05/30/2012 AND 0531/2012 SOUTH CAROLINA

05/30/2012 WEDNESDAY         NORTH CAROLINA, AT LAST

41 NM FROM MYRTLE BEACH TO SOUTHPORT MARINA (910-457-5710) IN SOUTHPORT, NC

About 3:00 AM the rain arrived in full force, bringing a good shower before easing off and continuing it northerly path.  Quest pulled out around 8:00 under calm but drizzly conditions.  The fishermen and crabbers were beginning to peek out but wary of the predicted gusts yet to come.  We did see gusts up to 35 during the day.

The last couple of years the colorful Adirondack chairs have been the rage on docks but this year we found these high chairs beginning to show up along the Carolina docks. 

THESE HIGH CHAIRS ARE THE NEW THINGS ON THE CAROLINA DOCKS

We arrived at the Southport Marina in North Carolina between gusts and managed to get tied up with the assistance of the dockmaster and other helpful boaters.  After giving the wind and rain a chance to dye down we strolled through the town of Southport.  Years ago, pre-Steven at UNCW, we drove through here and fell in love with its coastal charm.  We found a lovely house for sale and dreamed of breathing our life into it. It has since been purchased and tended with loving care.

SOUTHPORT HOME

Temporary construction was being done for filming on a Nicolas Sparks’ movie. His book, Safe Haven, is set in this small town.  Thankfully, when the shooting is done, the structure will be removed and the original setting restored.  Guess I will have to download this book to my Kindle!!!

CONSTRUCTION FOR TEMPORARY MOVIE SET FOR
NICHOLAS SPARKS MOVIE

05-31-2012 THURSDAY      ON TO THE WILMINGTON AREA

25 NM FROM SOUTHPORT TO SEAPATH MARINA (910-256-3747) IN WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

Thinking we were going to be up and out early this morning, when we did leave at 6:30 three of the transient boats had already left.  This was an early crowd!

The day dawned beautifully clear and void of the previous day’s gusty wind.  We were able to cross the wide Cape Fear River and enter Snow’s Cut under lovely, calm conditions.  Before long we were passing by the dock for our Southeast Harbor house.  And for those of you that know this area, yes, the blue bus is still nearby and the ugly geodesic house still stands.

DOCKS FOR HOMES IN SOUTHEAST HARBOR

THE INFAMOUS "BLUE BUS"

AND THEN THERE IS THE GEO-HOUSE

Seapath Marina will be our home for about a week while we drive to Pinehurst, NC to join the Colemans and the Ramages, go on to Charlotte for La Cage Aux Folles then back to Quest to prep her for the summer.  More on our land adventures later.

05/28/2012 AND 5/29/2012

05/28/2012  MONDAY         MOVING ON NORTH AGAIN

81 NM FROM BOHICKET MARINA TO ANCHOR IN THE MINIM CREEK (MM415.5, WEST BY RED 4)

Lucky for us, the storm just brought us a little overnight rain while taking out power in the Jekyll and St. Simons Islands as well as Savannah.  We traveled with slight breezes and a smattering of light rain during the morning but the sun never really showed its face much, keeping the temperatures down and pleasant.

I waved at one of my favorite houses perched on the corner of the Stono River at the Elliot Cut.  This swiftly flowing cut takes you right to the Ashley River and lovely Charleston.  We were delighted to find the harbor’s waters relatively calm as we made our transit.  I think we made some good choices in laying out our travel strategy.  I am sure the harbor was tumultuous yesterday and tomorrow may bring the storm snaking back up.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOME IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING

THE MEGA DOCK IN CHARLESTON HARBOR

Wild life!  Wild life!  First Dan spotted some wild pigs along the shore then I found the first gator just as we pulled into Minim Creek (MM415.4 W@R4) to anchor for the night.  Since they tend to hover just under the water with only the tops of their heads and nostrils peeking out, they are most difficult to spot. 

