May 31, 2014
We’re up early and already the northerly breeze is kicking up. Not what we want since we are traveling the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers today. Northerly winds make for a lumpy ride. The humidity and temperature is low and I am again wearing a sweatshirt and shorts.

We get to do some motor sailing and it helps our overall speed. As the morning wears on, the winds increase, waves build and our discomfort increases. As we reach the turning mark and enter the Bay River our sailing ends for a while. As the Bay River narrows and becomes enclosed by riverside forests, the waters calm until we cross the Pamlico River. It’s a bumpy ride across.

We reach the Pungo River and are near our destination, Dowry Creek Marina. We are running low on diesel in our main tank and I have emptied the jerry cans a couple of days ago. We arrive as the winds peak for the day. Cross winds at the fuel dock…fun, fun.

We dock portside to and are immediately pinned to the dock. We refuel, fill the jerry cans, and after four attempts manage to perform a pumpout. Then with the help of the staff, we were able to get away from the dock and move to a slip, again fighting a very strong cross wind.

We have just enough time to square away the boat before the usual Dowry Creek Happy Hour. There were about twenty boaters present and we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Later we showered and retired to the boat for a restful evening.

Start: 0700
Stop: 1530
Distance Traveled: 56 miles
Location: Dowry Creek Marina, Belhaven, NC, MM 131

May 30, 2014
We were up early and I contacted the Marine Range Control to make sure the ICW was not going to be closed due to live fire exercises. Assured there were no scheduled closures, we weighed anchor and was the second boat out of the anchorage. We passed through the Onslow Beach Bridge, the range and headed on toward Swansboro.

The weather turned cloudy, gray and much cooler. I even pulled out a sweatshirt and put it on. Later as light sprinkles set in, the sweatshirt felt even better under a light slicker.

We had planned to stop in Morehead City, but our early arrival caused us to revisit that decision. We decided to save the expense of a marina and continued on toward an anchorage in Cedar Creek.

We bucked a strong tidal current in Core Creek which really slowed our progress. Despite this, we arrived at the Cedar Creek anchorage around 1645. A houseboat and a trawler were already anchored. Later two more sailboats and another trawler joined the group.

We do have a new problem though. The mast head anchor light has decided to stop working. We will use the backup low hanging unit to make it home. No sense climbing the mast if we are just a few days from home.

Start: 0715
Stop: 1645
Distance Traveled: 59 miles
Avg Speed: 6.2 mph
Max Speed: 8.7 mph
Location: Cedar Creek, NC, MM 187
May 29, 2014
We were up early and caught the first scheduled opening of the Wrightsville Bridge. We were able to ride the tide and made good time. Otherwise, the day was a typical ICW day. Leave early, run hard, drop the hook and call it a day.

We arrived at Mile Hammock Bay and were the first boat there. That was unusual. Sailboaters are usually the late arrivals. Trawlers and motor yachts typically get a late start, pass everybody and arrive at the destination first.

We were later joined by 2 more sailboats and 3 trawlers. We all experienced a calm night as the marines were not conducting maneuvers.

Start: 0700
Stop: 1530
Distance Traveled: 39 miles
Location: Mile Hammock Bay, NC, MM 244

May 28, 2014
Boy, what a night. Thunderstorms were all around us on the radar. They finally reached us a little after midnight. There was a lot of heavy rain coming. Thankfully, the temperature dropped before the rain arrived otherwise it would have been miserable inside the boat.

I awoke when the rain started and closed everything up tight. Then I did my usual check for leaks. Satisfied we were ok for the moment; I lay back down and tried to sleep but it was a while in coming. Then about 0230 hrs, a second thunderstorm and rain hit us. This one was more violent and the rains were heavier. More lost sleep!

At 0500 I was awakened by thunder again. This cell seemed to be moving off shore. I’m awake now so it’s make the coffee and get ready to be underway. We need to leave Southport by 0700 so we can ride the tide/current up the Cape Fear River, through Snow’s Cut and over to Carolina Beach.

We don’t plan to travel far as more violent weather is expected anytime from midday to mid-afternoon. There is a fishing tournament going on up at Wrightsville Beach and the marinas are full so we will probably anchor near there. Actually, there aren’t many anchorages between Southport and Morehead City, a distance of over a hundred miles.

We get underway and are really moving at 8+ mph or more running up the river. We reach Carolina Beach and continue on towards Wrightsville following two other sailboats. I call just to see if any slips are available and what do you know, Dockside Marina’s fuel dock is shut down and they say we can tie up there for the night.  

