Yellow Boat: January 2008

Up Anchor.....

Weather & Tides held us longer than we anticipated at Tom Creek, so early on Sunday, Jan 13, Bob hauled one anchor in an attempt to get underway only to re-anchor when the fog didn't lift. Monday morning came success! We motored out of the creek. Soon we're looking for marker #111 that marks the beginning of some serious shoaling. Waiting for a rising tide kept us in good water as we made it safely around White Point and through the shoaling curves to #119. The course along this section doesn't run from buoy to buoy or follow the curves, instead it's a series of jogs, occasionally with a range to help you keep safe. The temp was around 40 as the wind picked up with gusts 18-20kts. Being in the open Bob began to shiver so I took the helm while he put on long johns and warmer gear.

I nervously took us under the bridge and kept us in good water till Bob reappeared. We continued thru Watts Cut

and into the South Edisto River. However he never warmed up, so we anchored in a spot near Alligator Creek (yes there seems to be lots of those).

We had left early that morning without breakfast (probably part of the problem). I cooked something to warm us and we spent the rest of the day enjoying where we were and keeping warm.

The next day was a late start waiting for a rising 1/2 tide in what is reported to be the most treacherous part (shoaling/depth wise) of the ICW, the 2nd section of the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff.

We stayed in good water all the way, and with a sigh of relief entered the Coosaw River only to find we now had strong winds on our nose with spray over the bow frequently dousing Bob. Hakuna Matata is smaller and lower to the water than many of the boats and with no cockpit cover, we decided we were not into this type of trip for the next 12 miles and decided to turn around. Yes...we got to do the most treacherous section again realizing we would get to do it again tomorrow. Oh well, we were getting pretty familiar with the section and had great respect for it but the fear was gone...at least it would be warmer and dry.

Under the watchful eye of an eagle we made our way up Rock Creek around a couple of bends checking the water depth till we determined the best spot to anchor. A fairly strong current so it was a 2 anchor drill again. Dolphins once more visited us.

Hey where did that island come from?

At low tide, islands & shoals are clearly visible only to disappear as the tide rises. They constantly remind you to be cautious when navigating the ICW as there are endless accounts of going aground in areas that should have water or waking in the middle of the night at your anchorage aground with your boat laying on it's side. This is nothing we want to do, so we are cautious, trying not to add one of those accounts in our log.

The next day we make our 3rd trip thru the cutoff, but this time we enter a much more welcoming Coosaw River, sail around Brickyard Point, and on to Beaufort where we docked just as rain began to fall.

The next day we did the grocery, laundry and chores in a downpour looking forward to strolling the streets of Beaufort the next day.

WELCOME TO BEAUFORT, SC

Walkway along harbor

Lady Island Swing Bridge

Swinging Couple

park along waterfront
with blooming flowers

Across the street is the 1st of many beautiful houses/mansions

A courting bench along the shore
Beautiful Trees with Spanish Moss

Large houses most with porches
and Porch Swings

Huge Angel Oaks with branches spread out and down...
sometimes to the ground.

The ones overhanging the road can present a devil of a problem.

If you are a BIG CHILL fan you may recognize this house.

A couple on the job

Legend of the Spanish Moss says that Gorez Goz, a bearded Spanish villain, journeyed to Carolina shores and spied a beautiful Indian maid. He bought her for a yard of braid and a little bar of soap. The Indian maid was so afraid of this bearded beast that she fled over the hill and glade with him in pursuit. Tiring she climbed to the top of the tree, with the Spaniard close behind. She dove from the tree to the stream below. The villain's beard and whiskers became entangled in the branches holding him back while she got away. Gorez Goz's life was at a loss, but his beard lives on as dangling Spanish Moss.

Not all the houses are white....

Along the waterfront are some of the largest mansions.

The trees are as stately as the homes.

Of course the streets also led to downtown and some wonderful shops and restaurants to help us keep up our energy as we returned several times to wander the streets of Beaufort, SC.
Hakuna Matata

BEGINNING OF THE INTRA COASTAL WATERWAY

We made our way past the Norfolk shipyards in a fog that wasn't thick enough to present a navigating problem but did shroud the shore. The Naval ships were quite impressive as they emerged from the fog.

