Eagle's Wings

New Boat....New Blog

2009-10-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

We are still sailing but have bought a new Catalina 42 which we named Waves of Grace. We are headed to Florida and our new blog is: www.wavesofgrace42.blogspot.com

Hope that you can join us for the trip!

Eagle's Wings is back!

2008-05-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

Oswego Marina

2008-05-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

We step the mast on May 14th at Oswego and then head to Sodus Point to complete our adventure.

Oswego Bound

2008-05-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Oswego Canal

2008-05-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Walt's Dad joins us on the Oswego Canal and we lock through to Lake Ontario together.

Lock 23

2008-05-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

We spend the night at lock 23 on the Erie Canal, after crossing Oneida Lake. As we prepare to go through the lock in the morning I took this photo of the mist behind us.

Family picnic

2008-05-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Dawn and Rachel drive to Catskill and we share a quick dinner together before we cast off and head up the river to catch a mooring ball at Castleton on the Hudson. We are going with the current and do over 7 knots till sunset!

Catskill Creek

2008-05-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

We arrive at Riverview Marine Services just off the Hudson River in Catskill on May 9th. Laurie and Lars arrive with the wood to un-step our mast. They also bring back our Sheltie, Ranger, who will stay on the boat with us while we do the Erie Canal. On Saturday Walt and Lars put up the wood and the mast comes down.

Pollepel Island

2008-05-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

Pollepel Island once housed a warehouse for guns, powder, and supplies for the Bannerman family. The castle and gardens were quite impressive at one time but today they are abandoned and decaying on this very posted island. We are only a few miles from Newburgh.

Nyack Yacht Club

2008-05-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

We take a mooring ball at the Nyack Yacht Club just north of the Tappen Zee Bridge. We are officially welcomed by a committee boat and later enjoy the views of the shoreline and the lighted green bridge after dark. This morning we take the dinghy in to the club and then walk to a bakery in town for chocolate and cinnamon pastries.

79th Street Marina

2008-05-05T19:06:00.001-07:00

Mary and Blair have their Tartan 35 attached to a mooring ball at the 79th Street Marina right in the middle of New York and all of the action.

Empire State Building

2008-05-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of me with the Empire State Building in the background. The further north we go, the nicer the weather!

Miss Liberty and Walt

2008-05-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

We head past the statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River today. We are only going 2 knots or less as we are bucking a strong tide and yes....the wind is blowing hard right off our bow!

Liberty State Park

2008-05-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

We anchor behind Liberty State Park in New Jersey on May 2nd. New York is covered in clouds and fog but we visit the park and enjoy the welcome center, the freedom path behind the statue of Liberty and Liberty Marina. It feels good to stretch our legs.

Barnegat Lighthouse

2008-05-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

We spend several days in chilly, windy weather as we head up the New Jersey coast in the Atlantic. We are thankful for our full canvas enclosure which helps to keep us warm and dry. We pull into Barnegat Bay with Cinnamon Girl right behind us but the waves keep us rocking and rolling all the way past the light house. Greg did not like the channel....but once inside all was calm. I took this photo of the lighthouse at sunrise as we headed back out into the ocean the next day.

Norfolk

2008-05-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

Eagle's Wings is dwarfted by the naval and cargo ships lining Norfolk. It's a large commercial seaport and pleasure craft look out of place here.

Deep Creek Lock

2008-04-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Sabbatical pulls in behind us for the lock-through. Then we head out to the intersection where the Virginia Cut meets with the Dismal Swamp Route. We all head into a very busy Norfolk with its many lift bridges, railroad bridges and Navy ships.

Leaving North Carolina

2008-04-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

The sign from the back says North Carolina and from the front....Virginia.

Un-rafting

2008-04-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jim and Greg, each single-handing their 30 foot boats, discuss the day ahead and prepare to un-raft and continue up the Dismal Swamp and into Norfolk.

