May 28-31 From Charleston to Waccamaw River

May 29, 2014 

We left St. Johns marina on the Stono River at about 7:30am this morning.  The tidal current was about 2 knots but was on our bow so it was rather easy to maneuver away from the dock (thanks guys for the help)

Elliot Cut in the Morning

We went through Elliot Cut at tidal current reduced 4.5 mph but once in Charleston harbor proper we hit our normal 8mph.

Fort Sumter

We cruised by Fort Sumter again and headed out the inlet to sea in the broad and well marked shipping channel.

I noticed a large container ship leaving the port about the time we gained the seaward segment of the shipping channel.  He passed us in about 30 minutes.  Just a casual observation, but they sure go faster than we can even hope too.  Another large, and fully loaded container ship was heading into the harbor after we were passed by the lightly loaded container ship heading out to sea.

The wake doesn't look like much from this distance

  I got a little too close forgetting that these things are drawing about 25 feet and throw a very deep wake.  Well we hit the wake, and bounced around pretty good.  We were fine but the bottle of wine on the counter fell off and broke leaving wine all over the forward companionway.  I spent a few minutes sucking up the glass shards and then fired up the generator to make water and start some laundry before going back and cleaning the carpets. 

Once the cleaning was done I ran the carpet out on the bow to dry in the sun and shut down the generator since by then we had full water tanks.  Lovely ocean day!

Saw my first LARGE turtle off the port side coming back to the bridge.  It was huge. Tan with a cream colored head.  Hung on the surface for a few minutes and then disappeared.

The seas were rather calm and we came into the Winyah Bay through its inlet.  We'd been enjoying an easy ocean cruise for about 6 hours until we hit the inlet which was pretty bouncy although far smoother than last year.  But as soon as we were into the Bay we were attacked by legions of these green eyed flies which resemble yellow jackets.  They are tenacious critters, fast and smart since they seem to find their way in to the boat through the screens somehow.  But I, with 2 fly swatters have wrecked havoc upon the damn things leaving piles of their dead strewn about as a deterrent.  But not for long since others aboard don’t share my deterrent theory and has them sucked up in the vacuum before the voracious things can absorb the impact of their squished brethren.   And that is why I have no pictures of dead, green-eyed bugs.  I know.  Disappointing...

I should point out they have been identified as Deer Flies by others who listen with my bug stories with mild sympathy.

Yup, those are some heavy thunderstorms out there

We anchored in this great spot again which is very near where the ICW empties out into the river.  And we had a grand vista of the approaching storms.  But they all went north of us leaving us with a light sprinkling of rain just barley enough to dilute the salt.  I should mention being in salt water is nice, but it leaves a residue of salt on anything it touches.  Rain, is really like a free giant boat wash.

May 30, 2014

We were under way by 9:30 for the 34 mile trip up the Waccamaw River to an oxbow anchorage near Enterprise Landing.  We found this last year and its a quiet, well protected spot.  The Waccamaw river is quite beautiful.  It's wide and deep with wildlife galore.  There are gators here but they didn't make an appearance for us.  Oh well.

Georgetown, SC from a distance

We again by-passed Georgetown on our way up the river.  It’s been described as a quaint place but it reminds me of Fernandina Beach with its two smelly factories at either end of the town.  Maybe one of these years we'll stop in and see for ourselves. 

Entering the Waccamaw River

Approaching the Oxbow on the left

The route I had laid in to the anchorage was wrong!  It left us a mile or so short of where we wanted to be.  So we winged it.  We arrived and were the only boat here until around 4pm.  We anchored behind the island in the deer portion of the oxbow this time which, was much better.

Quiet you might guess?  Ha ... the young osprey's squawking echoed across the Oxbow while frantic flights of birds, the parents no doubt, wished fervently for an Osprey MacDonalds to pacify the ravenous little chicks.   Well, in my mind anyway...

Anchored and making sure the anchor is, well anchored.

Nice to have the place all to ourselves if even for a little while.  The loud-mouthed Ospreys that were making such a racket across the anchorage finally ceased there bickering so we were able to enjoy the silence for a few moments until the jet skies started roaring though here.  Well, it is Memorial Day weekend after all.

Close, but its deep right up to the edge.

As I mentioned we anchored to the deep side of the island and were swinging alarmingly close to the shore, but the even with a 6 ft tide we should have 10 feet below the keel at low tide.  Hopefully the anchor wont pull out.  It never has, but then again I’d really dislike having to re-set the thing at 2am.  Worse, I’d have to try and wake Mary up.  (( shiver )).

Thunderstorms rolled in around 2am.  Usually there is a significant wind shift and a sizable increase in gusts.  But all we did was swing about 90 degrees in rather calm conditions.  The rain was heavy and lasted a few hours.  Boat is now free of any salt and dirt! 

