THE Destination

Dec 14 - Jan 14, 2015  Home for the Holidays

The Marina at Ortega Landing, Jacksonville, FL

One more travel day and it was a beauty -- once again out on the Atlantic enjoying sunshine and gentle seas.  A group of dolphins welcomed us as we pulled into the St. John River inlet and moved on up the river.  

The 3 hour tour up the river took us by naval operations, huge commercial shipping docks

and right through the middle of downtown, where Christmas was in full swing!

At the end of the journey, the Marina at Ortega Landing ................

We had to break out the real Waterford crystal and a bottle of bubbly to celebrate this milestone with our great friends and traveling partners, Doug and Jan.

Fun Facts about THE ADVENTURE:

• 2519 nautical miles traveled
• 403 engine hours on the John Deere
• 168 generator hours
• 74 stops from July 16 - Dec 14 (marinas, anchorages, moorings)
• Total miles  - Lake Superior trip of 2013 + Florida trip 2014 = 4600 miles -- that equals a trip from NYC to LA and back!!

Checked off the Bucket List:

• Completing the Trent Severn Waterway and Erie Canal
• Navigating on all 5 Great Lakes and Georgian Bay
• Anchoring behind the Statue of Liberty
• Arriving in Florida on Waterford

Scenes from Ortega Landing

We'll be in this lovely place for a month --- great club house, pool, hot tub, laundry, REAL wifi, and a great staff.  West Marine, groceries, Starbucks, shopping, etc. all within walking or biking distance --- perfect!  We'll be taking a 2-week hiatus back to Michigan/Illinois to reconnect with family -- can't wait for those grand baby hugs!

We'll be back on line mid January when we move farther south to Stuart, Florida.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

On to Florida!

Dec 11 - 13 

Fernandina Harbour Marina

After a careful check of the open water forecast, we decided to leave the winding, shallow ICW and head out into the Atlantic.  Once again leaving at dawn to coordinate arriving at our destination at high tide.  

The sky was already clearing as we passed the St. Simon's Island lighthouse on the way out.

It was a beautiful 40 mile cruise to the St. Mary's River inlet.  We're officially in Florida now!

We passed several shrimpers, with nets deployed, as we made our way into the St. Mary's River inlet.  The gulls are hanging out on the lines hoping for some leftovers!

Fernandina Beach, at the north end of Amelia Island is considered the birthplace of the shrimping industry.  This boat would hope to catch 250-500 lbs. of shrimp per day.

Our original plan was to stay out on the mooring balls for 3 days, but our generator was acting up.  So with overnite temps in the upper 30's, we moved in to a dock for nights 2 & 3.  

What a fun little town!  Great shopping, bakery and farmer's market.

Once again we hit one of those "special" weekends with both an Art Walk and a lighted Santa parade.  Even the pirates got into the act! 

The Georgia ICW

Dec 2 - 3, 2014

Wahoo Island Anchorage

Leaving Isle of Hope Marina and the city of Savannah behind, we continued south on the Georgia ICW.  This portion of the waterway is famous (or infamous) for many shallow spots due to shoaling and the largest tide swings (8 ft) we've seen so far.  

That means a bit more planning so that we can get through the low spots with the deepest water possible.  This picture was taken as the tide was going out (down), about half way between high and low.  Definitely a learning experience!

We arrived at the beautiful, secluded Wahoo Island Anchorage at 4:30, just in time to enjoy an amazing sunset with Day Dreams in the foreground.

Good thing we had planned on a couple of nights here.  Wednesday the fog rolled in and Day Dreams disappeared for a while!

Fortunately, Thursday dawned fog free and beautiful and we were able to move on.

Dec 4 - 10

St. Simon's Island - Morning Star Marina at Golden Isles

Fog caught up with us about an hour into the trip, but fortunately was short lived.  We pulled into Morningstar Marina under blue skies and sunshine with enough time to bike over to St. Simons Island on a bit of a reconnaissance mission.  We stopped by the Visitor Center at Neptune park for maps and info, then back to the dock.

We had planned on spending a week here, and it proved to be a great choice.  The staff and facility are great -- muffins and a paper in the morning, nice showers and restrooms, a courtesy car, restaurant on site and easy bike ride across the bridge to St. Simons for shopping, dining and biking.  We even got in on the annual Customer Appreciation holiday party catered by the restaurant --- can you say crab nachos?!  YUM

The cool breezy weather didn't stop us from daily bike rides for sightseeing, shopping, groceries, fresh seafood, wine tasting and great dining -- even took in  Mockingjay - part 1 on a particularly gray afternoon.

Still seeing those live oaks and Spanish moss!

The branches were so low in the park, we could climb up for a picture (reliving my childhood)!

