops. We'll look for a church to attend service. I'm sure we won't have trouble finding one they seem to be in abundance here in the south.

Christmas day we have been invited to a dinner with other boaters here at Ladies Island Marina. It won't be like being with our family but I'm sure it will be nice to share the festivities with others.

Charleston

Today we saw several dolphins close to the boat. I was able to get a picture of two rising out of the water. They are much clearer on my computer screen but it was worth a shot. I will get a better picture, someday.

Tonight we are just south of Charleston, SC. We will have a long day tomorrow. We plan to be in Beaufort, SC and stay for the Christmas Holiday. There is more to see within walking distance than the marina outside Savannah, Ga.

This morning it didn't look promising for the weather but by 10 AM the sun came out and it was very warm inside the enclosure. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same. They are calling for a freezing frost tonight. Sure glad we have power for heat. Of course 6:30 Am will still be cold.

Isle of Palms, SC

We pulled away from the dock about 8 AM this morning. We traveled about 60 miles today. The sun was shining and it began to warm up shortly after we were underway.

The picture was from a distance but you can make out that the trees are palms. They are growing out in the middle of no where. I got excited because I figure it must mean we are getting to warmer weather!

Several dolphins swam by the boat teasing me to take their picture but they just won't hold a pose. I've been trying to photograph them not only this trip but also when we chartered a sailboat in Florida in the Spring. Someday I'll succeed and you'll be the first to see my success.

We are in Isle of Palms Marina tonight. It is on the Isle of Palms barrier Island off the coast of South Carolina. Isle of Palms is a small community but a growing one. The population quadruples in the height of the summer season. The waiter in the restaurant tells us the water on the whole Island is filtered by reverse osmosis and that they have several health food stores. The literature I've read also shows that there is plenty to do here. This sounds like a great place to stop back and visit for a while in warmer weather.

Georgetown, SC

Today we stayed in Georgetown. We cleaned the boat and in the afternoon walked into town. I needed to send Christmas packages and Larry is still looking for an alcohol heater. I was successful but Larry wasn't.

Georgetown is an historic old town with many old homes, museums and quaint shops. It was very pretty all dressed up for the Holidays. It was late when we walked back so we got to see the lights on. When we arrived last night we also walked into town and found only one or two places open. It is unusual to find places closed on Sunday but to find a whole town closed was amazing.

The sun was shining today and it was quite pleasant. The forecast is sun for a few days to come but the rain will return by the weekend.

Georgetown, SC - The Boat Shed Marina

Duck hunting is serious business in the south. Larry explained that the camouflaged boat is called a duck blind. OK. I thought it looked more like military maneuvers.

Today was cold, wet and miserable or was that me. We were very glad to get off the water, well at least to shore. My Captain promised warm weather when we reached South Carolina. I don't think he gave me the straight facts. We are in SC but its not warm today. Don't get me wrong for all of you that stayed behind in the snow, I'm not being ungrateful believe me. It is nice not to shovel the white stuff but I am looking forward to wearing shorts again.

This segment of the ICW the guide book tells us is the most scenic with the moss covered trees that line the banks. Unfortunately the rain made it impossible to get a good picture or to see and enjoy it. We'll have to make sure we have a good day when we return.

Myrtle Beach - Marina at Grand Dunes

The picture is of a pontoon bridge. After it disconnects from the road it motors over to a dock! It was the first of it's kind that we have come across. It was very interesting to watch it work.

Today we didn't get as far as we planned the current was against us. We stayed overnight at Marina at Grand Dunes. It will be a very large complex when it is finished, complete with stores, hotel, restaurant and golf course. I am amazed at the construction in this area, condos everywhere.

Our day in Southport

We stayed today and took a cab into the town of Southport, NC. The town is a quaint, historic town with many shops. We shopped for a few Christmas gifts and had lunch. The sun was shining and it was about 50 degrees, a pleasant change from yesterday.

The picture was taken from the boat at the marina. The center building is the Italian restaurant we ate at last night.

We plan to leave about 8 AM tomorrow morning and will travel about 50 miles. At that point we will be in South Carolina and hopefully warmer weather.

Traveling to Southport, NC

The picture is of us coming along side of a barge being pushed by a tug. As you can see there isn't a great deal of room for this, too close for my comfort.

The weather was rain, clouds, wind and it was dark like night time.

The marina we called first could not accommodate us because of the 4' 11" draft of our boat. We traveled a mile further to Southport Harbor Marina. There isn't much here at the marina but there is and excellent Italian restaurant.

Our Day in Masonboro Marina

The houses you see in the picture are floating! They are year round homes to the folks that live in them. There were several at this Marina. They come complete with a basement, some had vaulted ceilings.

We had our 50 hour engine check and are ready to travel closer to warm weather. The plan is to leave before low tide tomorrow. There is a sand bar at the entrance, we will need at least 5 feet of water over it to get out of the marina.

We spent part of the day with Serry and Jim. We went to lunch and to do some shopping. In the evening we were able to sit in the lounge and visit and plan the next days travel.

Masonboro, NC

We had a short day today. Our destination was only 15 miles from were we spent the night. We are getting our 50 hour warranty check on our engine tomorrow. We will stay the day and continue our trip on Thursday.

The picture at the left is the Rightsville bridge and the first boat coming through is our friends on Usquaebach. We have been traveling with them on and off since Elizabeth City.

Harbor Village Marina, Hampstead, NC

The picture was taken at Onslow Beach Bridge in Camp LeJeune. The sailboat in the picture is Evening Star, Sherry and Jim our traveling buddies.

