Wow… The Last Post on the BLOG was from Carolina Beach Mooring fields… A lot has transpired since then….
We left the Mooring fields at CB and caught the EBB tide down to Southport… Where we fueled up; filled with water; and got a pumpout… Then……………. WE had a wonderful three days with the Browns (Janet and Bill)… We saw a great movie (MIDWAY)…. And had two great HOME Cooked dinners, and other meals too…
We stayed overnight at their home the last night…. Which did put us a tiny bit behind a normal shove OFF time…. Not normally a problem when the route was to Barefoot Landing…. (Myrtle Beach)… BUT those facilities NO LONGER take transient boaters for over night stays…. BUMMER…. So we had to continue… on into the Waccamaw River, and down to either Osprey or the Oxbow… We opted for the OXBOW anchorage, but unfortunately the daylight didn’t cooperate… and we ended up anchoring in the dark…. With three other boats in there too…. A wee bit scary…. In that we also had to anchor near a stump….. (turned out NOT to be a problem…. But still a bit scary).
In the AM we left early… to make our way down the Waccamaw River and INTO the ICW (route toward Charleston…) the outside route NOT being possible due to WIND, and TIMING….
We entered the ICW there at the “Western Channel”… and proceeded up far enough to anchor for the night at MINIM Creek…. NICE anchorage… Lots of Room to swing…
Minim creek: N33 16.356 W 079 16.382
We shared the anchorage with only one other vessel… a very esoteric looking TRI-maran… the outriggers were held out there with long 2x4’s…. I won’t describe the rest of the vessel….. Let ‘s just say You normally would not anchor next to this vessel…
Today (Tuesday)… We pulled anchor at First LIGHT (before sunrise)… so we could, HOPEFULLY make it to Charleston SC harbor before the really NASTY weather set in…. WELL… We just Made IT !!!!
I was surprised… that the inside route (which we haven’t done in years) was so easy…. ONLY about a dozen really stressful places… shoaled areas… and two Dredges.. to get By….
(one note the dredges were NOT giving instructions on the normal ch 13… VHF 16 seemed to be preferred for them…. Weird… Not customary at ALL..
Rain and wind started just BEFORE we dropped the hook…. In the Ashley River… near the USCG base..
Today was 46 nm Anchor down at N 32 45.99 W 079 56.39 in about 22 feet of water…
The radio was fairly busy this afternoon…. With a boat called “Nasty Habit” running aground on the Charleston South JETTY….
OK…. The winds are now at full force… Gusts to over 40 Knots… and the rain is slicing.. I think I’d rather have just the COLD…. I guess we’ll SEE… tomorrow…. BRRRR
OK… time for DINNER… and close up the boat…. Temps should start to FALL soon.