Summer 2022

May 10 – 30, 2022

I’m back in business. I had started to catch up on the travel BLOG’s when I ran into problems editing the web site. Everything seems to be working once more. Over the winter I had a few items fixed on the boat. The big one was replacing the steering pumps and getting the autopilot working like it should. I also added phantom screens to the doors and has already paid dividends.

The original plan was to go to the Great Lakes but after looking at how long that would take, we decided to scale back and do the northern Atlantic coast. The highlights are something like this.

• New York/New Jersey: New York City
• Conneticut/Rhode Island: Stamford, Mystic, Newport
• Massachusetts/New Hampshire: Boston, Gloucester, Portsmouth
• Maine: Portland, South Freeport, Rockland, Acadia NP and lotsa cool anchorages
• Possibly Nova Scotia if time and fortitude permits

We have completed the first part of the journey and am currently in Norfolk VA. We have been staying in marinas to for our new boat dog (Yuki) and us to get ashore a little easier. We hit some old stops and some new ones along the way.

• Fort Pierce FL: We stayed at the Dockside Marina for one night.
• Melbourne FL: Anchored out next to the bridge. There was a little excitement because the depth gauge wasn’t updating and we thought we were in 16′ of water when it was really 7′. After backing out we anchored a little further out. Whew.
• New Smyrna Beach FL: Stayed at the New Smyrna Marina/Fishstore. This was a nice little marina right on the ICW so it was easy on, easy off. Going to St. Augustine was quite exciting. When we got to the Haulover Canal bridge the current was running so strong it was like white water rapids. When the bridge opened the current pushed us to the left right up against the bridge fender. I reversed before hitting the fender, backed up and tried again with the same result. Thinking the current was pushing me left I tried moving to the right for the next attempt and it pushed to the right fender. Meanwhile, the bridge operator was calling on the radio wanting to know what the problem is and there was a crowd of fisherman gathering to see if something cool like a boat capsize or wreck might happen. With sweat pouring down my body I tried one more time and … SUCCESS! Rumor has it there was a black smudge on the side but when I washed the boat there was no evidence of it afterward.
• St. Augustine FL: Back to my nemesis. We stayed in the St. Augustine marina and left with no additional black marks.
• Jacksonville FL: Tied up at the free dock once again but this time next to a sunken boat.
• Brunswick GA: I finally had a chance to stay at the Brunswick Landing Marina that I heard good things about and it didn’t disappoint. It is next to a historic downtown area that was fun to walk through. The people there were really nice. It is definitely on the do-again list.
• Georgetown SC: We decided to skip Charleston and went up to Georgetown and we are really glad we did. The Harborwalk marina is right downtown with many shops and restaurants. We went through the Rice Museum which was quite interesting.
  • Fun factoid, Georgetown county once supplied 90% of the rice production in the US. After the civil war it was no longer profitable to raise rice so rice is no longer grown in the area except for a few “Boutique” farms.
• Myrtle Beach SC: Put on our Thurston Howell III attire and stayed at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in New River, SC. OK, it sounds nicer than it really is, JAM (Just Another Marina).
• Southport NC: Ran a short day and stayed at the rebuilt Safeharbor Southport Village marina. Another easy on, easy off and top notch marina.
• Wrightsville Beach NC: Wrightsville Beach marina was a nice JAM.
• Beaufort NC: I wanted to stay in Beaufort Docks Marina because it is right on main street. By the way, it is pronounced Bow-fort. Beaufort SC is pronounced Bew-fort. I was told this was for ship navigation so they wouldn’t get the two ports confused. I am not sure it is true but works for me. The downtown area was really nice and had a good time walking around and taking the city tour on a double decker bus.
• Belhaven NC: Stayed at the Forest River marina once again. JAM.
• Coinjock NC: Once again went for the prime rib and stayed for the marina.
• Norfolk VA: Once again at the Waterside Marina. Reprovisioned and had the main engine worked on. I had been using coolant so I had the gasket replace by the same company the replaced the injector from my last trip North. Took time to see Yorktown, Williamsburg and an M.C. Escher exhibit at the Norfolk art museum.