December 1, 2008 Cumberland Island

Decayed cars Gilded Mansion Carnegie mansion

Skipper waiting for walk Deer eating Wild horses

Archioligal dig Armadillo Bunny prints

Gale and Larry Love oaks Michael Skipper and me

Palmettos Cumberland Island

November 24-28, 2008 Day 14-18

It got a bit windy, see the water blowing, Steam Boat Creek

Close to shore when we woke up the tide went out about 8 feet.

Michael and Skipper coming back from the potty walk at night.

Coming back again but during the day.

Dinghy stop for Skipper.

Uh oh, I'm doing it again, forgetting to write every day, sorry. I'll try and remember and catch you all up to date. I have a question for everyone, Michael thinks I should be grammatically correct and check every word I write but I figured if I wrote like I talk you would all understand better. Who's right Michael or me?? Please reply!!

Departure: 11/24/08 7:50

Trip: 57.78

Log 13767

EH: 2285

Arrival 4:40Steam boat Creek

Nice ride today, sunny, cool. Anchored at Steam Boat Creek, very very still water. Gale and Larry couldn't get this far so we will meet up with them again tomorrow.

Departure: 10:00 Tuesday November 25, 2008 Day 15

Log: 13807

Trip:39.6

EH: 2291.5

The things you see along the way. Beaufort, SC

Arrival: Beaufort, SC 3:45

The Lady Island Bridge is broken so it is only opening 2 times a day at 10 and 2, screws up some people but not us because this is where cousins Charlie and Linda live and we anchor in Factory Creek behine their house. Gale and Larry are here also so after our walk (Charlie and Linda are working) we went to their boat for cocktails. It is still so very calm, so nice. Charlie and Linda insisted that we spend Thanksgiving with them instead of trying to push on to St Mary's (we never would have made it). Marshall was suppose to join us but it was just too long a ride for him (we'll miss him this year)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008Gale and Larry took their boat through the bridge at the 10AM opening so they could anchor by the town. Linda took Michael and I over to town so Michael could do the laundry (imagine) and Gale and Linda and i could go shopping, yippee!! We went to TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, and the Super Walmart. Wow, it was really busy, of course it is the day before Thanksgiving and Paris Island is right down the road. Spent the entire day shopping, oh such fun! We picked up Michael and the laundry, dropped off Gale and her purchases and back to the house. Linda let us borrow her car to go to dinner with Larry and Gale at Pannini's, pizza and salad..ummmmmmmmm. Beaufort is such a nice town, remember, this is the only town that Michael even considered living.

Thursday November 27, 2008 Thanksgiving

We slept late and then watched the Macy's parade while I baked a pumpkin pie and some creamed onions. It is sunny and warm, beautiful day!! Dinner was at 3 but we got there at 2 to help get things ready. It will be Charlie, Linda, Ann Marie, Curt, Jack, Michael, Skipper and I. Linda had a great cook book which I got to make some really delicious stuffed clams. It was a really good Thanksgiving and I was glad we got to spend it with family.I purchased a bottle of small white onions to make creamed onions, well, don 't ever try that, always use the frozen ones. I will probably never live down the fact that they were the worst onions we have ever tasted (pickled onions in cream sauce..ewwwwwwww, horrible. OH well, guess that joke will now be a holiday tradition.I am very thankful that my family has stayed healthy (well, except for Michael's fall) this year and hope they continue to do so, I love you all.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Mamo family on the lose of their Joey, we are thinking of you.

We went thru the 10 AM bridge, it takes 2 men under the bridge to get it open. Stopped at Port Royal Landing to get water, pump out and fuel 27 gal EH 2292.7 got going again at 11:15 ( took long because they couldn't get the pump out to work). Warm rainy, rainy, rainy.

Log:13852

Trip;45.7

EH: 2298.7

time 5:20 Turner Creek, GA MM 585.5

November 23, 2008 Sunday Day 13

Charleston view Cormorants Entrance to Waccama River

Beautiful ride, wonder what lurks in these woods!

Depart; 8:00
Log: 13709
Trip: 55.94
EH: 2276.4
Arrive: 4:20 Awendah Creek
What a beautiful sunny WARM day. Nice slow day, got to the anchorage early so we went up the canal a ways to the Cape Romain National Wildlife Reserve, anchored and took Skipper in for a potty walk. He loves it here because he can hear the squirrels and sometimes sees them but he knows they are there and that excites him. Went back to the boat, to the anchorage and dinghy ed over to Gale and Larry's boat for cocktails at sunset. the anchorage filled up really quickly, about 12 boats, popular place. The water looks like a mirror. Gale showed me she has TV reception..darn, where is mine?? I drank very carefully tonight and was fine and able to go back to the boat and make dinner... Patty and Carl.. this is the 3rd time we've had your chicken and rice and we have one more night left. How much did you make since the 3 guys had it for dinner 3 days. Thank you, I need the recipe. It kind of grows and never seems to disappear.

