Adams Creek, NC to Great Bridge, VA

We have done the ICW so many times that we pretty much know from day to day where we want to be and where we plan to anchor or at which marina we want to stop for the night. But we still also like to try and find new spots, especially since we are no longer burdened with a six foot draft to limit access. After we have anchored or docked for the evening, had showers and dinner and are ready to relax, we still take the time to get out the charts and and plan the next days run and where we want to wind up. Included in our plans are fall back points in case of problems, weather or whatever and also fall forward points in case things go better than planned. We always say our plans are written in the sand at low tide.

We spent a very relaxing day at our anchorage in Jonaquin Creek with great protection and good holding. We spent the day watching TV compliments of DirectTV and our Follow-Me, now Track-It, system, which did a great job of holding the signal as we danced back and forth in the 25+ MPH winds that came through the anchorage. We did some reading and just rested up in preparation for our next push. The forecast 15 to 25 MPH winds would make the trip up the Neuse River a real efforts so the 24 hour delay was worth it and saved us the stress. By the time we pulled up the anchor and headed out on the Neuse, the winds, although right on the nose, were only about 10 MPH. It was still a little bumpy, but by no means rough.

The trip down the Neuse to the Bay River is about 20 miles and eventually the wind switched around to our stern quarter making it more comfortable. But as we came out of our protected anchorage the light winds were decidedly cooler than anything we have had to date. We immediately moved from the flybridge to the inside steering station. Have I mentioned how much we really, really like having an inside steering station?

The trip up the Neuse and Bay Rivers went quickly and once we turned into Gale Creek and the cut that runs through and past Hobucken, the winds were blocked and the waters calm. The other side of the cut brings you out on to Goose Creek and then the crossing of the Pamlico. This can be another rough patch if conditions are not right. We had the wind and waves on our beam across the Pamlico and up the Pungo River but it was not uncomfortable and as the day progressed the winds were lower. The 18 miles up the Pungo, past Belhaven and toward our anchorage had the currents with us and helped us make better time than we expected. Our planned anchorage was a small creek just before entering the Alligator-Pungo Canal, where we had anchored in the past.

But because we were seriously behind for this entire trip and we were ahead of our schedule for the day, we decided on our fall forward plan. Using both the chart plotter and the computer, we determined that we could easily make the next available anchorage with good daylight to spare, so we pressed on. The Alligator-Pungo Canal is absolutely beautiful and you have the feeling of complete isolation. Care needs to be taken through here since there are numerous tree stumps along both sides and a few almost reach the center of the channel. They are easily seen but you need to be aware.

Exactly as our plotters predicted, we reached our anchorage for the evening just off the waterway off Tuckahoe Point at 5:45 PM. At 81 miles, this is our all time best run for a single day on any of our previous trips. Another big plus for the trawler. This is the lower section of the ICW on the Alligator River and one of those spots where we have not anchored before. One of the things we did not count on were the military jets doing exercises over us just after the sun went down. There was one small sailboat anchored some distance away from us and a couple of large power boats anchored a mile or so up the river. We had seen more boats heading south on this leg than all of the other days combined. Most were sailboats but there were also several trawlers. The winds had pretty much dropped off after sunset and it looked like a peaceful evening once the jets went home.

Up with the sun and under way at 7:00AM the next morning with sunny skies, cool temps and light winds for the trip up the Alligator River. We arrived at the bridge at 9:30AM and with only a few minutes delay, we were heading out onto the Albermarle, another body of water that is very unforgiving in bad weather. But this morning it was kind to us and with light winds and a chop of less than one foot, we crossed quickly and comfortably. Once across, you enter the North River for about seven miles. We have anchored in both the Alligator and North Rivers often by just turning out of the channel and heading for shore until we ran out of depth.

