To Savannah, GA

Valerie took Rumor for a walk early in the morning and after a brief tour of downtown McLennanville (a very quaint town) she came running back to the boat telling me to quickly untie the lines and get going! Apparently there were at least 2 million mosquitos after her.

It's hard to describe the many twists and turns you make as you go down the ICW but here's one page from the chartbook (one out of 73 just to get to the FL border). In this case we're going from the right side to the left, crossing from river to river through man-made cuts.

And everytime you make a turn the current is either with you or against you. In this cut it was with us and we were going 11.3 mph instead of our usual 7.8.

 We passed through Charleston Harbour, busy waterfront and large ships (cruise ship and aircraft carrier in the distance).

Then back to the winding ICW and a great anchorage off the path in Steamboat Creek with a landing dock to go ashore and walk the dog.

And as long as you are in a nice place you might as well do some work and replace the leaking water pump.

Off the next morning at sunrise; we're going to try to make it to Savannah. About a 90 mile run.

Arrived at Thunderbolt Marina on the outskirts of Savannah at 6:00PM - 12 hour run.

We had stayed here 22 years ago when we did the trip north to Nova Scotia in our sailboat. You still get a newspaper and box of Krispy Kreme donuts on your deck every morning. But the boats have gotten a bit bigger over time.

We have seen this boat in the Bahamas and I thought it was pretty darn big until I turned around and saw this one.

This one is 198 feet long and just returned from an Alaskan cruise - the owner (unnamed) lives in Chicago. Must be tough being him. Anyway, today is a bit of a rest day, laundry, showers, shopping. We're getting there.

NC to SC

After we left the Alligator River we stopped at a marina in Dowry Creek just off the ICW. Very nice casual place with WiFi, pool and cruiser's happy hour. Beautiful sunset over the water.

Up early at 6:00 and down the Pungo River and Pamlico Sound and Neuse River to an anchorage at Morehead City just past Beaufort (pronounced Bowfort) to a nice anchorage. It finally got quiet once the weekend warriors went to bed (after 2:00 PM!). We went for a walk on a nearby island and Valerie managed to get a tick on her but not one on Rumor.

Lots of current as we left at 6:00AM and then the fun began. Everyone with a boat decided to make Sunday the day to go out. It was like being swarmed with gnats - everyone zipping in and out, particularly annoying when you are waiting for a bridge opening. Made it to Wrightsville Beach to a nice anchorage. Dinghied into town which was also swarming with teeny-boppers strutting their stuff in bikinis (most of them shouldn't have) and surfer dudes because it was so rad, dude. Some fun.

One of the cool things you meet on the ICW is an approaching barge thankfully we met this one at a wide spot.

Next day it was more ICW to Barefoot Landings Marina in North Myrtle Beach - basically just a long dock along the water. Spent oodles of money getting new water pump, stereo and $65 cab ride to pick up $500 worth of 6V batteries. Doesn't get much better than that!

As we were getting ready to leave the next morning I looked over the stern to see what was a log drifting upstream - not exactly. A 5-6 foot alligator giving me the eyeball - you want to go for a swim?

And a bit further on we see an aerial tramway going across the ICW - this is to take golfers to the course on the other side of the water - who would have thought of that?

Then down the Wacama river - hot day - and surrounded by vicious horse flies. We killed enough of them to fill up a dust pan. Stopped for the night at Leland Oil Company docks in McClennanville - nice town inhabited by fishermen and their boats and mosquitos.





VA to NC

Lauched on Monday morning which turned into a workday as we had to get all the many systems working (or so we thought). Engine wasn't moving enough cooling water, generator battery was dead, air conditioning pump was water locked, etc. Got that sorted out but then Tuesday weather was 20-25 kts from the SE with 2-3' waves in the Cheasepeake - so we decided to be wimps and stay another day. Thought we'd have a cook-out - hired an expert.

Wednesday morning we were up and gone by 6:15AM - good-bye to the Yankee Point Marina - great place and great people.

Down the Bay past one of the several lighthouses far out into the bay protecting shoals - this one is the "Wolf Trap".

Made it into Norfolk Harbour about 3:00PM, rolling seas made for an uncomfortable ride into the harbour and then past one of the largest US Naval stations in the US. A lot of big boats.

And then into the relative quiet of the Dismal Swamp Canal system to anchor just below the first of two locks.

But first the girls have to go for a dinghy ride and trip to shore.



Then next morning off through the Dismal Swamp Canal - first surveyed by George Washington in 1763 and finally completed in 1805 - the oldest continually operated canal in America. And it's not real wide.

But sometimes it's empty.

But you are making some progress:

Rule is, you go up a lock, about 8 feet, through a bridge and then 20 miles or so later you do the reverse.

But as you drop the next last 8 feet you read the sign and realize you are not even close to home.

Then it's off to Elizabeth City and a night at a dock in the downtown area. Next morning we get going early and see the latest(?) in naval spy planes.

A Blimp? With it's own hanger? Cool.

Then down the Albemarle Sound, sometimes treacherous, but just another rolly ride this time and into the Alligator Canal, not quite as nice as the Dismal Swamp.

But it does have wild life.

The Launch

After what seemed like a hectic weekend they came with the travel lift at 8:30 on Monday morning and off we went, headed for the water.

Everything went smooth and she even floats!

Spent Monday doing last minute errands and getting all the systems to work.

Yankee Point Marina

After finally getting on the road from Nova Scotia we arrived at the Yankee Point Marina in Lancaster, VA late Thursday afternoon, May 12th. The marina is close to Kilmarnock and the Rappahanock river. This area is a mix of farming, marinas and large waterside homes; close by is the Merry Point ferry, a cable ferry, which crosses a tributary of Rappahanock to the Merry Point House, built in 1768.

Boat is still there and leaking as usual around the windows and deck seams. Plan is to spend the weekend getting her ready and launch on Moday.