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Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach SC |
So if you read the last post I mentioned the phrase “delivery
mode”…and NO DOUBT – that was no lie!!
Here’s a quick recap:
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Dolphins playing in our wake 4/5/2022 |
Tuesday 4/5/2022 we departed Sebastian River Marina at 7:40
am and anchored at Gail’s Way anchorage at 3:07pm. A routine engine room check
revealed a few drops of oil. Grrrrr…..
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Merritt Island FL Cape Crossing Marina 4/6/2022 |
Wednesday 4/6/2022 multiple phone calls to Zack (mechanic)
and trying to arrange a marina meeting point ultimately led us to backtrack 3
miles to the barge canal at Cape Canaveral. We docked at Cape Crossing Marina
by 11:12am. I won’t give all the details of docking, mechanic, marina, etc.
However, Zach followed through with his top-notch customer service and
attention to detail. He sent a
well-qualified associate to correct the issue (not related to the recent
repair)! The Harbormaster at Cape
Crossing was more than congenial and so accommodating – instead of a “day only”
spot we were permitted to spend the night …and use the laundry
facilities!! WIN WIN!!!
Thursday 4/7/2022 off the dock by 7:36 and underway…time to
make tracks north and get out of Florida!! Our intention was to anchor as much
as possible allowing us to travel longer, easier to get going in the mornings
and FREE!!!! Well, the tides in NE Florida can create some very shallow areas
and the short story of this day is…we docked in Palm Coast Marina at
5:40pm. Sometimes a marina is well worth
the peace of mind knowing you won’t find ground with your boat! Nice stop….bonus, we saw Gold Loopers, a
newly minted Gold Looper and several in progress loopers docked!! Great visit after a long day!
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4/8/2022 Sunset at Sisters Creek, St. Augustine FL |
Friday 4/8/2022 departed Palm Coast Marina at 7:58am
cruising north on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and docked at Sisters Creek
(Free dock) NORTH of Jacksonville FL by 2:36pm. A short day by our standards
but we love this particular spot and before long the wall was FULL!! After several long walks on land and a few
visits on the dock it was bug:30 and time to turn in. There was a lot of talk about the weather and
if one forecast was better than another.
Honestly, we review several forecasts and follow our gut. Sometimes it works to our favor…and sometimes…
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4/9/2022 Before it got bad - horizons rarely slant!! |
Saturday 4/9/2022 we departed Sisters Creek at 7:45am (low
tide) knowing a Small Craft Advisory was in effect for 0-20 nautical miles “out”
(meaning in the ocean). We were
travelling in the ICW – fairly protected waters except for the inlets from sea –
we knew the inlets might be a little “bumpy”.
WRONG!!! The St. Andrews Sound in GA (approach to Jekyll Island) was a MONSTER!!!! Ten minutes before we arrived at the inlet I
checked my phone for weather…GALE WARNING!!
Great…we were at the point of no return – hold on, here we go!!! NINE MILES of 4’-6’ waves attacking us from
the port stern (left rear quarter) and port bow (left front quarter) depending
on which way the boat turned! Waves over
the bow, spraying the fly bridge, limiting visibility, sea water pouring
through any opening it can find, anything not secured was tossed about…yep,
Gilligan’s 3 hour tour was our reality!!!
Just after we entered the Sea Monster Sound I called a
boater several miles behind us…the call went something like this: Mick, this is Robin. Turn around! This is
terrible! You won’t like it – it’s awful!
Do not come out here!! His response
was “well there’s an anchorage up a creek about 4 miles. Can you make it there?” I had no idea which way “the creek” was and
didn’t have enough hands to hang on AND check the charts. We motored on. But Mick did find that anchorage, he was the
smart one!
By 1:38pm with the helping hands of many dock assistants and
fellow boaters we were secured on an outside wall at Jekyll Island Marina!!! BRUTAL doesn’t begin to describe the
conditions we were in….the WORST SEAS EVER in our lives!!! Once our pulse rate returned to normal The
Lower Place was deep cleaned inside (sea water can be sticky and smelly) top to
bottom. Since the waves were still crashing and the wind was howling any
outside work was not happening – it was SO LOUD AND BUMPY!!! By 5:00 the water started to calm, I was able
to shower and dress for dinner and we were able to walk on the dock without
getting knocked over!! By 6:00 pm the
water was calm, the docks were still and “GALE” was a memory. Slept like babies!!!
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4/9/2022 photo taken at 7:47pm What a day! |
Sunday 4/10/2022 while several other boats were staying a
few days to recover from the Gale Experience we left the dock at 7:58 am and
headed “outside”…that’s right, we boated in the Atlantic Ocean!! It was gorgeous!!! Several big advantages to outside cruising…no
low tide issues, avoid no wake zones and PLENTY of room!! We cruised our normal speed of 8-9mph and
docked in Savannah GA at Thunderbolt Marina at 5:48 pm. A LONG day but very well worth it!! Hello Georgia!!
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4/10/2022 Atlantic Ocean - EPIC DAY!! |
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4/11/2022 Sunrise over Wilmington River, Savannah GA |
Monday 4/11/2022 Thunderbolt had diesel at an acceptable
price ($5.25) so we topped off and headed out on the ICW since the weather in
the Atlantic looked “bumpy”. Back to
watching the tide, no wake zones and other boaters…oh well. By 3:16 pm we anchored at Patriot Lucy’s (not
sure how these anchorages get named, but I like it) at mile marker 523.
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Tuesday 4/12/2022 passing by Charleston SC |
Tuesday 4/12/2022 by 7:13 am we were out of Patriot Lucy’s
spot and underway again cruising the Coosaw River finding our way to Graham
Creek Anchorage in South Carolina by 4:27 pm!!
Hello South Carolina!!!
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4/13/2022 Daybreak from Graham Creek Anchorage |
Wednesday 4/13/2022 by 7:07 am we were underway again (GREAT
ANCHORAGE!!) and enjoying the splendid weather!!! With tide against us most of
the day we didn’t seem to have any issues with low water risk but I was looking
at the weather for the next few days. By
3:23 pm we were docked at Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach SC!! Laundry time!!!
Thursday 4/14/2022 what is this???? We are staying an extra day in a marina!!
Wahooo!! Time for some boat chores since
laundry was done yesterday. Troublesome
fresh water leak in the galley has been FIXED!!!! Hard to find and harder to
repair but Captain Fix It was successful…I’m so blessed!! With the threat of rain Charlie is working
hard washing salt from the boat – I know that sounds counterproductive but it
really works! I’m working on a grocery
and sundry list for whenever we might see a store again and updating this blog!
Tomorrow 4/15/2022 we will depart once again heading north
to NORTH CAROLINA!!! The miles are
clicking by and before long we will reach our ultimate destination of Norfolk
VA…373 miles to go!
Until next time…
Stay healthy and God bless