Motor Yacht Pearl with Glenys and Don: Another step closer

Another step closer south and warmer weather

Its November and for those of you that know us well cold weather is not for us AT ALL !

I had so many layers on it was difficult to move

We left Virginia behind us now and into North Carolina, and the next stop planned was at Wrightsville Beach.

Friday November 4th

On our way to Wrightsville North Carolina there were some lovely sights a few bridges complete with a squall with 35 mph winds right next to Surf city bridge and a large collection of Nordic tugs. A pretty stressful time we were happy to see them go.

Wrightsville was a place we stayed on the way up, its a large anchorage but again like before we didn't leave the boat due to the weather yet again, windy and very choppy water. The place was pretty busy and very inconsiderate folks insisted on causing huge wakes, one of which was so bad the new TV was thrown off the cabinet and smashed and a big dent in the wood floor. Normally its tied down when we are moving but as we were at anchor this was not the case. At least we had the older small one to watch so that was tied firmly and put back in action.

Sunday 6th November

Refuelled at 07:26 and on our way to Southport by 08:05

The procession of southbound boats was getting larger now, its still pretty cold so they must be thinking the same thoughts.

Its sooooo cold!

We checked out somewhere to take a little rest and found that Southport South Harbour Marina seemed like a good place to stop so thats where we headed to.

Here's a few sights along the way.

I do wonder what folks are thinking when they put garden ornaments like this but they are entertaining

So many herons and this one didn't fly off for a change

Some sad sights along the way, Hurricane Mathew aftermath

Its "fall"as its said here

It was a last minute shot so I'm afraid not in focus

Early mornings with mists

I wonder if it glows in the dark

As we neared the entrance to the river (before Southport marina) a coast guard and county sheriff boat approached and asked us if they could board us. Of course we didn't object and on they came without us stopping (thats their rules). We were asked for all our boat paperwork and passports. We are a UK registered boat and didn't have to allow them to go through and check everything but in our interests we decided that we need to keep the boat up to the US specification for the future. They were very impressed with everything and mentioned we were better prepared than most, our PLB's inside the lifejackets were an added bonus. When we approached the marina I thought I would make use of them and ask them to help us tie up. They took it all in good fun and had quite a giggle with the local sheriff, he said if there was anything he could do for us let him know, I did mention that I needed to go grocery shopping and he laughed but did say he could return after he finished his shift. Later when we met him in the bar he was sat next to us, I mentioned that I still needed to shop and had given him a nickname "Omar" as in Omar Sharif, the other sherif next to him thought it was funny anyway.

We stayed a couple of days and I was able to take a taxi to Walmart where I bought a new TV to replace the smashed one and topped us up with fresh groceries again.

View from the sports bar at Southport

This is what we found when we went for a walk, I'm chicken and didn't go close to the shore

The sign says it all

Tuesday November 8th
Another 06:30 start and as we were checking out where to go next we noticed that Bucksport marina was offering very cheap fuel and dockage with out Tow boat US discount so it was an obvious place to stop. We stayed close to the fuel dock overnight and refuelled the next morning.

At Bucksport marina

Passing through this area on the Waccamaw river is stunning a total length of 140 miles which we took 2 days to pass through. Cypress trees line the river, the floods caused by hurricane Mathew have caused areas to flood in so many places, roads were closed, boat docks destroyed and so many boats too.
The river starts in North Carolina and ends in South Carolina.

Wednesday 9th of November another early start and plodded on south to another anchorage Minim creek pretty well known for alligators, we kept an eye open but saw nothing, they go pretty quiet when its cold. Only 39 miles today.

Thursday 10th November
9 hours 19 mins 68 miles.
Lets say an interesting trip with very very shallow water at times south of McClellanville South Carolina, active captains warnings weren't exactly correct and had the stress levels increased a little. Into Toms point Creek to anchor.

Some large houses here

say no more

Spectators

Friday 11th November
We left Toms Point with a clean anchor and chain, it was a deep water anchorage so we had lots of chain out.

Now off to Beaufort South Carolina, we were looking to drop the anchor next to Lady's island close to our friends Andrew and Sarah, we last saw them in Deltaville and they had left before us. When we did arrive it was a very shallow entrance but we made it through. Tried to anchor 3 times but kept dragging through the mud, no luck and after persuading the guy in the marina to find us a dock we were grateful when he did. The marina was full and he found us a private dock, great ! It was so cold though during our stay, what a great stay, Steve the boss went out of his way to take us to Walmart to get my reading glasses fixed.
So good to see Andrew & Sarah again, they were "stuck " in Beaufort as they were re-registering their boat, they are Canadian and the authorities do like to take their time. The weather began to get much colder and their boat doesn't have any heating, being newlyweds I think they cope quite well.
Sarah very kindly cooked a chicken for us and we spent the evening in the captains lounge.