A walk on the beach.............

Another addition to the "favorites" list!

On to Georgia

Nov 28 - Dec 1   Savannah, GA

After a lovely stay in Hilton Head, it was time to move on to Savannah, GA and the Isle of Hope Marina.  Once again, we were met with a very accommodating staff and great spot.   

This was the perfect place to take advantage of a free weekend car rental I had earned in my "working" life (seems a very long time ago now!).  The marina was about 8 miles from downtown Savannah, so the car allowed us to enjoy the city at our own pace.  

It was still Thanksgiving weekend, and the beginning of their holiday festival of lights.  The kickoff event was a lighted boat parade on the Savannah river.  We had a great time bar hopping on the waterfront, enjoying the parade and fireworks and topping the evening at Lulu's --- 

the guys had dessert, the gals dessert drinks mmmmmmmm good!

In keeping with the spirit, we got lighted wreaths for our back decks and Garry got the blue lights hung in the pilot house, too.

Savannah has a very different feel from Charleston --- with it's neighborhood squares and the great waterfront district, it's a walk-friendly city.  We'll be back!

Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 25 - 27  South Carolina Yacht Club

Thanksgiving in South Carolina.............





South Carolina Yacht Club at Windmill Harbor, Hilton Head, South Carolina.  What a lovely spot to spend the holiday.


The harbor is protected from tide and current by a small lock system.  The clubhouse is in the center of a lovely community -- great for walking.

The perfect combination of fall colors, live oaks, Spanish moss and gorgeous homes.

Jan and I did a traditional dinner complete with Turkey Breast, dressing, mashed potatoes, squash, brussels sprouts and salad.  Garry and Doug were in charge of dessert ---- bakery pecan pie.  YUM

It was truly a celebration of how thankful we are to be on this journey!

The SC flag symbol, in the flesh ------ unfortunately, we couldn't enlarge the moon!






Georgia will have to be really special to top this!

More South Carolina Low Country

Nov 21 Church Creek Anchorage

After a short pretty ride down the Stono River, we anchored in Church Creek, just off the ICW.  We're getting used to the strong tidal currents and doing "360's" on the anchor.  

                  Just a quick overnight stop

on our way to Beaufort (that's bew-fort in SC, as opposed to bow-fort in NC).  We spent the next 3 nights in Port Royal Landing Marina, another great spot.  Grocery, West Marine and a fresh fish market within walking distance and a courtesy car to downtown Beaufort.





Between bouts of rain, we walked through neighborhoods of homes dating to the early 1700's, including one used as Forrest Gump's home in the movie. Garry risked life and limb to get this shot.  It's a private home surrounded by an electrified fence!





We also found The Chocolate Tree candy shop ("life is like a box of chocolates")!

We've fallen in love with the huge live oaks (so named because they remain green year round) draped with Spanish moss (neither Spanish nor moss!) that line the streets and surround these lovely homes with their signature porches.




In one of the many unique shops, we discovered a great high folding teak chair -- perfect for the helm --- so perfect the matching boats now have matching helm seats!

We'll be adding this to our list of favorite stops!

Charleston, SC - 3 perspectives

November 14 - 20

We experienced Charleston over a week's time from three very different marinas.

Marina #1 Charleston Harbor Marina

Under leaden skies, fighting high wind and current, we were safely tied up in or slips by 3:45 pm.  Of course, we're as far from the restrooms/showers as we can possibly be!  Fortunately, Saturday was sunny, though still windy and cool.

While Martins spent the day with Jan's aunt and uncle, Garry and I explored the associated resort grounds.  In warmer weather, we could have taken advantage of the pool/hot tub .............

The highlight of the day was the big event  happening in the parking lot --- at least 20 varieties of pulled pork mmmmmm good!

The marina is across the harbor from downtown Charleston, next to the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, a destroyer and a submarine -- all retired from service and available to tour.



                                                                                             





No way I could be on the water in one of these things!!!










Sunday we moved to the Mega Dock at Charleston City Marina -- a great spot to take advantage of downtown Charleston.  

We were dwarfed by these 200+ footers!

Though the weather remained chilly, we explored the city on bikes and on foot.  Great shopping and dining abound -- including lunch at Five Loaves, a great little place run by our son-in-law Tom's great friend Stephen and his wife Ruthie.  

And for dessert, Kaminsky's -- a bar with an assortment of pastries for the guys and awesome Brandy Alexander milkshakes for Jan and me --OMG delightful!

Stop #3  St. John's Yacht Harbor




A short 3 mile jaunt from the downtown marina, we found another gem.  St John's Yacht Harbor, just off the ICW -- great staff, top notch restrooms, showers and laundry and a courtesy car.




