Great Loop "Just Do It"

  Oct 31 North Myrtle Beach to Carolina Beach NC. 55 miles We were moving fast this morning both because we knew it was to be a long day and because it was to last day of the trip.   The sky was clear and the we were off before 8 with the sun in our eyes. Starting out the tide was inner favor then against us and then for us and this cycle repeated as we past entrances and exits to the ocean.   Still we great time arriving in the slip at 3:15.   We gave each other a quick hug and headed out on bikes to schedule the upkeep of the boat.   Visited with the people there and they remembered us and gave us a quote on the   cost of dry storage for the boat dry in a rack.   Then back to boat where it has started to rain and sunset.   Seems when ever I complete a long vacation that I like it rains or turn cold or both.   Maybe God is trying tell me he will miss me while out in the world appreciating his work.   I am still processing that fact that...

  Oct 30 Georgetown to Myrtle Beach SC 55 miles   We had finsihed breakfast when Dianne found her Tablet and our backup maps were not available as the plug had been be pulled by accident.   I recharged on the I-Pad but her tablet came back on so it was not needed. However we still were off by 8:15.   The drive was interesting as it was new scenery with mangrove swamps and trees rather than than just the swamp grass we had been seeing the last couple of days.   The wind was calm with some showers but the current was in our face for what seemed like the whole day.   However we still finished at 3:30.   Dianne wanted to see the Beach so we walked over to it and along it for for about 1.5 hours.   We are cleaning out our food supplies so decided to have steak tonight and was a great meal.   The south bound boat continued in mass today as there were 18 in total.   I would estimate about 6 were very polite in managing wake and sharing the wate...

  Oct 29 Charleston SC to Georgetown SC 65 miles   It was another long day.   We tried and had plans for a shorter day but life happens and the marinas closer in were full so the only one was much further out.   We took it and have used 28 gallons of diesel from the last fill when we arrived.   We filled again and that is good thing except the cost of staying is going up all the time.   The day just like yesterday was tough tide coming and going and times of arrival here varying from 7:30 to 3:30 but in the end it settled into 4:30.   As we started before 8 it was a very long day.   However the anchor came up easy and only had to get up 3 times to check drift last nigh I guess I should not complain too much.   On our count we will finish either Monday night or Tuesday morning depending on speed and tides and will power.   I have therefore rented a U-Haul truck as they have one way rentals for a Wednesday morning pickup meaning we be home...

  Oct 28 Beaufort to North Charleston Anchorage 65 miles As noted above a very long day. We got off to a great start again being out before the official start of the day.   With favorable tides the GPS said we could make Charleston byco 4:30 I was sure this would not happen alas I was right.   The tides shifted against quickly and we had arrive times as late as 8 PM.   Our goal was Downtown marina but there was no way.   We chose to stop just 7 miles short in an anchorage in North Charleston at 5:30.   After dropping anchor we have faced all directions but due south.   The tide and wind are shifting the boat around a lot.   One anchor alarm has already gone off though I have not been able to see a noticeable shift in the anchor. I have therefore concluded that the alarm is just the shifting on the radius of the anchor.   The main GPS seems to agree with this conclusion although it is showing a lot of swing.   The winds are strong and the...

  Oct   27 Savannah to Beaufort SC 55 miles   Ok up before sun and this is becoming a habit.   Out by 7:45 as we knew it was to be a long day.   The ride was quiet.   Saw a of dolphins as we left Georgia and entered the last state of South Carolina. Sailed on the back side of Hilton head and saw two or three tour boats.   it is getting cooler now and the south bounders are growing saw 25 cruisers headed that way.   Again today most of them were polite and slowed as they passed or left a lot of space.   One or two did not yield any water   and therefore drove us off the channel but I come to expect that from those guy and drive to have an escape plan. Our arrival at Beaufort was not as pretty or neat as I would have liked it to be.   I did a good job getting the boat up to the dock and Dianne got off well.   But then she tied the back to the dock and by the time I got out the bow was caught in the current and the boat was spinni...

  Oct 25 New Brunswick to 60 North in a Marsh somewhere in GA We tried our best to get out early but failed but we did start before the sun was fully up.   This made the first hour tough because of glare from sun.   After that is a normal day in the south part of the Atlantic intercostal area. Today the scenery can only be described as unique to me at least. The land is flat and occasionally small clumps of trees of trees pop up.   Navigation is tough as the whole area looks the same and channels are hard to see due to reflections and glare.   There are shallows everywhere and tide is big in most checks more than 7 feet.   The flock of south bound cruisers continued today with another 6 sightings. Fishing must be good as we saw about 15 small fishing boats out.   Then of course the dolphins are still following us around and we sighted 3 pods and 2 singles.   We anchored tonight rather than completing the original plan to Sunbury as that would have...