Which side would depend on what direction the wind was coming from. After the North River we passed through Coinjock and a spot where we have often stopped at one of the marinas. This time we again pressed on, mostly because the marinas have raised there rates to the point that you would think they were in South Florida instead of on a canal in North Carolina. After Coinjock we came out onto
Currituck Sound and the North Landing River. This is a very wide and shallow expanse of the waterway. The channel is twelve to sixteen feet deep, but outside the channel it is only a foot or two in most places. The area has a reputation for side currents in certain wind conditions and even with the ten knots of wind we had, it was choppy. As we progressed north the wind, which was forecast to subside, picked up. Just as we came out of the wide expanse of the river and it narrows considerably, is a small creek called Blackwater.

The guides warn that the entrance is only five feet with seven to ten feet inside. We never saw less than seven and a half feet at the entrance. The bottom is soft mud and it took two tries to set the anchor. We can attest that the creek is seven feet almost right up to the marsh reeds about a quarter mile in. Occasionally you can encounter small boat and jet ski traffic and probably more so on the weekends. This was another of those good days and we had covered a bit more than 75 miles on this leg. We have covered more ground in three days than we had previously covered in a week. Our destination for the next day is Great Bridge, Virginia, only 18 miles away. We will still get an early start to get us there early. Our anchorage in Blackwater Creek puts us in Virginia.

This turned out to be a great anchorage although we would recommend it for fair weather. At 7:10AM we were under way and headed for the first bridge at North Landing. We made the 8:30AM opening but it was iffy for a moment. They were working on the bridge and the first attempt to open it did not quite work. It closed, then reopened and all was well. The ICW had a light fog initially, but then it became sunny and clear. The water on the Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal was smooth as glass and we took some great photos. Our second bridge was Centerville, five miles away, so we slowed down and took our time for the opening on the hour. We did not want to try and make the five miles in less than thirty minutes. The bridge tender at North landing was as nice as could be and the bridge tender at Centerville was as grumpy as can be.

What a difference just a few miles can make. By 10:00AM we were tied to the fuel dock at Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge to top off the fuel tanks. We probably could have made it all the way up the Bay but at $2.18 a gallon for diesel, we decided to not pass it up. The marina allowed us to top off our water tanks and sit at the dock for another 45 minutes until the bridge opened at 11:00AM. We also heard our friends on Diamond Girl calling someone on the radio so we called them. It seemed they were just north of us and we both had plans to tie up at the free seawall between the bridge and the lock for the evening. Another coincidence was a phone call from friends from Beaufort who just happened to be in Great Bridge and were wondering where we were. It is truly a very small world sometimes. It looks like this stop will be a bit of a social event for us and we have plans for dinner to get our much needed pizza fix at one of the local restaurants tonight.

Southport, NC to Adams Creek, NC

Two of our good friends that we have known for many years pulled into the marina across the dock from us on Saturday afternoon. We had planned on leaving Saturday after we dropped off the rental car, but the weather had turned to, well let’s say crap. It was raining and blowing so we decided to spend another day at the marina. After all, this is supposed to be fun. The rain came down in buckets all day and this would make a trip up the Cape Fear River a very unpleasant experience. As our friends arrived late in the afternoon, their first remark was, “you made a good decision”. They had a pretty uncomfortable day and were pretty wet and tired. But after a short rest we had a very nice dinner on their boat and caught up on what was happening with us and them. They had been at the same marina that we had been in Beaufort, but left for a trip up to Norfolk and were now heading back south. It is always good to meet up with friends unexpectedly and share a good meal.




The next morning we waited till 9:00 AM to get off the dock. Low tide on the Cape Fear was at supposed to be at 9:15 AM and we planned to run the incoming tide to get a boost going up the river. The outgoing tides have currents at almost three knots and the incoming tide can add two knots or better to our boat speed. The winds were up at 12 to 18 knots and the wind against current on the river can also be nasty. The wind was out of the southwest and the river runs to the northeast. This put the wind on our stern, much better than pounding into it. As we made the turn at Southport and headed into the river it was obvious that the tide was still outgoing and it was wind against tides and pretty choppy.


We figured the tides would change soon so we kept on going. But they did not change and for two hours we made the slow trek up river to Snows Cut. Once into the cut the currents finally changed in our favor and we quickly picked up speed. The skies were overcast and threatening all morning but we only saw a little drizzle. Our radar showed the rain several miles ahead of us and by the time we arrived where the showers were they had rained themselves out.

