2022: Morehead City NC to Charleston SC

 29 October 2022

Depart: Morehead City, NC anchorage 8:00!

Arrive: Masonboro Inlet / Wrightsville, NC Channel anchorage 5:00

Distance: 71 nm

Today we had yet another gray start to the day. I found it exceedingly difficult to get motivated to get out of bed. However, Clark said we needed a relatively early start, so we got going despite the dreary weather.

Normally, when we leave an anchorage, all the sailboats have left before us. Since they generally travel at a slower rate, they typically start their days at dawn. Today, the anchorage was full of sailboats when we left, and they did not look like they would be going anywhere today. 

After thinking about it for a while, I realized that the sailboats were stuck. The waves in the ocean were predicted to be up to 15 feet in height and the Figure 8 Island Bridge was stuck in the down position. The sailboats could neither go on the outside nor on the ICW! Luckily, we could scoot under the 20' clearance of the Figure 8 bridge even if it could not open, so we were not restricted on travel.

As we made our way today, we saw dolphins galore. None of them posed for a picture however. We also saw a number of bird conventions along the way.

Pelican convention

Seagull Convention

Although I had threatened Clark not to take tons of pictures of things we see every time we come down the ICW, I snuck in a few myself.

Huge trailer home park along the water

The boy in the yellow coat in the picture below is a statue. I thought it cute.

Inland side view of waterway

Oceanside view of waterway

Yet another bird convention
(I'd hate to see what those docks look like!)

We passed under two bridges with 20' clearance today - the Figure 8 Island bridge followed by the Wrightsville bridge. As we approached the Figure 8 Island bridge, we could see a sailboat ahead of us on the waterway and wondered where he thought he was going. Someone called him on the VHF radio and said, "You know the Figure 8 is stuck down, right?" 

Well, that boater got real lucky because unbeknownst to everyone apparently, the Figure 8 bridge was fixed yesterday and able to open! As other boats waited for the bridge to open, we scooted under to keep going instead of waiting - of course that meant lowering the antennas and mast, but Clark hates to wait for bridges. 

As we made our turn at the Masonboro Inlet to head for the anchorage on the Wrightsville Channel, we passed a boat with teenage boys on board that were just climbing out of the water from a swim. Meanwhile, Clark and I had on winter coats due to the chill in the air!

Swimmers with Impressive Stamina

Sunset at Wrightsville Channel anchorage

30 October 2022

Depart: Wrightsville, NC anchorage 8:50

Arrive: Tina's Pocket anchorage off Cape Fear near Southport, NC 3:15

Distance: 21 nm

We had an unusual schedule for today. Clark wanted to get going reasonably early but planned on initially only traveling a short distance to Carolina Beach to visit friends at a yacht club located there. The current on Cape Fear is fierce. He wanted to wait for it to be flowing with us to get a fast ride instead of bucking it underway. He figured that visiting friends was a good way to pass the time waiting for the tide to turn.

Yesterday after dropping anchor, Clark contacted Steve and Trish on "Journey" whom we met at Marlin Bay last year. They enthusiastically invited us to drop by the CBYC to enjoy a visit. Clark had spoken to Tres whom we also know from Marlin Bay. He said his boat slip was available for us to tie up in.

At 8:30 we started the process for bringing up the anchor. When Clark went to the bow, he found the anchor line going under the boat. Pulling on the line did nothing as it was tight against the hull. We could not use the engines as we did not know where the line was caught and did not want to wrap the line around a prop. 

Clark decided to use the bow thruster to spin the boat and try to get the line out from under the boat. He spun the boat 180 degrees without success. Next, he went into the engine room and tried to turn the prop shafts by hand for each engine. Both turned freely so that was good news.  Clark said he saw three options: 1 - wait for high tide, 2 - use our dinghy to push to boat to try to free the line, or 3 - wait for another boater to come by and ask them to push our boat. 

None of those options appealed to us. Clark decided to use the bow thruster once again and spun the boat 180 degrees back around to where we started. Eureka! Success! The line got freed up and we could get the anchor up and underway! Instead of 8:30 we got out of there at 8:50. It could have been much worse.

