A Lucky Week

Bull Creek

Cypress Swamps

This was not a very exciting week but a lucky one.  We continued north from Georgetown, SC for a night in the wilderness at Bull Creek in the cypress swamp.   When we got to the anchorage we saw our first alligator in the wild. Unfortunately I did not get a picture because we were in the midst of anchoring.  It was a beautiful spot but there were some very strange noises that night as we fell asleep.  We then headed to Pipeline Canal, Wrightsville Beach and then to Mile Hammock.  We had a lay over day in Mile Hammock because of severe storms predicted.  We lucked out because they were all around us.  The scariest part was for all the tornadoes predicted.  I kept thinking where do you go on a boat during a tornado?  We got some rain but no wind higher than 26 knots.  As I said we really were lucky.

We were also lucky the day we came out of Wrightsville Beach.  We got through a 10 am opening at the Figure Eight Bridge and after that it was closed until further notice for unexpected repairs.  If we had not gotten through we would had to return to Wrightsville Beach where the winds were 40-45 knots during the storms and blowing right into the anchorage.

In Mile Hammock we met up with Bob and Gail on Star whom we met down in Georgetown.  We had a delicious meal and a good time catching up on what they had been doing since we last saw them. 

We had a long day the following day to get to Broad Creek to anchor outside of River Dunes.  We stayed at River Dunes in the fall and thoroughly enjoyed the amenities.  The pool, hot tub, shower rooms, bikes, exercise room and the $1 a load laundry were a delight.  So the next morning we went into the marina early.  We fueled up and got into our slip by 9am.  We used their courtesy car to go to Oriental for the farmer’s market, get propane and then off to the grocery store for supplies. 

Blue Heaven with white calcium

Calcium deposit on hull

Al worked on cleaning the boat.  We had gotten a large white stain above the waterline on one side of our blue hull.  We thought it was a result of using a harsh cleaner to try to get the black scum off our white boot strip that we had gotten in Nassau harbor in December.  However, our friends on Star, another blue hulled boat, said it was probably calcium deposit and to use vinegar.  Al did, and to our relief it came off.  We were seeing an upcoming expensive imron job needed but not now.  We “lucked” out again!  (That brown next to the blue hull was the water in SC.  Yuck!)

Large home in River Dunes

That evening we had dinner with five other sailors who were in the marina.  They had a large affair in their main dining room of the marina’s restaurant, which left only so much room for other patrons for dinner, so they put us together.  We had a wonderful time getting to know the other people and the meal was delicious.  I wanted to stay another day, but Al said we had to keep moving.  For all you land lubbers, you can visit River Dunes by land as well.  They have some very cute cottages you can rent.  It is also a whole community, so if you want to buy property I am sure they would love to talk to you! Check out their website.   This was one of the larger homes in the community.

 Our days are filled with motoring, sailing or a combination of both heading up the inter-coastal waterway.  Our scenery has changed quite a bit as we head north, seeing tugs and barges and other commercial happenings.   

Big Beaver Dam?

We passed by Bellhaven and anchored at the south end of the Alligator Pungo Canal.  I got a lot of rug hooking done while going through this rather boring and least favorite area.  Being spring it is a beautiful shade of green along the banks.  We came across this Beaver Dam in the canal.  You should see the size of the beavers!  Only kidding, of course!  The Corp of Engineers clean the canal every once in awhile and pile it there.

We decided to make it a short day and after a three hour trip through the canal, so we anchored in the south end of the Alligator River.  We thought we would have a quiet afternoon but soon found out that one of our armed forces practices flying jets in this remote area.  I was glad when five o’clock rolled around so we could have some quiet.  However, it was the day Bin Laden was killed so maybe there was a reason to be practicing!  We had no ATT cell phone service since being in NC and had no internet service for two days.  But we could get TV and Dancing with the Stars!  Go figure!

Misty Morn on the Alligator River

We left early while the mist was on the water to head up to the Virginia Cut and hope to get cell phone and internet back so I can post this blog.