Osprey Marina - Myrtle Beach, SC

Sunday 11/12/2017
Depart: South Harbour Village, Southport, NC 8:45 a.m.
Arrive: Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC 3:30 p.m.
Distance: 54 NM

Walking the docks at South Harbor Village, we passed a boat named Flip Flop, so of course Clark had to take a picture. I wonder if the owner, who we did not meet, was an engineer or a casual dresser. Clark assumed the owner was an engineer. I assumed he was a casual dresser.

We pulled in our lines and left the docks a little later than usual meaning I got to eat breakfast before we left. When I asked Clark if I should eat breakfast before we left dock or as we traveled, he replied, "You should eat on the boat", which of course was no answer at all since I would eat 'on the boat' either way!

With a bright sun and warmer weather than we have been seeing, Clark drove from the upper helm today. Given that, he took numerous pictures making it difficult to decide which to include in the blog update.

Fishing Boats at Dock

Seafood Shanty

Holden Beach - docks, docks, and more docks!

Little River Inlet

Marker for SC border!?
Left over from Hurricane Matthew - 2016

Crab Catchers Restaurant - Dock, Drink & Dine
Wait Dock? The signs clearly say "No Tie Ups"!

Purple House - made the blog again!
It is just so eye-catching!

Approaching Little River Swing Bridge

Site down road at traffic waiting for bridge to close.

Long Stretch of Narrow Waterway

 We traveled a section of the ICW known as "The Rock Pile". The canal is narrow and the rocks come well into the channel. The chart plotter shot below shows our boat (on the white strip) almost out of the channel and on land. Clark piloted the boat dead center in the canal and markers to avoid the rock ledges on each side. Following the magenta line would surely result in bent props!

Chart cartography not reliable here.

I liked the design of this fixed bridge
near Grand Dunes Marina in Myrtle Beach, SC

We noticed many cookie-cutter houses as well as a lot of stylish houses along the waterway - some of the stylish ones had more elaborate landscaping than others.

Intricate terracing along ICW in SC 

Yikes! This was a surprise!
Landing planes cross close to the water right over the ICW.

Along the way we found Santa Claus and two of his reindeer
boating in Myrtle Beach on the ICW.

Straight view right down the open Socastee Bridge
(Clark loves these strategic picture shots.)

Arriving at tonight's marina at 3:30 gave us some time to walk around the area before dark.

Street Sign at Entry to Osprey Marina

Goats! At a marina? That's a new one for me!

"Who you looking at?!"

Boat Trailer Cemetery
Held many, many more than depicted in the photo
(actually a very large trailer parking lot)

Evinrude Outboard on display in Ship's Store

Swamp lands on marina property

Docks / Reflections

More Docks / More Reflections

Marina land at water's edge

Very Long, New Floating Dock
along entry into the marina

Sign on Water at Entry to Osprey Marina

Tree Reflections

Closeup of Tree Reflections

At $1.00 per foot of boat plus $5 for electric, Osprey is the least expensive marina we have stayed at thus far. For their low, low price, they even throw in a "Goody Bag" filled with a great assortment of gifts, e.g. snacks, key chain, and homemade jelly! I got to choose our jelly from a large and unique selection of flavors.

Osprey Marina - Goody Bag Contents!

The marina has skilled and friendly staff. We did not take advantage, but a local restaurant with a grocery nearby, will come get boaters so they can shop and dine! Well-pleased with tonight's marina choice!