Our day started around 7AM with a bit of sunshine and hopes for a bright day. Last evening after my post, we had rain showers with a threat of tornadoes. I was hopeful that the rain had moved out of the area, but luck was not with us on the weather today.
We pulled away from the docks about 8AM. There was no sense in leaving any earlier because we had a drawbridge on restricted operation about 10 miles to the south. It would not open until 9AM. We arrived just at 9AM and did not have to wait for the opening on the hour. I love it when a plan comes together!
As we pulled out, I took this pic looking back at Bahia Blue Marina. This was a nice place to tie up.
For those who are interested in such stuff, we fuel up about every 20-22 hours of operation. the diesel fuel tank holds 62 gallons and during this trip, we are averaging about 2.3 gal of fuel per hour. This is running the engine at 2800RPM which seems to be a great compromise between fuel efficiency and speed. At this RPM, with no current, we will motor along at about 8.5 knots (9.7mph). Since we are inside, fuel needs really drive our schedule since the last time I set the sails was when we did a transition from Beaufort NC to Wrightsville Beach NC outside in the Atlantic. "Twice Blessed" also holds about 160 gal or water. We have two 40 gallon waste tanks. We have them pumped out each time that we stop for fuel.
Normally, if we are under sail, we can go at least 4 days before needing to pull in for water or to dump our waste tanks.
Here is our first bridge of the day..not sure why I keep taking bridge pictures, but they cause me much anxiety (either waiting for them to open, or waiting to go under one and praying for clearance)...so those reading this will just have to put up with more bridge pics!
Shortly after our bridge passage, we came across this site. Now this person REALLY had a bad day! Also after passing this mast, we had our first rain showers of the day. Fortunately they only lasted for about 10 minutes and we were hopeful that this was the last of the showers predicted to end before noon (NOT)!
As we motored along, it became incredibly calm and the water was as smooth as glass. I tried to capture that here..I know that this is not really exciting stuff (who ever takes a picture of "still" water)..but maybe we all need to find some more "still water" in our lives. This was our little patch for the day. We could have used more of this!
Also during the entire day, we had porpoises everywhere. They have become quite prolific since our first sighting north of Beaufort NC last week...no pictures today..I was just not fast enough with the camera!
Our journey today started out on the Wilmington River. We turned to starboard onto the Skidway River and motored south past "Isle of Hope" (another appropriate name). This merges into the Burnside River and then then into the Vernon River where we were anticipating our first potential trauma of the day.
This is a picture taken as we were passing through "Hell's Gate. This is purported to be the worst spot on that Atlantic ICW. It has shoaled to a point where it is virtually impassible at low tide. As we motored through, depths were about 11 feet. Since we crossed right at high tide, and there is a 10' tide here, the problem becomes obvious. Supposedly, this was dredged recently with "stimulus monies". We can see how effective this was (editorial comment..humor me). Fortunately, we timed this perfectly. Unfortuantely, we could not do the same for the next difficult stretch later in the day at the Little Mud River.
Hell's Gate dumped us out into the Ogeechee River. We then entered the "Florida passage" to the Bear River, and then into "Saint Catherines Sound.
At St. Catherines, it is an easy trip out into the Atlantic, but we turned back up into the North Newport River. This pic is looking back toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Once again the "Shrimpers" were out. They would be my salvation later in the day!
After the North Newport River, we picked up the South Newport River, and down into Sapelo Sound. This is the next place to pick up the Atlantic, although it has become seriously shoaled and is no longer marked. We headed back up the sound which is where we got hit with a hard rain that stayed with us for several hours. From here we turned to port into the Front River, then into Old Teakettle Creek, across the Carnigan River, and then into the North River to Rockdedundy River. This would eventually lead us into the Little Mud River.
The Little Mud River is the 2nd worst spot on the ICW. It is reported to carry 4' MLW (mean low water) at the center and 2' on the edges of the markers. We were talking to someone ahead of us who said that he saw a bit more than 5', so we were hoping to slide through. It was about an hour past tide change, so I was hoping to pick up at least a foot. As we entered, I immediately ran aground in 4' of water in the center of the channel. I was able to back off. At this point I turned 90 degrees and headed across the creek looking for some deeper water. I found 6.5 feet (we draft 5'11") and turned south again. About halfway down this 5 mile stretch (which seemed like 50), we ran aground again in 3.5' of water. At this point, a commercial "Shrimper" was motoring up our port side in the opposite direction. He was about 10 feet from the shoreline. I called him on the radio and he told me that he drafted 8' and was dragging bottom, but that this was the only way through. I managed to back off again and headed over to the bank to our left. We were carrying 7' on our depth gauge. Things went well here until just before we exited out into the Buttermilk Sound. My charts show a wreck right on this side of the River. I was anxious about running into something so I wandered off the bank about 100'....and immediately ran aground for the 3rd time. This time it took me longer to get "unstuck", but eventually we did, and I headed back to the bank..and out of the Little Mud River!
Of course, it was raining cats and dogs. I had a rain slicker on, but my pants and shoes were soaked..it was cold and windy and I was whining! (Pastor Brian, I must confess). Anyway we were through and I could start thinking about an anchorage.
As we crossed out of the Sound, we entered the Mackay River which runs up behind St. Simon's Island. Just before the St. Simons Sound, We found an anchorage for the evening on Jove Creek.
So what does one do on a long day on the water?...well as the "Captain", I am at the helm...but what of the mate?..Vic has this one figured out:)..caught her trying to read through closed eyelids!
I almost missed this next shot...sorry that it is not cleared, but it is of two bald eagles on the bank..I haven't seen any of these in awhile.
And the rest of today's bird pics..here is a heron? just sailing across the water...
and I am convinced that this cormorant was just mocking me as we motored past his roost!
Most of the rest of the day looked something like this...only wetter!
The anchor hit the water in Jove Creek about 6PM. There is a lot of tidal current here, and the boat is totally exposed to the wind, but the bottom is good and our anchor is well set.
This is where we anchored. The bridge in the distance is 5 miles ahead. We will have to wait tomorrow for the tide to drop a few feet so that we can assure a comfortable clearance under this one...which also means that we get to sleep in at least until 8AM tomorrow!
And this is a different shot
and this is how our day ended..and it had finally stopped raining..YIPPEE!
We had a couple of T-bone steaks on the grill, a salad and some Kraft Macaroni (I am glad that I bought a 12 pack of this stuff!). Vic tried her hand at some fishing (unsuccesful). I spent an hour working on the plan for tomorrow (we are hoping to make Jacksonville, FL. and we called in a night (I am finishing this up around 11PM).
The next 5 days will be sunny, and even though it has cooled off a bit, the temps will climb into the 80s as we move a bit farther south....840 down, 660 to go!
Great Pictures;
I finally was able to get on.
It looks bueatiful out there;
Have fun.
Posted by: Lonnie Blount | 10/17/2009 at 01:31 PM