Great Dismal Swamp

2008-04-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Very early the three sailboats and the trawler, Gitana, all waited for the 6:45 bridge opening and we headed from Elizabeth City into the Great Dismal Swamp. It rained all day and we locked through South Mills and continued on to the welcome center dock which was full. We all rafted off the other boats.

Elizabeth City

2008-04-27T10:25:00.001-07:00

We arrived in Elizabeth City in the rain with the wind blowing 18 knots. The courtesy town "docks" consisted only of four posts in the water facing a town dock. It took three men plus Walt and me to get the boat in and tie her off so that she wouldn't hit anything. We quickly made friends with Joe and his wife, Donna, Jim, and Greg. We all went to dinner near the harbor front and swapped stories.

Pipeline Canal

2008-04-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

We anchor in Pipeline Canal off the ICW Mile Marker 311 after we leave Myrtle Beach. There are 9 other sailboats and a trawler with us. Next we anchor at Mile Hammock Bay,
Mile Marker 244.5 and then to Broad Creek, Mile Marker 173.5 where I took this photo of the sunrise as we were leaving our anchorage.

North Myrtle Beach

2008-04-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

All of Dansville seems to be at Myrtle Beach this time of year hiding away from the northern climate. We visit with Brewers and comb the beach for shells.

Nancy Weider at Osprey

2008-04-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

Nancy Weider spent two nights with us at Osprey. We also visited her at Ocean Lakes for a night and shared several dinners and shoppings trips.

Faith and Willie

2008-04-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

Faith and Willie arrive for a visit from Conway and we share stories aboard Eagle's Wings.

Annette and Megan

2008-04-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

Annette and Megan make the drive to visit us at Osprey. We take Walt (kicking and screaming) to visit the nearby Waccatee Zoo which was lots of fun.

Osprey Marina

2008-04-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

On April 10th we arrive at Osprey Marina tucked into a cypress swamp south of Myrtle Beach. We decided to stay for a week to rest, relax, and visit with friends and relatives.

High Tides

2008-04-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

There are some locations along the ICW that have very high and low tides, some with swift currents. What to do with your docks and your boats????

Charleston architecture

2008-04-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Walt and Steve are holding up this lamp post in front of a row of beautiful southern homes facing the bay.

Charleston Maritime Marina

2008-04-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Maritime Marina is within walking distance to historical Charleston and the marina gives a 25% discount to BOAT US members-great value and very friendly service.

Charleston, South Carolina

2008-04-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

We arrive at the Charleston Maritime Marina on April 8th and explore the city with Steve and Evie Taylor. The Taylors attended a filter conference for Steve's company up north and on their way to New Bern they detoured to our slip. We shopped on Market Street, had dinner at A.W. Shuck's famous seaford restaurant and walked around the Battery overlooking Fort Sumter.

Lions Bridge, St. Augustine

2008-04-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

We do not anchor for the night at St. Augustine on our return trip north. We pass through the Lions Bridge and anchor across from the fort for a few hours to do some shopping. We pull out and pass into a thunderstorm, motor for three hours, and stay at Pine Island just off the ICW at mile 765. Three other sailboats and two trawlers anchor near us.

ICW anchorage

2008-04-16T11:48:00.001-07:00

We stop at this small anchorage on a river opposite a Sea Ray manufacturing company and a cement plant. There are many brand new motor boats in slips waiting for customers. Four of us sailboats manage to anchor close to shore, single file. We leave at 8:00 in fog, but God is awesome! and as we pull out into the ICW, a catamaran with radar is ahead of us. We follow him until the fog lifts.

Vero Beach City Marina

2008-04-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Vero Beach is a wonderful place for a boater to spend a few days. There is a free bus that comes directly to the marina and takes you to the downtown shopping areas: food stores, Walmart, West Marine, and even to the beaches. Eight of us attend Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church which is only two miles from the marina. The church overlooks the ICW and is beautiful. For lunch we join Joe and Judy at the Riverside Cafe located just past the bridge.