LOOK CAREFULLY AND YOU WILL SEE THE GATOR'S HEAD
TO THE RIGHT OF THE LONE REED

After entering the creek, expecting to anchor, we found this old dock and pulled right up to it for the night.  OK, once there we did find the posted no trespassing signs but they were really hard to read and we are sight impaired.   We saw another gator slither just off the boat, a dolphin frolicking nearby, roosting pelicans and herons and (ugh!) blood thirsty mosquitoes.  We were safe from the invading critters as long as we kept the screens tightly closed.

HMMMM!  LET'S STAY HERE.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY?  CAN'T QUITE MAKE IT OUT?

After tying up Dan noticed our chart plotter mileage had just clicked over the big 20,000 NM that we have traveled since moving onto the Quest in January of 2010.  Wow!

THE THIRD TIME THE METER HAS SHOWN ALL ZEROS
FIRST TIME=TRUE 0 IN OREGON,
SECOND TIME 10,000 NM SOMEWHERE IN THE MISSISSIPPI 9/2010

 

 

05/23/2012 THROUGH 0/27/2012 TRAVELING WITH JAY AND CHERYL

05/23/2012  TUESDAY       THE COLEMANS COME ABOARD THE QUEST

35 NM TRAVELED TODAY FROM GOLDEN ISLES MARINA ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND TO ANCHOR ON THE CRESCENT RIVER NEAR MM 643.5

The morning was a whirlwind of activity.  While I did some cleaning and caught up on bookwork, Dan got the marina’s loaner car and made a quick market run to restock Quest’s empty refrigerators.  By 9:30 we were joining Jay and Cheryl Coleman at the Jekyll Island Club, where they had been staying for the last three nights, for breakfast and a quick walk around of the magnificent property.  Prior to the state’s acquisition of this island in 1947, this resort was once the seasonal home of such notables as Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, Vanderbilt and other uber-rich of that era.

Shortly after noon we had the Colemans on board Quest and we were casting off our lies.  It proved to be a beautiful cruising day as we meandered the twisting channel that took us closer to Savannah.  We anchored for the night in the Crescent River, enjoyed a barbecued steak dinner and taught Jay and Cheryl to play Fan-Tan.  It is good to be back traveling on Quest and doubly so with friends.

05/24/2012 WEDNESDAY           SAVANNAH, HERE WE ARE!!

36 NM TRAVELED TODAY FROM THE ANCHORAGE IN CRESCENT RIVER TO THE RIVER STREET MARKET PLACE DOCK IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH(912-398-6038) (www.RiverStreetMarketPlace.com)

 With little fanfare we pulled up anchor, departed from our most peaceful anchorage and made tracks for downtown Savannah.  Jay and Cheryl quickly learned to lend a hand where needed, how to dodge those monstrous green-eyed flies and to when it was safe to enjoy the cooling breezes on the bow.

JAY AND CHERYL, GETTIN' THE HANG OF IT

We were all eager to reach the charming city of Savannah with its inviting waterfront and rich past.  Savannah’s two-square-mile historic district is the nation’s largest urban National Historic Landmark.  Founded in 1733, this is the last Colonial capital established by the British in America.

We wandered the streets for a while, had drinks at Rocks on the Roof, dinner at Vic’s on the River and enjoyed a pedi-cab tour the cool of the evening.

05-25-2012 FRIDAY        BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORT IN SOUTH CAROLINA

43 NM TRAVELED TODAY FROM SAVANNAH TO DOWNTOWN MARINA OF BEAUFORT (843-524-4422)

 Exiting the Savannah River and returning to the ICW brought us quickly to South Carolina where we cruised past Daufuskie Island that was made famous by Pat Conroy’s book “The River is Wide”, Hilton Head that is known for its golf resorts and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Paris Island where all female recruits and males from east of the Mississippi are trained.

It was “all hands on deck” as we came into Beaufort’s marina with Jay docking the boat under Dan’s tutelage and Cheryl throwing lines to the helping hands on the dock.  Nice job CREW!

CHERYL WITH THE LINES READY

JAY DOCKING, DAN COACHING

Arriving in Beaufort for the night we found that the Gullah Festival was this weekend’s happening.  The term Gullah refers to those direct descendants of African slaves that populate the Low Country and their unique language, foods, art and traditions. 