We arrive about 1030 hrs and tie up to the fuel dock. Their pumps are bagged over and a sign says “No Fuel”. Couldn’t get a straight answer about the fuel, but the situation is good for us.

A little after noon, we decided to have lunch at the Dockside Restaurant. We split some BBQ, have a couple of brews and Donna discovers they have Banana Pudding, so we split a desert too. Naturally, after all that, it’s time for a short nap back on the boat.

We spend the rest of the afternoon reading, washing the boat and planning tomorrow’s travels. Oh, BTW, those violent midday storms never materialized. The evening storms look very promising though.

Start: 0710
Stop: 1030
Distance Traveled: 27 miles
Avg Speed: 7.1 mph
Max Speed: 10.3 mph
Location: Dockside Marina, Wrightsville Beach, NC, MM 283
May 27, 2014
The plan is to reach Southport, NC today. There are a couple of trouble spots we have to negotiate, but they were dredged over the winter and reports say these spots are still in good shape. Donna is still under the weather, but she is improving.

We get underway and are immediately presented with two swing bridges that are slow to open. The second bridge operator insists on delaying the opening for over twenty minutes to allow a slow moving vessel a couple of miles back to reach the bridge.

We move on toward the Little River inlet. Here we depart SC and enter NC. We also pick up some wind which allows us to motor sail. We are running hard against the current and the motor sailing helps keep our speed up.

We arrive at Shallotte Inlet just before low tide and pass through with no problems other than white knuckles and a death grip on the wheel and throttle lever. A few miles later we arrive at Lockwood’s Folly Inlet and endure the same kind of passage. Breathing a great sigh, we move on toward Southport. The wind increases steadily and by the time we get there it’s blowing 15-17 and gusting to 23 mph. Docking is a zig-zag course through the marina to get to our assigned slip. Thankfully, there are two dock hands there to grab our lines and get us secured to the dock.

Showers and dinner make both of us feel better. Tomorrow is questionable as there is a weather change coming.

Start: 0800
Stop: 1510
Distance Traveled: 44 miles
Avg Speed: 6.3 mph
Max Speed: 9.2 mph
Location: Southport Marina, Southport, NC, MM 309
May 26, 2014
We’re up before daybreak again. This could turn into a habit. We want to catch the last bit of incoming tide and ride the current up the Waccamaw River to Myrtle Beach. We find plenty of water, depth wise, in the Esterville-Minim cut. We catch a good boost when we enter Winyah Bay and head toward Georgetown.

As we pass Georgetown, cruisers who have overnighted there are heading for the mouth of the Waccamaw. This river is probably some of the most enjoyable part of our entire journey. Being it is Memorial Day, there is lots of boats full of fishermen, jet skis and people out joy riding.

We make good time and decide to pass by the oxbow we anchored in on the trip south. Instead we headed for that crown jewel of rip-off outlet stores, Barefoot Landing.  It appears Donna needs a shopping fix. We arrive in mid-afternoon in just enough time for Donna to have a little shopping time and for me to do a little catch-up work around the boat.

Start: 0610
Stop: 1435
Distance Traveled: 62 miles
Avg Speed: 6.8 mph
Max Speed: 8.9 mph
Location: Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach, SC, MM 353

May 25, 2014
We’re up before daybreak. Coffee gets the system pumping as we prepare to jump on the current and depart. As usual, with no audience, we perform flawlessly. As we enter the channel, we watch the sun rising from behind the aircraft carrier over at Patriot’s Point. What a sight!

We are just ahead of the high tide cycle so we pass through several trouble spots with plenty of water beneath us. On we go, passing the Ben Sawyer Bridge and out into the Cape Romain marshlands. Don't know if you can see it, but that's an eagle sitting on the shore. Double click the photo to enlarge it.
We pass through the McClellanville area “shallows” without even one bump. Nice of the CG and ACOE to let us know there is a shoal here.

We can’t make it to Georgetown without running the Esterville-Minim cut at low water so we decide to anchor in Minim Creek. We are boat number two in the creek. Rose Anna, a Shucker, is a familiar sight from Stuart. We’re in good company.

Location: Minim Creek, near Georgetown, SC, MM 415
Start: 0615
Stop: 1530
Avg Speed: 5.5 mph
Max Speed: 8.4 mph
Distance Traveled: 52.7 miles
May 23-24, 2014


We played tourists for a couple of days. Most importantly, we celebrated our 39th Wedding Anniversary. Unfortunately, Donna has contracted some kind of bug. She’s congested and has a horrible cough.