The ICW along this area follows behind the barrier islands with the Atlantic on the other side. You are virtually cruising along the coast. There are several inlets where the currents will change from a favorable one to running against us and then back again. We planned a 65 mile run to Mile Hammock Bay in Camp Lejuene so any delays would make that iffy. Our first delay was missing the opening of the Wrightsville Beach Bridge by minutes. It only opens on the hour so we waited almost an hour. Next was a 40 minute delay the Surf City Bridge. Our ETA to our anchorage was now putting us there at sunset. Any further delays would put us there after dark and we DO NOT run the ICW at night and do not like anchoring in the dark. We did make fair time the rest of the day with a favorable current, except for the hundreds of small boats dragging nets for shrimp right in the ICW channel. We even encountered commercial shrimpers doing the same thing. It made the afternoon interesting.


Sunset was at 7:00 PM and we arrived at Mile Hammock at 7:05 PM. There was still enough light to see as we put the anchor down and settled in. We have anchored here many times and at times shared this small basin with 20 or more boats. That evening it would be us and one catamaran with the basin to ourselves. This is an active Marine base and it is not unusual to have helicopter training practice or mock landings going on at any time day or night. We could only hope there would not be one of those exercises. We would be trying to beat a front the following day, something we seldom do, and would have to make 60 miles. There was only one bridge we would have to deal with so the only possible delay would have been if the Marines had the waterway closed for firing or bombing practice.


The evening passed quietly and we were up before the sun in the morning. It was a calm sunny day when the sun did rise and we got under way. It is about four miles to the Onslow Beach Bridge, which opens on the hour and half hour and we arrived with only a few minutes wait, mostly because the bridge is sloooow opening. As we motored down the channel there, was no sign of the military and we passed through without being held up. Delays can be measured in hours depending on what maneuvers are taking place. But that day, all was silent. The morning was great and we were making good time. But by the time we arrived on Bogue Sound the wind had picked up and was about 18 to 25 from the southwest. Fortunately that was on our stern so it actually moved us along faster. The Sound is wide and shallow and in any winds can be pretty choppy. At 25 MPH, it was a an interesting trip albeit faster than normal.


As we reached the shipping docks at Morehead City it was blowing hard and steady. The shipping area is always choppy with any winds and this day was no exception. But once we made the turn north and crossed under the high bridge on the waterway, it calmed down immediately.
The tides were coming in and we had a good lift, running at about 9 MPH with the engine hardly working. But as we crossed the Newport River just before Core Creek the winds and waves hit us broadside and it turned out to be the most uncomfortable part of the day. Once we made the turn into Core Creek, everything flattened out and the rest of the trip was in flat water and the creek pretty much blocked the winds. As we entered the creek we were surrounded by dolphins.


At around 2:30 PM we reached Cedar Creek and our anchorage for the night. Once again we had this usually crowded anchorage all to ourselves. As we entered we looked for a spot that would give us the best protection from the already strong southwest winds, which were forecast to switch to the northwest overnight and stay strong. This part of the creek would expose us directly to the northwest winds. In the past, we had envied the shallow draft boats that were able to get into a small creek much farther in called Jonaquin Creek, which was completely inaccessible to us with our previous six foot draft. It has good protection all around so we decided to give it a try. We found the water to be near eight feet deep right up to the entrance, not the five feet on the charts, and the creek to be at least seven feet deep in the middle. It does get shallower the further back you go and near the banks. The protection was great from the waves but the southwest winds do blow over the marsh grass. The protection for the expected northwest winds as the front comes through is great. The anchor set the first time and we settled in with the brisk breeze cooling the boat nicely.


How long we will be here will depend on the winds tomorrow. The Neuse river and the Pamlico Sound are no place to be in heavy winds. But as usual, the NWS is reporting three different forecasts, any or all could be incorrect, so we will poke our nose out in the morning and see what we have. If it does not look good we will head back to our anchorage and wait it out. If it looks OK we will head towards Belhaven.