Soon the sun was shining and other boats began joining us making their way to mile zero and the start of the ICW . This particular boat was an older catamaran with her mast lashed to the deck. We discovered why one would do this as they slipped under the first bridge before it lifted.

By the time we reached the 1st bridge there was a group of boats waiting for the lift and we wound our way along the waterway to Great Bridge and the lock.

We had anticipated going through the lock, but not what we would do once we passed through. Boats ahead of us started pulling over and tied up before going under the bridge. We quickly decided to do the same once through the bridge. As I was hustling around to get lines ready and fenders over the side, a line slipped off one fender, it fell into the water and headed back where we came from. A single handler behind us scooped up our fender, and tossed it like a football to Bob as he sailed by! Hey, we saw him at last nights anchorage. He's rushing to meet his wife in Florida. Thanks Mark. The next morning we headed down the ICW with our group of 8 boats. Looked like a parade!

This part of the waterway began to have stumps along the bank that we had to keep an eye on.

We often saw fishermen along our route. These are retrieving their net.

Hunters pass us by. Looks like someone has a nice piece of driftwood.

We docked at Midway Marina in Coinjock. Several groups of hunters were staying at the motel and eating at the restaurant. That was about all there was in this spot. Did our usual laundry, took showers and headed out the next morning. One of our coldest mornings there was ice on the docks...brr, even the cats didn't want to get out from under the covers.

After you have been following a Waterway canal or creek it comes as a shock when you enter a bay, wide river, or sound. Albemarle Sound was intimidating as we made our way from marker to marker. The sound was a wide span of water but very shallow if you ventured off the channel. You had to really mind your markers. We were fortunate there wasn't a strong wind blowing what water we had out, so we made it across with no mishaps and anchored for the evening in Little Alligator Creek...thank goodness no alligators in sight but there was a visible wreck.

Hakuna Matata made her way from Alligator River to the Pungo River and then headed into Pantego Creek.

We anchored for a couple of days in Belhaven, NC harbor. Visited with friends and shopped in the hardware store where we bought a stick horse for grandson. Unbelievably helpful, friendly store...packaged and shipped horse to Connecticut. Restaurants have limited hours but food was good and plentiful at the Farm Boys stand just a short walk from town dock. We had the company of several boats as we left Belhaven on a sunny warm November day and entered the Pamlico River.

We entered the South River anchoring near the abandoned town of Lubken. Put the motor on the dinghy and went ashore to visit the old cemetery that could be seen from the water. Interesting old markers and a few more recent ones. It was being lovingly kept up.

We returned to the boat and made our way further up the river to a secure anchorage as we intended to spend Thanksgiving Day at this spot.

The day was exceptionally warm and we made sure we took full advantage of it by going ashore at a sandy beach and wiggling our toes in the sand.

Dolphins joined us in the river as we ate. Think they were having fish.

Unfortunately the weather turned bad and the next couple of days was a little rougher than we liked even at anchor and pretty chilly. Good thing we soaked up that sunshine. The first promising day we ventured back out past Oriental, NC and to Adams Creek Canal.

Just before the bridge we take a right...

to Moorehead Yacht Basin Marina.

From Moorehead City we enter Bogue Sound.

There seems to be a review stand of birds...o0h yes they are standing.

At mile 235 you enter an area that is occasionally closed due to manuevers at Camp Lejeune. Fortunately we made it through with no holdups. Then we begin to pace ourselves to make the opening of The Onslow Bridge. Along the way we encounter some shoaling at Browns Inlet and go aground. Somehow there's only about 2' of water at one spot and we find it. Spent some time trying to get off, success when Bob uses the dinghy to push the bow and we slip into good water. I'm at the helm and relieved to see Bob climb from dinghy back aboard. For days boats went aground in this area. At one time there were as many as 7 aground at one spot or another in this inlet. Wouldn't it be great if there was funding to do some dredge work!

Onslow Bridge opening for Hakuna Matata
There's a beach over there somewhere.

Anchorage for the evening in Mile Hammock Bay looking at an old navy landingcraft

We enjoyed a relaxing evening and a beautiful sunset before setting out again.

We're up for an early start the next morning as we ponder what lay ahead at the New River Inlet where boats were going aground regularly. We successfully navigated through it and took time to enjoy the interesting houses & trees along the shore as we moved on.