Back in the Saddle Again! (Day 038)

Sunrise from Bull Creek, SC



Cattle Pen Creek, St. Catherine Island, GA MM 625.5
Distance Traveled: 61.2 Hours Underway: 9.1 Average Speed: 6.7mph

Weather: Sunny, north wind @ 10 to 15 knots; wake up temp 46 degrees, high temp in the bubble was 73 degrees



Container ship inbound on the Savannah River

Comment: Departed Bull Creek in civil twilight with steaming lights aglow. Motored down the waterway, and after passing the Savannah River, Causton Bluffs Bascule Bridge, Thunderbolt, Isle of Hope and the Skidaway Narrows bascule Bridge, we unfurled the jib and immediately gained 1 mph. The jib continued to help the motors and the current push us down the waterway. The current was in our favor most of the day. I think we only had a foul current for an hour or so. While motor-sailing we averaged near 8 mph. For a about an hour, we sustained speeds over 10 (max = 10.9) mph. Our average speed for the day was 6.7 mph. Very pleasing indeed.

We set the anchor in the Cattle Pen Creek. Canvasback Too rafted with us and joined us for a salad and Beef Stroganoff dinner. After dinner, it was quiet time, early sack time for an early (but more civilized) 0730 departure tomorrow morning.

Until today, we have become spoiled by a string of shorter than normal days. Doing 9+ hour days has become unusual, but today we're back in the saddle again (check the video)!






Arial view of the Cattle Pen Creek Anchorage


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Who the F*#@ Is Alice? (Day 037)

Canvasback Too preparing to raft with SUNSHINE

Bull Creek Anchorage, West of Daufuskie Island, SC MM 565.5
Distance Traveled: 11.8 Hours Underway: 2.2 Average Speed: 5.4

Weather: Still cool, but sunny; 15 to 20 knots of wind out of the east; 1’ chop in Calibogue Sound; Temp range 50 to 70 degrees (in the bubble)

M/V Reflection sails into the Bull Creek Anchorage

Comment: Heard Tally Ho and Reflection on the radio as we made a late (1115 hours) departure from the marina. Once out on the river, we were able to make radio contact. During several radio discussions with the newly formed flock, our destination changed several times when suddenly and quite unexpectedly, our day got much shorter as we all agreed to head into Bull Creek, only 10 miles from the Skull Creek Marina. We were all eager to see each other. Tally Ho offered to host our reunion at 1630 hours. After some begging, the gathering was pushed up to 1530.

Pat and Ray stopped by SUNSHINE before heading to Tally Ho. Pat brought her quilt book along. It was spectacular. The book documents their 2007 – 2008 cruise in quilt squares. Some of the squares were contributed be their family, friends and people they met along the way, some of whom now number among Pat and Ray’s growing circle of friends. I was blown away by the book. Not only is Pat creative, she is a talented quilter. The quilt book is a significant piece of art that also serves as to document their lives and their friendships. Beautiful!

Our dinghy engine refused to start, we presume a gummed up carburetor, so Ray came by to tow us to Tally Ho. We had a great gam and shared experiences, stories and laughs. We joined Vanessa and Andrew in a vocal tribute to Alice. “Who the F*@% is Alice,” you may ask. You can Google it or watch the video below.






Arial view of the Bull Creek Anchorage



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A Cold Day; A Short Day; A Warm Day! (Day 036)

Port Royal Waterfront

Skull Creek Marina, Hilton Head, SC MM 554.8
Distance Travelled: 15.5 Hours Underway: 3.0 Average Speed: 5.2

Weather: Cold! Again!! Clear and sunny; temp range 45 to low 60s (but low 70s in the bubble); Wind out of the west at 12 to 15 knots.

Comment: It’s cold again! Knowing that it would be, the crew of Canvasback Too and SUNSHINE agreed on a later than normal start, hoping that things would warm up a bit. Penguin had the same idea and slipped her lines a few minutes before our 0915 departure.

We motored into the current, outbound from Port Royal. The wind picked up a bit as we approached Port Royal Sound, but settled in nicely. It was a relatively smooth ride across the sound in one foot chop. When we tucked into the creek behind Hilton Head and were in flat water.