When we arrived at CBYC, we were happily greeted by Dell and Robin on "Avalon" whom we also met at Marlin Bay. The dog that we met in May at the yacht club, "Whiskey", gave us a great barking welcome as well. (Although we expected to see Trish and Steve, they did not make an appearance before we had to get underway.)

No sooner did we have our lines tied than Robin offered to drive me to Publix. I said yes because I really wanted one thing. I came back from the store with three bags full! I saw the fruits and veggies and grabbed what I could carry!  After the trip to the store, Dell, Robin, Clark and I sat on our boat and talked until lunch time. Once we finished eating our lunch, Clark and I pulled in our lines and left the marina for our next stop of the day.

As Clark predicted, we had the current with us on the Cape Fear River, and we made great time to our stop for the night at Tina's Pocket anchorage along the Cape Fear River. A couple of boats were there before us to share the anchorage including one named "Jersey Girl".

31 October 2022

Depart: Tina's Pocket anchorage NC 7:45

Arrive:  Enterprise Ox Bow anchorage off Waccamaw River SC 3:30

Distance: 61 nm

Sometime before midnight last night, our boat got waked not once or twice but three times in a quick succession. I was already in bed and was shaken awake to hear things crashing on the boat as they fell to the floor. Clark worked hard in the galley trying to catch things as they fell or put them back where they belonged afterwards. 

Clark did not notice that one of the things that fell was my laptop - the one I use for blogging. It had fallen about three feet from the table top to the floor. Although I was in the master stateroom at the other end of the boat, I heard a huge crash but did not know what had fallen. It was not until this morning when I came out and found the computer mouse where it did not belong that I discovered my laptop lying on the floor. I wondered what damage had been done - did the screen shatter? did the insides shake out? I opened it up and found no visible damage, and wonder of wonder, it booted up. Amazing!

My laptop has sat in the same place on the boat for the last, almost 5 years. We have rocked before on this boat but never like last night's experience.

After recovering from the shock of finding my laptop on the floor, I grabbed my camera and took a couple of sunrise pictures. 

Sunrise on Cape Fear River -  NC

Where we anchored is near where the ferries come and go to Bald Head Island. As we exited our anchorage, we saw one with the sun reflecting off the hull.

Ferry to Bald Head Island

I was so happy to see the sun today I went a bit crazy with the camera taking pictures. Everything looked so nice with the sun shining on it. It got so warm today that I eventually changed into shorts!

As we traveled through the section of the ICW in North Carolina known as the "Rock Pile", I looked for turtles sunning themselves on logs. I was not disappointed!

Numerous turtles sun bathing

Same turtles - different view

I know when we are traveling through the "Rock Pile" as we pass by the structure shown below. Clark teased me about taking pictures that I have included in blogs many times before.

Golf course on side of waterway

Some fall colors

Another turtle family enjoying the sun

In South Carolina we saw some amazing houses and landscaping. Many we have seen before, but we noticed a lot of new construction in progress.

Landscaping under construction

Many-tiered landscape with
infinity pool (hard to see in picture)

More tiered landscaping

One side of the waterway we see mega-mansions with tremendous landscaping, the other side of the waterway we see ...

Lots of pretty marsh grasses with the sun shining on them.

Another golf course by the waterway

I have most likely taken pictures of the "Treasure Hunter" boat below, but ...

Yet more pretty landscaping ...

Clark added to the nature pictures today by taking the picture below that he said was nature's welcome to the anchorage.

He also grabbed tonight's sunset picture.

Sunset on the Waccamaw River in SC

Meanwhile in Idaho and Connecticut, my grandchildren enjoyed Halloween.

Idaho: "Hocus Pocus characters"

Connecticut: Butterfly and Warrior

1 November 2022

Depart: Enterprise Ox Bow anchorage / Waccamaw River 8:00

Arrive: Dewees Creek anchorage (slightly north of Charleston, SC) 5:00

Distance: 70 nm

By the time we docked yesterday, the temperature was up around 80 degrees. What a difference today! The sun was gone, and we once again woke to fog. Today it was so thick we could only see a few feet in front of the boat.

Normally when the anchor comes up, I pilot the boat out of the anchorage. I took one look at the field of white in font of me and said uh-uh, no way! I could barely make out the green marker directly in front of the boat but on the far side of the river. I worried that some boat was coming down the river that I could not see. I waited for Clark to take the helm.