Vero Beach-March 29th 2008

2008-04-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

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Upon our return to the States we discover that we must rent a car and appear in person at the customs and immigration building at the airport. Since there are no rental cars available in Ft. Pierce, we continue to Vero Beach where we get a mooring ball with Dick and Libby who we met in the Bahamas aboard their 32' sailboat "Tarwathie". We share a rental car with Eric and Eileen aboard "Island Gypsy", and at 8:00 we are back to our boats and getting some much needed sleep.

Atlantic Crossing

2008-04-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

We leave Great Sale Cay at 11:00 AM on March 27th with Joe and Judy who own a Catalina 42 named "Just Because". Just before midnight we arrive at the ocean reef near Little Bahama Bank and we head out into the Atlantic. When the moon comes out we can see clearly, but Joe still runs radar for both of our boats. We arrive at Ft. Pierce at 11:00AM.....24 hours later...our first night sail.

Great Sale Cay

2008-04-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

Weather is king here in the Bahamas......and the wind has been blowing strong since we have arrived. We have been unable to get around the "whale" because of a steady rage.
There are openings from the Sea of Abaco, through the reefs, and into the ocean but when there are strong winds a rage occurs with waves 12-14 feet high and the passages are impassable. Therefore we have been unable to visit Marsh Harbor and other cruising ports. A weather window opens and we decide to head to Great Sale Cay and back to the States. We leave with several other sailboats and sail to Allens-Pensacola Cay and spend the night.

New Plymouth

2008-04-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

New Plymouth was established in the 1780's by American Loyalists. Settlement Dock is a great place to tie up your dingy if you are anchored in Black Sound. Walt and I rode our bikes from White Sound to New Plymouth and then toured the Loyalist Bust Garden Museum. We had lunch at the "Wrecking Tree" where raw conch salad and conch fritters were the specialties.

White Sound

2008-04-06T19:04:00.001-07:00

White Sound at Green Turtle Cay is an excellent protected harbor where we anchored with many other sailboats. The Bluff House Restaurant and Green Turtle Resort and Marina are located here.

Green Turtle beaches

2008-04-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

There are numerous beaches dotting Green Turtle Cay. This one is on the Atlantic, protected by reefs, where there is great snorkeling. The coral here is vibrant and there are conch shells to be found along with lobsters. The sand is powdery and very white....fun to walk on barefooted! Each day at the beach is different depending on the winds. From perfectly still, to small rollers, until one day we saw 14 foot waves crashing across the reefs.

Conch

2008-03-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Walt finds this conch on the reef and joins the nightly tradition of blowing his horn to signify sunset. The sound and the length of your sound is extremely important! Each night White Sound is filled with the melody of these "Conch Horns" coming from the sailboats.

The Beaches

2008-03-30T07:42:00.003-07:00

The beaches at Green Turtle are beautiful. There are numerous snorkeling reefs, oceanside, and we head out with Vic and Wendy to see the coral and the caves which are wonderful. Walt and Vic see a five foot reef shark that silently followes them......I'm already on the beach!

Bahamian time.....

2008-03-30T07:37:00.001-07:00

White Sound

2008-03-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

We sail into FoxTown but decide not to spend the night there as the anchorage doesn't look secure and there is a boat wrecked on the rocks....so we head to Crab Cay for the night. On March 15th we arrive at Green Turtle Cay and anchor in White Sound with numerous other sailboats. We have officially arrived in the Abacos as this is where the real winter cruising begins. We meet Vic & Wendy, neighbors to port side, on their Catalina 36.

Great Sale Cay

2008-03-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

Where are the Abacos???? We leave west End at 9:00, head into the Atlantic, around the reefs, past Memory Rock, and into the immense sea called Little Bahama Bank which is all of 7 feet deep.
It's just like being in the ocean, no land in sight, except that the waters are calm and you can see the bottom. We motor-sail for ten hours and then set the anchor in Great Sale Cay to join 7 other sailboats, 5 of whom left after dark heading back to the States.