On the way, Captain Dave reached us on the VHF. He offered that if we pulled in for an overnight stay at Skull Creek, his buddy, Buddy, would cook us all a steak dinner. What an offer! It was time for the great debate:

o The Cons:
o Skull Creek is barely one-half of the distance we had planned to cover.
o We planned to anchor tonight (budget considerations) and stay at the Thunderbolt Marina tomorrow.
o If we dock today, we'll most likely skip Thunderbolt Marina and their complimentary Krispy Kreeme doughnuts.
o I planned to attend to some business in Savannah.

o The Pros:
o It’s cold! Although we’re comfortable in the bubble, Capt. Dave has to be freezing.
If we stop at a marina, we'll have power for the electric heaters.
o We can anchor tomorrow night, thus preserving our budget considerations.
o I could attend to the necessary business on Hilton Head.
o We get to meet Buddy.

o The Winner:
o For budgeting purposes, the choice to stay at Skull Creek or Thunderbolt is a toss up.
o At its most basic element, the debate was: “steak dinner v. krispy kreemes,” and meeting Buddy! We can always buy KK’s, and a steak dinner for that matter. Let's go meet Buddy!

We pulled into the Skull Creek Marina at around 12:00 noon, making it a short three hour day! We met Buddy who sails a Cape Dory Motorsailor. He readiated a warmth that made the day seem less cold.

Buddy very generously drove me where I needed to go. He also prepared that steak dinner I mentioned. It was spectacular! We can only say thak you Buddy! It was great to meet you and we really hope to see you on the water! With a bit of luck, Buddy might sail his boat to Fort Pierce for the winter. He needs to attend to some business before he gets underway. We wish him well.

As we were approaching Skull Creek Marina and with docking preparation underway, we were hailed over the VHF radio by the crew of Kokomo – a PDQ 36. They have been aboard SUNSHINE when she was known as Sea Paws and know previous owners Chester and Jeanie. We have been anxious to meet these folks and had hoped to meet them and Chester and Jeanie for a raft up last summer. Sadly, cruising and work schedules foiled the plans.

Hilton Head Country Club

Kokomo (Bonnie and Roger) put the anchor down just off the marina and came over to say hello. We talked for a few minutes, but they were off to see Sue, the marina manager. She’s a long time friend and they’re going shopping together.

Kokomo is staying here for a couple of days. We expect to be off tomorrow, but we’re looking forward to meeting them down the road on the waterway as we continue south in search of warmer weather.

Speaking of the VHF radio, we also heard our friend Vanessa (S/V Tally Ho) on the radio. Her communication was to another vessel that was in the process of passing S/V Tally Ho. We tried to contact her but we were out of range, so Anna marie called on the cell phone. Vanessa reported that they were going to anchor in Factory Creek (Beaufort, SC) for the evening. They're only one day behind us! They plan to anchor in Bull Creek tomorrow night and so do we! It looks like another reunion is in the making!

Arial view of Skull Creek Marina



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Yikes! It's COLD! (Day 035)

Lay Day - Port Royal Marina, Beaufort, SC MM 539.6

Weather: Cold and blustery! Temp range 40 degrees to mid 50s; wind out of the northwest 20 to 25 knots; sunny

Comment: The crews of S/V SUNSHINE, S/V Canvasback Too and M/V Penguin woke to a cold (very cold) blustery morning. It didn’t take long to decide that we would lay over today. After coffee at the marina, we borrowed the loaner truck for a trip to WalMart. Each crew made their respective purchases before piling back into the truck for the short hop back to the marina. We borrowed the truck later in the afternoon for a trip to West Marine. The crew of S/V SUNSHINE couldn’t find anything to buy! What is wrong with the world? Forty degrees in the south and Capt. Bill doesn’t make a purchase at West Marine! Crazy!

Before Capt. Dave came over for dinner, we accomplished a few boat chores (topped off the gas tank did a load of wash). We were also able to get in a short walk around the community that surrounds the marina. Very nice!

The forecast suggests that tonight will be colder than last night. We’ll be moving on tomorrow, but will make it a later than normal (0900) start, to allow for some solar gain. The temp range is supposed to be a low of 38 degrees and a high of 65 degrees. We’re expecting a cold departure!

Check yesterday's blog for an arial view of our location at the Port Royal Landing Marina.

