Again we had decided to leave relatively late in the morning to ensure we had close to high tide at the two inlets we needed to pass by on our way to South Carolina. So, after a three mile walk to buy some more 1lb propane bottles for our Heat Buddy – a propane radiant heater you can use indoors – we set off at about 11:30 onwards down the ICW.
However, we didn’t have enough time to make it all the way to our planned destination of Calabash Creek due to a bridge that only opens on the hour. So we ended up anchoring in the Shallotte River – hope we don’t end up like the lady.
Got to rescue a boat aground with the dinghy. Buckaroo ran aground coming into the anchorage and using a line from their bow to the dinghy managed to pull them off the shoal.
Tuesday 25th November
Very early start to try to make it over 50 miles past Myrtle Beach and it’s 130 golf courses. This belongs to one of them and ferries golfers over the ICW from the course to the club house.
This stretch of the ICW has a mind boggling number of huge houses along its shores with many more under construction. Most of them favour the Parthenon-style architecture so popular in the south but this one was pretty impressive anyway.
The Rockpile is a stretch of the Pine island Cut where there are slabs of rock that are not visible at high tide and many boats have sunk in there. We passed unscathed but unfortunately the current and wind was against us and we only made it as far as Osprey Marina, a really first class operation and at $1/ft one of the best bargains on the ICW (so far). When we got there, the crew of Buckaroo (Bill and Joanne) were already on the dock and suggested we join them in a free ride to an Italian restaurant and some provisioning. We had a superb meal with them and they swore they would call again on their way back north.
Wednesday 26th November
A really lazy start to the day after our big night out, waiting for the frost to melt off the docks and boat. After a pumpout and a fill with water, we set off again and soon were heading down the Waccamaw River past several of these floating cottages.
That's a Confederate flag on the opposite side to the stars and stripes.Then into the Estherville Minim Creek Canal. We spent the night in the Minim Creek anchorage which is in the middle of a beautiful salt marsh wetlands area and the only life is bird life.
Thursday 27th NovemberWe were almost in range of Charleston, but not quite, so we set off with modest plans for the day. Just as well as it turned out. As they say about the ICW “There are two kinds of boat on the ICW, those that are aground and those that are about to be”. We quickly went from the second option to the first. We can partially blame it on our cruising guide (Skipper Bob) for telling us to favour the right side of the channel, anyway we got stuck. We weren’t too worried as the tide was on the rise so eventually we would have floated away anyway. However, a quick trip out to the middle of the channel with the anchor in the dinghy and with boat engine going full blast and cranking on the windlass, we slid off and resumed our journey.
On this section of the ICW the surroundings are very swampy which makes for some very long docks for the houses.
Lot's of dolphin sightings and many pelicans and other sea birds and if you look really, really closely at this pic you can see the famous US mascot, the Bald Eagle.
Friday 28th November
Just a short hop to Charleston Harbour which appears to be packed with boats at anchor. We settle for Wappoo Creek which is just past the city. We did plan to make the trip by dinghy but settled for shopping at Piggley Wiggley and a movie rental - we've been to Charleston before.
Saturday 29th November
Still on the hook in Wappoo Creek. It's warmed up but raining quite a bit.
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