November 24, 2008

Good morning! Monday, Monday, as the Mamas and the Papas used to sing---Can’t trust that day! In this case, it simply slid away with no Monday Message. So here goes on Tuesday, Tuesday. Last Monday began beautifully and ended less so! The ride from Oriental to Beaufort/Morehead City was delightful. While we didn’t stop there (again) we enjoyed the busy harbor with a city on either side of the Newport River. When we entered the Bogue Sound, the current pushed us to a dizzying 8 knots! I’d just commented to Fred that we should be watching for dolphins, when they began to show themselves. For a full two minutes a group of three swam alongside the boat, arcing, huffing and puffing, looking up at me, and generally showing off for my camera! Around two pm we got a message from the Marines at Camp LeJune that boats 3 and 4 miles out in the Ocean would be shooting live ammunition onto Onslow Beach (target practice, and radio use practice, as well). Along with 7 sailboats, we opted to anchor and wait them out, rather than backtrack. Two hours later, a ‘cease fire’ was declared so a tow boat could pass through the firing area to reach a vessel having an emergency. Half an hour after that someone allowed as how they’d not be firing again, and we could all pass through the firing range. YA, the fastest of the ‘fleet’ arrived at the Onslow Bridge (vertical clearance 12 feet) at 5:04pm. It opens on the hour and the half hour, and as no one was waiting at 5:00 the bridge tender told us apologetically, that he must wait till 5:30. And wait we did, and watched evening fall as a total of 12 cars crossed the bridge. By 5:34, when the swing bridge was open enough for us to go through it was dark, and our GPS decided to stop working. Fortunately, we have 3 backup systems, and between them and the ‘always at the ready’ paper chart, we made our way through a maze of markers and docked safely at Swan’s Point Marina just before 7 pm. Tuesday morning we opted to sit tight as the wind was whipping, and it was COLD! It actually snowed for about 10 minutes! YIKES! On Wednesday we were glad we’d waited, as it was a beautiful day--freezing, but sunny and calm. Fred had lowered our antennas a bit so we were able to pass under the Surf City and Figure Eight Bridges. At Wrightsville the book said 20 feet, but the bridge tender said 17, so we opted to wait it out with our 19 foot height. Fred’s laptop, with the maptech charts and GPS failed, also, so I plotted compass courses and we’re verifying them with the GPS unit that D2 gave Fred at the end of his year as Commander. Gerry, the hand held Garmin has now moved to first back up position! We passed through Snow’s Cut and the current coupled with a gentle breeze to carry us nicely down the Cape Fear River. With more than a gentle breeze, it can get ugly. The river was busy! Lots of barge and ferry traffic, dredges and multiple range markers and buoys, as well as the occasional pile of concrete simply standing in the water. We were happy to make the turn into the newly redone SouthPort Marina. Thursday morning we picked up a complimentary copy of USA today at 7 am and were off--heading for South Carolina. This stretch of the ICW is the last to be finished in the 1930’s, and we soon entered the section the Corps of Engineers had to blast open through fossiliferous limestone. The result is called the 19 mile long “Rock Pile“. Woe to the vessel who is pushed too far to the side. A tug captain in Georgetown told us how he’d watched a large power boat be destroyed by not slowing down to pass the tug. The consequence? Tore out the bottom of his boat on the hidden wall of rock. Uffda. The last pontoon bridge on the eastern ICW (one is working in Texas) opens only on the hour so we, along with 5 other boats, had a 40 minute wait. After a long stretch of “No wake” travel due to the many boats docked along the waterway, we passed through a swing bridge and tied up at Barefoot Landing. This 500’ long dock along the waterway is part of an outlet shopping center with lots of botiques (many closed for the season) outlet stores and restaurants. A nice stop; it is a part of North Myrtle Beach, the beginning of the 60 mile ocean front ‘Grand Strand’. This area continues to grow--three bridges are under construction between South Port and Myrtle Beach, to carry the increased traffic. Friday morning we were amazed to see that at 8am the Myrtle Beach golfers were out in the tram, crossing the waterway. Our thermometer said 39 degrees. Bless their hearts. Our Friday nite stop was in Georgetown, where we shopped at “Morsels” (specialty foods) and a book store, where we supplemented our library. (Maybe Wally Lamb’s “The Hour I First Believed” has something to do with the disappearance of Monday….) On Saturday, we twisted and wound our way along the rivers and cuts of the ICW to dock around 4 at Isle of Palms. Phoned my high school friend, Paula, who drove over from Sumter for lunch on Sunday. We then did an auto and walking tour of Charleston--see the photos of a few of the many places we saw! We walked miles and miles! The city is beautiful, historic, filled with flowers and gardens, and way more interesting places than we were able to see. A Must Return To City! So that is our week. Hope yours was great. As Thanksgiving Day approaches, we are mindful of our many, many blessings, and send you all our best wishes for a wonderful holiday. Fred and Linda Aboard YOUNG AMERICA