Myrtle Beach, SC to Southport, NC

The Coquina Yacht Club is really one of our recommended stops if a marina is in your plans. The staff are great people, former cruisers, the facilities are well protected, the WiFi works, the showers, restrooms and lounge are spotless, and you can always find someone willing to give you a ride to the grocery or where ever you need to go. One night is really not enough to enjoy it but that was all we were able to stay. The weather was still a bit less than we would have liked to see, and as we got under way the next morning it was indeed raining. But we needed to go anyway and we were once again only doing about 30 or more miles to our next stop. Now we really don't usually do these short days but circumstances were slowing us down. Susan received a call from an organization in Baltimore that wanted her to come in for an interview THIS WEEK and Of course we had almost no notice. We would have stayed in Coquina but the rental car companies near by were less than easy to deal with, would not pick us up and want ridiculous charges for mileage and her trip would be close to 1,000 miles round trip. If we headed to Southport we could get a rental from the same companies to pick her up, give her a car and no mileage charges, only daily rates. So off we went, rain and all.

The rain did not last and it was cloudy for a few hours, and then the sun came out. And when it did the temperature went up with quickly. It felt like the middle of July instead of the first days if fall. We called ahead to a couple of the marinas and the St. James Marina had the best rates so we made reservation. We arrived at the Sunset Beach pontoon bridge 25 minutes before the scheduled opening so we had a wait. The bridge only opens on the hour and we try to time our arrival for about 5 minutes before it opens but we had a strong current pushing us along even at idle speed. So we sat and played in the current until the bridge opened and we proceeded north. The Lockwood Folleys Inlet and Shallotte Inlet both were well marked and since we were transiting just after high tide for a change there was plenty of water depths. The currents at the inlets are strong and can very easily pull you out of the channel. As we crossed Lockwood Folleys a Coast Guard tug and barge was replacing a daymark on the north side of the inlet, in the ICW so we gave them a wide berth but still had plenty of water.

We arrived at the St. James Marina and a staff member met us at the dock and helped tie us off in the slip. This is the only marina here that is in a basin off the waterway and protected from wakes. Once we were all tied up in the slip we received a bit of a surprise. The only power connections on the dock are single 125/250 volt 50 amp service and we have two 30 amp power cords. There were no 30 amp plugs and our 50 amp splitter was 50 amp, 125 volt and not compatible with their outlets. We were told, sorry but I guess we can't help you, so we untied and headed out. If you plan to stop at the St. James Marina in Southport, be sure you have a splitter or adapter that will allow you to plug into their outlets or you are out of luck.


We called the next marina which was close by, South Harbor Village Marina, and they assured us they had space and the necessary outlets for us to plug into shore power. It was only a few miles further so we arrived shortly. The transient dock is a long face dock that parallels the ICW and the boat wakes can be quite annoying. Since we would be here a few days they put us on the inside of the dock but that only reduces the wakes a little. We have stayed here before and like the marina except for this one issue. There are a couple of restaurants, a small boat store and nice showers, restrooms and laundry. This is close to our rental car company so we had no problems getting them to pick us up. Susan will make the trip north on her own and I will be staying with the boat. Had we been in a more protected place I would probably have made the trip with her.


While we are here I will get a few projects done. Marina stops for us are usually work stops. We have friends here that we met cruising in the Florida Keys and they invited us over for dinner as soon as we arrived. It was great to catch up since we had not seen each other for a few years. But that is how cruising friends are and it was like we had seen each other just last week, only with lots of stories to tell. For the next few days, I will be doing some cleaning in the engine compartment, checking systems thoroughly, changing the oil in the Ford Lehman injection pump, a few small chores and shaking my head at the idiots going past the marina and throwing up a wake. We always say, you only need enough money to buy a boat, and not the skills or common sense to operate it. We also always say, common sense is not very common any more.