 
Location: Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston, SC, MM 465

May 22, 2014
Today is the day. Our parts are in and the technician is supposed to be here at nine so Donna heads off on a shopping, site seeing tour.

Nine o’clock means sometime before noon hopefully and it’s about 1015 when the technician arrives. He has the shiny new parts already assembled, but, OH NO…one part is wrong! We have the end mount exhaust elbow and he has brought the side mount type. A quick call to the office and the correct part is on order…be here tomorrow. Just dandy!

The technician, his name is Chris, a nice young fellow, proceeds to remove the defective exhaust successfully. No broken bolts…YEA! He departs, taking the both exhaust assemblies with him. I’m thinking maybe he will try to salvage the old exhaust elbow.

Two hours later I get a call from the Bill, the service manager. They have found the new part we need on one of their service trucks and Chris is being sent back to finish the job. Being a suspicious type, I’m thinking they salvaged my old exhaust elbow, blasted it, painted it and are going to “sell” it back to me as a new part. Happily, I am proven wrong. Chris arrives with both the new and old exhaust assemblies, hands me the old, and then proceeds to install the new.  He has great difficulty installing the new exhaust hose, but finally gets it secured. The engine is cranked and it runs much quieter. We have water flow and no leaks…Woohoo! Chris is the man! Thank you Chris and Bill at the Charleston Boat Yard!

Donna returns with lots of bags, fortunately, they are groceries. We celebrate the engine success and decide to take advantage of the marina’s weekly rate, and essentially stay the next two days for free.

Location: Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston, SC, MM 465

May 21, 2014
We slept in a little, did the coffee routine, took showers and I did a little blog update. We watched a Carnival Cruise pull into the dock a little down the waterfront. It came by the entrance to the marina really close.

Donna wanted to go down to Market Street so we decided to visit Fleet Landing for lunch and then shop the shops nearby. Lunch was so-so. Typical fern bar type food with a view of the river. Ho-hum!

Shopping the old market buildings was also Ho-Hum! There were some unique items, but most were just more made in China stuff. All of it hugely overpriced.

The afternoon had really heated up and neither of us was up for a long walk back, so we boarded the free trolley back to the visitor’s center. It seemed like lots of folks had the same idea. At the center we changed trolleys and headed back to the Maritime marina. Back at the marina, we find new boaters have arrived and we now have neighbors again. We exchange a few pleasantries as they head out to tour the town.

Back on the boat, we relax and then take a nap. It’s a rough life.

Location: Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston, SC, MM 465

May 20, 2014
I’m up early. I make coffee and try to prepare myself mentally for the task of troubleshooting that infernal engine noise. But, the daily chores have to be done first. Empty the trash, fill the water tank, wash down the deck, etc., etc. Then it’s back to the engine problem.

A thorough visual check reveals nothing except a light layer of soot all over everything in the engine compartment. I have two thoughts, a belt or belts wearing excessively or an exhaust leak. I pretty much eliminated the belts yesterday so I start examining the exhaust system. It’s very hard to see in the back of the compartment so I remove the companionway steps, the portside access panel and the starboard side firewall next to the fridge. This allows more light in and gives me better access to the exhaust components. More inspection reveals a soot buildup  and a possible leak where the wet hose attaches to the mixing elbow. To confirm this I start the engine. Sure enough the noise is back and I detect hissing and air movement where the infamous Yanmar coupling joins the exhaust elbow to the mixing elbow. I think we have our problem and it won’t be an easy or cheap fix.


I bring out the repair and parts manuals and the computer for an internet parts search. I find it will take two to three days to get the five parts shipped, about $500 for the parts, express shipping costs plus my labor to fix the problem and that’s if there are no complications.

A call to the local Yanmar service group reveals they would also need to order two of the parts and they could have a Yanmar technician here on Thursday. They estimate the job will be finished in a couple of hours. I take the safe way out and employ the service group. A quick cleanup and Donna and I are back to playing tourist for the afternoon.

Donna has a set of brilliant ideas to get my mind off the engine situation. A mid-afternoon lunch at our favorite pizza place downtown, find a post office or mail box, and continue our walking tour of Charleston.

Mellow Mushroom’s House Pizza and brews are a hit. Being mid-afternoon, we almost have the place to ourselves.  The music is great and we leave stuffed and mellowed out. LOL! The second quest, a mail box, is a lofty goal. Have you tried to find a blue mail box on a street corner lately? We walked and walked and walked, searching in vain for a blue USPS drop box. Damn smart phones were absolutely no help. We finally gave up, boarded a free trolley and headed back toward the marina.

