Brooke Smith
04/23/2012, Oriental Marina

Jello Plans, Jello Plans. That's what it's called when things just change on a cruising trip. We are canceling the Outer Banks segment of our trip due to extended bad weather forecast. We will make a special trip there some other time. So, instead I guess we will move north along the protected ICW to belhaven today.
We have really enjoyed Oriental, NC. The marina is nice; good hardware/boating store; a great store called "Nautical Wheelers" that has great clothing, shoes, wine and many other gift and outdoor items. WE also bought fresh seafood from a little seafood store almost across the street from the marina. There is also a very nice coffee shop that made a good latte'. And last night we ate at the Marina's restaurant called Toucans where we had great hamburgers and homemade banana cake.
So, todays passage is going to be chilly. It's 51º as I write this and the barometer is extremely low at 29.51" but is rising from lasts night when the barometer read 29.37". What this means is it is going to get windy as the pressure goes up. 29.92" is normal pressure. I don't know to relate to millibars as the weatherman now speaks. Oh well maybe they will change to dynes per square centimeters next!!!
Today's picture is sunrise at Southport, NC.

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Brooke Smith
04/21/2012, Beaufort NC

Just had to tell a little bit about our travel from Surf City to Swansboro concerning the US Marines. Yep, Camp Lejune is on both sides of the ICW here and they actually have a stop light on the ICW when the marines are practice fighting from one side of the ICW to the other. This was not the case. But the Marines were doing something with canons or something with big explosions. We would hear the big guns fire and several seconds later the impact explosions. Kind of cool at a distance. But then as we got closer I started flinching when the guns would fire. And, then the weirdest thin happened IMPACT. The boat actually had shock waves traveling through the earth and water. Nothing quite like feeling concussions through your hull. WE WERE NOT very close to this action. But the power of the explosions travel through the earth quite a ways. As I write this we are in Beaufort, NC about 35 miles from the Marines and I hear the big explosions this morning. Don't feel those through the hull though..

The picture might I wanted to use today is too hard to read. It is a warning sign on shore saying KEEP OUT IMPACT ZONE. I would take this sign very seriously.

So, instead todays picture is some contraption being pulled and pushed by two tugs and a third in for good measure.

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Brooke Smith
04/20/2012, Casper's Marina Swansboro, NC

Sunday we left Osprey Marina just south of Myrtle Beach and traveled to Barefoot Marina, North Myrtle Beach. We got there shortly before Eddie and Florence (Brooke's brother and mom) arrived. They came to see us, all the way from Richmond!! After telling a few more details about our trip to the Bahamas, we tried dinner at Jay's Asian Fusion Restaurant. What a big day we had on Monday: running more errands, checking out Eddie and Mom's oceanfront suite, dinner and show at the Alabama Theater. I have to say that Florence chose the funniest rib restaurant we've ever been to, not to mention food was great. The current production at the Alabama Theater, a variety show, was excellent! They have a 'deadpan' comedian who plays a stage hand who is not too brilliant. He comes on and off throughout the show and was so funny we had tears in our eyes! We recommend Dick's Last Resort for dinner and Alabama Theater afterwards, North Myrtle Beach, at Barefoot Landing. I think Brooke covered the next day and evening when we met Judy and Chuck Young in Southport for dinner at the Dead End Saloon and Fish Market. What a treat seeing them. Yesterday we made it north to Surf City, on Topsail Island and had a nice two dinners with for $14!! Homemade food, mom and pop style! I am going to have to get used to cooking when I get back home!! Tonight, we are staying very near the historic area of Swansboro, NC. Some very good Canadian friends are stopping by as they drive toward Ottowa. Donna and Ron, from No Snow, and their dog, Winnie the Pooh, joined us in the Bahamas UP on our fly bridge for Happy Hour! Winnie is a large dog and just climbed right up the stairs! So funny! I see why people often say dogs think they are humans, too. Ron, Donna and Winnie showed up abut 7:30 after driving from Jacksonville, FL. They closed up their boat and will return in November. We had a nice meal at the Italian restaurant and talked non-stop. Then they needed to move along and get a room for the night. They might make Ottawa tomorrow. Long ride for sure. Today, we are headed to Beaufort, SC to catch some other people we met in the Bahamas. Lee and Cheryl aboard their boat, LIVE WIRE, are in Beaufort. They are on the way home to Martha's Vineyard.
Picture today is WINNIE THE POOH fishing Tahiti Beach, Elbow Cay, Bahamas

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Brooke Smith
04/18/2012, SOUTH HARBOUR VILLAGE MARINA

Just a brief note and picture of Chuck and Judy Young at South Harbour Marina's Dead End Saloon Restaurant. Susan worked 16 years with Judy and Chuck is an avid boater. Way in the past we traveled with them in our first boat to Onnacock, VA where Chuck was proud that he had to tow us. A sailboat towing a powerboat. Seemed ok to me. Anyhow, Check and Judy have retired to Southport and have a nice condo overlooking the ICW. How, great is that? All interesting things come by their balcony each day. We had a nice dinner with them and now this morning we are off to around Topsail or Surf City for the night.
Suz will be recapping our hilarious time at Myrtle Beach with my my Mom and Brother while I Drive!!!!!!

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Brooke Smith
04/15/2012, Osprey Marina near Myrtle Bech

WE ARE IN FRESH WATER OF THE ICW. Alligators live in fresh water. Guess what we saw yesterday. Yep a bald eagle. Oh yea the alligator too. Not getting in the water to check anything here. Lots of beautiful trees and stuff. But this brief addition to yesterdays blog is really about the alligator. We were here November 21, 2011 on the way south and saw no alligators. We never saw any along the ICW in GA, or Florida cause the water is salty.
So, the picture for this blog is the alligator.

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Brooke Smith
04/14/2012, Georgetown, SC

We are in Georgetown, SC. What a pretty town. And the wonderful southern accents of the people are just like something out of a movie. WE walked around with our friends Casey and Laurilea Gibbs, yesterday morning and had a great lunch at a new restaurant called Alfresca. Of course it was wonderful and very good prices. But it's the feel of this town that is really special. Very warm people. Everyone speaks to you and all seem very happy living here. Georgetown is a very historic place. Once it was the capital of rice. We missed the rice museum yesterday. Might take it in today before we shove off.

Fuel is the cheapest here of ANYWHERE ( $378/gal. ) we have been the entire trip. So, I will be topping off the tanks.
We are headed to Osprey Marina about half way to Myrtle Beach today; Myrtle tomorrow to meet my Mom and Brother; Southport, NC to meet a lady that Susan worked with for 16 years and then our focus is going to be the Outer banks of NC.
We are currently at statue mile 403 on the Intracoastal Waterway. Mile zero is Norfolk, VA. So we are that close. The Outer Banks diversion will add to this distance. But we are getting closer to home. We have traveled 2704 statue miles ( 2350 Nautical Miles ) since we got on the boat Halloween night 2011. We are getting excited about getting home. But, the trip between here and there is a bunch of fun. So, we will just be taking our time. Liquid Therapy has performed just wonderfully and reliably. Just a grand old boat.
Todays picture is a harbor view a few minutes ago here at Georgetown.

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