This Kady Krogen left the anchorage shortly before
we did.

The views along the water were impressive given the dense fog. Even with the fog, we could still see reflections of trees in the water.

As we traveled along at a snail's pace, we heard a fog horn sound up ahead. Clark responded with a blast of his own. Shortly thereafter, we got haled on the VHF radio by a tug who was waiting for us just around the bend. We moved way over to the edge of the waterway to keep clear. It turned out that he was not moving. He was "station keeping" due to the fog.

Tug sitting on the Waccamaw River
waiting for the fog to break up

At one point Clark blasted his horn. I asked him why and he said he didn't know what the boat to the side of the waterway planned to do. "Not much", I replied,  "The boat is tied in a slip. He's not going anywhere."

A couple of times the sun tried to break through the fog, but every time it was unsuccessful.

As we passed Bucksport Marina, we could not even read the sign telling us where we were.

Bucksport Marina

Sun trying again and failing again

We hoped the fog would clear, but every time it looked like it might break up, we would come into yet another cloud. Clark suggested it would be beneficial if I stood on the bow to look for obstacles and markers. Other than getting wet from the continual mist, I found it pretty cool being up there checking out the terrain. I missed one good photo because I did not take my phone with me to the bow.

Eventually the fog broke up enough that I could come back inside, and much later in the day, the sun did finally make an appearance. Sitting in the sun on the fly bridge, it was hot. Sitting in the shade, it was chilly.

When we arrived at the Dewees Creek anchorage, we were greeted by several dolphins. One even "spoke" to us in dolphin talk. I could not get a picture, but Clark had some success.

Sunset at Dewees Creek near Charleston, South Carolina

Sharing the anchorage with "Jersey Girl"

Sunset at Dewees Creek

2022: Great Bridge VA to Morehead City NC

26 October 2022

Depart: Great Bridge Wall 7:50

Arrive:  Sandy Point anchorage (off Alligator River) 4:30

Distance: 60 nm

Great Bridge bridge only opens on the hour, so just before 8:00, we untied our lines and positioned ourselves for the next opening. Unfortunately, we had a very foggy start to our day.

View of bridge as we got ready to leave the wall

Looking towards the stern of our boat

Shortly after we pulled away from the wall, another boat, "Straight from the Heart", pulled out to follow us through the bridge.

Even though we had a heavy fog, Clark wanted to try for a railroad track picture. I had no interest so I told him, "Knock yourself out!" 

We wanted to make the 8:30 opening of the Centerville Bridge. A long stream of sail and power boats traveling south had the same plan. Looking ahead and behind us through the fog and on AIS, we estimated there to be about 11 boats altogether that went through that 8:30 opening.

Waiting for the bridge that we cannot see through the fog

Centerville bridge open to boat traffic

Looking down the road, we could
see a number of cars waiting for the bridge to close.

After we got through the Centerville Bridge, we found the boats in front of us to be moving so slowly that Clark had to keep taking the boat out of gear so as not to run over them. Despite the fog we decided we had to pass these slower boats. The power boat directly in front of us wanted to travel at 5 knots to make the North Landing Bridge at 9:30. The lead sailboat was making only 3 knots of headway. We wanted to go about 7 knots. 

As we puttered along at a ridiculously slow pace, one boat decided that despite the fog, he was going to make the 9:00 opening of the North Landing Bridge. He took off as soon as he got through Centerville Bridge and was not seen again. We did hear on the radio that he made the NL Bridge opening at 9:00!

The boat we followed, wishing for 5 knots of speed, indicated he planned to pass, but shortly after he said that, the sailboats sped up from 3 knots to just over 5 knots. We waited for him to make his move to pass but nothing happened. Finally, Clark haled him on the VHF to ask his intentions and was told that, since he was now at 5 knots, he was happy and would not be passing. (Gee thanks for letting us know that!) Clark then decided to pass him as well as the 3 or 4 sailboats in front of him. 

Once we pulled out to pass, other power boats pulled around to pass along with us. As I looked back to see the boats two abreast on the narrow waterway, I hoped nothing was coming towards us from the south. Clark said that due to the bridges, he did not expect to see any northbound traffic, and he was correct on that. We had no opposing traffic.