Near the marina, Donna announces we need to visit the Harris Teeter and stock up on some items that go off sale today. I start to object, but then learn beer is one of the items. We leave the trolley, and right there on the corner is a blue mailbox. Go figure.

It’s a two block walk to Harris Teeter, but then it’s about 4-5 blocks to the marina. Those two cases of beer sure got heavy before we made it back to the boat.

Turn on the TV, fall asleep, wake up and turn off TV. A long day is finally over.
 

Location: Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston, SC, MM 465

 


 

May 19, 2014
Charleston is one of Donna’s favorite places to visit. The town is still great, but this marina facility is not going to make it to my list of favorites.  Don’t get me wrong, it seems to have a lot of pluses, but it does have one big drawback. The marina has about 20 transient slips, a cordial and courteous staff, fuel and pumpout facilities and rates lower than the marinas on the Ashley River side. It is also within walking distance to a grocery, hardware store, restaurants and the historic district. So what’s the drawback? Wake/wave action in the basin/slips. It’s constant and at times violent! Combine a NE wind, lots of fetch on the river and ferry wakes and you could get seasick right in your slip. Sleep restfully at night? Only in the wee hours of the morning. Work on the engine this morning? FUGEDABOUTIT! 

That said and thinking things would quiet down in the evening; we decided to go sightseeing instead of looking at the engine. We did our version of a walking tour of the city including historic sites, churches, graveyards, the retail shops and restaurants along Market St, King St, Meeting Street and the Harris Teeter market near the marina.



Back at the boat after a long day of sightseeing and shopping, I tackled the engine. I removed all the belts and started the engine. The darn noise was still there. Now the noise seemed to be coming from the recesses of the dark backside of the engine compartment. Enough work for me today. To quote the oft used phrase, “Tomorrow is another day”.

Location: Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston, SC, MM 465

May 18, 2014
We had a quiet uneventful evening and awoke to another cool morning and winds out of the NE. We delay departure to allow the water to rise a bit and then head toward Charleston.

We reach the point where we are running against the tide coming in Stono River and our progress slows a bit. The current in Elliott’s Cut is horrific and our speed is cut to 1.9 mph. Somehow, we manage to arrive in time for the scheduled Wappoo Creek Bridge opening. It was only a short distance from there to the Ashley River and Charleston’s waterfront.

Lots of cruisers have told us we should stay at the Charleston Maritime Center which is about five miles further on the Cooper River side of Charleston.  We have reservations and dock around 1230. Tomorrow I will see if I can find out what is making that infernal noise.

Started: 0830
Stopped: 1230
Distance traveled: 23 miles
Avg Speed 5.7 mph
Location: Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston, SC, MM 465

May 17, 2014
We delayed departure from Beaufort to get some assist from the incoming tide and also to arrive at the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff at high tide. This trouble spot is a two part man-made cut with the southerly section being prone to shoaling. Our arrival and passage were pretty much uneventful.

However, we are experiencing, again,  some strange noise from the engine. It sounds sort of like a dry old belt rubbing against the sheave. I cannot seem to isolate the noise and elect to continue on toward Charleston and investigate it there.

We keep pushing northward trying to get as close to Charleston as possible. We pass through the Dawho River and experience extremely low water near White Point. Another eight miles beyond, we decide to stop in an old familiar anchorage, Church Creek. We find a trawler already anchored in our favorite spot and a private mooring ball in our second favorite spot. So, we anchor closer to the mouth of the creek. This means experiencing more current and wakes from ICW traffic. The anchor goes down, sets nicely and we settle in for the evening.

Started: 0930
Stopped: 1800
Distance traveled: 48 miles
Avg Speed 5.6 mph
Location: Anchored Church’s Creek, Beaufort, SC, MM 488

May 16, 2014
Don’t know why, but I’m up early this AM. It could be the cold air. The temperature plummeted to 54F. It wasn’t any warmer in the boat as we went to bed with all the ports and hatches open. I decided to take another hot shower and then get the boat ready for departure.

After the shower, I return to the boat, make coffee, start prepping the boat and wait for the Krispy Kreme doughnuts to arrive. They plunked down on the deck a little before 0700.  Donna is awake now and we share coffee and the “freebie” doughnuts. Freebies are a big hit with snowbirds.