West End, Bahamas

2008-03-30T07:06:00.003-07:00

We leave Ft. Lauderdale at 4:15 AM which is no problem because there are lights everywhere....until we reach the Atlantic which is totally dark for the next 3 hours. The seas are 4-5' with winds blowing a steady 17 knots and we reach West End at 3:30 and take a slip. We meet Sonia and Brian who are returning from the Abacos and share cocktails with them while they share stories and great places to visit. West End is a small quiet stop-over for boats entering and exiting the Bahamas. We pay our $150 cruiser fee and check out the hotel and pools, and of coarse, all the other boats!

Leaving for the Bahamas

2008-03-22T04:09:00.001-07:00

We head out this morning......motoring one last time down Port Largo Canal to crash corner and out past the jetty. We motor-sail north to Biscayne Bay and No Name Harbor in 17knots with light chop.

Leaving Marina del Mar

2008-03-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

We finally are ready to cruise again...it's good-bye to numerous good times at Marina del Mar: the tiki huts at the Holiday Inn pool and hot tub-complete with live music, movie nights on the patio with popcorn, drinks, and good company, picnics with dishes to pass at the grilling pit and on the patio. Finally, tonight our dock-mates surprise us with a good-bye burger bar-b-que.

Mangroves

2008-03-22T03:49:00.000-07:00

Walt and I decided to take the dinghy to Pennecamp State Park to see the sights. Three hours later we were back at Port Largo Canal, just before sunset, having seen nothing but the mangroves lining the long inlet to Pennecamp. The mangrove roots, jutting their skinny legs just about everywhere, provide a natural, secure hatchery for the area fish. They are lush, dense and very important to the Florida eco-system.

Strawberries in Florida

2008-03-21T15:40:00.001-07:00

Florida strawberries are in season! Here Cozi is eating his strawberry shortcake for his 3rd birthday which we all celebrated on the patio. It's too hot to cook so Walt, Steve and I split a half gallon of ice cream into thirds and we have banana splits with strawberries and whipped cream!

St. Justin the Martyr

2008-03-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

We attended Mass at St. Justin the Martyr Church each week which was a 12 mile round trip bike ride for us on our red West Marine folding boat bikes. We could really get around town on those bikes! Even better...our kids gave each of us front and back pulsating LED bike lights for those late night rides.

Bruce and Suzi

2008-03-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

My brother Bruce and his girlfriend, Suzi, flew to Key Largo in early March to enjoy the fun and sun with us at Marina del Mar.

Steve, on spring break from RIT, sailed and snorkeled with us and his uncle. We spotted a five foot barracuda as well as a shark off of Molasses Reef where the snorkeling was great.

The African Queen

2008-03-09T14:26:00.001-07:00

This boat is the original used in the Humphrey Bogart and Catharine Hepburn movie: the African Queen. Norm and Nancy Wetterau, enamored with classic films, were impressed with this boat when they visited us in Key Largo the week of Feb 26th.

However, Norm and Nancy did enjoy our dock movie night when we all watched "Captain Ron" an all-time modern favorite sailing classic.

Port Largo Canal

2008-03-09T14:15:00.001-07:00

The turning basin at Port Largo Canal is home to many dive, snorkel, and fishing boats. Here, we leave slip 21 and head out to crash corner where we make a 90 degree turn to complete the canal trip to Hawk Channel inside the reef to do some sailing with Steve, Don, Stella, and Evie.

I-J Dockmates in Key Largo

2008-03-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

We enjoy sailing, snorkeling, swimming and drinking umbrella drinks at Coconuts in Key Largo with Don, Stella, Steve and Evie. We have a farewell dinner at the Rusty Pelican in Miami with an amazing view of the Miami waterfront skyline.

Friends from Katlynn, Sodus Point

2008-03-06T07:18:00.001-08:00

Don & Stella Reschke and Evie & Steve Taylor visit us in mid-February to spend some quality time together. We all miss the snow, sleet and cold temperatures at our home port in Sodus Bay, NY........