CHERYL AND JAY ENJOYING THE BEAUFORT SWINGS

In search for the perfect place for dinner, we were unable to resist “Q on bay”!  How could we?  We were helpless to resist its giant Q and its pulled pork barbecue and sweet tea.  Mighty fine Carolina barbecue!

Q ON BAY FOR BARBECUE

05/26/2012  SATURDAY         BOHICKET MARINA

43 NM FROM BEAUFORT, SC TO BOHICKET MARINA ON SEABROOK ISLAND JUST OFF THE NORTH EDISTO RIVER AND SOUTH WEST OF CHRLESTON

By 8:30 we were casting off and passing under the Ladies Island Swing Bridge.  Our original plans were to head to Charleston today but the threat of Tropical Storm Beryl has encouraged us to seek refuge in the protection of Bohicket River’s marina.  Beryl is the second named Atlantic storm of this hurricane season that doesn’t officially begin until June 1.  Hmmmmm, wonder what the season has in store?

Today Cheryl proved to be an “A-1” captain while piloting Quest in the cuts and rivers of the ICW.  We were on the lookout for alligators but, alas, we never spied one of these large aquatic reptiles that make their homes in rivers, lakes, marshlands and some brackish waters.  While the crocodile with its long snout is found tropical climates such as Florida and Georgia, the alligator with its rounded snout can be found in somewhat cooler areas like the Carolinas.

CHERYL AT THE HELM

JAY ASSUMING THE CORRECT RELAXING POSITION AT THE STERN

After barreling through a Memorial Day Weekend sailing race, we found our way to the lovely Bohicket Marina and Resort and were warmly greeted with helping hands.  After checking in we made arrangements for Jay and Cheryl to get to the Charleston Airport tomorrow to pick up their rental car then took off in the tender to explore the Lowcountry waterways of South Carolina.  We meandered in the river, taking in the sights of the long, long docks that finger out into the deeper waters of the river and the wisps of shallow waterways that the flat bottom skiffs deftly maneuver.  The homes along the shore ranged from tasteful mansions to derelict trailers but all were set way back, on the solid ground beyond the marshlands.  This is the “South” with grits, gators, barbecue, sweet tea, salt marshes, the Sea Islands, antebellum homes, Spanish Moss dripping from the trees and threatening hurricanes!

"WATCH OUT FOR THAT QUEST!!"

05/27/2012 SUNDAY     WAITING FOR BERYL

DOCKED AT BOHICKET MARINA ON SEABROOK ISLAND

We lost our competent crew today as the Colemans departed for their week at Pinehurst, NC where they will meet Dick and Gail Ramage and the guys will attempt to get in as much golf as humanly possible.  We hope to join them on Thursday after having gotten Quest closer to the Wilmington area where she will spend her summer on the hard while receiving some much needed repair work and boring maintenance.

JAY AND CHERYL DISEMBARK QUEST

The wind picked up considerably throughout the day and Dan kept an eye on the many weather reports.  While thankful not to be in the wide open Charleston Harbor that can be rough on the best of days, it appears that the brunt of the storm will hit south of us sometime tonight or tomorrow.  At 2:00 PM it was well of the Jacksonville with winds at 65 and heading west.    The Jacksonville Jazz Festival wrapped up early, Tybee Island was closed for swimmers but all was snug back here on the Bohicket River. 

OMINOUS CLOUDS HOVER OVER THE MARINA

CALIFORNIA AND KAUAI

05/08/2012 THROUGH 05/22/2012 OUR TRIP TO CALIFORNIA AND HAWAII

Quest has been berthed at Golden Isles Marina on St. Simons Island in Georgia while we made our journey to California to help Ed (Dan’s dad) celebrate his 80^th birthday and then on to Kauai to cheer on our grandson, Keola, during his high school graduation!

Ed’s party was a huge success, thanks to Jan and Debi’s hard work.  It was so good to see Ed’s face light up as one old friend after another came into his line of sight. 

AND THE PARTY BEGINS

DENNIS AND ANITA RUMMENS CHATTING WITH MARTIN

GRANDPA ED WITH ELLEN

ED REMINISCES WITH SCOTT, MILE AND BOBBY

Dan and I enjoyed visiting with everyone and especially appreciated the lodgings with the Hoffstadts, the Colemans and Mike and Chris.  Thanks for letting us use your luscious Porsche, Chris!! 

