A quick stop in South Carolina and on to North Carolina

A quick stop in South Carolina and on to North Carolina

After our one stop at Brunswick GA, we went outside overnight into Charleston, SC.  Always a favorite stop, we were delighted to get a text from our good friends, the Cobettos, saying they were also in Charleston.  This trip we had made reservations to stay on the north side of the peninsula at the Charleston Maritime Center.  It is a shallow marina that we have to enter and leave at mid to high tide. This slight inconvenience is more than made up for by the prime location a few blocks from a Harris Teeter grocery store, as well as all the great shops and restaurants of the old city.  As it happened we were on the best side to hook up with the Cobettos and their daughter Maggie’s family.  We got our fix of “grands” enjoying baby watching and toddler wisdom by spending an afternoon at their rented beach house.  We also are indebted to Greg for procuring some widgets Steve needed to fix a couple leaks in our engine room.  Our brief stop also included several outstanding meals – dinner at 82 Queens with classic southern shrimp and grits, BBQ shrimp and salmon with corn pudding at the Red Drum and several breakfasts and treats at the Saffron Bakery just a short walk from our dock. Charleston is always a must stop – but even better to share it with friends.

Leaving with the mid tide we flew down the river only to get rocked by falling tide opposing strong winds as we exited for our another overnight into Cape Fear and Southport, NC.  Those with weak stomachs suffered, but fortunately the forecast was for diminishing winds and waves and this indeed was the case.  

We timed the arrival better this round to avoid the mad fishing boats charging out of the channel in the dark that waked us in Charleston. Also, realizing we might arrive before the dock master on Saturday, we organized the slip information and docking instructions by phone early on Friday.  As he promised, there was not a shortage of helpers to tie our ropes.  Boaters are early risers and several of our new neighbors jumped out to catch our lines.  Steve had the boat washed before the office was even open.  The marina choice here was a new one for us as well.  While we enjoy revisiting favorite spots we like to check out the various docking options.  Deer Point Marina is a sister facility to the Bald Head marina that we visited last spring and the base for the ferries that run between the island and mainland. 

 It is also ideally situated off the Cape Fear River for our next leg into Wrightsville Beach and only a short bike ride into the town of Southport.  We took advantage of the bike path and ventured in to Taylor’s Café for lunch and a little “shopping”. …. brass fittings for PSE and clothing plus satay sticks for JEE.

Another surprise greeted us in Deep Point Marina.  We spotted Keeper – another Krogen that we last met on the Okeechobee waterway last spring.  Although the boat is their home – sadly they were not onboard for our visit.  (The owner is an airline pilot who is still working from his floating home base.)

Needless to say, after another all night run, a few naps were included on our agenda.  Hopefully we will be doing only long days as we continue our march toward Canada, but we will always be ready for a big hop, if the weather gods permit it.

P.S. Frank has already recovered - 

NOTE: if anyone is wondering why we did all of these long overnight runs, they only need look back at our previous blogs and count the days it takes to travel inside on the ICW from Florida to Cape Lookout.  We are forced to work the tides since there are many skinny spots that have shoaled and require a rising tide to safely transit.  The timing of travel and limitations of only one tide period during daylight hours make this a trip on the ICW of short days and nervous depth sounder watching.  (We heard one boat yesterday as we rolled along in the Atlantic – say he had already been stuck several times just in that day alone.) By running outside and overnight, we have saved our travel days for regions that we have not yet explored.    

From Florida to Georgia

From Florida to Georgia

Making one more stop in Florida, we spent a few nights off Fernandina Beach, FL.  This lovely and historic town on the northern tip of Amelia Island is a favorite cruiser stop.  The marina is well run and includes a roomy mooring field with reasonable balls that come with generous amenities.  The main street is a few steps away from the dock and sports numerous restaurant options, several bakeries – our favorite is the Pecan Roll on 7^th St – as well as antique malls, tourist goodies and galleries galore.  Nice as well to have been here for their farmer’s market on Saturday – lots of organic produce, specialty cheeses, sea food and even crafts. No need to ride a bike off to a Publix! Spending a few days here is easy and we left with a few treasures as well as fresh shrimp and scallops. 

Our next stop was Brunswick Landing in Brunswick GA – where we arrived minutes before their Mother’s Day celebration with free food and adult beverages.  The Dock Master, Sherrie, entertained us with an adlibbed standup routine – in the form of introductions of marina residents and stories about her unique solutions with “difficult” guests.  Her sense of humor and dedication to cruisers makes this a wonderful stopover or long term home to weather the hurricane season.  Word to the wise, however, “Don’t mess with Sherrie!”  Oh, yes, this marina is again a half block from the old town shopping strip with several antique stores, an old-time hardware store and every kind of restaurant imaginable.  The farmer’s market held three times a week was an additional bonus making the short trip up the river well worth the detour.

Still in the great FLOR-EED

Still in the great FLOR-EED

Detaching ourselves from the welcoming Fort Pierce we took the ICW a few miles up to the cruiser friendly Vero Beach.  

On previous trips we have only had time for a short stopover here but decided this might be a good time to check out the area and see what has given this such a great reputation among boaters.  We biked – thanks to Alizann – down to the beach-side café for breakfast. (OK a couple times, but who can resist breakfast on the beach?) We, well some of us anyway, also made a stop at the farmer’s market and rode the free bus to Publix/TJMaxx (for food and lady essentials) and Allan’s Bicycle Center (for new inner tubes). There was even time for a dinghy tour of the canals with libations for recovery.  

Although we did not venture further it is nice to know that the free bus could also take us to a BIG mall and even an outlet mall.  This tidbit did not excite the men, but Suzanne and I filed it away for future trips.  Our bike rides through this charming beach community just reinforced our positive impression of this area…. Without a doubt we will be stopping here in the future. 

From Vero we made a long run to an anchorage behind the Cape Canaveral complex and then another long day into Daytona Beach. A slightly shorter (but still long for us) trip took us into St Augustine.  Here our agenda includes haircuts, laundry, pump outs and visits to marine salvage and parts shops.  Steve has been battling the stern thruster motor that has been on the fritz since we wrapped the dink cord around the prop anchoring in the Bahamas.  The new prop was installed by ace Steve, but the motor refused to do its job. While relaxing in Vero, Steve uninstalled the motor – which is both a dirty and contortionist task – only to find here in St Augustine that the motor was not the problem after all – well that is THANKFULLY was not the problem.  Only now he must re-install the big hunk of metal back in the tiny and sooty hole in our lazarette.   L  While diagnosing the motor/thruster issue, Steve also located and purchased a bigger anchor to be installed for our next trip to the sandy shores of the Bahamas.  A few other “essentials” also seemed to find their way into the bag, but it is his “birthday month” so who is counting?

When a reasonable weather window appears – i.e. after this May sub- TROPICAL storm blows on out to sea – we plan to continue northward…

Oh yes, the camera that refused to operate in the Bahamas now seems perfectly OK - on vacation or high humidity....

Finally, update on Paul and Amanda - they are currently traveling WEST to a new home in Seattle. Here is a stop at the CANYON!