Port Royal Landing--One Horse Town!!

Today's route and destination (Lynnie told me how to shorten the link title.  So just click on this shortened link):
Charleston, SC to Port Royal Landing (near Beaufort, SC)

There are 7-foot tides here.  And, the marina is a good distance from the shore.  When the tide is down, so is the ramp from the elevated fixed walkway from shore.  As you can see here, Vicki is just a little squirt at the bottom of the ramp going to our dock.

Now, while in Charleston the other day, Doug and Tammy invited us over for apps and wine tasting.  They purchased this neat appliance that changes dirt-cheap wine into the finest of fine.  It's called Vinturi.  And, it really worked!!!  We brought over a box of white and a bottle of rot-gut red.  They were remarkably transformed into fine chateaus.

Here's Doug performing the wine transformation.  As they say in the hills, "we gotta get us one o them" !!

Port Royal Landing is just down the waterway from the much more popular Beaufort, SC, pronounced Bue-fort.  (The Beaufort in NC is pronounced Bo-fort, I think.)  We have been to Beaufort a couple of times so thought we would visit here to check it out.  After all, that's the purpose of this slo-mo cruise south--to see the world!  This marina has a courtesy car, or in this case a courtesy pickup.  We borrowed the truck at 4:30 PM.  The dockmaster told us we had to have the truck back by 6 PM when they close.  We were back with the truck at 4:55 PM.  It's a very small place.  The restaurant on site is know for their hamburgers and rightly so.  They were fantastic!

Church Services in Charleston, SC

Our route and new location:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.055868,-79.62616&spn=0.675636,1.668549&t=h&z=10&msid=102224145462847302635.000478a80d5a97235b5c2

We are piously attentive in church.  Actually, the Mud River Bar and Grille was converted from an old church.  So, Doug, Tammy, Vicki and Norm conducted services there.  Beer tasting services, that is.
The treat of the visit to Charleston was meeting up with Bart and Ellie Franey.  Two lunches, one at the Noisy Oyster; and, one at the Reel Grille at Barts marina were awesome.  Bart also schlept us around to West Marine and to the Post Office to get Christmas packages sent.  (We're celebrating Christmas on Thanksgiving at Norm's daughter's home in Columbus, OH.  The whole family will be there.

That's Bart in between Vicki and Tammy.  Bart was the ultimate port captain and a great guy.  Thanks Bart. 

Of course this blog entry would not be complete without mentioning Reggie, Barts Dog.  Reggie would greet us with a slow bark and crying bellow every time.  Wonderful pup!

This marina, "Charleston Maritime Center Marina" was the most convenient to downtown and the historic center.  BUT, it was the most rolly polly dock we have ever been at.  As you can see, our boats are directly abeam of the entrance to a "WORKING HARBOR" as the dockmaster puts it.  Vicki had to get off the boat yesterday afternoon because she was getting sea-sick at the dock.  Too bad, it's a great little marina with a great staff running it. 

We departed Charleston this morning at the crack of dawn in order to catch the right tide at Fields Cut down the waterway.  Need to make passage there on half tide or better.

Geezerville remembered!

Today's location, Georgetown, SC, a 60-mile run from N Myrtle Beach.  See our route by clicking on the following link.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102224145462847302635.000478553b2a3fc02b15d&t=h&ll=33.394759,-79.169197&spn=0.615696,1.599884&z=10

Remnants of IDA were still with us on yesterday's run.  It was chilly, overcast, drizzly in spots and windy. Conditions wern't too bad to chase us from the flying bridge to the pilothouse though. That's the beauty of the intracoastal waterway.  NOAA weather reported 11-15 foot waves in the Atlantic yesterday.

We stopped here with Rick and Lynnie (MV Rickshaw) on our way North last June and celebrated Norm's 65th birthday.   Hence, "Geezerville".  We're at at different marina this time (Boat Shed Marina) because it has better rates.  Gypsies are due in tomorrow.  They stayed back another day in Wrightsville Beach due to continuing bad weather.  Seems we slipped south of the really bad stuff just in time.

Weather has improved significantly since yesterday.  This is the Marnia's front yard.  It's sunny and warm here.  So, we took a walk downtown and through some of the closer residential areas.

Most of the residential streets here are lined with these huge old trees.  This one on the right is over 540 years old.

There are tons of these old plantation-type mansions. These two were built in the 1700's.

 

IDA's Rath Is Upon Us.

Today's location:  See our progress from Southport, NC to N Myrtle Beach, SC.  Just click on this link below.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.82023,-78.377838&spn=0.66971,1.668549&z=10&msid=109668809482238190310.0004782d9fe5b30b36828

Our cruise today was 40 miles in rain, cold and high winds.  The Intracoastal Waterway was the place to be and we were nicely protected most of the way.  Only felt IDA's high winds in early afternoon as we passed open inlets.  We'll  stay "hunkered down" here for another day due to continuing gnarly weather.