Georgetown, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC

The new alternator arrived a little after 11:30 AM and by 1:00 PM it was installed and checked out just fine. Since it was a newer version of the same unit we had, a few modifications were needed for both the wiring and mounting. One big plus was that the new unit registers the amps it puts out on our battery monitor. For whatever reason, the old unit did not. The service tech came by the boat and was less than friendly about returning the alternator he ordered and not having him install the new one.  By 1:20 PM we had readied ourselves and the boat and were shoving off from the dock. The skies were blue, crystal clear, the breeze was up and it was a beautiful day. Much different from the gray skies and drizzle that we had off and on yesterday. It was really good to get under way again. This whole fiasco had been a four day delay, not to mention the additional dockage we had to pay just because someone made a mistake and wouldn't admit it. The old adage is correct, if you want something done right, do it yourself.


As usual, we headed up the Waccamaw River against wind and currents. This made for a bit slower trip, but we made decent time. The Waccamaw River is one of our favorites, at times reminding us of the Rio Dulce in Guatemala and other times reminding us of the Gulf ICW through Texas and Louisiana. No matter what time of year we have passed through, it is always beautiful. The river is wide and deep so staying on the course line is not as important as paying close attention to debris in the water, and there is lots of it. We saw pieces of lumber, floating plants and large trees heading downstream in the current. Many could do some serious damage to the rudder or prop. Our planned anchorage was some 25 plus miles up river. We have a favorite anchoring spot behind a small island just off the waterway, about a mile and half south of Enterprise Landing. There are many side creeks and anchorage spots along the river including just pulling off to one side. The problem in many spots is finding someplace where the water is not too deep. The river depths run from twenty to over forty feet in spots. Many side creeks are twenty and thirty feet deep.


At 6:15 PM we were dropping the anchor behind our little island. There are a few spots that may be difficult to get the anchor to hold. Even with our new Manson Supreme, it took two tries to get it to hold. There is a ten to fifteen foot spot at the south entrance but it is twenty or more feet deep a bit further in. Once the anchor was down and we settled in we could admire just how lovely this spot is. Many times we have shared the anchorage with several boats, but this time we were all alone except for a couple of water skiers that stayed around until almost sunset. Then we really had it all to ourselves. We could only hope for a peaceful evening.


And that is exactly what we had. We were up at 6:00 AM and after breakfast and our normal preparations, covering the check list in our log, including checking all engine fluids, the anchor was up at 7:00 AM and we were under way again. The morning was cloudy and the river had a light fog with about 3/4 mile visibility. As we headed out we saw a sailboat that had shared our anchorage just around the corner of the island, out of our sight. Another sailboat had anchored just up river about a mile. Both were also getting under way but heading south. It seems we are always going in the wrong direction.


The two bridges we would have to have open for us today, the Socastee and Little River Swing Bridge, would both open on demand so no bridge restrictions would slow us down. For the first hour or two we had the currents with us and made good time. But then it eventually turned and slowed us down considerably unless we wanted to power up the engine and burn lots of fuel. We opted to take our time and conserve.

From the weather information we had gathered it appeared that today would be the worst weather day thus far with excellent potential for quite a bit of rain. The remnants of tropic system Fred were coming on shore right where we would find ourselves. Within a couple of hours the overcast was burning off but we could see pretty good thunderheads building offshore and a quick check of the radar showed them moving our way. By about 10:30 AM we made the decision to make another marina stop, rather than dealing with the weather all day. We can retreat into the inside steering station but some of our less favorite inlets, Lockwood Folly, and Shallote Inlet, were ahead of us and we didn't especially feel like transiting them in bad weather if we did not have to. We have done this in the past and it is not fun.


We called ahead to Coquina Yacht Club, a marina we frequently use, and reserved a spot. We were only about three miles away. Just as we turned off the channel into the Marina basin the sky opened up and the rains came. And of course as soon as we were tied up at the dock it quit. The distance traveled was a whopping 30 miles from our anchorage. We will spend the night here as we watch the thunderstorms rumble off in the distance and see the rains move in from offshore. At least we have access to the internet and the AC running to knock down the humidity. This is the first day of fall but temps are in the upper 80's and the air is very tropical.