May 31, 2014
 We poked around the boat in the morning and I called a marina about a mile up river, Osprey which has diesel for 3.69 and with the boat US discount it will cost us 3.59/gal which is wonderfully cheaper than the 4.15/gal most places are asking.  And we need 200+ gallons.

Relaxing while waiting for burger and fries

We got the dinghy down and took a ride up and down the river for a bit just to see the sights.  Its not developed here and the fresh water is a welcome experience after so many days in salt water.  There's a marina at Bucksport which has an open restaurant so we decided to skip cooking and just go there to eat.  It was ok.  Burgers and fries basically but good enough.

Bucksport Marina has fuel too!

We got back to the boat at sundown and did a little cleaning and putting away things we hadn't stowed yet before settling in for a few episodes of Boston Legal.  We finished the West Wing series last month.  So now its Boston Legal.







June 1, 2014 

Woke up to cloudy skies.  And soon sprinkles and then on and off rain showers.  It was like this through out most of the day so we pretty much sat here on the boat waiting for the rain to pass so we could take the kayaks and dinghy down. 

We have company!

Several boats came into the anchorage during lulls in the rain.  Remember I mentioned we were about 20yds from the shore line.  2 of these boats, one a 38 ft Sea ray ran right behind us.  So I guess there is deep water right up to the shore line which is a comforting thought since we are so close.  But the anchor is holding well as it usually does, so no worries.

Calm morning with some other boats anchored with us

Here we have a minimal internet connection through our cell phones.  And we are both getting close to our 2 GB limit each month.    And I dont think we surf the internet much at all.

Mary racing the speed boats in her kayak?

Met a delightful couple on one of the boats that came in to the anchorage to stay the night.  They asked us to go kayaking with them, and so Mary did.  I paid bills and did some navigation software updates.   They ended up paddling up a little side creek with the warning, watch for snakes in the branches.  No snakes but they did see some baby birds.  No pictures, sorry!

Entering Osprey Marina. Fuel dock is on the right

They shortly after, headed back to Osprey marina where they keep their Californian Motor Yacht.  I wanted to run over to there anyway to see if I can get our boat into the fuel dock.  I remember it being very tight so figured before we run the big boat down the narrow channel leading into the marina, I'd take the dinghy through and see how it really looked.  While we were there I gassed up the dinghy and we chatted with Jack and Darlene, our kayaking friends for about an hour on their boat.  It's a  beautiful boat.  He loves to tweak, polish and clean.  Some of us are less gifted with motivation for such endeavors.  Their boat is almost identical to Randy and Sherry on Priorities, a couple we'd gotten to know in Marathon.  They plan on heading down to the Keys this fall so we just may end up cruising with them.

We came back to the anchorage and joined some of the remaining boats for drinks and talk.  Nice, folks.  Both Rick and John mention to stay in the deeper parts of the Oxbow (SW) for best holding which is where we are.  We have their boat cards too so in the fall if we come back this way, we'll stop and see them..  

Soon after we dinghied back to our boat, and they left so we had the anchorage all to ourselves again.  At least this night the osprey's were quiet and it was a cool night so good sleeping!

June 2, 2014

After calling the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club and reserving a space, we called Osprey marina to inquire about coming in for fuel.  Its very tight in there so its wise to call ahead and in this case there was a boat already at the fuel dock.  We waited at the anchorage for about 30 minutes before they hailed us backw on the radio and said to come on in. 

A bit restricted.  Fuel dock is on the right at the end

 It took us about 30 minutes to retrieve the anchor and get up to the channel leading into the marina basin. I should mention the marina is tucked way back in the woods with a long narrow channel leading from the river (ICW) into the marina.  The basin is tiny and the fuel dock is also very small… it was too short for our full length but no matter.  We tied up, and fueled up (227 gallons).  I had to back out and then spin the boat 180 degrees in this tiny area but made it just fine.

Another boat that was just leaving too, Solitude which is a Nordic 42, headed up river towards Myrtle Beach.  Minimal boat traffic which was nice, and the 2 swing bridges for which we had to request openings, did so right away.

A portion of the Rock Pile.  Granite on either side.

We ran the rock pile (a notorious mile long stretch of a rock lined channel which is very narrow) seeing only two other boats and by 2:30 we arrived at Little River where the yacht club is located.

Turning in towards Myrtle Beach Yacht Club

It’s a dicey turn into the place.  Its located at the far end of  Coquina Harbor, a basin surrounded by condo developments and another large marina, Lightkeepers Marina.  Coquina Harbor is completely filled with docks.  Never saw such congestion of boats and docks before.

Boats galore in Coquina Harbor

Tied up to C dock

We found the dock and spun it around making for an easy exit on Thursday.   

There is a pool. a few restaurants and food stores near by.  But no marina courtesy car so its taxi time again.  Oh well.  At least the liquor is next to the Food Lion.

We'll stay here a few days and replenish a bit and hang around the pool before heading further north.