We were lucky to be at the "right place at the right time" to watch Brian Coleman and Jay coach Morgan's softball team, the Knockoutz. in the playoff game.  Brings back pleasant memories!  We also had a marvelous Mother's Day brunch with their family just before heading to the airport for our flight to Kauai.

JAN, KRISTEN, JUDY , MORGAN, CHERYL AND MAKENNA
BRIAN, KYLIE, JAY AND DAN

Mother's Day night found us in Kauai celebrating with Hula Pie at Dukes.  Poor Dwayne had to work a banquet at the Hyatt but we all ate his share of the pie!!

MAKOA, TAKARA, KEOLA, ERIN AND MAILE (TALIA)

Graduation in Hawaii is so unique to the islands.  After the ceremony the grads gather on the football field to greet their family and friends who adorn them with leis, hugs and wishes for a prosperous future. 

KEOLA AND HIS "SIGN"

HAPPY TO BE THERE TO CELEBRATE

MAKOA, TAKARA AND MAILE WITH KEOLA

KEOLA DECORATED WITH HAWAIIAN LEIS

After 16 hours of air and taxi travel we arrived back at Quest on Tuesday. May 22.  We found everything fine there and enjoyed a thunderous storm that night.

04/30/2012 HELLO GEORGIA

 JACKSONVILLE TO ANCHORAGE ON THE BRICKHILL RIVER IN GEORGIA
55 NM

Good buy hugs were quickly given and received as Quest headed back down the St. Johns river to the ICW and Whisper continued on up the river to rest on the hard for the summer while Vic and Marilyn spend some time at home in Newfoundland.

What a busy place the St. Johns River is.  Today we watched a fire boat put the guns to it and shoot on to unknown destinations and security boats patrolling a ship offloading military ground equipment.

PLACES TO GO!!!

SECURITY WAS TIGHT AROUND THIS SHIP
 OFFLOADING MILITARY EQUIPMENT

We were also fortunate enough to see two French tall ships that will be participating in the annual Tall Ship Challenge that begin in Savannah, GA on May 5^th.  The festivities will then move to Greenport, NY then continue on to Newport, RI and finish in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  This event rotates yearly between this route, the Great Lakes and the Pacific Coast.  Both the Etoile and sister ship La Bella Ponte were stationed in Portsmouth, England during WW II and can fly the French Ensign imposed with the Cross of Lorraine in recognition of their services. 

TALL SHIP ETOILE

LA BELLA POULE

Turning north into Sister’s Creek and passing under the bridge made it official, we are now back in the ICW.  Sisters Creek turned into Sawpit Creek, crossed the Nassau River then we entered the South Amelia River.  At Fernandina we pulled into Florida Petroleum’s dock and took on fuel and waved to a passing USCG boat. 

HEY THERE, USCG, GOOD TO SEE YA!

Leaving Fernandina we crossed the Cumberland Sound and found ourselves in the lovely state of Georgia.  The ICW, tucked behind Cumberland Island, offered up a beautiful and tranquil vista and we anchored in solitude on the Brickhill River.

Our nature sightings included a magnificent Bald Eagle basking on the river banks, scads of rays leaping in the waters near Cumberland Island and the return of those grapefruit sized jellyfish.

JELLYFISH INVASION

04/23/2012 THROUGH 04/29/2012 FROM THE ABACOS TO THE USA

MONDAY 04/23/2012 GREEN TURTLE CLUB MARINA

We walked around the bay to the lovely Bluff House Marina (www.BluffHouse.com) for a breezy lunch on their deck that overlooks White Sound.  This would make a great alternative to Green Club Marina in the future.

In the afternoon we again bicycled in to New Plymouth in search of tortillas (found at Curry’s Sunset Grocery), a little dessert from McIntosh’s Bakery and a sample of the famous Goombay Smash from Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar.  This mighty tasty rum punch is known all over the Abacos and in not so sickly sweet as some.