Passing the four boats out front put Clark in the lead. The second sailboat in line decided that he wanted to go faster and pulled out behind us. He looked like he wanted to move, so Clark asked if he wanted to pass. "No,no! I'm happy to follow you."  I bet he was! Clearly, he figured he was safe with us in front to encounter whatever might be lurking in the fog ahead of us. I think Clark was the only boat sounding fog signals on the horn.

As we approached the North Landing Bridge around 9:15, we had the whole caravan of boats following us. We had to hang out and "station keep" until 9:30 to get through the bridge.

Eventually, as we exited the North Landing Bridge, the heavy fog lifted.

Sun trying to break through the clouds - Fail!

Our caravan!

We stopped just beyond the Coinjock Marina for the night at the Sandy Point anchorage at the entrance to the  Alligator River. The Coinjock Marina is an interesting place. Depending on the time of day, the marina is either bow-to-stern boats along the dock, or it is empty of all boats. Since we passed by early enough in the day, today was a "no boats" day.

Sunset at Sandy Point Anchorage

27 October 2022

Depart: Sandy Point anchorage 7:40

Arrive: Big Creek anchorage off South River off Neuse River 6:00

Distance:  86 nm

Clark warned me that, with the calm weather, he wanted to do a "long" day today. High winds are predicted for tomorrow, and he wanted to cross Albemarle Sound before the winds picked up. 

Sunrise at Sandy Point / Alligator River

We had winds gusting to 25 knots this morning. The Alligator River swing bridge will not open in winds higher that 35 mph - not an issue today luckily. They opened for us as soon as we appeared. Clark had a tough time steering through the open bridge as the following seas pushed him to and fro. He had hand surgery this fall, and he only has one good hand to steer with making steering more challenging than usual.

We traveled the Alligator River and the Alligator River Pungo River Canal. At least we had clearer skies today. The trees along the river showed some modest amount of color.

There are always a large number of stumps along the 
edge of the waterway

We are traveling on the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW). Along the canal, we saw mile marker signs every 5 miles. 

115 statute miles from Norfolk, VA

The side of the waterway opposite from the trees looked a bit more barren and bleak.

We enjoyed some sun today for a change. In fact it was downright hot on the upper helm with the sun shining on us. Clark remarked on the fact that we were down to t-shirts for a change!

125 miles from Norfolk

We crossed Albemarle Sound as planned, and to our delight, found the waters as flat as glass. Because winds are expected, we made our way across Pamlico Sound as well and tucked ourselves into an anchorage off the Neuse River - up South River to Big Creek.

Sun reflecting on trees at Big Creek anchorage

Sunset at Big Creek anchorage ...

28 October 2022

Depart: Big Creek anchorage 9:10

Arrive: Morehead City anchorage 1:10

Distance: 28 nm

Having put up with an extra long day yesterday (almost 11 hours on the water), Clark promised me a short day today. This benefited me but was not because of my preferences. The truth of the matter is that going further than Morehead City made no sense unless we wanted to stay in a marina as there are no good anchorages along the next stretch of miles. 

When the ocean permits, we travel on the "outside" to get away from slow boats, fast boats with big wakes, skinny water, etc.  Reports on the weather radio yesterday predicted seas of 9 to 15 feet on the ocean. Uhhh - no thank you! It will be 2 days on the ICW instead of 1 day on the ocean!

We chose a well-protected anchorage for last night. During the night we could hear the wind had started to pick up, but we were fine. As we pulled out of the anchorage and into the Neuse River, we had plenty of wave action. 

As we made our way towards Adams Creek, Clark noticed a 35 mph speed-limit [road] sign posted on a dauphin in the Neuse River.  

Once we entered Adams Creek, we were once again well protected from wind and seas. Clark as been unable to find any tide charts for Adams Creek. He takes his chances. Today we had the current against us as we made our way to Morehead City. When it was too late to do us any good and Morehead City was already in sight, then Clark said we had the current with us. 

Although we dropped anchor at 1:00 in the afternoon, the anchorage Clark selected was full of sailboats. We managed to find a spot where we could put out the required length of line for good holding and swing room.

It is another bleak and dreary day. We could use some bright sun to charge the solar panels. That looks unlikely. I decided to update the blog before pulling out my sewing machine.