Will the Bridge Swing? (Day 034)

Tom Point Creek Anchorage to Port Royal Marina, Beaufort, SC MM 539.6
Distance Traveled: 44.0 Hours Underway: 8.8 Average Speed: 5.0
The "Enticer" - A Classic

Weather: Cool outside but reached 79 degrees in the bubble. The actual temperature ranged from the low 50d to the low to mid 60s. The day started with a clear sky and a beautiful sunrise. By 1200 hours, the sky clouded over and we motored along in mostly cloudy conditions although there were pockets of sunshine. The wind started light but built to 25 knots (gusts to 30) by the time we docked at the Port Royal Marina. In fact the Ladies Island Swing Bridge Captain told us that he would not open the bridge at 1530 unless the 27 knot wind dropped below 25 knots. Canvasback Too and SUNSHINE circled for about fifteen minutes waiting for further word from the bridge captain. Luckily, the wind speed dropped to 24 knots and the bridge opened on schedule.

Comment: Today’s ICW route took us on the Wadmalaw, North Edisto, Dawhoo, Ashepoo, Coosaw and Beaufort Rivers. The rivers are connected by cuts. Generally speaking, the cuts present the most serious navigational challenges since shoals are usually present. Fortunately we passed through the Fenwick, the Ashepoo-Coosaw and the other cuts without a problem.

The keel boat (Canvasback Too and Wind Lore) captains were concerned with the shallows near mark “112” on the Dawho River. This section of the waterway is notorious for groundings. Fortunately, we passed through at near high tide. We never saw depths below twelve feet.

Wind Lore out of Shelburne, NS, was relieved; they draw six feet. But, when they arrived at the fixed bridge a few miles away, they were concerned with the “air draft” or bridge clearance. The high tide that helped them easily negotiate the shallows mentioned above now meant that there was only a bit over 63 feet clearance at the bridge. They need 63 feet exactly and passed through very slowly with just a few inches to spare.

The combination of strong foul current and 20 knots of wind on our nose made for a very slow passage through the Coosaw River. Both SUNSHINE and Canvasback Too sloughed along at something between three and four miles per hour. We had the “pedal to the metal” in an effort to make the Lady’s Island Swing Bridge before 1600 hours. After that time, the bridge will not open during rush hour (4:oo PM – 6:00 PM).

Because the NOAA weather forecast is predicting 30 knots of wind with higher gusts, we decided to tie up in a marina. Ladies Island Marina was filled and had no space for us so we made reservations at the Downtown Marina in Beaufort. This wasn’t an ideal location because the marina is exposed to strong northwest wind. Even though we made reservations earlier in the day, we decided to pass on that marina. Captain Dave made reservations for both vessels at Port Royal Landing Marina. The crews of several boats we have previously met were already tied up. We’re looking forward to meeting and talking to some of them.

Captain Dave made dinner tonight. He borrowed the recipe from a restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. He made a base of mashed potatoes with a burger on top and this was topped with chili. Talk about comfort food! It was a great meal for this chilly night.

After dinner and gam, we bid good evening to Captain Dave as boater’s midnight was fast approaching. Anna Marie and I settled down to watch game five of the World Series. The Phillies are up 3 games to 1 over the Tampa Bay Rays. Go Phillies!

Arial view of Port Royal Landing Marina



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Charleston Beckons (Day 033)

Isle of Palms Marina, SC to Tom Point Anchorage, SC MM 495.7
Distance Traveled: 39.2 Hours Underway: 7.3 Average Speed: 5.4


Weather: Pleasant! Sunny, light wind (less than 10 knots)




Two views of the Charleston Waterfront


Comment: At 0745, the dock lines were hauled aboard and SUNSHINE and crew in the company of Canvasback Too and Captain Dave were underway. Our vessels negotiated the Ben Sawyer Swing Bridge (Isle of Palms) and the Wappoo Bascule Bridge (outside of Charlestown). The bridge captains were very polite and most professional. We have yet to encounter one who isn’t.

Elliott’s Cut, a narrow 0.2 mile cut from Charleston to the Stono River provide a 2.9 knot foul current t us

and Cygnet out of Boston, Mass., who passed through the Wappoo Bascule Bridge with us.

