LANDLUBBERS FOR NOW!

Fantabulous is docked in Brunswick, GA, we are in Deeerfield Beach via car at Joe's mom. Heading home on Sat. for birthdays, holidays and Biith of the twins!

Life on St. Simons Island is wonderful! It is a beautiful place, with all the spanish moss on the trees!   We have been here since we got back from PA for our reunion.  We have eaten at Southern Soul BBQ  several times. It is so hard to drive by there and not stop in!
Denise and John stopped over to see the boat. Our first guests!
Wednesday and Thursday I played duplicate bridge at the Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Club.  I called up over there and asked if they could get me a partner.  I could not have asked for a better partner than Jenny! She not only plays great bridge but is eclectic like me and we got along famously! I have a new friend!
We move the boat to Brunswick tomorrow, then drive down to Deerfield Beach, Fl on Sunday to see Joe's mom.
I leave you with one last picture...............

I added an ornament........a golden butterfly..............I put it on the tree facing the ocean............

Waiting for their thanksgiving feast

Spent a wonderful day on Jekyll Island.
Then off to St. Mary's for a meet and greet. Great Chili and Conversation

IT ALL BEGAN WITH.......AND SO IT ENDS WITH

A

After arranging for a rental car this morning, we stopped at SOUTHERN SOUL BBQ on St.Simons Island.......YUMMY!!! It's why we come to SSI and Denises and John!! but we will have to wait to see them when we come back.

picture below was in the ladies room at southern soul, it has soul...........!!!!

After Southern Soul, stopped at STARBUCKS!!!! 23 days without a real cup of coffee can drive this crazy redhead even crazier!

WE'VE ARRIVED IN ST SIMONS, GA!

Well folks, for now, our journey is over. We had a wonderful 23 days!!! We arrived safe and sound and dry in St Simons, GA around 2:30 pm.    We woke up at 6 this morning, watched the sunrise and then were on our way.  As we made our way down the coast, it started to get cloudy, but we never did get any rain. but we did a lot of pitching and yawling...........passed a lot of shrimp boats today.

So now we rent a car and drive back to PA ,for our 45th high school reunion......... Can't wait to see my family and friend............I've missed EVERYONE!!!

Waters were a little more choppy today but we made it ok! Pulled into Sapelo sound and dropped the anchor for the night. Lovely sunset and a BAZILLION STARS!!! I laid out on the back deck and looked up and I saw a shooting star!

Rollin on the River!

Up at 6, looked out at the Edistio River and wow, the current sure was running fast! We motored out slowly, picked up our green markers and set our course for Hilton Head.

Our little friend returned!

We pulled into Harbor Town Marina around 3:30.   We were greeted and shown to our slip by a very nice gentleman in a boston whaler.  He gave us our information packet along with a very tasty bottle of Chardonnay.  We walked up to the harbor where live music was playing.there was a fall festival going on. Perfect weather for strolling around and people watching.  We dinned on steamed oysters and bbq sliders.  Walked around the shops and then headed back to the boat to watch the sun set on another FANTABULOUS day!

Our departure from Georgetown was a safe and easy one, in spite of the fog and unexpected  high tidal flow. We followed the markers up the Pee Dee river and proceeded into the Esterville minim Cr Canal.through the four mile creek canal past the Santee River (you know how you see the Pee Dee and Santee rivers when you are traveling I-95 to Florida, so funny to actually be on them!) and onward thru the ICW. It was So serendipitous that Isle of Palms marina did not have any slips for us, we anchored in the Dewee Creek. it was glorious! we were entertained for over an hour by a family of dolphins, just playing the the water.  they finally made their way up the river, past our boat and into the sunset.  It is hard to describe just how peaceful and sublime this creek was.  As the sun was setting the entire creek transformed into a radiant, almost spiritual santuary that really has one thinking about the glories of the universe and all that has to offer.  I went topside after it got dark and just laid on the deck and looked at stars! There were so many!! and all around our little creek,in every direction, the lights of the area, radio and, tv antennas flickered, our own private light show!

Friday morning, we got under way and waited for a 10am bridge opening, and motored into the Charlestown Harbor.  We did a port side turn and headed out into the Atlantic Ocean.  Dolphins everywhere we looked! We saw several shrimp boats and wow, the birds and seagulls sure do love those boats! They are grateful for all the tibits that the fishermen throw into the sea.

A little visitor!!!

We pulled into Edisto Marina around 5pm and after tying up, we walked up for a luxurious shower, then back to the boat for a ham and sweet potato dinner.

y'all come back, ya hear!

 You know you are heading south when you start seeing Live Oak Trees!

Ride to Georgetown was uneventful. just lots of trees! docked around 2pm and walked into town. a few stores open.  then we walked back towards the Independent Seafood Market! Bought 2 lbs of shrimp, straight off the boats this morning. Yummy!

Monday, Nov. 5th. another chilly start and our caravan of about 7 boats once again heads down the ICW.  Again, the shores are lined with a plethora of homes. every shape and size imaginable.  I am amazed at the beauty of it all.  There are very large and ostentatious homes and then there are cute little bungalows and condo's of all sorts and even a mobile home park.

Lots of fishermen out today. I watched the pelicans dive-bombing into the water to catch a fish, I was thinking, I'll bet the fishermen think, darn! that fish was supposed to be mine!

                        Aquasino!


Continuing down, thru a series of fixed and swing bridges, we approach Myrtle Beach.  we are almost there, and lining the shores are what we called "houscienda row"

We arrive in Myrtle Beach around 2pm. head over to the grocery store for dinner supplies, shrimp cocktail and steak to go with the complementary bottle of wine that the marina gave us at check in. Nice touch! Nice place here at Grand Dunes.

On a sadder note, we have found that one of our cruising friends lost his brother yesterday. Our hearts are saddened and we wish peace and comfort to them.

We pulled into Southport and immediately walked to Loco Jo's where we had THE best hambergers!  Lining their walls are signs like I  have in my kitchen. Lauren, you would love some of these!

A little rain, thunder and some lightening tonight, hope it stops so we can continue on.

House above is for sale! my kind of house!

                                 

After leaving Mile Hammock bay, we continue down the ICW, a potpourri of homes of every type and style line the shores of the ICW.

Saturday we decide to anchor in Wrightsville beach in Banks channel.  Our friends on "Moondance" picked us us in their dingy and we went over to a mexican restaurant for a nice dinner. there was about  13 of us. Margarita's were excellent. plenty of salt........!

Wrightsville beach to Mile Hammack, we saw dolphins! it has been quite chilly in the mornings,we have to layer up with our clothes to keep warm.  an enclosure for the cock pit is on the "to do" list!!!

Thursday, Nov 1, we left River Dunes marina and headed back out the Neuse River and into the Inter Coastal waterway.  Leading the caravan was a freighter, carrying what appeared to be wood chips.

Made our way down to Morehead City, pulled into a side dock. this is our view for the night!

ah, it can't all be beautiful water views!  but the following night made up for it.............

After another day down the ICW, we pulled into an inlet called Mile Hammock Bay. There were a couple of boats already anchored. We dropped the anchor and settled back to watch the show. One by one, sailboats that had been following us also pulled in and dropped anchor, or tried to....... several boats continued to motor around the water to find a good spot where their anchor would hold. One boat had run aground and was waiting for towboatUS to arrive.  After about 30 minutes, the boat was freed and he went around to drop his anchor. As the sun was setting, I took count of 20 boats in our little "bay" we all settled down in our cockpits to watch the real show.  The sky was turning  lovely shades of pinks and purples.  this was by far the best sunset I have ever seen!