Cruising with Steadfast

 Nice evening at SH Bluewater (Hampton VA).  Met friends Denton & Laura for dinner, great to reconnect.  Left just after 8, and had favorable current most of the day, made good time, arrived 1:20, pumped out and to the slip.  Wonderful welcome by our Deltaville friend Tina.  Then the boat unloading, house reopening started.  Great Trip!  Here is today’s s Track

Quiet night in Coinjock.  Left before 7, trying to time the various bridges, lock, and RR Bridge construction limiting opening.  All turned out well, and we arrived in Hampton a little after 3.  Fueled up and ready to go tomorrow… home to Deltaville tomorrow.  Hard to believe our trip is coming to an end.  Here is today’s  Track

 Great dinner at Spoon River!  Rough night at the dock… lots of bouncing around.  Early departure (6:30 AM) and long day.  Fought current pretty much all day.  Rough day on Alligator River, and ROUGH passage across Albemarle Sound (20+ knot winds).  Used some extra fuel to shorten the crossing, and also speed gives a little bit of stability.  Lost about an hour in a “holding pattern” at the marina (think airport)… lots of boats coming in, and then had to wait for American Cruise Lines ship to depart.  Boats packed in like sardines at the dock… will be interesting getting out in the AM (1 -2 feet of space bow and stern).  Looking forward to quiet night, dinner on board.  Here is today’s  Track

 Nice evening in Beaufort, great dinner at Blue Moon Cafe.  Left just before 7 AM, rain much of the day… really the first day we’ve had significant rain while underway.  Fun to watch the rain coming over the water, and see it on the radar at the same time.  Arrived Belhaven about 2:15 (made good time… tide/current with us pretty much all day).  Looking forward to dinner at Spoon River.  Here is today’s  Track

Nice trip from Harbour Village Marina (Hampstead, NC) to Beaufort NC (not to be confused with Beaufort SC).  The Onslow Beach Bridge (Camp Lejune) is under construction, so we had to manage that… new bridge only open 12 - 1, and old bridge opens on the hour… We ended up lucking out and got through at 10:45 because everything opened & cleared the path for a southbound Tug & Barge.  Arrived Beaufort about 3:15.. looking forward to Gwen’s Bday dinner at Blue Moon Cafe.  Tomorrow we’re on to Belhaven, NC. Here is today’s  Track   For those who ask if Cooper is comfortable underway… see photo… I think he’s just fine!

 Nice couple of days in Southport.  Lots of walking (saw an alligator on one walk, near golf course (see photo), good dinner at Rusty Hook Grill right at the marina.  Left at about 8:45, fought 2 knots of current, and 20 - 30 knots of wind on the bow up the Cape Fear River… still really not bad at all.  Once in the ICW, wind persisted, but no real impact.  Took our time so as to avoid arrival at low tide (shoaling in channel to marina).  The marina is closed on Wednesdays… but we arranged to tie up solo at the fuel dock for the night.  Very windy at the dock, no issues.  Soon after we docked, office person arrived (they knew our eta, and I expect monitor camera) to get paid.  Very nice, no issues.  Expect a walk, and quiet evening on board.  Here is today’s  Track

 We had a nice evening in Myrtle Beach with Ron & Deb, great dinner at “Sea Captain’s House” restaurant (uber to get there).  Ron & Deb disembarked from Steadfast this morning (flying back home) and we got underway at about 8:30.  Short wait at Little River Swing Bridge (not bad) and then current help most of the way so we made good time.  Here is today’s  Track Also, here is a link to a cool video of use, taken yesterday by “show us your boat” facebook group.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/307017327721076/permalink/1209892380766895/?

 We had a great stay in Georgetown (as always)… good food, good company, good weather.  Nice run to day to Myrtle Beach, Wacamaw River is always a treat.  It’s been great to Ron & Deb on board with us… the leave the boat tomorrow, and we head on to Southport (weather permitting).  Here is today’s  Track

 We met Ron & Deb in Charleston… walked the city, and good dinner at Hyman Seafood.  Left 8:30 this am, nice run to Georgetown.  Lots of porpoises, and pretty good help from the current much of the day.  Looking forward to 2 nights in Georgetown.  Trying a new Italian Restaurant tonite!  Here is today’s  Track

 Nice 1st visit to Bohicket… need to come back to explore more… looks like nice bike paths etc.  Ended up meeting some friends from Lititz who just happened to be on Kiowa Island.  Nice ($$) drinks at recommended inn… so so (and cheap) dinner at Fishers on site.. next time, we’ll try Salty Dog.  In any case… worth another visit.  Maybe skip Charleston next time??  Easy trip, today, took our time to arrive target 1:15 slack current.  Past a HUGE dredge train (see photos), very impressive.   Here is today’s  Track

We had a nice couple of days in Beaufort SC.  Great dinner at Breakwater, lots of walking, even took a guided golf cart tour… lots of history, and scenes from Forrest Gump movie.  We left just before 9 headed to Bohicket Marina… a new stop for us on Seabrook Island, arrived about 2:45.  We’ll check it out!  Here is today’s  Track