About 0800 we are ready to shove off. I had setup extra fenders and a long spring line in preparation to back away from the pier, around two boats behind us and out of the marina. When we released the stern line, the boat started swinging away from the pier due to some strange current swirling about the floating dock. I jumped aboard and took advantage of the situation. Who wants to spring-off the dock if you don’t have too? We executed the departure flawlessly. Text book even. No damage to the boat, the dock, or other boats. Film at 11.

Back in the ICW, the current has us moving way to fast. We will arrive at Causton Bluff Bridge before its restricted period ends. We do a long loop back toward the marina to kill time and then proceed back to clear the bridge at 0900.

We reach the Savannah River and cross over in to South Carolina. Two states down, two more before we reach Virginia. We enter and pass through troublesome Fields Cut at high tide and continue on past Daufuskie Island. Brisk and gusty NW winds give us a chance to motor-sail as we enter Calibogue Sound. In fact, we had to reef the jib down and there were some gusts that showed us we needed to reef a little more.

The wind was giving us thoughts of stopping in Hilton Head, but we really wanted to make it to Beaufort. So, we continued on out into an angry Port Royal Sound. It didn’t take long to cross the sound, but it was a bumpy and wet ride. When we reached the Beaufort River it was a long haul northward past Paris Island before we reached calmer waters. Our goal was to reach Lady’s Island Marina. Unfortunately, we were going to be late for the 1600 opening of the Ladies Island Swing Bridge. That meant we would have to wait 2 hours for the next opening. Not wanting to wait, we contacted the Downtown Marina at Beaufort and were able to get a mooring for the evening.

 
 
We arrived at the mooring field, secured a ball, lowered the dinghy, went ashore and registered. Since we were already ashore, we decided to find a restaurant and have dinner. The lady in the marina office recommended we try Emily’s. So off we went, on foot, to find dinner. Turned out Emily’s was only about 2-1/2 blocks away. We split a huge 14oz steak and it was great. Teamed up with a salad, steamed broccoli, roasted potatoes, hot yeast rolls and a couple of brews and we were stuffed.

After dinner, we walked, window shopped the historic district and then headed back to the marina for a quick dinghy ride back to our floating home. All-in-all a very enjoyable day!

Started: 0815
Stopped: 1630
Distance traveled: 41 miles
Location: A mooring at Downtown Marina, Beaufort, SC, MM 536



May 15, 2014
The anticipated overnight rains waited until early this morning. They even delayed the delivery of the “free” Krispy Kreme doughnuts given to overnight boaters. I already had one cup of coffee before they arrived. The rains increased throughout the morning, giving me cause to appreciate our decision to remain in port today. Despite the bimini, the helm seat isn’t a dry location with rain and winds from astern.

We took showers again this AM, enjoying the marina’s ample supply of hot water and high water pressure. Invigorating, some of the best showers I’ve experienced on the ICWW. Later we did our laundry and cleaned up the boat.

It’s now about 1730, the rain appears to have ended and the skies are beginning to show little blue patches. The cooler temperatures and northerly breezes are sure to follow soon.

Almost forgot to mention this. Some very friendly cruisers from Hampton, VA., which we met in Stuart, pulled into the slip next to us. They are experiencing some drive line problems on their trawler, Luna Azul. They are now scheduled to be hauled out for repairs tomorrow. Tough luck, but they could not have picked a better place for repairs.

Location: Thunderbolt Marina, Thunderbolt, Ga. MM 583
May 14, 2014
If you blog readers are getting tired of this time, tide routine, believe me I’m sure tired of experiencing it and writing about it. We have time for coffee and some breakfast before departing this AM. High tide at Hell Gate is 0855 and we transit the area right on time.  A missing marker in the middle of the run adds to our angst, but we make it through ok.

The weather news is calling for thunder storms, lots of rain and increased wind this evening and all day Thursday. Add in my sleepless night before and we have the recipe for a short day and the security of a marina for the evening.
 
We motor on for either Isle of Hope or Thunderbolt. It seems too early to stop as we approach Isle of Hope so we contact Thunderbolt for reservations and are confirmed. The winds pick up as we approach the marina just as predicted. Docking is a little tricky as we approach the fuel dock but we perform well. After refilling jerry cans and then pumping out the waste tank, we undock and relocate to a more desirable inside slip. Again we perform well in the wind and current. We must be living right today.

We do quick showers, have a little lunch and then I abandon Donna for a much needed nap. Donna roamed the internet on her Kindle while I slept in the v-berth. A couple of hours later, we reversed roles.

Based on the expected weather, we elected to stay a second night. An evening of scattered rain showers and lousy TV finished off the day.