A LITTLE SWEETS FROM MCINTOSH BAKERY

MISS EMILY'S BLUE BEE BAR

A LITTLE "SMASH" AT THE BLUE BEE BAR

On our ride back to Quest we made a detour to the sweeping Gillam Bay for a leisurely walk along the shore.  A couple of guys were netting small fish to be used as bait on their next fishing expedition, sometime after these wicked winds die down.

GILLAM BAY

NETTING BAIT FISH

The restaurant and bar was like a bee hive tonight, filled with people delighted to be out and about without getting drenched.  Once again, we have found that the local staff is most accommodating and delightfully cheerful.  Reene, the hostess had us charmed with her quick wit and Debbie, the bartender, kept us coming back for her yummy cocktails and delightful demeanor.  We made plans with Tom and Cheryl on S/V Cinderella to share a golf cart for some exploration and an easier ride to town. 

TUESDAY 04/24 2012 GREEN TURTLE CLUB MARINA

With the winds still billowy but the skies dry, I was able to utilize the nice laundry facility at the marina and get everything clean for the upcoming trip home to the US.  It was a busy place this morning as everyone is preparing to move as the storm passes on and the winds let up.  Tomorrow is looking like the perfect day with more pleasant days to follow.

The golf cart proved to be a great diversion and we explored the Coco Bay area and revisited the Bluff House for an afternoon cocktail before heading into New Plymouth for Tom and Cheryl to provision up.  They have been here numerous times while working as captain and steward on motor yachts and were a wealth of useful information and local knowledge.

CHERYL, TOM AND DAN READY TO ZIP OFF IN OUR CUTE LITTLE CART

WEDNESDAY 04/25/2012 STARTING OFF ON THE FIRST LEG OF OUR JOURNEY BACK TO THE US

64 NM TO AN ANCHORAGE OFF GRAND CAY AND SANDY CAY

After an early breakfast at the club, completing the departure check list and paying our bill for the last four days we were off on the first leg of our trip to the Florida coast.  Both Green Turtle Club and the Bluff House have a great incentive plan to entice the boaters to their doors.  Your daily dockage fee can be applied to all food and beverages purchased at the restaurant and bar.  So take Quest at 53’ times 1.95/foot equals $103.35 per day that can be used for food and drinks.  Not such a bad deal, especially since the food is really good, the facilities splendid and the folks super nice.  The docks were emptying out on this glorious day as boaters took advantage of the favorable conditions to move on.

QUEST'S HOME AT GREEN TURTLE CLUB

We reached our night’s anchorage off Grand Cay around 5:30 and took our last dip of this journey in the beautiful Bahamian waters, Dan checking the anchor for purchase and both of us giving the hull a little scrubbing at the water line.  We opted not to dink to the island but this is one of the preferred retreats to which President Nixon would escape for a peaceful regeneration during his tenure.

BLESS BTC (BAHAMIAN TEL)
THERE IS DECENT PHONE SERVICE ALMOST EVERYWHERE

 THURSDAY 04/26/2012  AND WE’RE OFF!

After a blissful night’s sleep in this comfortable anchorage we were ready to begin our long journey to St. Augustine on Florida’s coastline.  The weather was still most favorable and we were off.  Passing Grand Cay we took the cut that would take us out of the Bahamas Banks and out into the ocean.  Dan set our course and Quest was comfortable making the passage in deep waters.

 During the lazy day we had a humongous sea turtle lolling off our port side in the sapphire blue waters and found a stowaway aboard just before sunset.  Since we were more than 60 miles from any body of land we were perplexed by this little Bananaquit’s visit.  First he showed up in the pilot house, just as chipper and unabashed as you please.  Slowly I worked him out to the open stern door and slid the screen closed.  Thinking this was the end of it I headed back to the pilot house to continue my watch.  I filled Dan in on my adventure when he got up from his short nap and he had no problems believing me because the little guy was right there sitting in the galley.  He showed no fear of us and never freaked out like most birds do when becoming entrapped in a house.  Again I got him out but shut all possible reentry points to avoid a replay.  I don’t know how long he stayed aboard Quest but he sat looking in the pilothouse window for quite some time, wandered up to check out the anchor pulpit and strolled down the side handrails.