We were under way by 9 AM this morning. It was nice not to rush. Our trip was not as long as the previous days. Planning each day is important because of bridge openings and short days. With the low water levels due to silting it would be impossible to travel at night. We are looking at going outside the ICW to the ocean to gain time. The weather will determine what we are able to do.

We have seen many dolphins, pelicans and herons here in the ICW. Today we saw amphibious tanks, carrier helicopters, it was interesting taking the route through Camp LeJeune. Sometimes they are having target practice across the water and the ICW is closed. We were lucky that wasn't the case.

Swansboro, NC

One of those amazing sunsets. There were travelers stopping to take pictures of this sunset tonight.

We left Oriental at approximately 8 Am this morning. It was very cold the sun was blocked by a haze of clouds. It finally warmed up about noon.

As we traveled down the ICW (Inner Coastal Water Way) I was in awe of the beauty of nature even with the onset of the winter season. The picture in this post is testimony to what I have seen. I have heard some sailors say they think the ICW is boring. I have found it to be anything but.

We are still traveling with Jim and Sherry. They like ourselves are first timers to this trip. We plan to continue on tomorrow and cover about 50 miles again.

We were pleasantly surprised to catch up with some of our other fellow travelers. Don, Yvonne and Bill are on their way to Honduras. Don and Yvonne have purchased property there and will make it there home. It will be great to visit them in Honduras one day. Don, Yvonne and Bill are testament to the generosity of the fellow travelers we have met. When we were in Elizabeth City they were running a generator and we had no heat, they gave us an extension cord to plug our electric heater into. It was great to be warm.

Oriental

We were under way around 8 AM this morning. The sun was shining and it became very warm in our enclosure. We had a good trip and arrived in Oriental, NC around 3:30 PM this afternoon. There was a Christmas parade and celebration happening in town today. As you can see by the photo everyone gets into the spirit. Santa is lounging on a hammock aboard a sailboat. This was our second parade, we also watched one in Elizabeth City. We have never been to a Christmas parade and this is two in one week.

It does seen strange without snow but we don't mind. We are looking forward to getting further South for more warmth.

Our Second Day in Belhaven

We did take the golf cart to Food Lion grocery store. The best part we made it back before the battery went ran out of juice. I'm amazed how many golf carts are licensed and driven on the roads in the south.

We checked out the town and had lunch at Wine and Words. It was so delectable that we made a reservation for dinner with two other couples that evening. Here we are at dinner in the photo. From left to right, Gail, Larry, Sara, Monty, Jim and Sherry. We had a wonderful meal and enjoyed the company of our friends and the folks at Wine and Words. We will definitely stop in again.

We have met many people like ourselves traveling South and living on their boats some part time and some full time. We have been pleasantly surprised to have company, getting a late start from Deltaville we thought we would be all alone!

Our Day in Belhaven

What a great place to be hold up! Everyone here has been a delight to talk with. We have enjoyed our day here in Belhaven and look forward to exploring the village tomorrow.

Even though our boat has been given a clean bill of health we will be staying on another day. The weather is supposed to take a turn for the worst. Even though we chose to name our boat the Gale Winds we do not enjoy being on the water in a gale.

We have been told the golf carts here are available for our use. We will bundle up tomorrow and go to Food Lion for supplies and also check out the shops in the village.

The Manor House here at the marina has a superb restaurant and an Inn for travelers to stay over night. They are in full swing for Christmas with all the decorations. One can't help getting into the spirit just being here!

Rescued at Belhaven, NC

Who said unlimited towing isn't worth it? Here we are being towed by Tow Boat US after having our engine blow a fuel hose. The saying goes it's not if you'll go a ground but when you'll go a ground. I don't know if there is a saying for engine trouble but I guess it ranks up there with going a ground.

Fortunately we were just out side the channel. This was one of those times I'm glad we have a sailboat. Instead of dropping an anchor we traversed the channel till a tow boat came.

Alligator River Marina

We pulled into Alligator River Marina for the night and happy we did. Having heat is a good thing. The laundry and hot shower was also an added plus.

The next morning we woke to ice on our deck and canvas. I don't know what we are still doing here! Warm weather here we come!

We arrived inElizabeth City, NC on Friday December 2. Elizabeth City is at the end of the Dismal swamp or the beginning depending on what way you are headed, North or South. We are waiting here for our mail to arrive from our mail service and now the weather is supposed to take a turn for the worse until Wednesday. We may be here for a few more days. When we do leave, we will be crosssing the Albermarle Sound. We acrossed the sound in October when we visited our daughter Patience in the Outer Banks. The Albermarle is very shallow and when the wind is blowing it can get very rough. Fortunately we did not see that side of her on our two other crossings. We're not looking to change that.
The picture is of the First Mates as we recieved our rose at the wine and cheese party. This tradition is presented by the Rose Buddies when 5 or more boats arrive and tie up at the town docks. There was a shortage of roses, as you can see we were presented with a cotton bud instead.

We arrived at the Visitors Center on the Dismal Swamp about 3 PM, Thursday December 1. We tied up on the wall and spent the night. This visitors center was like the ones on the Thruway and was shared by the auto traffic on RT# 17 and the boat traffic on the canal. Riding down the canal was like stepping back in time. It reminded me some of the movie Deliverance but that's another story. We thought we would be the only boat going south this late in the year. It is amazing how many are still in transit. The weather has put many delays on the ability to move.