Started: 0815
Stopped: 1230
Distance traveled: 24 miles
Location: Thunderbolt Marina, Thunderbolt, Ga. MM 583

May 13, 2014
Another beautiful morning greets us. We’re not complaining, but it has been quite some time since we have had threatening weather.  We know the luck will end soon.

Today’s destination is somewhere close to Georgia’s third trouble spot, Hell Gate. Again, boat speed, tidal currents and timing means we will have to anchor south of the spot and wait to pass through at high tide tomorrow.  There are a couple of creeks near Hell Gate and we chose Redbird Creek.

The trip to Redbird was typical of the Georgia ICWW. We arrived at dead low tide and anchored in 8 feet of water. At the next high tide we had 17 feet of water under the boat. I increased the anchor scope, monitored our position for a while and then retired for the evening.

Shortly after midnight, the anchor alarm went off. A quick check of the chart plotter confirmed we were moving ever so slowly. I increased scope again, and then a second time before the anchor held. The water was screaming by the boat at an incredible rate. I kept checking our position on the hour and the anchor held fine even when the tide shifted from low to incoming high. It was a long night with little sleep.

Started: 0745
Stopped: 1620
Distance traveled: 45 miles
Location: Redbird Creek, Ga. MM 607

May 12, 2014
We were fortunate to have the rising tide in Jekyll Creek this AM. We planned to wait until almost top of the tide so we could transit Jekyll Creek safely. However, we got underway later than planned. After a hot, sweaty night we both wanted showers. Then I decided to fill a jerry can with diesel even though I really did not need to. That was a disaster…a newbie with his trawler was ahead of me at the single pump. He kept adding “a little more” over and over. It was 0830 when I finally got my measly 5 gallons back to the boat and got moving.

It was a beautiful day on the water except for adverse currents. The tide timing sets us up to be approaching the second of Georgia’s skinny water trifecta at low tide, the infamous Little Mud River.  To time passage with the high tide, we stop and anchor a couple of hours in Buttermilk Sound. We resume the trip and shortly find a boater aground near the south entrance to the trouble spot.

The boater rejected assistance, choosing instead to wait on the still rising water. We passed through Little Mud with no problems and continued on to our anchorage for the night in Back River. We were joined by two large power boats in the anchorage. Except for the passing of a couple of shrimp trawlers, the evening was uneventful.

Started: 0830
Stopped: 1730
Distance traveled: 35 miles
Location: Back River, Ga. MM 651

May 11, 2014
Happy Mother’s day to our mothers, Mary and Beryl. We are thinking of you. Sorry we are not there with you today.

Today we were up early, enjoyed coffee on the boat and decided to get started on our island visit. We took the marina bikes to tour the island. We thought we would first find a place and have a nice breakfast/brunch. Good luck, unless you can afford the luxury of the Jekyll Club or want to choke on the grub served by the hotel chain restaurants on the island. After riding halfway around the island we gave up and stopped at Mackintosh’s Grill at the Jekyll Island Golf Club. By this time they had quit serving breakfast so it was sandwiches and fries. We got lots of exercise, but no breakfast.










We then continued out bike tour by visiting other points of interest, reading about the history of the island and taking pictures. By midafternoon, we were pooped and headed back to the marina. Riding the bikes actually helped us keep cool. At the marina it was too buggy to sit on the little porch so we headed to the boat. Back on board, it was HOT! There was little or no breeze and lots of humidity. Thank goodness for shore power and the three small fans we have aboard.

Right now, it’s time for a little book reading or maybe a nap. Later it will be cooler and we’ll prep the boat to continue the journey home tomorrow.

Location: Jekyll Island, Ga

May 10, 2014
The tides will help/hurt us today. We start out riding the tide south to get back to the ICW and then fight it until it slacks and then ride it northward through Cumberland Dividings, etc.

It’s a partly sunny day with strong SSE wind. We motor on without sailing because of the twisting nature of the rivers and creeks. We venture out into St Andrews Sound heading for the turning mark that is fixed in all snowbirder’s memory. Things were lumpy, but not really bad and we picked up a current boost as we turned toward Jekyll Island. As we rounded the southern point of Jekyll, the waters calmed. From there it was a short cruise to Jekyll Harbor Marina where we plan to spend a couple of nights. Tomorrow we will go ashore and tour the island.


