Traveling the ICW on the East Coast: Part I : May 8 - June 8, 2016

I have tried to show my pictures in order but have not always succeeded.  Enjoy!  

This is an archeology dig right in the center of the tourist district in St. Augustine

Always amazed at gorgeous piers.  No ice to worry about.

Houses along the ICW

Good for a laugh

I do drive!

We look so handsome(or pretty).

For my sister in law

Wrecks are abandoned

One of our carriage tours

Yes, it did rain.

Getting ready to bring in the "Catch of the day"!  Yummy!

  A pirate ship used for tours

Our traveling routine on the InterCoastal Waterway continues to be taking lines in or throwing lines, putting fenders on or taking them off, hooking or unhooking water and electricity and leaving our Port between 7- 8 a.m. with a goal to arrive at next destination between 1-2 p.m.  A new part of the routine is calculating the high and low tides for leaving and arriving.

     Anchoring out is a lot simpler than when we were on the river system.  We each find a good spot for lowering our individual anchors, release the anchors and once it catches we are good to go.  We are usually within visual distance from each other.  This is called Swinging.  During our North Channel trips, anchoring together required a lot of manuevering.  Swinging makes boat life less stressful.


     We have been to many Ports since my last Blog.  Most of them have been quaint, small communites with very friendly and accomodating people.  Accents vary since there are many transplants especially in South and North Carolina.  Our accents are guessed at Minnesota, Wisconsin and Canada. 

     St. Augustine, Florida is our 1st stop since the last blog.  It was my 4th visit and the Oldest City in the U.S. never loses its appeal:  The history, the ocean, and the small town feel. 

     Our Marina stays and Anchoring out through Florida and Georgia were pretty and uneventful.  We seem to be either one step ahead or behind some big storm systems. We have had rain and the winds tend to rock our boats hard.  Marinas, Cities, and Anchorages following St. Augustine were Jacksonsville City Park, Fernandian Harbor, Brunswick, Wahoo Island, and  Thunderbolt - a small area near Savannah.

     As we entered  Beaufort, South Carolina we heard a lot about the Low Country.  They ain't kidding.  Along with the Low Country comes acres of Salt Marshes, Rice fields, and gigantic biting flies.  Humidity is now a part of our daily lives.  But with all that comes some historic as well as beautiful and very friendly stops.  We took a Carriage Tour in Beufort and learned all about the history of the area.  If anyone is ever interested:  Look up the Life of Robert Smalls.  Very interesting.

    After anchoring in Toogoodoo Creek ( I have to Google that name.), we arrived for a 4 night stay in Charleston, S.C.  We were busy tourists:  History Carriage Tour, shopping in the famous Market Area ( I sure wanted to buy a beautiful hand made Sweetgrass basket for $600!!) Ha!   But the most educational and inspiring Tour was Patriots Point.  We toured the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, the USS Clamagore Submarine and finally the Vietnam Experience which was a recreating of how our soldiers lived, worked, and died for our Country.  It was surreal because they not only had the sound of  helicopters but there were real helicopters flying overhead.  Thank you to all who served. 

Notice the tide is out.  You can tell by the barnacles on the pole.

Long docks usually means shallow water.

The sand dunes remind us of the Michigan side of Lake Michigan.

Sometimes the boys have to raise and lower their antennas and anchor lights for going under a bridge.

 

Oysters that show up when the tide is out.

One of many bridges

Large shrimp boats in action

Pictures that depict the Southern States.  Love the trees!

Busy swatting gigantic flies!

Anchor set for anchoring out.  We are swinging. Very peaceful

Threatening looking skies - just rain and wind.  Thanks for all the concern from home. 

These are Hurricane regulations for a Hurricane Hole which is where you can put your boat during a Hurricane.

Rod is watching Barnacles go to the Bathroom.

Pictures from the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier

These 3 pictures are from the Vietnam Experience.

Another shrimp boat: I am sorry but I always think of Forrest Gump.  Love that movie.

We like taking pictures of our boats.

Beautiful homes on the ICW

People store their boats like this and have them launched when they want to use them.  Called dry storage. 

A kid in a small boat pushing a large piece of dock. It is his own private barge.

We see flags in shallow water.  Our guess is a warning to boaters that this is shallow water.  Not sure, though.

Fixed pier

     Our adventures continue in South Carolina and North Carolina with stops at Minim Creek, Georgetown, Coquina Yacht Club in the Myrtle Beach Area.  This was a longer stay due to the Memorial Day weekend boat traffic.  As we continued Northward from the Myrtle Beach area we could see the ocean and all the huge homes and Hi Rise Condos.  Our stops in North Carolina now included Southport, Surf City, Morehead and I end our travels for this blog in Belhaven at Dowry Creek Marina.



                               Some terms and observations that might be of interest:
1.    Pelicans have been a common sight along our travels.  As they dive to catch their dinner, the sound and sight reminds me of a giant belly flop.  Wish I had a picture but they move too quick.

2.   Floating Piers vs. Fixed Piers:  Floating means the piers move with the water levels.  Fixed: no movement means getting on and off the boats requires flexibility. 

3.   There is a crackling sound that we hear on our boats occasionally.  We found the answer:  It is Snapping Shrimp: they are stunning prey, defending territory and communicating with other shrimp.(Copied from a Chart Guide Book).  Snap - Crackle- Pop!

4.   Last Comment:  We have been told that we would encounter Alligators!  No such luck - Except
                                                       ROD!  
He said he saw a very large alligator right next to our boat as we were cruising.  At first he thought it was a log.  Harley didn't see it.  Ann didn't see it.  And of course, I was sleeping(He says).  So I leave you with that.  Becky and Bob Greiber - perhaps we should have little alligators hanging from our tree when we return!  Moose in Norway = Alligator on the ICW!!

                             Thank you to Ann for FINALLY teaching me how to tie off a fender.
                              Patience truly is a virtue!
                      

In Surf City within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean - finally!  I love my ocean!

Nice family helping to run a new marina in Surf City.

Working hard but still the Princess!

Our last Marina for this blog:  Dowry Creek Marina in Belhaven, 

How our map looks now.  Harley's is more specific.

My typical position during a long ride.

The oldest schoolhouse in St. Augustine

 

Last but not Least:  Rod's version of the Alligator!  Sure, honey!