Here we are getting ready to tackle the Miami Boat Show and pick out our new ocean boats. The sailboats all started at 38 feet and only got bigger! We escaped the sun and heat to have lunch at the air-conditioned Hard Rock Cafe.

No one bought a new boat......

Valentine's Day Dock Party

2008-03-06T07:07:00.003-08:00

We enjoy a dessert buffet at Marina Del Mar with our many dockmates for Valentine's Day. Don & Stella (from Katlynn Marine, NY), Mike, Gary, Mark & Vicki, Howard, Frank & Fonda, Joy, Bernie, Brenda, Walt, Connie, Pat, and Diana.

Brewers in Key Largo

2008-02-20T09:38:00.001-08:00

Jim and Linda arrive in Key Largo on January 22nd and spend a week sailing, snorkeling, and sunbathing with us. We travel to Key West in their red rental mustang and view the beautiful sunset. This is truly retiree heaven!

Visit to Fairchild Botanical Gardens

2008-02-20T09:13:00.001-08:00

Joy, Annette, Diana and I have a girls day out in Miami at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens. We hold hands in front of a giant Baobab tree normally grown in Africa. We take the sight-seeing train and learn lots about the varieties of palm trees grown in Florida and around the world. Iguanas abound and we capture mug shots on our cameras.

Nancy and Vicki visit from Dansville

2008-02-20T08:28:00.003-08:00

Nancy Weider and Vicki Universal join us on January 8th for a week of fun in the sun at Marina del Mar. We sail, enjoy happy hour at Hobo's, and attend a seminar on Manatees at Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Later in the week we picnic at Anne's Beach on our way to Key West where we meet our dock mates, Joy and Dean for Mujeritas near Mallory Square after taking photos of the sunset.

Our kids move in!

2008-01-20T12:44:00.001-08:00

Christmas 2007

2008-01-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Laurie, Lars, Stacey and Steve flew to Key Largo and we enjoyed spending Christmas together as a family. We had a rental car so instead of biking 6 miles to Mass, we could all ride to Justin the Martyr Parish. Later we shared a dock Christmas dinner consisting of lobster on the grill and steamed oysters.

Key Largo sunset

2008-01-20T12:16:00.003-08:00

Sirach 43: 1 & 5

The clear vault of the sky shines forth, like heaven itself, a vision of glory.

Great indeed is the Lord who made it........

Dockside

2008-01-20T12:11:00.001-08:00

The basin has sidewalks that connect the three hotels and all of the boat slips. Coconuts Restaurant, on the corner, offers good food, daily happy hour, and live music.

The basin at Port Largo

2008-01-20T12:07:00.001-08:00

We are at slip 21 on the east side of the basin which hosts many fishing charters and snorkel and dive boats. The basin is at the end of a long canal with boats on both sides that leads to the ocean and its reefs.

Marina del Mar, Key Largo

2008-01-20T11:40:00.001-08:00

We arrive at Marina del Mar, mile marker 100 at Key Largo, on December 10th and we plan to stay here for the winter. The 50 slip marina is surrounded by three hotels: Marina del Mar, the Holiday Inn, and the Ramada. We have three pools and hot tubs plus tennis courts and a work-out room. Breakfast is included daily. Compared to being on an anchor almost every night for two and one/half months....this is like paradise!

Sailing past Miami

2008-01-05T11:47:00.001-08:00

Ft. Lauderdale boat canals

2008-01-05T11:40:00.003-08:00

The multi-million dollar homes and dredged boat canals at Ft. Lauderdale are unbelievable!

Ft. Lauderdale

2008-01-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

Ft Lauderdale is a very busy port with many large cruise ships entering and departing at all hours. Watch the buoys, channel markers, tide charts, bridges and bigger vessels!

