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Mile Hammock Bay to Wrightsville Beach, NC
1 November 2006
1 November 2006
Southport, NC
5 November 2006
5 November 2006
Barefoot Landing, N. Myrtle Beach, SC
6 - 7 November 2006
6 - 7 November 2006
Thoroughfare Creek,Waccamaw River, SC
8 November 2006
8 November 2006
Minim Creek, SC
9 November 2006
9 November 2006
Isle of Palms & Charleston, SC
10 - 12 November 2006
10 - 12 November 2006
ICW Charleston to Savannah
13 November 2006
13 November 2006
Isle of Hope Marina, Thunderbolt, GA
15 - 16 November 2006
15 - 16 November 2006
ICW north of St. Simons, GA
18 November 2006
18 November 2006
Cruisers' Thanksgiving Week at St. Mary's, GA
19 - 24 November 2006
19 - 24 November 2006
| Town of St. Mary's, GA (move cursor over images for descriptions) |
At 0655 on 1 November we left the anchorage in the middle of the 21-boat pack. We had no problem with low water crossing the recently
dredged New River Inlet. We had run aground in the middle of the channel there last year with about ten boats behind us. So we were a
bit nervous. But the biggest challenges of this day were waiting for bridge openings and anchoring. Along the way we were passed at high
speed by about eight Marine inflatables on maneuvers. We also enjoyed the sights along the Waterway just north of Wrightsville Beach,
where expensive mansions are accented by some unusual yard sculptures and a solitary palm tree and parking meter, both partially
submerged - senses of humor abound in these parts.
Unfortunately a sense of humor is something Diva’s captain could have used while trying to anchor in Wrightsville Beach. We have had
troubles in the past getting the anchor to hold here, but nothing compared to the seven tries it took to get it to hold on this date. Even then,
with dark settling on the crowded anchorage and with us running out of energy and patience, we just dropped the main anchor and a lot of
chain and also threw out the small Danforth anchor which we carry mainly for kedging and haven’t used in a couple of years Another
cruiser reported success with theirs after a couple of failures with an anchor similar to Diva’s primary anchor. Luckily it was a quiet night
and no problems developed, though Carl catnapped most of the night and made frequent checks of position. The next morning we re-
anchored, this time putting two anchors down for the expected higher winds of the cold front due that evening. We pulled on them and
they held well.
We spent two nice days with Alyce, sister to Dirk, Debbie’s brother-in-law. She was so kind to drive us to several stores for some much
needed items. It was a cold, windy night as a cold front descended upon us. Next day was sunny, windy & chilly and we had a nice visit
with Alyce, her daughter Michelle and their golden retrievers. Our last day there was a boatwork day as Carl moved the satellite radio
antenna to a higher position for a better “view” of the orbiting satellite and made a permanent below-decks run for the radar scanner cable,
including a 10-connection splice in the engine room. That evening we had happy hour on Diva with Michael and Debbie of s/v Maddy,
whom we had last seen at the anchorage in Atlantic City and who now gave us a great pinkish purple “Diva” drink “coosie” to match the
“Diva” throw pillow given to us by s/v Moonsail. The old girl is looking quite “hot”.
dredged New River Inlet. We had run aground in the middle of the channel there last year with about ten boats behind us. So we were a
bit nervous. But the biggest challenges of this day were waiting for bridge openings and anchoring. Along the way we were passed at high
speed by about eight Marine inflatables on maneuvers. We also enjoyed the sights along the Waterway just north of Wrightsville Beach,
where expensive mansions are accented by some unusual yard sculptures and a solitary palm tree and parking meter, both partially
submerged - senses of humor abound in these parts.
Unfortunately a sense of humor is something Diva’s captain could have used while trying to anchor in Wrightsville Beach. We have had
troubles in the past getting the anchor to hold here, but nothing compared to the seven tries it took to get it to hold on this date. Even then,
with dark settling on the crowded anchorage and with us running out of energy and patience, we just dropped the main anchor and a lot of
chain and also threw out the small Danforth anchor which we carry mainly for kedging and haven’t used in a couple of years Another
cruiser reported success with theirs after a couple of failures with an anchor similar to Diva’s primary anchor. Luckily it was a quiet night
and no problems developed, though Carl catnapped most of the night and made frequent checks of position. The next morning we re-
anchored, this time putting two anchors down for the expected higher winds of the cold front due that evening. We pulled on them and
they held well.
We spent two nice days with Alyce, sister to Dirk, Debbie’s brother-in-law. She was so kind to drive us to several stores for some much
needed items. It was a cold, windy night as a cold front descended upon us. Next day was sunny, windy & chilly and we had a nice visit
with Alyce, her daughter Michelle and their golden retrievers. Our last day there was a boatwork day as Carl moved the satellite radio
antenna to a higher position for a better “view” of the orbiting satellite and made a permanent below-decks run for the radar scanner cable,
including a 10-connection splice in the engine room. That evening we had happy hour on Diva with Michael and Debbie of s/v Maddy,
whom we had last seen at the anchorage in Atlantic City and who now gave us a great pinkish purple “Diva” drink “coosie” to match the
“Diva” throw pillow given to us by s/v Moonsail. The old girl is looking quite “hot”.
