Advertisement
Published: January 2nd 2010
Edit Blog Post
Flowers on I Wanda
Christian found a nifty square vase that fits snugly in the table fiddles and allows us to enjoy fresh flowers often. The last leg of our "summer" cruise was from the Chesapeake Bay to South Georgia. We love the fall weather as long as it isn't stormy and we had some grand days, separated by some stormy but not dangerous weather. The autumn CAN be dangerous with hurricanes on the eastern seaboard but this year has been a mild one for storms.
As we left the Chesapeake we made another visit to the Commodore Theater in Portsmouth (this time with Bob and Charlotte of Foreign Exchange) and shopped nearby for a stove-top espresso/cappuccino maker we had seen in the spring. We love our morning java! Lauren fixed us up with lots of good coffee in Portland so we are now all set.
It has been 16 years since our first trip down the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) but we see new things on each trip and still manage to get the bridges wrong from time to time! That means you have to cool your heels for a few minutes to more than an hour as you wait for the next opening. In good weather this can be pleasant. Just drop the hook and have another cup of coffee!
There was
plenty of water for the Dismal Swamp route that we love but chose this year to take the faster Virginia Cut route. In three days we were in Beaufort, NC and considered an off shore leg. To do this you watch multiple weather forecasts for several days in advance to see if conditions will be favorable. Mixed reports and changes in the reports pushed us to stay inside until the Cape Fear River from where we had a wonderful and fast sail to Charleston. Before that we paused in Wrightsville Beach to catch up with "Year One" friends. One of the very best things about cruising on a small sailboat is the friends you make along the way. Our "year one" was 1993-94 and we have many friends from that year and those since that we try to see each time we get close. John & Cathy have sold Ancon but we love catching up with each other's news and each time we do it seems like no time at all has passed since your last visit. You just pick up where you left off.
Charleston is a favorite spot both because it is where our daughter lives and
Fall colors
Not New England-- but lovely. because it is a truly beautiful American city. Easy to enjoy in foot, you can relish the gardens and genteel architecture of this historic place. We walked the Battery and had lunch at "Fast & French" and brunch at Vickery's. Need to keep track of those Bloody Marys as they can get the best of you. Charleston is where we reclaimed our boat kitties. Carter had been here since the spring and Bisous for several weeks. Andrea's Vet had some ideas for calming Carter's seasickness and anxiety and I am happy to report that he seems to have his sea legs now. We need to watch him, and have meds now to help if he starts feeling uncomfortable.
Our first stop after Charleston was in Beaufort , SC where we planned to catch up with long time cruiser friends and shore friends who have moved to the area from our old land base in northern NY. Well, the weather was bad and we didn't move from the dock, but had daily chats and pot luck with the cruisers and our hosts Carol & Rick formerly TQ and Zippity, and Alan & Cathy of Evening Star. Stan & Judy on
On Broad
A view of the central post office and a nearby chruch steeple on Broad Street in Charleston Rhumb Runner were there and Foreign Exchange with Bob & Charlotte soon joined the fun. Once the weather cleared (four days later) we continued on and decided that we would stay inside for at least part of Georgia. In nice weather it is lovely as you meander back and forth through the Low Country marshes. There are often wooded areas with Spanish moss-draped live oaks. We enjoyed this leg. Worried that we would not have enough water on the western side of Cumberland Island we exited the ICW at St. Simons and had a lovely day sail to the St. Marys inlet. We never get enough of Cumberland Island so we stopped again to enjoy the walks, the horses and the sea shore.
Then it was up the St. Marys River to our home port. Seven months and one week cruising 3525 nautical miles (0ver 3700 statute miles). We spent no nights at marinas, though we had paid moorings in Annapolis, New York City and Wiscassett. Guest moorings were provided in Groton, Port Washington, Beverly and Bucks Harbor. We also stayed at a friends' docks for 8 days in Beaufort, SC. Our summer cruise ends and we are gearing
Bust Academy?
This is on Calhoon Street in Charleston and we always do a double take. up for the winter one!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.076s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0517s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb
Jeanne
non-member comment
hi
Happy New Year!!! Sure love the blog and pictures reminded me of places I have been. Lots of snow up here but not as much as Maine. Ruth and I were suppose to leave for Fl last Fri but she had to have a pacemaker put it so plans are to leave this Fri after she gets the OK from MD on Thurs. Looks like Fl is not too warm. Last year I took Ruth to Cumberland Island and she liked it. One of my favorite places. Just wish we had more time to spend in St Mary's. That was a lovely town. Love to both Jeanne