It's also just a few miles from great friends, Skip and Linda Perkins condo on Johns Island.  They met us for awesome Italian dinner at the Wild Olive where we got all caught up.  The following day they toured us around Kiawah Island, including the HGTV Dream Home and the famous Ocean Course.

We enjoyed refreshments in the club house overlooking the course/ocean and ended the evening back at Bohicket Marina at Fisher's bar.  It was so good to see them!

Great Friends!  The 2 couples who have been part of our boating experience from the time we arrived in Michigan!

Georgetown

November 12-13

Anchors aweigh at 8:30 arriving in historic Georgetown in time for lunch.  Harbor Walk Marina proved to be a great little marina right in the midst of "downtown" - top notch restroom, shower, laundry, and a front porch just perfect for cocktails at sunset. 

On our first walk through, we found a great bakery, coffee shop, unique shops, historic homes, and the "rice museum" in the building with the clock tower.

On day 2, we biked through several blocks of homes dating back to 1740 set among the live oaks - beautiful!  

Georgetown Harbor is also home to more than 20 shrimp boats, so for dinner, we walked a couple of blocks to Independent Seafood for fresh (right off the boat) shrimp, tuna, crab........ we're really getting spoiled!

Back at the dock, we'd been joined by another 39 Krogen, Selkie.  

                        

3 in a row --- what fun!  

Of course, we had to compare notes over cocktails on the porch.  We'll all be moving on tomorrow.

State #8, South Carolina

November 8 - 11

The ICW takes us on into South Carolina, through a varying terrain, from grassy marsh with "low country" fishermen

past ocean inlets where shrimpers abound and you can pick up fresh seafood at little markets like this one

and past beautiful oceanside resort communities of canal front homes

The last 3 miles from our destination includes the infamous "Rock Pile". This stretch, just north of North Myrtle Beach, is a narrow 2.3 mile cut that had to be blasted out of rock.  Nothing like a challenge to finish the day!

Barefoot Marina in North Myrtle Beach is just across the river from Barefoot Landing shopping and outlet mall.  Just a 20 minute walk across the bridge, there was also a theater that was hosting the "Beach (as in Myrtle Beach) Music Awards".  Apparently this is an annual THING the weekend after the CMA Awards.

These tailgaters were all dressed up in coat/tie and long gowns............  And the place was packed!  You can see the marina just across the ICW in the background.



While they all enjoyed the show, we enjoyed a great happy hour (dinner) next door at the Flying Fish.  It's also a fish market, so we took some lovely fresh grouper home for another meal.


Time for a little peace and quiet!  The next 30 miles takes us along the Waccamaw River where we're seeing true fall colors and spanish moss hanging from the trees - beautiful ride.

Day Dreams in Cow House Creek

 By noon we arrived in Cow House Creek,  behind an island just off the river.  Though off the main waterway, the current was surprising.  It took 2 tries, but by noon, we were anchored securely.  A lazy afternoon followed by fresh fish on the grill ..................

There was some rain overnight, but by 11 it was time for a dinghy cruise across the river to Wacca Wache Marina.  After a nice walk along the golf course, we had a lovely lunch at K Rae's (yummy lobster roll) and then headed back to the boats.

The Cape Fear Coastal Region

November 4 - 7

Our journey thus far is at 2032 miles, 68 stops as we leave Mile Hammock Bay behind.

The Navy and Marines were setting up for the big exercise as we left.



First in meant following everyone else on the way out...........







in the "dance of the snowbirds"







The saying on the ICW is that "if you haven't gone aground, you will - or you lie"!  Well, we would have our turn today.  While waiting for a bridge opening just before stopping for the day, the current took us off to the side of the channel and aground.  Fortunately, Garry was able to maneuver us off and back into the channel.  Lesson learned!






Our destination for the night was Seapath Marina at Wrightsville Beach, NC, arriving early enough to enjoy a walk on the beach.  After poking into a shop or two, we picked up fresh fish to cook for dinner.



November 5 -7 would be spent at Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC.  This historic fishing village is home to less than 3000 residents, but has a maritime museum,  cute shops, 3 bakeries. and many historic homes.




Live Oaks (not the oak trees we see in the midwest) abound, including this one that is estimated to be over 400 years old.













The giant winding branches of this one seem to be wrapping this house in a warm embrace.









Wednesday and Thursday we all did the ride into town, enjoying the lovely homes, great stuff from the bakery and lunch at a waterfront restaurant.  It was a little cool sitting outdoors, but the shrimp tacos and the grouper were awesome!






Friday Jan and I made the trip to town on our own, enjoying a leisurely latte, shopping (there was a Christmas shop that was a mini "Bronners" packed into a Victorian home) and even a little wine tasting.  What a treat!