Day 30 – Bull Creek, S.C. (Mile 381)
As we write from our anchorage in Bull Creek off the Wacama River, we feel totally isolated from other human beings even though we are only 1/2 mile off the ICW. The surrounding woods is full of eery birdsong, the pecking of what must be fifty pound woodpeckers, and echoing unidentifiable noises reminiscent of the Blair […]
Day 29 – Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Mile 346)
Today was a bit of a nail biter as we had to cross over two well-known ICW trouble spots. The trouble spots were two inlets: Lockwoods Folly and Shallotte Inlets. Both were perennial problem areas, which had again experienced significant shoaling due to the recent hurricane. This renders navigation aids less accurate posing real risk […]
Day 28 – Southport, N.C. (Mile 311)
Note – For those looking at our position on the AIS tracking map on the home page, we appear to be right in the middle of a river. That’s because we almost are! We are tied up on this marina’s “face” dock which runs parallel to the river and is only 60 yards off to […]
Day 27 – Southport, N.C. (Mile 311)
Today was a day of dealing with strong currents and shallow spots shoaled in from the hurricane. We both knew the further we got south on the ICW the stronger the currents would become. We were warned about this by both the cruising guides and fellow boaters. Even so, it’s a different boating challenge than […]
Day 26 – Wrightsville Beach, N.C. (Mile 283)
Today we had a mini-flotilla of 5 sailboats and one Nordic Tug that stayed together upon exiting Mile Hammock Bay anchorage. Twelve boats stayed in the anchorage last night-the weather was calm and clear. Sun-up revealed wispy patches of fog in the marshes that did not affect visibility in the channel. Our group stayed together […]
Day 25 – Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Mile 244)
Since a coffee shop faced our dock at Beaufort and opened at 7am, we decided to skip home-brewed and grab 2 cups quickly before taking off at sunrise (7am). But, there was a line, and the barista was in training, so we left the shop instead of waiting, as we needed to ready the boat. […]
Day 24 – Beaufort, N.C. (Mile 204)
This morning we had coffee at “The Bean”, just off the property of the Oriental marina. It was apparently the early morning gathering place in Oriental, and was a friendly space where locals and boaters mingled. We met another newly retired couple, making their first ICW trip in their Endeavor sailboat. We chatted about family, […]
Day 23 – Oriental, N.C. (Mile 182)
Got a 7:30 am start from Belhaven. Leaving was a little tricky as we were fastened solely via our port side on the Belhaven bulkhead. The waterway was a narrow space and another sailboat was tied directly behind us. Tommy used a line off the bow wrapped around a piling amidships which I held, keeping […]
Day 22 – Belhaven, N.C. (Mile 136)
We realized today that the way we’ve been writing our posts, the state of our overall progress on this trip may not be obvious. Therefore, we’re now putting what mile we are at on the ICW in the title of each days post. “Mile 0” of the Atlantic ICW heading south is officially referenced to […]
Day 21 – Deep Point Anchorage, N.C. (Mile 102)
Last night a catamaran and three Kady Krogans joined us in Broad Creek. This morning just after dawn we all pulled anchor within minutes of each other, and like an unrehearsed yet organized parade made for the Albermarle sound. We were glad we’d waited for yesterday’s winds to subside as the crossing was pleasant. With […]