Thought this was pretty so I'll share with you: written by R.C Gibbons

"I long for the solitude of a sunset at sea and the chill of the breeze coming in with the eve. for the motion of my boat as she swings on her rode, and the beauty of the stars, in the evening's last glow."

November 22 continued

For some reason I couldn't write any more on the other post. We finally met up with our friends Larry and Gale on "Tropical gale Winds" at the Osprey Marina, myrtle Beach, SC. What a great marina!, clean and nicest people. They gave us a bag with so many goodies, really fun. Gale and Larry came over for cocktails, It was so good to finally meet up with them. We sailed with them for the whole summer a few years ago and this is the first time we've spent more then one day together, we have alot of catching up to do. I just don't know what happened but after 2 glasses of wine I couldn't even see.. guess I better not do that again. skipper met another nice little Rat Terrier named Reckless, hum, we got something going here yesterday Fearless today Reckless what will tomorrow bring. Well, anyway, gale and Larry left and i fell fast asleep (it was a about 6;30..don't know what Michael had for dinner but I was out for the count.

November 22, 2008 Saturday Day 12

Lotsa Egrets

Looking out of the Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC

Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC
Golfers going across ICW to get to next tee

Depart:7:50

Log: 1365.3

Trip: 56.86

EH: 2268.4

Arrival:4:41

Weather; 25 sunny no wind

November 21, 2008 continued

Entrance to Southport, NC

Southport Harbor

First Palm Tree

Looking out from boat at free dock

Underneath the boardwalk in Surf City where the well dressed men in suits were drinking and talking to me last year and Tracy freaked out. Look, it's boarded up now, OK Tracy!

Log: 13596

Trip: 41.09

EH: 2259.5

Arrive: 2;40

Brrrrrrrrr, still cold! This was a really short day because we were going to meet up with our friends Larry and Gale but they are about 3 miles down and it is too darn cold to take the dinghy to meet up with them, there's always tomorrow. The free T-dock was available so we pulled up to it and (of course) the wind is blowing us away from the dock which makes it really hard to tie up but after a lot of pushing and pulling and bow thrusting we finally got tied up. Skipper couldn't wait to get off the boat until he realized how cold it was, he hops everywhere and makes sure he has his sweater or coat on at all times (after all he is getting up there in age and the cold affects him more). We decided to walk up to the marina store in town to see if they had an impeller but as we were walking I noticed a man walking a dog and recognized him as someone we had met on another trip here. At that time he had just gotten his dog and moved to Southport, he was an important swim coach somewhere and guess what, his name is Dick and, wait, his wifes name is Diane, it gets better, his wife is a painter. Well now ain't that something, got my whole family right there. He offered to take us to Boaters World by car so off we went to his house...clear across town, warm now. All the houses in this town are circa 1870's and beautiful. The magnola trees are hugh, our first palm trees and also, this is where I read about the bent trees. The story is that the Indians, to label their way and find the way home bent trees over to mark the way. The trees that you see bent over are the ones that they never got back to let go. Dick introduced us to his wife and then drove us to the store and also to Walmart for some milk. Didn't have the part so back to the little store in town and, yup, they had the part right there. They really need a West Marine in this town also. Dick's dog was a peke-a-poo named Fearless since southport is on the Cape Fear River. House in South River Circa 1873

November 21, 2008 Friday Day 11

Departed :7:40

Looks like snow here and it is probably in the high 20's this morning. Figured since I'm on a roll I'd start this days blog early. I was flying to get to the next bridge this morning, Michael was down fixing the generator(pieces of impeller were caught in the lines) because I thought the bridge opened on the half hour and hour... I would have made it by 3 minutes when Michael told me it only opens on the hour. Oh well, whats an hour here or there, I was really flying thou, 10.2 miles per hour with the sail up, not bad. Well, I turned the motor down and just sailed and we still got there too fast. Just going through the bridge now, 11:05 so I would have made it even if I was 5 minutes late. so there. Oh wait, we still aren't under yet and it is now 11:08, I would have had more then enough time. More tonight, think I'll do my WII Fit now.