Lake Worth

2008-01-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

We leave Vero Beach and head into the ocean for a long day of sailing and arrive in Lake Worth around 4:30 to anchor. At sunrise we head out into the ocean again to Ft. Lauderdale where we anchor with many other boats in Lake Sylvia which is a man-made lake surrounded by multi-million dollar homes.

Vero Beach

2007-12-07T16:30:00.003-08:00

We spent a wonderful three days on a mooring ball at Vero Beach City Marina for $11.33 per day. There was a free bus shuttle to all destinations downtown as well as the beaches. The highlight of our visit was an invitation to dinner by Mary and Bill of Mulligan, an American Tug, at their beautiful home in Vero Beach. We met this couple in the Solomon's when we shared a taxi together. Bill is in his 80's and still cruising between his home in Conn. and his villa in Vero Beach.

Titusville dinghy dock

2007-12-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

Dinghy docks are so important when you want to disembark and actually see and visit with other sailors. Titusville dinghy dock was not as crowded as the one at Vero Beach!

Great Egret

2007-12-07T16:10:00.003-08:00

The Great Egret stalks the wetlands for small fish to spear with its sharp bill. He is tall, thin and elegant with a pointed yellow bill and black stilt-like legs with black feet.

Ponce Lighthouse jetty

2007-12-07T16:05:00.001-08:00

This jetty is located at Lighthouse Point Park in Volusia County, Florida. The park is comprised of beaches and elevated boardwalks that wind thru the swamps. We saw many tortoises and their dens in the sand dunes.

Pelicans on watch

2007-12-07T16:01:00.001-08:00

Pelicans are everywhere and they are comical to watch when they are fishing. They survey the area and then dive-bomb, beak-first into the water and scoop up their fish.

Lunch with pirates

2007-12-07T15:54:00.003-08:00

Walt and I, Gary and Annette, and Lori and Alex enjoy lunch together after touring the Ponce Lighthouse.

Fresnel Lens

2007-12-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

The first lens at Ponce Lighthouse was a Fixed First Order Fresnel, built in Paris, illuminated by a five concentric wick kerosene lantern whose light could be seen nearly 20 miles

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse

2007-12-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

We anchored in Rockhouse Creek just south a bit from Daytona Beach and enjoyed the area so much that we stayed three days. This lighthouse stands 175 feet high and is the tallest lighthouse in Florida. We climbed the 203 steps to the gallery deck and had a beautiful view of the very shallow harbor and inlet. The lighthouse museum included three lightkeepers' homes and other outbuildings, all very well-maintained.

Night view of St. Augustine

2007-12-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

This night view of St. Augustine from our anchorage belies the fact that this was a nightmare of an anchorage!!!! We encountered 2-3 knots of current, over 6 foot tides and a steady night wind of over 21 knots. We anchored and re-anchored a total of at least 10 times trying to avoid long anchor rode from other boats and wind shifts. One night in the anchorage we witnessed a collision between a large mizzen mast sailboat with a bowsprit that rammed a smaller boat, both at anchor, and it took three men over 30 minutes to separate the boats in the dark! This will not be a stop for us on our trip home!

Views from the top of St. Augustine Lighthouse

2007-11-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

St. Augustine Lighthouse

2007-11-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is 165 feet high and we climbed the 219 steps to the top for a fantastice view of the harbor. The wind howled so fiercely at the top that we had to remove hats and glasses for fear of losing them.

Basilica of St. Augustine

2007-11-30T08:57:00.000-08:00

This Basilica is the oldest continuously active Catholic faith community in the continental United States. Menendez first sighted Florida on the feast of St. Augustine, hence the name. It is Spanish in architecture built of coquina or shell rock masonry. A statue of St. Augustine over the entryway watches the city.

Old St. Augustine

2007-11-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

St. Augustine was founded 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and has almost 500 years of history to share with visitors. Don Pedro Menendez founded this city in 1565 and claimed the land for Spain's King Philip II. This view is in the town square in front of the Basilica.

