Golden Wake
Sunset on Taylor's Creek at Beaufort NCWe spent an extra day being blown against the dock in Town Creek Marina in Beaufort NC. When finally, we got off the dock about 2 PM it was too late to get to an anchorage before dark so we spent the night anchored in Taylor's Creek right there in town. Bill had difficulty anchoring, but we finally got it to stick!
We left early the next AM. Went through Morehead City and along the Bogue Sound. Unlike our trip north it was very calm and we made good time with the mainsail up. The channel is narrow , shoaled and very winding in spots. We did get stuck and pulled off by our friend Tow Boat US, but it was an easy on and then off!
We spent the night in the anchorage on Camp Lejeune, Mile Hammock Bay. One Marine helicopter and one boat came in to keep an eye on things. There were 11 sailboats and one motor yacht in the harbor which was calmer than we had experienced before.
We took off and motor sailed for a while past Surf City where we had a traffic jam of 9 boats at the bridge, Topsail, Figure Eight island where we passed Kerrie and Dick's home, Wrightsville Beach, then motored down the Cape Fear River all the way to Southport. We tied up in the Southport Marina, and were able to walk over to a favorite restaurant, Fishy Fishy for dinner.
The Brunswick County Barrier Islands, North Myrtle and Myrtle Beach were the next step. The new south bridge to Oak Island is open. We got through the shallow water at Lockwood Folly and Shallot Inlet at low tide which was lovely in the bright sunshine. Sunset Beach has lost the pontoon bridge, and the new tall bridge just opened the week before we went through.
We stopped at a convenient place again because we couldn't reach an anchorage before dark. We also wanted to have time to SKYPE Andrew as it was his second birthday. We were at Barefoot Landing Marina which is next to a shopping center and several restaurants. It is between route 17 and the ICW and we had visited Sybil and Tom across the road from there a couple of years ago. We did do a bit of shopping ending up at Johnny Rockets for a yummy burger and shake! Two evenings in a row off the boat...wow! Reflections of Barefoot Resort in the morning were amazing as we left the dock.
We motor-sailed again with just the mainsail up and had the current with us the entire day as we went south on the Waccamaw River which was very different than the green shady mysteriousness we encountered in July. The leaves were off the trees for the most part, but their was some color in the undergrowth. Wondered if cypress trees are related to tamarack trees as both lose their needles and are deciduous. I will have to find my tree book!
We anchored in the South Santee River. We heard duck hunters in the dusky light and then again early in the morning. When the ducks rose and flew away I have to admit I was cheering them on. We saw some hunters in their boats and they had camouflage grass all around the outside of the boat. It was kind of like a boat in a hula skirt, and we did chuckle. Tried to get a picture but they flew by too fast! We saw 2 Bald Eagles perched on trees this morning.
We moved right along a lot further than we anticipated sailing past the Charleston Harbor and past the Battery. This was the first time we had done the ICW between Charleston and Beaufort SC as we had sailed outside on the way north. Timing to do that was not right this time so we just kept on going south on the ICW. We stopped in the most lovely anchorage called Church Creek. It had a wide deep entrance with room for lots of boats to swing. there were dolphins all around us as we came in. We started to see a few dolphin in Beaufort NC but none north of there.
We had passed a boat hard aground and tipped over towards the water just before we got to this anchorage and the captain said he wanted to wait for high tide. There is almost 8 feet of tide here. They were in the anchorage the next morning and said it had been difficult to get off the bottom. Later that day we heard them call for Tow Boat US and something about a water pump so they did have a rough time. Boat's name was Pandemonium. Names of boats are so interesting. We met one called "Someday's Here" a couple of times. Will try to record some more of the ones that tickle us.
This is called the traveller and helps to control the mainsail. Looks like it needs some help with the rusting!
The marshes have turned to gold.
We made it through the 3 PM Lady's Island Bridge, and into the Port Royal Marina by 3:30. They had a slip ready for us. We were finally back in Beaufort SC, and we headed home Wednesday after packing, scrubbing, closing up and securing the boat!
We'll be back to Wind Spirit early in the new year and start another phase of this adventure.
Merry Christmas!
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