Update 10/16/2011 - Dismal Swamp to South Carolina

We are now in South Carolina.  We’ve pushed a bit this last week to get caught up and avoid the worst of the weather. From Elizabeth City we made a long run down the Alligator River after an easy crossing of Albemarle Sound, Which can be very nasty. We anchored that evening in a nice cove at the end of the Alligator-Pungo Canal with Summertime and 4 other boats.

The following day was predicted to be cold windy and rainy and it was but later in the day. We traveled a whole 4 miles to Dowry Creek Marina where we used the loaner car to go to lunch and do some shopping.  That evening we enjoyed the marina’s happy hour with 10 or 12 other boats.

This was followed the next day by another longer run to Oriental which included easy crossings of both the Pamlico River and the Neuse River. With the Neuse behind us, we have very few larger bodies of water between us and Florida. We got a chance to walk around town a little and had a nice dinner with Ray and Linda and their friends Bill and Jean.

Mile Hammock Bay, which is part of the US Marine’s Camp Lejune, was our next destination.  It was another 50 mile day but we made it no problem. Loopers Rick and Betsey from Rick and Roll met us there for a short visit. The Marines were active for much of the evening with helicopters seemingly circling the 15 boats or so in the anchorage for several hours.  The wind came up very strong during the early morning hours and we were up to make sure we did not drag.

Motoring through the fishermen at Lockwood's Folly

We started out early that morning not sure how far we might go that day. We made good progress through the morning and checking the current in the Cape Fear River, we determined it would be with us that afternoon so we kept going. The river current was in fact strong and we traveled down it at 10 or 11 knots the whole way.  We wound up at St James Plantation marina having put almost 70 miles behind us.  We were tired but took time to do a nice walk at sunset.

The pool at Barefoot resort

A shorter day was in order so we traveled about 40 miles to North Myrtle Beach, SC where we stopped at The Barefoot Resort Marina.  The pool was still open so we enjoyed the pool and the hot tub that afternoon.  We than walked over to Barefoot Landing and looked at the shops and the entertainment facilities. Both the House of Blues and Alabama have large facilities there. We then did something unusual and had pizza for supper.

This morning, we took another walk over the bridge and then took a leisurely 20 mile trip down the waterway to Osprey Marina where we took on fuel and tied up for the night.

scene from the Waccamaw River

 We are now in the Waccamaw River which is one of the prettier sections of the ICW.  The weather is warm during the day, and it’s great to be back in South Carolina.

Still having a great time!

Steve & Jean