We rented a car for the weekend and got all our needs taken care of and also got to witness the Endeavor launch! Saturday we had gone shopping to Jacksonville via #95 and returned via A1A along the ocean and did the same thing on Monday when we returned from Titusville after the launch. It is nice to take a few days at dock at this point and get a better idea of the area we see by water, by land as well.
Al finished up all the things on Bob’s list by 10:30 on Wednesday morning and we were underway at 11:00. I had done one load of wash in the machines at the marina and had to hang them on the top of the boat to dry. I’m sure we looked pretty tacky on the ICW with laundry flying! At least they dried quickly and could be taken down shortly after lunch.
We passed through St. Augustine shortly after lunch. No longer do they have any part of the temporary bridge left and the new Bridge of Lions is fully operational.
Passing St. Augustine, FL
Nice home in St. Augustine
Refurbished Tower - Bridge of Lions
Tour boat in St. Augustine harbor
Home along the waterfront of the ICW
We anchored for the night in the St. George River just north of Jacksonville, FL. It was a VERY peaceful anchorage with golden marsh grass all around.
We were up and underway by 8, a nice leisurely time to get underway. It is so nice to be out of the crazy part of Florida and into an area more like that found in Georgia. We will make Brunswick, GA for the night. This is our fuel stop where we take on fuel for the trip north as well.
When we passed Fernandino Beach, we were hailed by Vicki and Buck on Victoria Gaye. They had arrived that morning with Gigi and Vic on Gigi’s Island along with the folks on Sojourner. Unfortunately, we had to pass them but in order to make a date with friends on Friday at Skidaway Island, plus since it was only 10:30 in the morning, it was way too early to stop. We were sorry we didn’t get to see them here, but still hope to see them later on the way north. They had been a day behind us, but did an overnight passage on the outside and caught up to us.
We were hailed by another boat also named Pretty Penny! It was a lovely trawler. We have often checked into a marina in the Bahamas and on the ICW and been asked “which Pretty Penny” we were. Well, it seems this was the “other” Pretty Penny!
The land in Georgia is so flat that you can see the Brunswick Bridge for hours before you get there. We stopped at Ocean Petroleum for our load of fuel to get home. It is so great to have a boat that only needs to stop twice for fuel. We could actually pick up enough fuel in the fall to do the whole trip all the way back home, but that adds a lot more weight to the boat that we then have to haul around with us, so we stop twice, both times at Ocean Petroleum in Brunswick. We have found the fuel here is always cheaper than in Florida. The staff could not be friendlier as well.
Passing under the bridge before Brunswick, GA
Some boating friends we met this year, John and Kathy, on Mystic Moon, happened to be docked at Brunswick Landing Marina and we went to dinner with them. We had crossed when they did from the Bahamas and had experienced engine trouble. They, luckily, managed to get home on their “spare” engine going 4 knots. They have their problem now fixed. We managed to just make it to Brunswick before they left the boat for 4 months! We had a nice time catching up on what they’ve been doing since we last saw them.
There was a light haze in the morning, but the sun was out making the water sparkle! When we reached the Savannah River - that the ICW crosses, we spotted a container ship coming up the river. We feared that we would reach the river at the same time, but luckily we did not.
Container ship we could see coming up the Savannah River.
Tide was out in this stretch of the ICW near Savannah, we saw some very "skinny" water depths through here.
We reached the Delegel Creek Marina by 4:30 in the afternoon, had showers, and were picked up for dinner by Bob’s former boss, Mark and his wife Shirley that live on Skidaway Island, GA. We always enjoy catching up on each other’s family news over dinner. We then went back to their home for dessert, before heading back to the boat.
Beautiful home along the ICW in Georgia
In Florida and Georgia you see a lot of covered docks. Our Homeowner's Assoc. at home does not allow this - they do block the view, but protect the boats from the hot sun.
The next morning it was low tide when we wanted to leave, so we waited an hour before leaving the dock. We had come in about low time the day before and had zero feet below the boat at one point. Luckily, we had no problems leaving.
At Isle of Hope Marina, we passed a couple of classic boats. Very nice, but a heck of a lot of upkeep!
Looks like a small Trumpy boat.
Shortly past Isle of Hope we pass Thunderbolt Marina and shipyard. Usually, this shipyard is loaded with several large mega-yachts undergoing repair either in their sheds or in the yard, with others waiting for work at their docks. This time we did not see a single mega-yacht in their yard. This could be a sign of the current economy.
Thunderbolt Marina and Service
Also spotted was this classic sailboat. Another boat that requires a lot of work to maintain.
2 masted sailboat
Just past Thunderbolt is a Hinkley Boat factory with a Hinkley at the dock.