OUR CURIOUS BANANAQUIT STOWAWAY

FRIDAY 04/27/2012 HELLO USA!

223 NM TRAVELED FROM GRAND CAY TO ST. AUGUSTINE MOORING FIELD

Around midnight our predicted pristine weather took a major leap to the “dark side” with winds abruptly soaring into the 20s from the west, some gusts near 30.  Dan fought it for a while then made the smart choice to alter Quest’s course and headed towards New Smyrna on Florida’s eastern coast.  Once we got a little closer to shore the winds and smacking waves drastically let up and we again turned north towards St. Augustine, enjoying the return of tranquil conditions.

By 1:30 we had made it through the St. Augustine Cut and picked up a mooring ball in the Salt Run Mooring Field.  After calling the Department of Homeland Security to report our arrival back in to the USA, we received clearance from Customs and Immigration over the phone and did not have to report in.  Our membership in the SVRS (small vessel reporting system) made this so easy!

THE LIGHTHOUSE RIGHT OFF OUR ANCHORAGE IN SALT RUN

Chores done, we were able to make calls, once again, to family and friends without the terrifying threat of unmerciful charges.  We didn’t even take the tender over to the lovely town of St. Augustine but, instead, opted for dinner overlooking Salt Run at the Conch House then made it an early night in an attempt to catch up with the previous night’s lack of sleep. 

SATURDAY 04/28/2012  LOOK OUT JACKSONVILLE, HERE WE COME!

50 NM

This morning Quest exited the St. Augustine Cut and made the day’s run on the outside instead of taking the ICW to Jacksonville.  There was a mass exodus as sailboats, yacht and weekend fishermen took advantage of the calm seas.  We saw several large fishing trawlers at work with their massive wings spread and their nets sifting the waters.

SHRIMP TRAWLER CRUISING THE WATERS NEAR THE J
ST. JOHNS RIVER INLET TO JACKSONVILLE

Entering the Jacksonville Cut was reminiscent of merging onto a freeway.  Boaters were zipping in and out, small fishing boats congregating around the breakwater to cast their lines, ferries following their coarse, military ships docked, dredges digging up the ever present silt, tugs assisting ships and barges in the channel and a mass of folks enjoying the balmy day at the beach.  Whew!  It’s a lot for this nosy girl to take in!   

FERRY TRAFFIC HAS THE "RIGHT OF WAY"

THE MILITARY PRESENCE

THERE IS ALWAYS DREDGE WORK NEEDED TO KEEP THE CHANNELS OPEN

THE TUGS KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY

MILITARY DRY DOCK

Meandering up the busy St. Johns River we passed the Mayport Naval Air Station, the Coast Guard Station, bustling shipyards with boat in dry docks for maintenance and repairs, huge car haulers unloading their precious cargo and a few dolphin vying for our attention. 

A LITTLE LUXURY IN DRY DOCK

                                                                                                                                                                                Our Newfoundland friends on S/V Whisper were on the dock at free Jacksonville Landing to grab our lines and dole out welcome hugs.  The last time we saw Vic and Marilyn was just before going to Miami for our run to Bimini.  They spent the winter in Cuba and had many stories to tell. 

MARILYN AND VIC WERE A WELCOME SIGHT ON SHORE

WHISPER BACK FROM CUBA

DAN AND VIC GETTING A BREW

The Jacksonville Landing had a constant turnover of young dancers performing on their stage all day long and we cheered and clapped for them all.  Marilyn and Vic had gotten tickets at the adjacent Jacoby Symphony Hall for Cirque de La Symphonie and we spent the evening being awed by the circus like performers and the magnificent symphony orchestra.  Thanks to Vic and Marilyn for making the arrangements!!

04/29/2012 SUNDAY IN JACKSONVILLE LANDING

This morning brought a thorough rinse down of the salty Quest and then a stroll around town before meeting Marilyn and Vic for a leisurely ride around in the con-Quest.  I had no idea of the massiveness of the mighty river that rushes past Jacksonville.  Once under the train bridge the current dies down and the river opens up into a warren of lakes and rivers lined with beautiful homes as well as private clubs.  What an perfectly divine afternoon spent relaxing with friends and seeing new sights.