On Sunday, November 5th we were underway again at the crack of dawn and went a short 25 miles down the ICW and Cape Fear River
to Southport. There we docked at the 24-hour free-with-food-purchase dock at the Provision Company Restaurant on the rustic
waterfront of rapidly re-developing southern port town at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. We had a great lunch, did a walking tour of
this lovely town, had drinks at two waterfront bars and were back on Diva before sunset.
to Southport. There we docked at the 24-hour free-with-food-purchase dock at the Provision Company Restaurant on the rustic
waterfront of rapidly re-developing southern port town at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. We had a great lunch, did a walking tour of
this lovely town, had drinks at two waterfront bars and were back on Diva before sunset.
On Monday we again were underway at sunrise to catch favorable tides at two shoaling, but recently dredged inlets, Lockwoods
Folly and Shalotte. At 11 minutes past 11 we crossed into South Carolina at the Little River. At 1350 hours we docked at Barefoot
Landing, a waterfront shopping & dining mall where the once free, no services docks are being converted to “pay for stay” docks
with electricity and water. The extremely low rates and the addition of services seems to have attracted a lot more large motor
vessels at once was a sailboat and small trawler free stopover. Still, at $1.25/ft including services it was a bargain and a good stop.
We shopped a bit, mostly for winter clothes, and had a fun dinner the first evening with about four other boats at a Japanese table-
grill restaurant.
Folly and Shalotte. At 11 minutes past 11 we crossed into South Carolina at the Little River. At 1350 hours we docked at Barefoot
Landing, a waterfront shopping & dining mall where the once free, no services docks are being converted to “pay for stay” docks
with electricity and water. The extremely low rates and the addition of services seems to have attracted a lot more large motor
vessels at once was a sailboat and small trawler free stopover. Still, at $1.25/ft including services it was a bargain and a good stop.
We shopped a bit, mostly for winter clothes, and had a fun dinner the first evening with about four other boats at a Japanese table-
grill restaurant.
The day after election day we moved about 40 miles farther south in South Carolina down one of the most unusual stretches of the ICW,
the Waccamaw River. Here the channel winds its way through the cypress forest with almost no banks in sight for twenty miles. Still,
there were about fifteen boats in loose company, bunching up at bridges that had to be opened. Eight of us chose Thoroughfare Creek for
the night. This is one of the most highly rated anchorages on the Waterway and deservedly so with its good anchor holding, minor current,
excellent wind protection and pristine, undeveloped beauty. This location was about as remote as one could imagine from the election and
Rumsfeld resignation news on CNN through the Sirius satellite radio on board. Carl fished amid the wheat-field-like gold of the marshes
and the red-orange-yellow-green symphony of the fall foliage.
the Waccamaw River. Here the channel winds its way through the cypress forest with almost no banks in sight for twenty miles. Still,
there were about fifteen boats in loose company, bunching up at bridges that had to be opened. Eight of us chose Thoroughfare Creek for
the night. This is one of the most highly rated anchorages on the Waterway and deservedly so with its good anchor holding, minor current,
excellent wind protection and pristine, undeveloped beauty. This location was about as remote as one could imagine from the election and
Rumsfeld resignation news on CNN through the Sirius satellite radio on board. Carl fished amid the wheat-field-like gold of the marshes
and the red-orange-yellow-green symphony of the fall foliage.
After leaving the almost primeval surroundings of the Waccamaw River, slowly being encroached upon by new docks, we motored passed
one of our favorite stops, Georgetown, SC (Old King George did alright with getting towns named after him throughout the Americas!).
Down Winyah Bay we went and turned right into the Estherville-Minim Creek Canal. Almost immediately we saw one of nature’s most
awe-inspiring sites: bald eagles soaring over the fish-rich waters. There were also pelicans, snowy egrets and other waterfowl, but the four
or five eagles were the main attractions and Diva was enthralled by their majesty and grace. It is so gratifying to see that controls on
insecticides and developments seem to have preserved these grand national symbols.
We anchored in the marshlands that characterize the South Carolina and Georgia coasts in a remote spot called Minim Creek. We
anchored early enough to enjoy a beautiful, sunny and temperate afternoon on the creek. Carl repaired his casting rod and fished. We were
joined near dusk by a catamaran and a small trawler.
one of our favorite stops, Georgetown, SC (Old King George did alright with getting towns named after him throughout the Americas!).
Down Winyah Bay we went and turned right into the Estherville-Minim Creek Canal. Almost immediately we saw one of nature’s most
awe-inspiring sites: bald eagles soaring over the fish-rich waters. There were also pelicans, snowy egrets and other waterfowl, but the four
or five eagles were the main attractions and Diva was enthralled by their majesty and grace. It is so gratifying to see that controls on
insecticides and developments seem to have preserved these grand national symbols.
We anchored in the marshlands that characterize the South Carolina and Georgia coasts in a remote spot called Minim Creek. We
anchored early enough to enjoy a beautiful, sunny and temperate afternoon on the creek. Carl repaired his casting rod and fished. We were
joined near dusk by a catamaran and a small trawler.
Coffee & muffins hosted
by used book store
by used book store
Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by
townspeople of St. Mary's
townspeople of St. Mary's
| Cruisers' happy hours hosted by Riverside Hotel |