Canvasback Too and Cygnet entering Elliott's Cut



The crew of SUNSHINE motored down the Stono with heavy eyes. The Phillies, victorious in last night’s World Series game 3, ended somewhere near 0200 hours, after a rain delay of an hour and one-half. It was a tight game, but the Fightin’s pushed the winning run home in the bottom of the ninth for a 5 to 4 win over Tamp Bay.

Game 4 will be played tonight. Since we’re at anchor, we be listening rather than watching.

The anchor was down at 1500 hours. Captain Dave rafted to SUNSHINE, and we relaxed, planed tomorrow’s adventure and talked about places we’ll visit in the next few weeks.





Penquin has the anchor down in Tom Point


We took a few pictures of the Charleston waterfront, which is always attractive and very inviting. Charleston makes a great impression from the water. As we passed through, we had thoughts of abandoning our plans to take a slip in the city marina. Tempting as a stop might be, we decided to plug on to Tom Point, a very nice and secure anchorage off the Wadmalaw River.

As it happens, two other vessels joined us in the anchorage. The first is a large sailboat, Wind Lore, hailing from Canada and the trawler Penguine, whom we met at the North Carolina Great Dismal Swamp Visitor’s Center. We were able to get the last quarter of the Eagles victory over the Atlanta Falcons which turns out to be a warm up event for game four of the World Series.

Arial view of Tom Point Anchorage


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Strolling Down Flooded Streets (Day 032)

The Beach at Isle of Palms, SC

Lay Day - Isle of Palms Marina, Isle of Palms, SC MM 458.3

Weather: Overcast in the early morning, then it became sunny by early afternoon; the wind was 10 knots or so; the temp range – low 60s to mid 70s.

Hobies burried in the Isle of Palms Dunes

Comment: Today was supposed to be a weather related lay day but, even though it was a lay day, it turns out the weather wouldn’t have caused the delay. Even though we could have moved on, we enjoyed the time off. Anna Marie and I took two long walks. The first was after breakfast. We intended to walk to and then on the beach, but the puddles from all of yesterday’s rain were bodacious. One puddle was so deep and large, covering the sidewalk and the road, we turned away from the beach and walked toward the golf course. Eventually this route was flooded too. We turned back to the marina.

St. John's Wort - on the Dune at Isle of Palms, SC. The Hypericums are also known as St. John's Wort, which is very popular these days for self-treating depression and anxiety. This species is probably Hypericum reductum, though plants of this group intergrade readily and it is somewhat difficult to determine. This is not one of the species usually used medicinally

After lunch, we headed toward the beach. The puddles were still there but they were passable. We had an enjoyable walk on the beach. From the beach, we attempted to use a different ramp. It was flooded. The next two ramps were impassible as well. We finally found one that was passable and headed back to the marina.

For the rest of the afternoon we relaxed and worked on the logs. We hooked up the cable and tuned in to watch the World Series. There was a significant rain delay. As I write this, it is raining heavily in Philadelphia and the game hasn’t started.

Arial view of Isle of Palms Marina


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McClellanville to Isle of Palms, SC (Day 031)

Francis Marion National Forest campgroud - on the waterway


Destination: Isle of Palms Marina,
Isle of Palms, SC MM 458.3

Distance Traveled: 27.2 Hours Underway: 4.4 Average Speed: 6.2


Weather: Overcast in AM, rain afternoon and evening with evening thunderstorm; temp range 60 to 68; wind 10 to 15 early, 15 to 20 with higher gusts later in the day.

Comment: We made the 27.2 mile journey before the really bad weather began, although we did have showers while underway. We (the crew of Canvasback Too and SUNSHINE) decided to stay in a marina last night and for the next two nights due to the poor weather conditions. We really didn’t want to be at anchor in a situation with opposing the wind and current. While underway, we heard a report from a boat that anchored out last night. The captain had just called a diver because his anchor chain was wrapped around the prop. We’re sure he was going to have a bad day. We played it safe and our plan worked fine.

The second of two Bald Eagles sightings today!

While underway, Anna Marie spotted what appeared to be a Bald Eagle, perched on a tree. She handed me the binoculars and I got to see it for a few seconds. I confirmed her observation, but we were to far away to get a picture. About an hour later Captain Dave radioed to alert us to a Bald Eagle on the bank of the waterway. This time we were ready with the camera and got a picture of the magnificent bird. For the record, we also saw dolphins, egrets, great blue herons and pelicans, not to mention cormorants, a variety of gulls and terns. Even though it was overcast and raining, we had a good day on the water.

