Charleston, SC to Beaufort, SC

Saturday November 5, 2011  Day- 55
Departed Charleston at 8:00AM and arrived at Beaufort at 4:00PM
Today's miles - 70  Total miles to date- 1,123.

We left under overcast skies and windy conditions. The temperature was 50 and raw. While not the best day, it was a good travel day and we put in our longest day and most miles today. We are anchored at Beaufort harbor tonight and we plan on leaving tomorrow morning early. We are planning to leave the boat in the next week and a half to get home for Thanksgiving through New Years. We will then get back to the boat in January and continue South.

This was a different paint job on a boat along the intracoastal today.

The bridge coming into Beaufort Harbor.

Beaufort is an old town being chartered in 1711!

They have a great harbor park including these swings overlooking the harbor.

The park is a great asset for this town.

We had a great dinner at a local restaurant. This is the view down to the harbor.

{sle of Palms, SC to Charleston, SC

Thursday, November 3, 2011  Days- 53 and 54
We departed Isle of Palms at 10:45AM and arrived in Charleston at 12:45PM
Today's miles - 12   Total miles-  1053.

We slept in and went to breakfast since we didn't have far to go to Charleston, SC. The weather was good and we were excited to get to Charleston which we heard so much about. We are going to stay 2 nights so we can explore. Wen we got to Charleston, we called Doug and Sally Shea from Bristol to see if they were down at their Charleston vacation home and they were. We ended up going to dinner and they made dinner the next night. It was a good time with Carole and I taking the bikes all around Charleston. The  2nd day was cold and windy so we went to the Charleston Aquarium.

A couple of the outstanding houses from the water.

Stately old houses.

Jack protecting the Port of Charleston from terrorists or just plain undesirables!

This is the customs house which was connected with the slave auctions.

One of the many buildings that was used to auction slaves is now a market place.

There are many horse drawn tours.

Another cool Charleston building.

Sunset from our boat at Ashley Landing Marina.

Carole found one of her long lost relatives along the harbor.

A sea turtle at the aquarium.

A couple of neat jelly fish.

Georgetown, SC to Isle of Palms, SC

Wednesday November 2, 2011 day -51
We departed Georgetown at 7:30AM and arrived at Isle of Palms, SC at 1:30PM.
Today's miles- 55   Total mile -1,041

Georgetown was a great town and we decided to go to Ilse of Palms, SC for the night. Even though Charleston was only 12 miles away, we were going to meet friends, Jerry and Christine Downey who are also taking their boat south to Satellite Beach, Florida where they rent a house where they can dock the boat behind. They said if we get down the Satellite Beach, we can also dock there for a period of time.

The marina was good and had a great restaurant where we had lunch and then dinner with Jerry and Christine.

We saw 4-bald eagles today. It's hard to get a good picture without a telephoto lens.

There are some good used boat deals after the storms!

A nice Isle of Palms sunset!

This is Jerry's and Christine's boat. Maguire Won.

Myrtle Beach, SC to Georgetown, SC

Tuesday November 1, 2011 Day-51
Departed Myrtle Beach at 8:30AM and arrived Georgetown, SC at 3:30PM
Today's miles - 50  Total miles - 986
We left under sunny skies and calm wind. The temperature was about 55 but felt warmer because of the sun and got up to the mid 60's. We are in Georgetown, SC which is a old town with a great main street.
We are going to try to get to Isle of Palms tomorrow which is only 15-miles from Charleston which we hope to be in Thursday.

Leaving Myrtle Beach the intracoastal becomes a long straight run again.

This is a great looking bridge which is privately owned by a resort in Myrtle Beach.

When I went to Myrtle Beach golfing with the guys, we played on many golf courses that went along the intracoastal. I always said I'm going to do that. Well I'm doing it now!

We passed many bridges today but the are high so you don't have to wait for them to open. The rail road bridges stay open unless there is a train coming. We are pretty well clear of opening bridges until Georgia.

This is the main street of Georgetown, SC. It is very picturesque.

The town has a great river walk which we did tonight.

The harbor walk.

This is one of the residents of Georgetown along the harbor walk.

Sunset from the boat.

Looking down the river from the boat.

Southport, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC

Monday October 31, 2011   Day-50
Departed Southport at 7:30AM and arrived Myrtle Beach at 12:30PM
Today's miles - 45  Total miles 936
We left as the sun was rising and while it was cool, it was clear. After traveling up in the flybridge, we wanted to get warm and went into the main cabin and started the Wabasco diesel heater. The cabin was soon toasty and we motored from down below making it very comfortable.
we made it early to Myrtle Beach and are staying at Barefoot Landing which is a large commercial plaza containing around 120 outlet stores, restaurants and attractions including the House of Blues! Great stop to walk around and we went to a great happy hour at Flying Fish restaurant which had $5 cosmos and martinis. Life is good!

Leaving at sunrise from Southport.

Fishing boats along the way.

Some intracoastal real estate we may be able to afford!

Going down the "rock pile" to Myrtle /Beach which you have to stay in the middle so as not to hit the rocks!

At House of Blues, home for our golf stops!

House of Blues

I guess I was going to get caught at some point!

Wrightsville Beach, NC to Southport, NC

Sunday October 30, 2011  Day-49
Departed Wrightsville Beach at 9:00AM and arrived in Southport at 1:00PM
Today's miles 30  Total miles- 891

We left under clear skies. It was a cool 45 degrees but sunny and light winds. It was a short run today but Southport is a good stop to get to Myrtle Beach in one day which we are going to do tomorrow.'

YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO MAKE IT LARGER

This is the intracoastal waterway from the bridge we went over to go to the store. Our marina is on the left in the picture.

The intracoastal was quiet today.

This house seem a bit out of place compared to all the other houses.

This is the Carolina Beach inlet which connects the ocean. There were many vehicles on the barrier island between the intracoastal and the ocean. You can click on any photo to make them larger.

A ferry was crossing to Bald Head Island across the Cape Fear River.

Tonight's sunset was beautiful over the intracoastal waterway.

Swansboro, NC to Wrightsville Beach, NC

Friday October 28, 2011  Day- 46
Departed Swansboro at 7:30AM and arrived at Wrightsville beach at 3:00PM. There were a few bridges we had to wait to open for us today. It was cloudy and cool with strong winds of 15-25 knots. It was in the low 60's and the wind was coming into the fly bridge from the back. We are staying at the Wrightsville Beach Marina which while expensive at $100 per night, is very nice. Carole got the laundry done and we walked around a bit. We decided to stay here another night and relax with heat on, cable TV to get the stations our satellite doesn't (local stations) and do a little sight seeing with high winds. At least there will be no snow here!!

Just after we got underway, we went past Camp Lejeune, NC. They are going to be closing the canal on Monday for live firing for a period of time but there was none while we went by.

A guard tower along the canal.

They were dredging part of the channel.

Another house that would look good in Key West!

I didn't want to be cold with the strong wind coming from our backs.

Our dock mate this morning.

Our dock at Wrightsville Beach Marina.