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-30T08:44:00.000-08:00

We gather in St. Augustine for Thanksgiving week. Gary and Annette's daughter, Susan and her family: Sam, Kaylin, and Grant all join us at O.C. White's restaurant for a traditional meal. It's warm but rainy outside.

Sabbatical takes on tanker

2007-11-30T08:39:00.000-08:00

Gary and Annette round a corner in the St. John's River and are confronted with an ocean in-coming container ship. What do five horn blasts really mean? Get out of my way or you're history!

ICW watercolor

2007-11-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

Runaway dinghy

2007-11-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, the dinghy got away....and Walt is swimming after it with all of his clothes on.....good thing he didn't wait another minute as that motor is on and the current is fast. Other boaters in our anchorage came out to offer moral support from their bows. I should learn how to tie a better knot.....at least I'm quick with that camera!

Faith Chapel

2007-11-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

Faith Chapel was completed in 1904 by the Jekyll Island Club as an interdenominational chapel. It has a stunning stain glass window created and signed by Louis Tiffany. The inscription crowning the window shouts out: "I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously.
(Exodus 15:1)"

Jekyll Island Club

2007-11-26T19:33:00.000-08:00

Some of America's wealthiest and most influential families created the Jekyll Island Club in 1886 and built huge cottages and a beautiful Clubhouse for themselves and their friends. The Clubhouse is now a hotel and you can also stay in several of the cottages.

Jekyll Island

2007-11-26T19:20:00.001-08:00

We decide to leave the ICW for the ocean route today, out Doboy Inlet and into St. Simon's Inlet which is just above Jekyll Island. We dinghy the bikes to the island and visit the sea turtle museum which is also a turtle hospital. There are several large loggerheads being nursed back to health in large swimming pools at the hospital. Bev, a loggerhead, is being prepped to return to the wild tomorrow and she has a radio attached to her shell for tracking purposes.

Bascule Bridge

2007-11-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

There are many types of bridges on the ICW: high fixed bridges of 65 feet, lift bridges, swing bridges, and this bascule bridge. Some open only on the hour, the half hour and some on demand. It's not easy to wait 30 minutes in front of a bridge with tidal currents and wind.....but we are getting quite adept at this form of entertainment!

Beaufort, SC

2007-11-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

As we approached this bridge we were caught in gusting winds and so decided to stay at the Beaufort Downtown Marina. The weather cleared up later in the day.

Anchorage in the marshes of South Carolina

2007-11-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

We leave Myrtle Beach on November 11th and we anchor in the South Carolina marshes at Bull Creek, Minim Creek, Dewees Creek, and Fishing Creek until we finally reach Georgia.

Osprey Marina

2007-11-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

Linda leaves Myrtle Beach with us and travels down the ICW until we reach Osprey Marina where she disembarks and catches a ride home with Jim. What a unique spot!

Brewers visit

2007-11-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

We have cocktails on our boat with Brewers and Pitchers at Barefoot Landing-Sat, Nov. 10th.

Myrtle Beach

2007-11-12T18:23:00.000-08:00

We wait for this swing bridge to open and then proceed to tie up to the dock at Barefoot Landing for the next two days.

Little River Inlet

2007-11-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

Today we sailed out of Cape Fear into the Atlantic and back to the ICW at Little River Inlet. We were surprised to see several casino boats coming into the inlet as well, one of which we took with Brewers and Weiders last time we were visiting. The ocean was great for sailing today and we saw several more dolphins.

TowBoatUS

2007-11-09T12:48:00.000-08:00

UH-OH.........

Cross on the dunes

2007-11-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

It was good to see this sign of faith on the sand dunes between us and the Atlantic Ocean.

Emerald Island

2007-11-09T11:44:00.000-08:00

This is the bridge to Emerald Island where we loved to camp with Laurie, Kevin, Stacey, Steve and our cocker spaniel, Brandon. We used to see sailboats in the ICW as we passed......never dreaming one of those boats would be ours!