We arrived at Isle of Palms Marina before the serious rain started. Once it started, it didn’t let up! We enjoyed snacks and drinks at the dockside bar and grille. Dave offered to cook dinner (kielbasa, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes) and we enjoyed his scrumptious fare aboard SUNSHINE. Once again we enjoyed a delightful gam with Captain Dave. We are having a great time traveling the waterway with him.

Arial view of Isle of Palms Marina, SC



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Butler Island to McClellanville, SC (Day 030)

Travelled to Leland Oil Dock, McClellanville, SC MM 430.0

Distance Traveled: 33.6 Hours Underway: 4.9 Average Speed: 7.0



1,000 year old live oak, McClellanville, SC


Weather: Partly sunny, wake up temp in the low 50’s up to 75 in the bubble; wind out of the ENE @ 15 to 20 knots.

Comment: It seems I’ve picked up a cold; not feeling up to snuff and really glad we have the bubble!

The wind picked up over night and we rocked a bit from time to time. At about 0820 we cast off Canvasback Too’s lines and then pulled up the anchor. We were underway at 0830 with a favorable current, which we enjoyed all day. Besides a push from the current, we benefited from a 15 to 20 knot breeze on the tail. The bubble acted like a sail and we motored down the waterway at 8 knots.

The weather prediction for the next two days suggests wind and rain so we made reservations for two nights at the Isle of Palms marina for Friday and Saturday.

For today, we (Bill, Anna Marie and Dave) decided to stop at the Leland Oil Docks in McClellanville, SC so we could plug in the heater tonight. Docking here also gives us the opportunity to walk through this historic old town and take a meal at the local restaurant, reported to have the very best seafood on the east coast! The crew of SUNSHINE and Canvasback Too sampled their fare and were very pleased with our meals.

This marina features “rafting.” SUNSHINE was tied to a floating dock, and Canvasback Too was rafted to us. Because we were rafted, the dockmaster decided that we wouldn’t have to pay $4.50 for the electric connection although there was no break on the $1.40/foot dockage fee.








Zuchini Garden!



During the day, we left the beautiful Cypress Swamp and the Wacamaw River, negotiated Winyah Bay and turned into the ICW as we neared the inlet. This section of the waterway features expansive salt marshes and little development. As we approached Jeremy Creek and McClellanville, there are some homes on the waterway, but the village waterfront is on Jeremy Creek. The village, with many attractive, older (early 20th century) vintage homes, is a two block walk from the marina.


A few years ago, McClellanville was hit hard by Hurricane Hugo. A ten foot storm surge flooded the town. During our walk, we noticed that the one new home we passed was built on 12’ tall columns. The ground level had breakout windows and vents to handle the storm surge from the next big one.

Arial view of the Leland Oil Dock Marina, McClellanville, SC



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Osprey to Butler Island (Day 029)

Butler Island Anchorage, about 10 miles north of Georgetown, SC MM 396.0

Distance Traveled: 24.3 Hours Underway: 4:00 Average Speed: 6.1

Weather: Wake up temp in the high 50s; max temp in the mid 70s; sunny all day; wind variable and generally light in the cypress swamp but it’s blowing at 20 knots along the coast.

Comment: We only traveled four hours today, not putting much of a dent in our southward journey. Still, the distance was just right for our first day back. Besides, we said we would slow the pace. We certainly did today.

We were up and ready to go at 0800, but had to wait for one of three vessels to clear the fuel dock. These vessels spent the night at Osprey and didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. Why should they? This is a great marina!

At about 0900, we were able to get into the dock where we fueled up and had the holding tank pumped out. We went to the office to settle up and were underway at 0930, following Canvasback Too down the Wacamaw River. This section of the waterway is a sparsely populated cypress swamp and very attractive.

We set the anchor on the west side of Butler Island and once secure to the bottom, invited Canvasback Too to raft up. Dave is coming over for dinner tonight. We’ll enjoy another gam and good food.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, napping and completing a few minor boat chores.

Captain Dave rafted to us and, at the appointed hour, joined us aboard SUNSHINE for a dinner of cheeseburgers, broccoli and fresh cucumber salad. Once again we shared stories and talked of our sailing experiences among other things. We capped the meal off with coffee/tea and biscotti’s.