November 20, 2008 Day 10 Thursday

Depart:7:00
Log: 13555
Trip:49.15
EH: 2252.3
Arrive: 3:30
Fuel: 23.35 $81.69
Beach House marina, Surf City, NC The day started out quite brick, 30 degrees but sunny and calm. As the day progressed the cabin became toasty warm from the sun, oh how nice!! We're trying to get to St Mary's for Thanksgiving but it doesn't look too good, a day short but that's OK because we may be going to Jekyll Island, Marshall is suppose to join us and our friends Larry and Gale will be meeting up with us tonight and we may sail with them until Jacksonville. I have to call Gina and see if she is joining us this year. Tracy is having Thanksgiving at her house for John's family and Bobby is going to Craig's house. We celebrated before we left so now they can celebrate with other sides of the family and have to run around. We were tying to get to Wrightsville Beach today but had a hold up at Camp LeJeune when they stopped all traffic until 12;00 due to shopping and bombing practice from land and also from war ships. Sounded like a war! As we were leaving a navy ship started calling us, uh oh, I got scared but just as they went by our American Flag fell into the water in front of their boat. Lucky for us, they picked it up and gave it to me, don't know how that fell down..maybe when we hit the tree going thru the Dismal Swamp unlatched it and it took all this time to come undone. Here are some shots of the navy boats, is this what you do nephew Michael?? Go to places like that?? As we sailed by there are tanks and trucks that they use as targets. We decided to stop at Surf City as there are no anchorages or marinas for the next 3 hours and it would be dark soon. the temperature rose to the 60's and when Skipper and I went for a walk on the beach we almost didn't need coats, now that is how it is suppose to be. Did some laundry, walked down the street for a pizza, did more laundry, watched "Men in Black II' (Tracy it is still a good movie). Did more laundry and went to bed. There is a picture here of the boardwalk where the men were talking to me last time, notice how they boarded it up. the beach was loaded with men fishing (catching nothing) but fishing none the less. All in the pursuit of the almighty striped bass.

November 19, 2008 Day 9

Depart: 8:00
Log: 13506
Trip: 62.27
EH: 2244.7
Arrive: 4:25
Freezing again, skipper jumps when he walks because the ground is so cold. Off we go, and guess what, at 3:30 in Beaufort, NC we saw our first pod of dolphins. I always thought that they stayed south because they couldn't take the cold but I guess I was wrong because there they were jumping and frolicking in the water and around our boat. Is is bright and sunny and the temp is starting to rise a bit. We've also been seeing lots of Pelicans, gotta love them, they are so clumsy, crashing into the water like they do. Pulled into Mooreshead City where you can stay on a dock as long as you eat in their restaurant. We lucked out because the Sanitary Restaurant dock was becoming full and the Chef from the Ruddy Duck was outside waving us over to stay at his dock, which included electric, for free, ya hoo, warm all night tonight. We had dinner in his restaurant and it was really good. I had a flounder Reuben, sounds weird but it was really good. I really think Skipper remembers these places, he knows right where to go when we get off the boat. He's been very happy to wear his coat, not a cold weather puppy is he. We actually stayed up till about 9 because we had one TV channel. OH well. The days should get more interesting the further we go, all we've been seeing are marshs and trees, never knew there was so much undeveloped land in the US.

November 18, 2008 Day 8

Depart:7:50
Log: 13444
Trip: 52.03
EH:2236.1
Arrive: 4:20

Fuel at EH 22229.3 18.5 gal

Left our secluded anchorage very early and very very cold, in the low 30", brrrrrrrrrrrrr. Have to go to the Alligator River Marina to get a little gas so that Skipper can go potty. We flew there because the wind is whipping and we hope the bridge will open because it stays closed if the winds are 34 mph and up. Fueled up, walked Skipper and whew, the winds are only blowing around 20 so off we go. Arrived in Belhaven, the little town that could (if they just built it up a bit. Put the dinghy down, dressed in foul weather gear, sweater and vest for Skipper and in to shore we go. By the time we got there (just a short trip) Skipper was shivering so bad, my poor baby, he couldn't wait to get back to the boat and under his covers. Went to the hardware store (they sell everything) and I talked the guy into getting a Port Supply card and maybe becoming a West Marine Express store. Maybe, it would be a perfect location for it because of the anchorage and the many people that visit. We haven't been getting any TV reception so we have been watching 2 and a 1/2 men every night. (and you wonder why be fall asleep so early).

November 17, 2008 More pictures

Here are a few pictures I should have included yesterday of the Alligator River.