Sea Bee Cruising

Southport to Wilmington was a quiet 3-hour trip up the Cape Fear River.  Wilmington is a larger river town than those we have been visiting, with a whole lot more going on.  The historic downtown and riverfront, where we docked, are being both preserved and developed nicely.  For us, a very special asset in Wilmington is friends Isabella and Richard who moved there from Boston 5 years ago.  June and Isabella go back around 55 years. So in addition to showing us their adopted home and sharing 2 outstanding dinners, Isabella took us for a Walmart provisioning run -- no small matter on a trip like this one. On the Cape Fear River, Wilmington Hazard to navigation in the Cape Fear River, with bird passenger. The view from our bow in Wilmington.  The Coast Guard ship Diligence in the background lives here when not out to sea. The view from our starboard side in Wilmington.  The WWII USS North Carolina, now a museum.  Frida

From Myrtle Beach to Southport on June 21, 4 1/2 hours.  The Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic Ocean at Southport.  The river leads to Wilmington NC, a deep water port, and our next stop.  The waters of this inlet can be treacherous for large ships, thus the name Cape Fear, the presence of the Oak Island lighthouse, once the brightest light in the U.S., and the headquarters of the Wilmington Cape Fear Pilots Association, professionals who guide ships between the river and the ocean. Oak Island Lighthouse seen from Southport NC       Southport Marina is located at the intersection of the river, ocean inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway, and just a few blocks from the town.  We were happy to find several old and new friends on the docks there. Belle and her people from Blue Heron   We took a golf cart Fun Tour of town with guide Dan (who formerly performed with Boz Scaggs).  The tour featured both Southport history and the many sites around town that have been

June here:  This was a rainy, uneventful 7 hour run up the Intercoastal, where one sees all sorts of housing, small towns, bridges, recreational boaters, sad abandoned boat wrecks, birds and dolphins (impossible to photograph), and the occasional very odd sight.  Captain on the Bridge The Intercoastal and its channels are well identified with numbered daymarkers -- green on one side, red on the other.  Green 115 here is the first one in North Carolina after one leaves South Carolina, which we did the next day.  The day markers are often adorned with cormorant nests. Swing bridge opening for .us

June here: Not every stop along the Intracoastal Waterway is interesting and charming, but Georgetown, South Carolina certainly qualifies.  Before the Civil War, by virtue of its ideal rice-growing environment and vast supply of slave labor and African know-how, Georgetown District was the second largest producer of rice in the U.S. and Georgetown was the largest rice exporting port in the world -- really.  The planters' class left behind homes and artifacts of a long-gone lifestyle wonderfully described at Georgetown's Rice Museum and seen around the town.   Kaminski House Museum on the river, Georgetown SC

June here: What a charming shrimping town populated by 500 super-friendly folk and replete with low country history.  We docked at Leland Marina after a 5 hour ride from Charleston. Typical view on the Intercoastal Waterway in South Carolina. Shrimp boats in McClellanville, SC  We scurried over to Carolina Seafood located next to the shrimp boat dock to get their renowned shrimp and crab dips before they closed at 5 pm.  Next came a pleasant short walk with our boating buddies from Once Upon a Time (St. Paul MN/Brunswick GA folk) to the equally-renowned T.W. Graham Restaurant, which lived up to its reputation. The seafood lasagne special was perfection, as were the homemade pies and whipped cream.

June here:  Quite a week in Charleston with Howard doing yeoman work addressing various issues on the boat (water filter, Dirt Devil belt, windlass motor, plumbing) plus finally getting to do some waxing and varnish work that he'd hoped to begin sooner PLUS doctoring June's sciatica that came out of nowhere the first night here.  So we haven't done the sightseeing I'd hoped for, but Dr. Entman has gotten June on the mend with good meds, and we are off and running again. We are docked at St. Johns Yacht Harbor, a perfectly lovely marina on Johns Island just south of Charleston proper.  Great staff, boat neighbors, and facilities, including a swimming pool and courtesy car.  Only downside is a rather long walk from docks to parking lot because Hurricane Matthew destroyed a bridge between the two that is still being repaired.  Thanks to the courtesy car, we've enjoyed dinners at the Tattooed Moose, Fleet Landing, Athens Grill, Blu on Folly Beach. Courtesy