  Oct 24   Fernanadina FL to New Brunswick GA   42 miles Average a poor 4.4 The dock at Fenanadina was designed to give people like us size envy as the boat directly in front of us was as wide as were long.   The boat across from us bow was bigger than our whole boat.   I paced it at 300 ft long and 4 or 5 stories.   It had a crew that all wore the same clothes a white button down shirt that said “The Double Down” and black shorts with white snickers.   For sure I could not afford to even start it for a day.   Dinner was chicken pasta and that turned out good.   Then a short walk around the grounds and off to bed.   Slept poorly as my hands keep waking me up with pain maybe I should try some medication but I do not like the idea.   Out before sunrise as we knew we had a long day.   Turned out not too horrible as the tide balanced out pushing us along a little more than holding us back.   The fuel was getting low as we coul...

  Oct   23 Jacksonville Fl. to Fenandina Fl   30 miles   The anchor worked again last night wand we had no movement after the initial set.   We dd drift around a bit with the tides but basically stay put.   After dinner we played a few games of Dice and won which is unusual and then Diane said she wanted to try to swim.   So out we went, fist complaint was the water was a little chilly and the second complaint was the current   was to fast.   But she did jump in, held on to the back of the boat and climbed back out again. So it was short swim.   As we stopped short yesterday due the current and long backtrack we would have to do today was to be short ,In addition it is Dianne’s Birthday we had took the extra time making pancakes.   We still finished at noon in Fernanda Beach Marina.   The very north tip of FL. So on the cruise up of course the current is against again this it is rising and that meant a long ride.   with lo...

  Oct 22 St. Augustine to Jacksonville Fl 44 miles   Left St Augustine with fond memories.   Every time I go to St. Augustine I have enjoyed myself.   We had pleasant day touring the city and seeing the sites yesterday then a very tasty meal of shared seafood platter and Nachos.   Listening to people talk at the dock I found out that this is popular spot and some people come every weekend to enjoy the city.   However their was an undermining message of do not stay out too late or the crazies come out.   Only complaints are it has become too popular so some of the quality stores and restaurants have become a little too cheap, and there is huge group of beggars.   The ride today was a little different.   The scenery is the same Florida marsh or really expensive homes.   However we had contrary currents all morning then around noon the tide shifted and current became insane in our favor with a head wind.   This although increases speed...

  Oct 21 Somehow we found our way out of dock and back to the route without any problems although the exit to marina was shallow less than 4 ft in one place.   On the way up the ICW we saw 4 boats either completely sunk or washed ashore.   One them was in just the wrong place and confused me but the shallow water on the GPS and Dianne quickly solved the problem and returned to channel without problems. Aside from that the trip was more of the typical stuff with lots of apartments, homes and docks too close to channel for comfort and big sea walls that the wakes just bounce off.   We have continued to see boats heading south for the winter a couple of them flying the Great Loop flag like we are.   However when spoke to one on the dock here is plan is to start north again in the spring so really he nothing more than snow bird at this point. I noticed while docking here I dislike being helped in as I get flustered and nervous with the guy helping out then make smal...

  Oct 20 Pounce De Leon to Palm coast Marina 39 miles   Ok no grounding today so things are already better.   Plus the marina has real bathrooms and showers not just a shack with toilet and bad floors.   So the day is better. I was up early this morning and thought I would be out by 8 only to discover that my plan was ruined by tide, wind and current.   What happened is the floating dock shifted back and up thereby catching my power cord in the roller and passing over it, trapping the cord.   As the cord was not damaged the only problem was how to free it.   I tried pushing the boat and that did not work, thought about starting the boat and using that to pull the dock.   The final solution was to borrow a   5 foot pry bar from the marina and just pry the dock off the roller and lift the cord.   The longest part of the job was finding the pry bar and then walking back to return it.   It still me feel stupid as I should know better to...

  Oct 19 Titusville to Ponce Deleon Inlet 38 mile only 3 bridges Normal up.   But leaving was a little different as I had backed into the slip yesterday.   Slip was a short one with poles on the outside so I had use a pole to retrieve all my ropes but it worked out.   It was very cold and windy this morning and the whole trip was into the wind this made for slightly rough start through a large bay.   At the end of the bay after passing through NASA lift bridge we were in the OverHaul Canal.   The only place we saw fishing boats this morning, as it was the only place that was calm and flat.   All Marina’s in the city on New Smyrna were full so we had to find a new on a little further on the route.   Dianne route finder put us to though a spot labeled 5 ft deep.   My GPs showed the same route with same depths so I routed us there also.   However it was only 2 ft deep as the boat draw 3.5 (if you do the math) we have to run aground again. ...