Still In Georgetown

The strainer glass (plastic) arrived right on time and it took only minutes to install. Good news, it did not leak. Bad news, the alternator that was sent to us had the wrong size pulley for the belt. The tech specifically told the alternator company what size we needed for the belt, 1/2 inch and they sent 3/8 instead. Now they are saying they won't take it back even though it is not what we ask for. As soon as I find out the name of the company that shipped it I will post it so you can be sure and avoid them. The Service Tech will be here tomorrow and hopefully we can work things out between he and I. In the mean time, once again, American Diesel has saved the day. Brian is shipping a replacement alternator overnight, except no one overnights to Georgetown on Saturdays, and we will have it on Monday. This will be a further delay, but what can you do. We have found all too often over the years that suppliers often make these kinds of mistakes and refuse to own up to their mistakes. Those that do get repeat business from us and many others. Those that don't, we try to let others know, so they can avoid the same problems and hassles we have to deal with. Because of the suppliers mistake we will have to pay additional dockage for three days waiting for parts and delay our trip for the same amount of time. The folks here at the Boat House Marina have done all they can to try and help. BTW, they did get the WiFi working as promised. It looks like we will be enjoying the hospitality of Georgetown for a couple of more days.

Minim Creek to Georgetown, SC

Living and cruising on a boat is not for the faint of heart or anyone with a lack of perseverance or good problem solving skills. That is unless you have large sums of money to afford a crew, engineer, and full time mechanic. For us it is perseverance and ingenuity and not much else. In the past we have always noted that we almost never have just one problem.

Our plan was to head for Georgetown, about 15 miles north, to deal with the alternator and to sleep in a bit since the distance was so short. But neither of us were able to sleep late and found ourselves up before the sun anyway. A quick breakfast and before starting our usual routine, we made a couple more checks on the alternator. We also spoke with Brian at American Diesel just in case we overlooked something. Brian suggested we bypass the the oil pressure switch which activates the alternator in case the switch was bad. This would cause the alternator to not activate. We gave it a try but no joy, so we prepared to get under way. About that time the lines on the head decided to blow apart, we can only surmise a clog caused this. So we had to reassemble the hoses and clean up before we got under way.

In due time, we were hauling up the anchor and using our handy wash down system. Unbeknown to us, one of the high quality hose clamps we had just bought from Worst (West) Marine had come apart and the wash down pump was leaking into the locker where it was mounted. That meant we had a very wet floor in the forward cabin. With it shut off, the leak stopped and the hose clamp was replaced. We planned to replace all of the Worst Marine hose clamps when we get to Georgetown. The short trip took about 3 hours, only because when we hit Winyah Bay, the tide was on the Ebb and we had about 2 to 3 knots against us. But the weather was again beautiful, with blue sunny skies and warm temperatures. The portable generator and the house battery charger were doing a great job of keeping the 12 volt system happy and healthy.


We had called ahead to the Boat Shed Marina in Georgetown for a slip and to inquire about the alternator. They did not have someone to do the work but immediately called a tech for us, Jim Johnson of Diesel Services, and made arrangements for him to meet us as we arrived. We chose Boat Shed instead of the repair yard here because these folks have always been friendly, professional and extremely helpful any time we stop. This is a marina and high and dry with not a lot of dock space so it does fill up quickly in season. The WiFi service was not working well but the owner was working to fix it, which he did. 


The place is always clean and well cared for and they do sell fuel. We had not been in the slip more than 15 minutes when the tech arrived. Keep in mind that we could have easily ordered a replacement alternator and replaced it ourselves. There is no one in the Georgetown area that can repair our alternator, the down side of these smaller towns. That would mean we would need to find a source for the alternator, get it or pay to have it shipped, install it and if it did not work for whatever reason, deal with those issues. If we used a local tech, he would handle all of the logistics, install and test the alternator, and deal with any problems. Too often we have received and alternator, installed it, and it did not work. We did not want that delay. In addition we put a little money into the local economy and the total time we would have to pay the tech is minor.


