Beaufort SC to New River SC

Start time and hours                      1130                                         3465.34                             MM 536

End time and hours                       1600                                         3470.06                             MM 570

     We slept in a little at Beaufort SC because of high winds in the morning.  We left around 1130 and headed about a mile down the river to the Port Royal Landing Marina for fuel and a pump out.  Easy in and out at their fuel dock, even with the currents.

     We cruised down the Beaufort River and crossed Port Royal Sound and the Chechessee River.  This brought us past Hilton Head Island and their amazing waterfront homes.  We also went by Harbour Town Marina and the distinctive red and white striped lighthouse.  You can see this lighthouse if you watch the Harbour Town golf tournament.  It is the backdrop to the eighteenth green.

     We continued down Calibogue Sound and into the Cooper River.  This brought us into Ramshorn Creek and our anchorage for the night in New River.

     We shared the anchorage with one other boat.  We both had plenty of swing room.   The winds died down and the water was calm.  I am not complaining but we again saw dolphin, pelicans, and Osprey as well as other birds. 

     We had cocktails and hors d’oeurve on the lido deck and then had a wonderful salmon dinner.  After dinner we watched the stars in the very dark night sky.

    

     The next morning the new start battery started up like a charm.

our escort

some houses just stand out from the others

Harbour Town golf course

some of the day's scenery

our anchorage

our neighbor for the night

Afternoon cocktails and hors d'oeurve

Beaufort SC

Dewees Creek SC to Ashepoo River SC

Butler Island SC to Dewees Creek SC

Start time and hours                                  0715                                 3447.23

End time and hours                                    1415                                 3454.38

     We woke up early in the Butler Island SC anchorage as we had a 60 mile run ahead of us.  While not quite as cold as yesterday morning it was still a little chilly, about 42 degrees.  I fired up the generator and turned on the heat to take the chill out of the boat while we dressed and got ready to go.

     After a quick breakfast we brought the anchor up and got under way.  We continued down the Waccamaw river past Georgetown SC and into Winyah bay.  We can't stop everywhere on our journey because of time constraints.  Georgetown will be an eventual stop on one of our trips.

     From Winyah bay we turned into the Estherville Minim Creek Canal and through the Tom Yawkee Wildlife Center.  A nature preserve donated to South Carolina by the former Red Sox owner.  This part of the cruise was scenic with an abundance of wildlife and deserted pristine shoreline.  We saw an eagle, river hawks, pelicans, osprey, and many dolphins.

     We had a great following current for most of the day.  We travelled about 60 miles in only a little over seven hours.  We got to our anchorage at a great time to spend the afternoon relaxing.  We anchored in an unnamed creek off of Dewees Creek right off the ICW.  It is just west of Isle Palms SC.  Our first spot we tried was a little narrow and we could not put out enough scope.  We dragged a little and pulled up the hook and tried a wider spot.  Here we put out enough line to set the anchor on the first try.  Like some of the other anchorages it always looks like you are closer to the shore than you are. 

     We manned the recliners for the afternoon and watched a pelican feeding frenzy all around the boat.  There were probably about eight to ten hovering around and diving into the water for fish.  They were very successful in their pursuit of dinner.

North Myrtle Beach SC to Butler Island SC

Start time and hours                      0900                               2441.23

End time and hours                       1500                               2447.23

     We had a short forty mile run today so we slept in little.  When we were ready to leave we had a little engine starting problem.  The start battery was dead and the engine would not turn over.  I asked the dock hand if he knew anyone who could help and he said yes.  He made a call and said that Kenny would be right over.  Kenny is a live aboard on dock A and is retired. 

     Kenny helped me trouble shoot the problem and we ended up jumping the start battery with the house battery.  I still don’t know why the start battery died, but now I know what to do if it happens again.  We had to force Kenny to take some money as a thank you.  This little problem did not put us off for too long.  We only lost about 30 minutes troubleshooting.

     As we headed down the ICW through North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach it was not very scenic.  We saw the backs of lots of restaurants and stores and their billboards.  There were some nice homes and golf courses to see but they looked like all the other homes and golf courses that we had seen.  We also passed the bridge being built that cost us an extra day in Barefoot Marina.