I wasn’t able to get the first game of the World Series on the radio or the internet, but I was able to follow it online at game channel. As I write this, the Phillies are ahead in the middle of the sixth inning by a score of 3 to 2. Go Phillies!

We had a good day on the water today. Here in the cypress swamp, the wind was variable at around 10 knots. Along the coast, it was a different matter, with wind reported to be in the 25 knot range. A cold front is on its way, and the coastal conditions are expected to deteriorate. We'll be fine in the ICW but we're likely to have to dodge a few raindrops in a day or two.

Arial view of the Butler Island, SC anchorage


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We're Back Aboard! (Day 028)

Weather: Sunny day, cool temp (low in the mid 40’s high in the mid 60s); light wind

Comment: We're back! Anna Marie and I went home last week for several reasons. First and foremost, I had the honor of being sworn in as the Commodore of the Surf City Yacht Club! I'm looking forward to another great summer of racing and camaraderie with our friends at the club. We were also able to visit our daughters and our grandkids. That's always fun! After a most enjoyable visit home, we are back aboard SUNSHINE. We arrived in Myrtle Beach at about 1700 hours after a one and one-half hour flight out of Atlantic City.

The taxi ride from Myrtle Beach Airport was $34.00 (for a nine mile ride). The driver was very pleasant. We enjoyed his conversation.

Captain Dave (Canvasback Too) greeted us as we hit the deck. It is great to see him. He told us about a new Italian Restaurant (Scatori’s) whose owner will pick diners up from the marina, whisk them away to the restaurant, and bring them back after dinner. They also offer to let cruisers go shopping in the adjacent Lowes Food Store after dinner and then the owner himself will take you back to the marina. What a great service. It’s just one of a long list of reasons to stay at Osprey Marina!

We had a great reunion with Capt. Dave, sharing stories and experiences of this and previous cruises. Later in the evening, we met aboard SUNSHINE to plan our next series of anchorages. We are going to try several new spots and a few that we have used on our previous voyages.

Needless to say, it feels great to be back aboard SUNSHINE. We are looking forward to sailing south and at a much slower pace!

Flying Home! (Day 027)

Weather: Perfect! The temp made it to the mid 80s after an overnight temp in the high 50s; winds were light; it is a perfect day for an airplane ride!

Comment: We had breakfast on board before attending to the final boat projects before heading home. We finished re-laminating one panel of the cockpit floor and fiber-glassing a crack in the starboard motor hood. We also pumped the forward flotation tanks. Like the portside stern tank, these had significant amounts of water in them. At some point, we will have to find out how the water is getting in the tanks.

At 1030, we departed the marina in the KIA Rondo to return it to Enterprise. They gentleman at the rental office graciously called us a cab, and we were dropped off at the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) at 1130 hours. We got our boarding passes, checked through security and found airport restaurant, only steps away from our departure gate.

FYI, we are flying Spirit Air into Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) (its only about twenty miles from home). Both MYR and ACY are small airports, easy to negotiate with no traffic, long lines or hassle. We like these kind of airports! And the price for the Spirit Air flights were right too. The round trip tics for two, including all taxes and fees was $200.00 (that's $50.00/person each way. We couldn't drive it for that price! We got a similar deal for flying home for the holidays from Ft. Lauderdale International Airport (also a relatively small airport) to ACY for $209.00 round trip for two.

We boarded the plane at about 1230 hours. The plane took off promptly at 1300 hours and we touched down in Atlantic City, NJ at 1409 hours. We’re home until next Tuesday, when we rejoin SUNSHINE and our voyage south.

We’ll be back then!

Until our next post, we wish you "Happy Trails."

Lay Day - Osprey Marina (Day 025)

Lay Day

Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC MM 373.3

Weather: Bright and sunny; temp range 60 – 81 degrees; calm in the morning and 15 knots in the afternoon

Comment: Today is a tale of two stories.

Story Number One

After sleeping in (0800 is sleeping in for us), it was time for a special breakfast… not aboard SUNSHINE, but in the Osprey Marina Grill! Anna Marie exited the cabin first. I thought I heard her say something, but couldn’t make out what it was. Listening closely, it sounded like she was singing. Impossible! Anna Marie rarely if ever sings. I listened more closely. Sure enough, she was quietly singing on this beautiful, sunny morning. But what was she singing? Here is what I heard:

The ants came marching one by one, Hurrah, Hurrah,

The ants came marching one by one, Hurrah, Hurrah,

The ants came marching one by one,

The little one stopped to suck his thumb,

And they all went marching down...

to the ground... to get out... of the rain...