Passed this sport fishing cruiser.  This guy had a bad day!  From the looks of the water stains we think she may have been lying ther for a while.  We try to avoid these types of docking situations.  Hard to sleep on such an angle.

New and Improved......

We felt uneasy leaving Doug and Tammy, but they insisted we go because they are secure, have the parts coming in the mail and Doug has all the tools and knowledge to replace the alternator.  They also knew that we were on a schedule to catch a plane in Jacksonville, FL.  So, with their blessing, we departed Wrightsville Beach at first light. 

New and Improved.  Now see our course from Wrightsville Beach to Southport, NC.  It was just a short trip today.  We have been expecting heavy rains and winds this afternoon, so decided to call it a day when we got to Southport.  Here is the link.  Please give it a couple more seconds to download; and, don't forget to zoom out for a bigger picture.  Check it out and let us know what you think of this.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&ll=33.91847,-78.02443&spn=0.010452,0.026071&z=16&msid=102224145462847302635.0004780e8b99bb0b408e6

We were passed by this TRUMPY along the way.  What a beautiful boat.  Just look at the details of this old classic that has been updated with satellite TV and other amenities.

Crossing the Masonboro Inlet, we spotted this bait boat.  Quite different from the typical bait store.

We walked the town today and had lunch at Day Street Pizza and Deli.  Only OK.  We also picked up a few Christmas stocking stuffers.  Lots of choices in this tourist town.  We also visited the Maritime Museum and saw artifacts of the Andrea Dora and other sunken ships, a brief history of pirates in the Cafe Fear area and more.

Restricted Bridges, Opposite Currents, Funny Boats and Bad Alternators....

Our position tonight:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=34.202716,-77.76947&spn=0.166676,0.417137&t=h&z=12&msid=102224145462847302635.000477f80df44988e9c24

We and the Gypsies cruised about 40 miles today.  We're anchored with about 25 or so other boats, mostly sailboats in the Wrightsville Beach, NC anchorage.  This anchorage is just north of the Masonboro Inlet.  It was a long day due to restricted bridges (they only open at designated times).  We had to wait for a couple; and, in some of the locations, we were fighting the tidal currents shooting in from the Atlantic into the Intracoastal at the inlets.  Then the bad news.  One of Gypsies alternators went belly up.  Doug is waiting for the engine room to cool down before attempting rescue.  But, he thinks it will have to be replaced since it is exhibiting the same symptoms that the other alternator exhibited before it croaked.  We all have one alternator on each engine.  I offered him the spare I carry, but it is different and would require extensive rewiring.  Doug says he has installed these before, so not to worry.

This "boat" was actually blocking our way through the Wrightsville Beach Lift Bridge.  Could not tell immediately what it was.  His engine was stalled and they were frantically trying to restart her as 10 or so boats were transiting the bridge opening heading south.  Then, we saw exactly what it was.  It was this....  You tell me!















Yesterday, we cruised from Morehead City to Mile Hammock Anchorage.  Mile Hammock is part of Camp LeJune Marine Base but is open to public anchoring.  We've been there a couple of times before on our northerly/southerly treks.  Here's its location:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=34.553755,-77.32461&spn=0.020747,0.052142&t=h&z=15&msid=102224145462847302635.000477f8a193a604caa82

It was a very peacefull anchorage with bright stars we could touch, and quiet.  That is till this morning.  Just after we departed we heard bombs exploding.  Must have been those bunker-busters they were so loud and the vibration was felt in our chests.  Tammy hit the nail on the head:  "we left just in time".

Here's Gypsies in the Palace this morning just after sunrise.

This looks like an old Marine artillery target, but it's parked in the anchorage.

Friends and.............Pizza. What else!!

Our new location tonight:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?t=h&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=34.553826,-77.324524&spn=0.020747,0.052142&z=15&msid=109668809482238190310.000477e4c7e25b48bf26a

Hello All.  We are cruising south with Doug and Tammy aboard Gypsies in the Palace.  Arrived Mile Hammock Anchorage at 3:30 today.  Fired up the grill and had an early dinner.  Will be a relaxing night just reading and getting ready for the morn.  Tomorrow we head for Wrightsville Beach Anchorage.

Last night was dinner with the gang at Morehead City.  Cocktails aboard Rickshaw and dinner at the local pizza restaurant.

Tammy brought over her Curried Chicken--scrumptous!!  Here's Doug and Tammy enjoying the  moment.







Here's Lynnie calling a time out for, well....noone knows what!