Approaching the Goose Creek Canal, the US Coast Guard had put out a “Pan Pan Pan” call requesting assistance of another sail vessel aground in the canal. A Hans Christian 38, with a 6.7 draft, had gone hard aground, on the right-side middle of the channel. The controlled depth of this canal is supposed to be twelve feet. There was a tug and barge coming north of him; he’d hoped that it would have caused a wave that would have lifted him off. Not so. Xcelsior, had answered the request, as we were approaching the canal and about thirty minutes away. Ironically, the Coast Guard sector was within a quarter of a mile away, as we pasted the base there were at least four RHIB boats as well as Tow Boat US (however, the Hans Christian did not have a membership to Tow Boat US or SeaTow). We managed to get a tow line and haul him out without damage to either boat. The next day we hear a call from another boat to Tow Boat US, who had gone hard aground in the same location. Shortly after, we had past a Coast Guard barge with a dredge…was he heading to that location?
Motoring across the Adam’s Creek (just across the harbour from Oriental, NC), in fourteen feet of water, we came across about a dozen bottlenosed dolphins. These creatures were not shy of boats. They played within feet of the boat from the stern, and weaving back and forth through our bow wave. Some doing the flipper jump. Bluish Grey, so close we could reach out and touch them, when they blew we were very much aware. One had approached the cock-pit area, as it dived, it blew. Topaz was alert with eyes bulging out of her head. At this point, she was sitting under the dodger on the edge of the companion way. She kept looking down below, as if expecting him to pop out of the bilge. Too cute!!
Two hours later, in Morehead City (just across from Beaufort, NC) as we take on fuel and water, at one of the Marina’s, a fisherman had just caught a Blue Fin Tuna and fed the tail and other parts to the Pelicans. As he dumped the remains at the stern of our boat, every Pelican, Seagull’s, White Herrings and any other wild bird in the neighbor had a frenzy feast. Amazed by it all and yet keeping low, Topaz wasn’t sure what to make out of it. As they all flew above and swimming below her, squawking and fighting. Seeing first hand, survival of the fittest gets the better feed.
A couple of days later, we had come across and few more pods of dolphins where the ICW would cross with a stream from the Atlantic Ocean. Quite surprised that in all cases of viewing the dolphins it was always within ten to sixteen feet of water. Usually with a current. When we aren’t chasing bridge lift or swing times, most of these bridges are on restricted openings (hourly or hour and half hours), we find ourselves fighting to find six feet plus of water depth. Two locations within less than five miles apart, we were not able to anchor or go into a channel, as the water would go from ten feet to four feet. As quick of a blink an eye. Fortunately, it’s sand and easy enough to get off the shoal. One really has to play the tide game in these waters.
Myrtle Beach, SC the homes are huge and more dollars than Ted and I could even imagine. It’s also a world of condominiums with either a marina or golf course.
Or for those who enjoy life all round, they get both marina and gold course. As we head further south, the weather is getting warmer. The last two evenings were the first of many that we did not require the heater. Soon hopefully we will be able to work on that tan.
As I write this update, we are anchored in Charleston, SC and plan to lower the dinghy and tour the city all day Saturday (tomorrow). Life is still good and there hasn’t been a dull moment. Evening entertainment has been: watching Ted kill off mosquitoes and laugh at every kill, with our magic wand.
Motoring across the Adam’s Creek (just across the harbour from Oriental, NC), in fourteen feet of water, we came across about a dozen bottlenosed dolphins. These creatures were not shy of boats. They played within feet of the boat from the stern, and weaving back and forth through our bow wave. Some doing the flipper jump. Bluish Grey, so close we could reach out and touch them, when they blew we were very much aware. One had approached the cock-pit area, as it dived, it blew. Topaz was alert with eyes bulging out of her head. At this point, she was sitting under the dodger on the edge of the companion way. She kept looking down below, as if expecting him to pop out of the bilge. Too cute!!
Two hours later, in Morehead City (just across from Beaufort, NC) as we take on fuel and water, at one of the Marina’s, a fisherman had just caught a Blue Fin Tuna and fed the tail and other parts to the Pelicans. As he dumped the remains at the stern of our boat, every Pelican, Seagull’s, White Herrings and any other wild bird in the neighbor had a frenzy feast. Amazed by it all and yet keeping low, Topaz wasn’t sure what to make out of it. As they all flew above and swimming below her, squawking and fighting. Seeing first hand, survival of the fittest gets the better feed.
A couple of days later, we had come across and few more pods of dolphins where the ICW would cross with a stream from the Atlantic Ocean. Quite surprised that in all cases of viewing the dolphins it was always within ten to sixteen feet of water. Usually with a current. When we aren’t chasing bridge lift or swing times, most of these bridges are on restricted openings (hourly or hour and half hours), we find ourselves fighting to find six feet plus of water depth. Two locations within less than five miles apart, we were not able to anchor or go into a channel, as the water would go from ten feet to four feet. As quick of a blink an eye. Fortunately, it’s sand and easy enough to get off the shoal. One really has to play the tide game in these waters.
Myrtle Beach, SC the homes are huge and more dollars than Ted and I could even imagine. It’s also a world of condominiums with either a marina or golf course.
Or for those who enjoy life all round, they get both marina and gold course. As we head further south, the weather is getting warmer. The last two evenings were the first of many that we did not require the heater. Soon hopefully we will be able to work on that tan.
As I write this update, we are anchored in Charleston, SC and plan to lower the dinghy and tour the city all day Saturday (tomorrow). Life is still good and there hasn’t been a dull moment. Evening entertainment has been: watching Ted kill off mosquitoes and laugh at every kill, with our magic wand.
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