Start: 1015
Stop: 1500
Location: Jekyll Island, Ga
Distance Traveled: 32 miles

May 9, 2014
Today we went ashore where we sat on the ranger station porch and waited for the ferry to bring the rangers and other visitors. We watched “wilderness campers” magically appear from the woods to catch the ferry to take them home. It was amusing to watch them doing “tick checks” on each other.

When the ferry arrived, Donna cornered the ranger, asked about vacancies in the tour, and learned the tour was fully booked. That meant our travels would be either on foot or on bicycles.  If you follow this blog, you know Donna had a bad bike accident, so the walking tour was her choice despite her still aching and swelling ankle.

We took the trail to the beach about ½ mile away. It was a pleasant walk through a lush natural setting with undergrowth, huge trees laden with moss and wildlife such as birds, lizards, turkeys and armadillos. Arriving at the edge of the forest, we climbed ramps to cross over the dunes to a beautiful sight, miles and miles of the Atlantic Ocean’s natural beach.




We walked northward about ½ mile and beachcombed for shells, driftwood and other interesting objects. Turning southward, we continued past our entry point and headed for the next ramp 1 mile south. Beach finds were pretty scarce on the southern trek.

 

Arriving at the south ramp we headed for Dungeness ruins. Dungeness was the home of the Carnegies which was supposedly torched by a disgruntled local. We walked the grounds, took pictures and continued onward back to the Seadock. By this time Donna’s ankle is bothering her and we take several rest breaks.

 
 

When we reach the ranger station, we take a longer break and then jumped back in the dinghy and headed back to the boat where Donna once again propped her leg up and applied cold packs.

Location: Cumberland Island at anchor.

May 8, 2014
Today’s destination is Cumberland Island. We have been there before, but Donna is dying to stop and visit again. The nice thing is it will make for another short travel day and we can leave a little later to time the tide.
 
The journey is uneventful. We did a quick fuel stop at Fernandina and moved onward the remaining few miles to anchor off the Seadock at Cumberland Island National Park. If you remember, this place became a national news item when the late JFK Jr got married at the little church on the island. The only way to get here is by boat.

The anchorage was pretty full, with all the prime spots already taken. It took three tries before we found a location we were happy with. With the anchor down we took the rest of the day off. Tomorrow we will go ashore. Donna hopes we can get in with the motorized island tour and lessen the stress on her ankle.  

Start: 0830
Stop: 1430
Location: Cumberland Island National Park, Ga
Distance Traveled: 32 miles
Avg Speed: 5.5 mph

May 7, 2014
We departed St Augustine with a planned full day destination of Fernandina Beach, Fl or Cumberland Island, Ga. Tidal currents seemed to have other plans from the get-go. Temps were mid 80F to 90F and humidity Florida style.

It was close to 1500 hrs as we crossed the St Johns River and headed into Sisters Creek. We noticed that the Jim King Park Courtesy Dock was empty so we stopped short for the day. We have never stopped at this location and were pleasantly surprised. The dock has city water, bathrooms, trash/recycling and a long floating dock with room for several boats. By nightfall, we were still the only boat there. The best part is it's free.

Since we stopped early, I decided to tackle the alternator problem. It seems to be charging, but not a lot. I suspected maybe the brushes were worn down and needed replacing. I pulled it off and disassembled it and found one brush seemed shorter than the other one. The spring tension also seemed less on that brush. I cleaned the slip rings and did all the VOM tests I could remember from my old electrician days, but I could find no other problems. Reassembled, reinstalled, and tested. It seems OK, but I suspect the problem will be back. I’ll try for brushes at the next place where we are near a NAPA auto part store.
 
As we were celebrating Happy Hour, a gentleman came down the dock and introduced himself as the “self-appointed unofficial greeter” for the dock facility. He presented us with gifts, proceeded to tell us all about the facilities, and offered to assist us with transportation to stores, etc. No surprise to find out he was a sailboater just “paying it forward”. Our conversation with him was a real treat.

Start: 0730
Stop: 1500
Location: Jim King Park Courtesy Dock, Jacksonville, FL
Distance Traveled: 40 miles
Avg Speed: 5.5 mph

May 6, 2014
Up early and moving. First it was a quick fill and empty at the fuel dock, fill up on fuel and empty the holding tank. Then back to the ICW and more motoring northward. What little breeze there was, happened to be right on the nose, so no sailing again.

We fought tidal current most of the morning, got a little assist for a while and then fought more current as we passed another ocean inlet. Weather was bright, warm and sunny.

We arrived at St Augustine and had to wait about 20 minutes for a bridge opening. We passed through the bridge and picked up a mooring ball in the San Marcos (north) mooring field just in time for cocktail hour.

