Nov 25, Beaufort SC

Unfortunately Isis and her adventure with us has drawn to an end. Yvonne's asthma has proven uncontrollable in spite of all our efforts. The dampness on the boat at times and pollen filled air here are too much. Yvonne has flown home to be treated before her condition worsens. The boat is up for sale here as transport home is more than what its worth. Otherwise we had a great experience and have met great people and seen some magnificent scenery. We are just 100 miles from Florida and were going to do it in one overnight hop. So close!!

Nov 16,Georgetown SC

Arrived in Georgetown just after 12 AM. Spent last night anchored just off the Wacamaw River. This was the first time we have seen the water hyacinth floating in the waters here. These are the same plants we buy for our fish ponds  at home and here they are considered a problem as they can choke the waterways.
Here's a few pictures from Southport. A nice town with lots of giant live oaks. Only room for a few boats to anchor here. We took the only free town dock.

Nov 14, Calabash River SC

South Carolina on the lower part of the Calabash River, more like a creek where we are, anchored with about eight other boats all headed south. Spots to anchor here are few and far between. Getting a bit monotonous motoring every day. After Charleston we will we looking at a few outside jumps down the coast to make time and enjoy a sail, weather permitting.

Nov 11, Wrightsville Beach NC

Arrived here in Wrightsville Beach, NC around 2 PM yesterday. We are going to spend a few days here making sure Yvonne's  asthma is under control. We were going to wait till Charleston to do this but have found that there are more clinics etc here.
It was beautiful weather here yesterday, 22 C but overnight the weather changed and tonights temperature will be close to freezing. The cabin heater may be on all night tonight. Nice to see mostly tropical palm trees around now. We have yet to see our first alligator but they are out there!
Navigating the ICW is a bit nerve racking with a narrow channel to stay inside of, with depths of normally 10 to 12 feet. Stray outside and there is much less. We have seen 4 sailboats aground in the last 2 days. Most all of us have towboat insurance. We did see 5 feet when Yvonne cut a turn a bit too close! It was the last turn of the day into a 10 foot anchorage at the Cape Lejeune army base. Here are a few pictures. Our friends are John and Helen from Maine who we have been sharing anchorages with on our way down the coast.

Nov 8, Morehead City NC

Arrived today in Morehead City. Dropped the hook in an anchorage that has a bit of tidal current, if I chose a spot a few hundred feet closer to shore I wouldn't have had the worry. Five other boats here also. Tomorrow its southward bound again, up at sunrise! I added a few pictures of the Dismal Swamp to the last post.

Nov 2, Elizabeth City NC

 

Arrived in Elizabeth City around noon today. We have just finished doing the Great Dismal Swamp Canal. Quite a nice change to the routine. Two locks and several swing bridges. A very nice town . They have several free docks for sailors to use. We would spend another day here but the weather is encouraging us to move south. The mainsail cover was covered in frost this morning!!

Oct 31, Norfolk VA

Here we are in Newport just in time to enter the ICW. Raining tonight but its supposed to clear by the morning. This place is filled with warships of all types. Last night we spent at an anchorage and tonight at a marina.
I must say we have had a few cool nights on board. To top it off the diesel cabin heater tends to act up when its windy, just when you need it the most. We will be trying to get a different raincap to reduce the problem. The problem is trying to arrange a place in advance to pick it up, as it is an "special order" item. Thankfully we have two backup heaters, one from the engine, and another portable alcohol job.

Oct 26, Godfrey Bay

Well here we are in Virginia. Anchored in Fishers Bay last night but a strong SW wind this morning convinced us to move to the other side of the harbour, Godfrey Bay. Looks like strong winds for a few days, perhaps we will venture out Friday, north 15to 20 kn gusting to 30. At least it will be behind us. Some friends we had net back in NY are just a few miles from us also waiting on the weather. Been chatting with them on the VHF. Pelicans are now flying around, a sign we are heading in the right direction. Here are a few more pictures.

Oct 22, Solomons Island

Left Annapolis early this morning and arrived just before sundown in Solomons Island about 40 miles further south. This place has a tame swan that likes to hang around the boats looking for a scrap. Pictures to follow.

Oct 18, Weems Creek, Annapolis MD

Arrived here in Weems Creek anchorage around 4 PM Monday. Weems Creek is in the city of Annapolis MD. Looks like we will be here for a few days. Meeting some nice people on the way, seems like all are heading south.

Sassafras River MD

Well I've been slack updating this blog. When we left Cape May we rode the current all the way to Fishers' Island, at the head of the Deleware River arriving around 10pm. The next day we motored through the C & D canal to Chesapeake City. Not really a city but a nice place to rest for a few days. They had a nice anchorage and also was nice to talk with a few Canadians heading south. We eventually left and arrived in the Sassafras River area yesterday afternoon. So we have finally arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, a milestone for us. For insurance reasons most Canadians wait here in the Bay till Nov 1. The bay is over a hundred miles long with lots to see so we will be slowly working our way down to Newport. Here's a few pictures of the Fishers' Island anchorage and marina/anchorage at Chesapeake City .

October 8, Cape May NJ

Well we left Port Washington just before daybreak on the 6th and arrived here just before noon on the 7th. A long haul through New York City, then down the New Jersey coast. We plan to sail from here early this morning and find an anchorage close to the C & D canal which will take us into Chesapeake Bay. A few pictures here of our trip through New York City and down the New Jersey coast to Port May.

Oct 1, Port Washington NY

Arrived here yesterday afternoon after motoring most of the way in headwinds from Stratford. Cheap moorings here as well as a good anchorage. We are looking for some weather that will allow us to carry on to Atlantic City after passing through New York City. We are just a few miles from the entrance. Probably we will be here a few days. Here is a few pictures of our venture into New York.

Sept 28, Stratford CT

As the weather was good leaving Norfolk we decided to go a little further than Block Island. We arrived in Fishers Island just before sunset and just after the fuel dock closed. Went to an anchorage and spent the night there.
Spent a few days in New Haven after a harrowing sail in the fog from Fishers Island. It was forecast and did appear that the fog was lifting when we left, however it did not. Long Island Sound is busy.
New Haven Yacht Club has no facilities but did have a few free moorings for guests. Got a bit of water and left this morning for Stratford CT. Wind about 20 knots behind us, too much for the dingy which kept bumping into us. Lesson learned, stow dingy on deck in bad weather. All the way from Fishers Island we have seen a lot of wood in the water. Several times we saw 30 foot trees floating by and also some heavy timber. Not too good in the rough weather we had today. High tide this week is about a foot higher than normal and is flooding the coastal areas setting some this stuff free from the beaches.

A few pictures of the Stratford Boat Club dock and clubhouse. Nice bit of current here too, complete with anything that will float!