     As we approached the Socastee swing bridge we saw that it was opening.  Elaine called ahead and told them we were about 1000 yards away and asked if we should wait for the next opening.  The bridge tender said to come on through, she would wait for us.  We cranked the boat up to almost 9knots and made for the bridge.  It was the first time on our trip that a bridge had waited for us and not us waiting for a bridge. 

     Immediately after the bridge the trip turned into the most scenic portion yet.  We were cruising down the Waccamaw River.  The Waccamaw River is very wooded right down to its banks, with trees growing in the water.  Moss covered cypress trees abound.  The river is windy in most spots and feels both private and serene.  Lots of river hawks and a few ospreys were seen.

     After cruising this scenic river, we tucked in behind Butler Island for the night on anchor.  We found a great spot and the anchor stuck on the first try.  We held fast for the night and slept well.

     I broke out the pressure cooker for dinner and we had short ribs with onions and peppers with risotto.  We ran the heater a little bit to take the chill off during dinner and then went to bed.  I was able to use my new Red Sox fleece comforter, thanks Fran,  as an extra blanket for the night.  The temps were predicted to go down into the low 40s and the fleece was perfect.  

Bridge Construction

AICW Mile 372.3 Closures for Bridge Construction:
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has hired Flatiron Constructors Inc. who has started building the SC 31, Carolina Bays Parkway, Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina. This project is anticipated to be completed by December 29, 2017 and will involve some waterway restrictions/closures.

UPDATE:
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone during overhead construction activities related to the Carolina Bays Parkway Project (SC-31) located in Socastee, SC. A 200-yard safety zone will be established on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) in the vicinity of mile marker 372.3 encompassing all waters directly under the SC-31 project as well as vessels and machinery associated with construction efforts. Enforcement will take place during overhead construction activities on the dates listed below. Entry of vessels or persons into the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

Mariners are urged to plan transits accordingly to avoid unnecessary disruptions. Project site can be found on NOAA Chart 11534-Myrtle Grove Sound and Cape Fear River to Casino Creek. Location currently noted as “Bridge Under Construction”.

WATERWAY CLOSURE DATES:
November 10, 2017            7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 17, 2017            7 a.m. to 5 p.m
December 12, 2017            7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
December 17, 2017            7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
December 28, 2017            7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Coast Guard will provide notice of any date or time changes to the regulated area by Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, Marine Safety Information Bulletins and on-scene designated representatives.

For Coast Guard related issues please contact Sector Charleston Waterways Management Division at: (843) 323-7761 or our 24-hour Command Center Line at: (843) 740-7050.  (5th District LNM Week 43/2017)

     We got this e-mail on November 9th.  As you can see the ICW would be closed on November 10th at mile 372.3.  Unfortunately we were at mile 355.  Not a good thing.  We signed up for another night at the Barefoot Marina and enjoyed our stay.  We took our bikes out and went to re-provision.

     The marina and the one across the way is full today because nobody can go very far.  It should be quite a crowd heading south tomorrow.

Hanging out in North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Marina

     

     We spent the next two days in Barefoot Marina due to the rainy weather. 

     On wednesday, we were finally able to arrange for a haircut for me and a pedicure for Elaine.  Both were long overdue.

     We then walked over the bridge to Barefoot Landing and checked out the shops.  We had come here 27 years ago when it was new and much smaller.  It is an OK place to spend an afternoon but hopefully the expansion will bring better shops.  They are renovating and expanding it even more and opening it up to the ICW side.   The pile driver across the river was quite loud during the day.  

     We had dinner at Umberto's https://umbertos.com/ again.  The first time was 27 years ago.  I got the same thing, the 24oz bone in grilled veal T-bone, they claim that it could be the world's finest cut of meat.  The restaurant is still a great Italian eatery and worth a stop if you are in the Myrtle Beach area.

Berthed at Barefoot Marina

Strict rules about alcohol at the marina

Barefoot Marina on the right, Barefoot Landing Marina on the left, don't get them confused when making reservations.

At Barefoot Landing

ditto

We had dinner here, awesome grilled veal T-bone

Blue Heron I believe?

Barefoot Landing

Barefoot Landing

Barefoot Landing

There has got to be something in here worth cooking.