Georgetown is always one of our favorite stops along the waterway. Since our first visit, when many of the downtown shops were closed, today there are many shops restaurants and stores and it seems there are always plenty of tourists. Our favorite restaurants and ice cream shop are still here. Unfortunately for the folks that lost jobs, the steel mill is closed, but it does make the town a much quieter, less polluted place with noticeably cleaner air. Unfortunately for the boaters, the harbor is full of anchored "local" boats and the only anchorage area left is at the south end, which is more exposed and with questionable holding. That pretty much makes this a marina stop.


But that is not the end of the story. I removed the non-functioning spare alternator so when the tech arrived we could quickly install the new unit. While in the engine compartment, I noticed a slight drip at the bottom of the clear glass on the Groco sea strainer for the raw water intake. Upon inspection it showed a tiny crack in the plastic, not a good sign. Keep in mind I have been inspecting this thing a couple of times a day. This is an important part of the engine cooling system and an underwater fitting so it should not be taken lightly. And of course no one in the area stocks this part so we had to special order it, which means another days delay. But this is all part of cruising.


We always say the true definition of cruising is repairing your boat in exotic places. The alternator arrived at the service techs office the next day just as he stated and he immediately brought it to the boat for installation. Now we need to wait for the strainer glass (plastic) and it should arrive mid day tomorrow, Friday. It should be a simple 10 minute repair and unless we find something else in the meantime we will be under way again shortly thereafter.

Stono River, SC to Minim Creek, SC

We had a very quiet evening anchored on the Stono River. We were up at 6:00 AM and ready to get underway by 7:00 AM. Before we get underway each day we go through a regular routine. All fluids in the engine are checked and topped off if needed. The battery levels and water levels are checked, fuel and water in the tanks are noted in the log and the electronics and bilge pumps are checked, as well as noting the engine hours before we fire up the engine. We check the local weather reports and make notes of the expected forecast, which is usually wrong. We also acquire any weatherfax, wind and wave forecasts and reports and whatever else we can get. These we use more than the forecasts to determine when and where we move. It sounds like a lot but it gets done quickly and usually takes us about 1/2 hour. Then we can fire up the engine, haul up the anchor and get under way. Our newly installed wash down system did a fine job of cleaning the anchor rode, chain and anchor.





As it normally does, the current through Elliot's Cut, south of Charleston, is very strong. This morning we had the current with us so it was a fast ride. We always call a Security when entering from either end to be sure no commercial traffic is entering the cut at the same time we are. The cut is very narrow and with the strong currents, maneuvering can be tricky. Not much traffic this morning. It was great not dealing with the bridge opening restrictions and the trip across Charleston Harbor was a quick one since we were riding the ebb tide. Watching the sun come up over the Battery and Fort Sumter is always inspiring.
The rest of the day went without issue, even with the strong side currents along this stretch of the waterway. We did notice a larger than usual number of Dolphins in the waterway. We have done the ICW from the Chesapeake to the Florida Keys at least 10 or 12 times now, so we know what to expect. A southbound trawler near McClellanville warned us of 5 foot spots in the channel, but we never found less than 8 feet and that was only in one spot. We figured he probably strayed out of the channel at some point. So far we have had no depth issues from Beaufort to our current location.
 

A little after 3:00 PM we reached our destination for the evening, Minim Creek, just south of Winyah Bay. This is a nice little creek that runs on both sides of the ICW and either side can be used as an anchorage. As we dropped the anchor and began to shut things down we noticed the alternator not charging. It had not been acting right all day. The previous owner had shown us a spare alternator they had for the boat so we went about removing the current one and installing the spare. Well, guess what? It did not work. Fortunately we are close to Georgetown and will have to head there in the morning at get the alternator repaired or replaced. Meanwhile we will use the portable Honda Generator and the 110 volt battery charger to keep the batteries up until we get in for repairs. This is all a part of cruising, we just did not expect a problem so soon. But contingencies are always in the back of our mind and the generator and 110 volt battery charger will get us to a place for repairs. In the mean time we will enjoy this fabulous weather for as long as it holds. Stay tuned, we will let you know how things go.