Start: 0740
Stop: 1640
Location: St. Augustine
Distance Traveled: 62 miles

This greeted us just before the Bridge of Lions.



May 5, 2014
We decided we like this place despite there being no “free” Wifi. I managed to get my phone to work as an Internet connection, so we will survive! I’ve got every electronic device, computer, phone, Kindle, and house batteries topping off. Civilization, good or bad, we are connected.

Bottom line, we’re going to stay another day/night. We plan to wash the boat, check the battery water levels and do other housekeeping chores. If we are still energetic enough this evening we may look for a Cinco de Mayo event to visit.

Turns out there was not much Cinco de May happening close by the marina. We walked to the post office to mail Mother’s Day cards and stopped for a pizza on the way back to boat. Then we tackled washing the boat and doing some laundry. After that it was showers and lights out. This boating life is so exhausting!
 
Location: Halifax Harbor, Daytona FL

May 4, 2014
Cold? Heck no I’m freezing. What a change. It was 58F at 0600. Forecast is for 80F today, but we start out in long pants and sweatshirts. Winds are cranking out of the North and right on our nose. No sailing today. Our destination now is New Smyrna or Daytona. As we passed the Titusville moorings, we spotted “El Lobo” and tried to call our friend Bill on the radio. He was either asleep or his radio was not on. Bet he had a rough night on that ball.

We buck the wind and tide at Ponce Inlet, but we trudge on to Halifax Harbor in Daytona. Being its Sunday, this is a hazardous boating section as all the locals decide to call it a day and head home at max speed and no courtesy whatsoever. It’s a relief to exit the ICW for the marina.

We take a slip and enjoy the first shore power we have had since last November. Donna used the microwave to make short work of dinner preparation. It was however, another “blanket” cool night.

Location: MM 830, Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona, FL
Start: 0745
Stop: 1730

May 3, 2014
More rain! Front has stalled. We moved out heading for Titusville running into periods of rain. The forecast is calling for a powerful shift as the front finally moves off shore. Titusville marina and moorings are not our favorite places with the predicted northerly winds.  We’ve experienced the rollers and washing machine effect before.  So we decided to stop at Addison Point and anchor on the south side for protection. I was beginning to feel like I made a bad decision as the winds continued to be out of the south. Then suddenly it happened. The air started feeling cooler. Then the wind suddenly shifted and increased to 15 mph out of the north. We swung around nicely on our hook. Even with the causeway as protection, it was still a little lumpy. As the night wore on, the wind moved to the NW and decreased. Whew, thank you NWS, you got this one right.

Location: MM 885, Addison Point, FL
Start: 0830
Stop: 1430

May 2, 2014
We got underway with cloudy skies and a forecast calling for rain off and on. A big front moving very slowly eastward began to stall out. I guess we’ve made too many of these days in FL. Snowbird boat traffic seems lighter with us moving northward later than usual.

Today’s destination, depending on the weather, was somewhere north of Melbourne. We decided to anchor on the northwest side of the Eau Gallie causeway for protection from increasing S to SW winds.

Location: MM 914, Eau Gallie, FL
Start: 0815
Stop: 1430

May 1, 2014
We decided to stay another day. We’re suckers for cheap moorings! We showered and then caught the free bus and rode over to the beach. Not much interesting there. It seemed like there was a Charles Schwab or some other financial house on every corner. Catering to upscale visitors seemed to the prime purpose.  After a couple of hours and a Kilwins ice cream, we boarded the free bus again and went to a shopping center on the other side of town. We lunched at Too Jay’s Deli, visited a Fresh Market, a Publix, and TJ Maxx. We found a new rug for the boat…the old one needed to go!

Then it was back on the bus and a short ride to the marina for another battle with the “no-see-ems”.

April 30, 2014
We departed out winter “home”, getting underway with clear skies and warm temperatures. It was pretty much a boring day on the water. Our destination, some point north of Vero Beach, was not to be.  We opted instead to stop and take a mooring ball in Vero. The moorings were not crowded and we were able to get a ball all to ourselves.  Rafting up to 3 boats to a ball is not uncommon at Vero.

It was a hot, quiet night, just us and the “no-see-ems”. Wiping the screens with “Off” repellant helped to minimize their entry, but it also trapped those pesky varmints already inside. It was a fitful sleep for both of us.

Location: MM 951, Vero Beach, FL
Start: 0815
Stop: 1510
Max speed: 8.6 mph
Avg speed: 6.1