We're In Deltaville, VA

We arrived here in Deltaville two weeks ago this coming Sunday. We then drove to Rochester, NY for a week visit with our Children and Grandchildren. I think it's time to relax but that won't happen we both are starting to work. It's been a long journey but we are finally stopping for a break.

It's been difficult getting an Internet connection so it's been a long time since I updated the blog. I will keep things up to date periodically during the Summer.

The picture of the freighter is one I took coming out of Norfolk, Va. We passed him as he was being towed out the water way by two tugs and he passed us once he was under way on his own power. You realize how big they are once you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with them.















It's rare to get a picture of a lighthouse with it's light. The light rotates around to give a flash for warning boats of a shoal or out cropping of land. I felt privileged to get this shot of the light house in Hampton Roads, VA as we entered the Chesapeake at dawn.
















This was sunrise as we entered the Chesapeake for our days journey to Deltaville. It was not going to be a long trip but the weather was to turn for the worse later in the day. We were glad we left so early because the weather didn't wait for afternoon. We were seeing 30 knot winds around 10:30 AM. We were both glad to be docked before the worst of it hit. Fortunately it only lasted until evening.

Water Pump Problems Again!

As you can see from the picture of the Socastee Bridge we are traveling on the ICW. The weather took a turn for the worse and as not to sit still we took the inside route.

We left Charleston, SC on Saturday and were chased by thunderstorms into Georgetown, SC. We left Georgetown, SC and were chased by Thunderstorms again in the morning. We arrived in Myrtle Beach, SC with the threats of Gale Force Winds and possible Tornadoes. The weather is just not cooperating.

Sunday after a very nice Mothers Day dinner we came back to water running from our engines water pump. Larry shut off the water intake so we didn't sink. We couldn't do anything about it at this late of hour on a Sunday so we went to bed. Monday morning Larry called a Yanmar dealer in Charleston and he tracked down a new pump and over night shipped it to us.

It's Bike Week here in Myrtle Beach so we walked across the bridge (not the one in the picture) and took in the sights as well as browsing the booths. I guess if we had to be stuck for a few days this was as good a spot as any.

This morning we both did some chores on the boat while we waited for our pump. It arrived and took Larry no time at all to install. Were as good as new. This time for sure!

We decided to stay for the rest of the day and leave early tomorrow morning. We will go to Rightstville Beach if the current allows us. If it doesn't we will go to Southport. The weather has calmed down and we plan to go outside for a day sail to Beaufort, NC Wednesday. That trip outside will help us to catch up on one of our lost days.

Back in the USA!

Well after five tries for pictures and no success, we're going to do this without them. I had some good ones, but another time.

We are in Charleston, SC today. It's been a long journey from the Bahamas and we have many ocean miles under our keel. We left West End, Grand Bahama on Saturday May 3 around 6:30 in the AM. We had an uncomfortable ride across the Gulf Stream. The seas were large and the wind was following, which didn't give us enough speed with sail alone. We were under motor with our jib out. About 15 miles out our engine alarm came on and after some investigation on Larry's part he changed the water pump impeller. I had the job of attempting to keep the boat on course and as steady as possible while he worked. We were traveling with two other boats, Kalina and Interlude. We were all close together until the water pump fix. We all arrived in Fort Pierce within a half hour of each other around 7:30 PM. It felt good to put our feet on land and stop rocking from side to side.

The next morning Larry and I set out for an overnight up the coast to St. Augustine. It was a long night and day but not a rough one. We met up with friends in St Augustine that we had met in Marathon. We arrived on Monday and stayed Tuesday. Wednesday morning we set out for another overnight to Charleston, SC. This trip was another rocky ride not quite as bad as across the stream but we got very little sleep. We were traveling with our friends and they bailed out at Port Royal and traveled the inside until dark yesterday. We arrived in Charleston around 4:00 PM and at the dock in the City Marina around 5PM slack tide. The currents here are strong and trying to dock can be challenging. The winds had built like predicted and we decided we would like to get a good nights sleep and it was more likely to happen secure at a dock.

Our friends arrived here this afternoon but we were not able to link up. Larry and I went into the city to enjoy dinner and the sights. This certainly is a beautiful city. We are planning to stay a few days on our return trip South in the Fall.

Our plans were to do one more over night but the weather is not going to allow us to do that so we will take the inside route for the next 10 days and be in Deltaville by the 19 th of May.