We ended up passing Charleston, SC around 11:30 in the morning. We always manage to pass Charleston going north or south too early in the day to stop. I may have to put my foot down next year to make this a stop.
Interesting boat at dock in Charleston
Homes along the Battery in Charleston
Interesting use of the roof of a portico - looks like you have to climb out a window to get to it.
Home along the Battery
Home north of Charleston
We anchored for the night on River. This is a quiet river off the ICW. It was a beautiful, but buggy night. Some small bug got in by the aft cabin door by the hundreds. Luckily, some bug spray took care of them. So not only were we fighting off the deer flies, we had this small bug, looked like maybe a flying ant, to deal with. The next morning, the port side of the boat was covered with these little bugs. Most were dead.
Anchorage view in Georgia
It always makes me nervous to pass one of these huge barges in a narrow passage.
Monday night, we made our usual stop at Barefoot Landing Marina in Myrtle Beach, SC, which started out as a free tie up to a wall right on the ICW connected to large shopping/dining area (Barefoot Landing.) When they added power and water, they now charge for the stop. There are no showers or washers and dryers for cruisers or bathrooms right off the docks, so it is limited in that way. We like to stop here as you can get off the boat and walk around the area (of course, I like it because it has a Chico’s and other shops!) My son, Mike and his family live 45 minutes away and they came and met us for dinner. Granddaughter Casey is attending college in Myrtle Beach and we got to see her too. It is always nice to get caught up with them on our return trip.
Huge home on the ICW in Myrtle Beach
Old Marker Bouys around a restaurant in Myrtle Beach. OK so it is a seafood restaurant, but don't you think one in front would be enough?
Oh look - there's more! This is going to be a whole lot of rust someday.
The next morning we were underway with Dick and Jane on Cheetah II (folks we had met in George Town, Exuma) that ended up at Barefoot Landing with us. We also saw Monty and Sarah on Saranade, that do the surveying for the Explorer Charts that are the
charts of choice for cruising the Bahamas. We don’t know what we would do without them. Monty and Sarah have made it their life’s work to do these charts. They include all the services available on each inhabited island as well and are a wealth of information.
We had hoped to see Bob’s daughter and family at our stop at Swan Point Marina, but they were unable to make it. We will drive down and see them when school is out. We checked to see if we had TV coverage of local channels yet and we did! Do we got to see the last final competition show of American Idol and the final show of Dancing with the Stars! That was an unexpected treat.
After a very peaceful night, we were up early and underway by 7:15. Most of this day will be in the New River section of the ICW.
The next night we anchored in Snode Creek, just off the Pamlico River. This is another quiet and beautiful little anchorage.
We stopped the next night at Coinjock, NC. This marina has a terrific restaurant that Bob loves to eat at – they have 32 ounce prime rib dinners! He “restrained” himself this time and only ate half, leaving the rest for another night. This marina is just a wall that you tie up to along the ICW. I seemed like they were full when we came in, but the dockmaster adjusted all the boats to make room for a 75 footer to come in behind us. It was so close, Bob took the aft line from man on the boat and walked it across our bow to the dock line handler to pull the boat in. Amazing what those bow thrusters can do!
Happy Bob with his 32 ounce steak!
Friday, we came up the Virginia Cut to Norfolk passing the Great Bridge and through the Great Bridge Lock. It takes three hours to get all the way though Norfolk from there to the Navy base marina almost to the ocean cut. Since it was just noon, we trudged ahead to the marina, making it shorter to head up the bay the next day.
Passing through Norfolk, VA
Waterfront Marketplace
Close-up of Waterfront Marketplace
Navy Cruiser returning to port
Morning of our last day home at the marina
We had been watching the weather and hoping that we would not have rain or be affected by the storms heading northeast. Since it was predicted that we would have thunderstorms at home in Ophelia in the afternoon, we decided to get underway early, so we were underway at 6 A.M. Although we could see rain all around us, we made the trip without encountering anything more than just a few sprinkles. Ophelia had a nice rain shower before we arrived, but it was sunny when we got home.
Being Memorial Day weekend, we expected to see a lot of boats out and at least a few by the entrance to the jetty for the Little Wicomico River. Luckily, we were able to pass through easily. Our neighbor, Russ, was out fishing and sped over to wave at us, then we spotted our neighbor, Barry, who came out on his Sea Doo to escort us in!
Barry leading us in!
Our "Ace" line-handlers (neighbors Barry and Diane, Kathy and Jeff, and Scott), waiting to help with our lines on the dock!
Pretty Penny snug at her home dock!
We had a wonderful time cruising the Bahamas for the 4th year and looking forward to our 5th year, but also happy to see the family and being "land-based" for a few months this summer. We hope you all have a great summer as well. Remember, friends cruising the Chesapeake Bay this summer are always welcome to stop and stay a while!
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