Cumberland Island GA

  We have covered a lot of area in the past week.  We left Oriental, NC on sat and anchored in Town Creek at Beaufort, NC for our first time there.  We awoke at 0130 with the wind howling and looked out the port to see a red and a green light shining about 20 feet away.  Being curious I went topside to discover a gentleman delving into his anchor locker.  Knowing that when we anchored it was real close to a shoal, I asked was he aground and he advised me that his anchor had pulled in the unpredicted high wind and he had dragged there.  I climbed into our dinghy and went to help him set two anchors to keep the boat from hitting ours when the tide came in later. We then set a stern on our boat to keep us from swinging into his. In the AM he was able to float off and get underway.

   Monday we left with Kevin and Debbie Stone on Grace, and headed for Mile Hammock (Camp LeJeaune) with a rousing wind, and a reefed head sail had a wonderful romp down Bogue Sound!  Spent the night and enjoyed another happy hour w/K and D. There were over twenty boats anchored Mile Hammock and all wanted to catch the bridges early.  The following day we managed to make all of the bridges and into Wrightsville Beach, NC in short order.  We took an extra day there for Skipper to enjoy the beach and found another Caribe  Dinghy for sale.  We bought it and  moved on Wed to Southport, NC  for an overnight at Indigo Plantation marina (showers &; Laundry).  We were met there by Kevin & Deb on Grace after our being towed off a shoal.  Kevin & Deb bought our old dinghy and are enjoying it.  The new to us 10 ft dinghy is much more comfortable with our larger motor and everyone is happy.

Thursday we made it to Little River Inlet and the Callabash Creek for fresh shrimp and an overnight. Friday night we anchored at Thoroughfare Creek and Sandy Island Preserve... a great spot for dogs & people.  Then on to Price Creek for Sat pm, the 9th.  A great spot for people that got better for Skipper when we dinghied about a mile to visit the beach where had a long run.

   From there we moved on through Charleston where a Lightning race/regatta seemed to be going on.  The maritime Center where we like to stop was full for three days so  we continued to Steamboat Landing on the N Edisto River. A great stop for Skipper.

                                              Steamboat Landing

 Veterans Day we did a short hop to Factory Creek  by Ladys Island  Bridge in Beaufort (Bufort) SC.  Another great stop at a boat ramp for Skipper.

   We had arranged to have mail sent to Port Royal Landing Marina, and they have a pay for 2 stay for 3 nights deal that we gladly accepted and moved the short distance to there.   Tuesday and Wednesday the wind blew continuous from the cold north and quite strong .  We were happy to pay the $4 for power and plugged in our electric heater. They also have a loner vehicle which we made great use of for groceries and parts.

   We were up before first light and left at 0700 on  an ebb tide and rode it out Port Royal Sound into the Atlantic.  The wind was from the NE and we were headed South, with waves coming  abaft of beam causing the washing machine affect.  We were getting a lot of help from the winds at 10-14 and arrived at Blackbeard Island in Sapelo Inlet anchor down at 1700.  It was a 67.5 NM day and a late run for Skipper on the beach.

   We were anticipating another long day Saturday, but we came in St Andrews Inlet around 1400, at dead low tide (it would be better at 1/2 tide) with some skinny water but did not touch.  We talked with Grace and they suggested an anchorage at mile 694 that they use. Anchor was down at 1500 at the anchorage  Mile 694 N Cumberland Island, a distance of 49 NM.  We talked with Kevin and Deb on Grace as they were coming down the ICW by Jekyll Island; they anchored here too and they came in for happy hour.

   We decided that all of us would like more time at the park on Cumberland so plan on going there today.  But alas it is raining and foggy so Francie has elected more snooze time and no problem there.  We can both use some down (actually up) time as the last week has been quite busy!  Good to take time to catch up on this blog!