“What are you singing,” says I. “Ants!” she exclaimed. I poked my head out to see tens of thousands of ants marching across the cabin seats. Sure enough, they were marching one by one, coming into the bubble from outside. They were walking up the electric power cord. As I looked around, I saw tens of thousands more on the cockpit floor. Unlike the ants entering the bubble, these ants were scurrying about with no apparent purpose or pattern.

Our initial thought was to wipe them out with paper towels, but there were so many of them it became immediately apparent that would be the wrong strategy. We needed to bomb them! The marina did not have ant spray, but she did buy a can of fly and mosquito spray. It did the trick. In a matter of minutes, the cockpit seats and floor were covered with ant carcasses. Fortunately, none of the litter buggers made it into the cabin.

We postponed the final clean up until after breakfast, which was good and reasonably priced. It’s one of many reasons we like this marina.

Back on the boat, we finished the ant clean up projects. Then, we permanently routed the Sirius radio antenna. This project has been germinating for almost eleven months. A few days ago, I finally decided where to put the antenna and how to run the wire. As a result, we have great reception. Cabinet cleaning (the cabinets through which the wire was run) was an outgrowth of the project.

Story Number Two

Wheels… we have wheels! Enterprise Car Rentals picked us up at the marina, took us to their HQ where we completed the paperwork and drove off in a KIA Rondo. What should we do here in Myrtle Beach? How about visits to Boaters World and West Marine? After some tiring shopping a visit to Margaritaville was in order. The Nachos and Cheeseburgers were better then ever! The Myrtle Beach Margaritaville is the best of the franchise. They do the whole Jimmy Buffett thing is grand style.

We followed the late lunch with a circumnavigation of Broadway at the Beach. Several familiar stores have vacated the premises and several others have taken up residence in the vacated spaces. One of our favorites on this day was the “Don’t Call Me Crabby” store. If you want to purchase anything related to the beautiful swimmers, you can buy it here. From hats, to Crab laced Bloody Mary mix, to stuffed animals, to dinnerware, and everything in between, if it’s related to crabs, this store has it.

This was grand day for a walk, warm and sunny with a bit of a breeze. We completed our stroll, returned to the car, visited yet another Boater’s World (the first didn’t have everything we needed) and returned to the boat in time for some R & R before the Phillies game.

Remaining boat projects will wait until tomorrow.

SUNSHINE is dockd at Osprey Marina


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Osprey Marina (Day 024)

Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach, SC to Osprey Marina, Myrtle Beach, SC MM 373.3


Distance Traveled = 19.9 miles Time Underway = 3:40 Average speed = 5.8 mph



SUNSHINE tied up at Barefoot Landing Marina


Weather: Mostly cloudy, but we had periods of sun throughout the day; it was a blustery day, but since we were in a canal for most of the day, we didn’t feel much of a breeze. The waterway had light chop and we had the current with us.

Comment: SUNSHINE is docked in Osprey Marina, two days ahead of schedule. The extra days will be used to do some minor boat projects and prepare for our departure on Wednesday. Before tying up, we had intended to fuel up, but the fuel dock was occupied by other vessels, so we were directed to tie up at a “T” dock. We’ll fill up on another day.



One of two bridges in Myrtle Beach that will cross the waterway


After tying up, we enjoyed lunch in the marina grill. Talked to the staff and attended to some tasks on the boat. The marina folks lent us a TV cable as ours wasn’t long enough to reach the outlet. With this, we hoped to watch the Eagles in the afternoon and the Phillies at night. As luck would have it, the cable company broadcast the Dallas game over the Eagles, so we listened on the radio. As I write this blog, we are watching the Phillies.

I forgot to mention that we passed the salt line yesterday right before passing through the Little River Swing Bridge. We will be in the fresh water of the canal and Waccamaw River until we get near Georgetown and Winyah Bay.

Barefoot Landing Marina (Day 023)

Barefoot Landing Marina, North Myrtle Beach, SC MM 354.3
Distance Traveled = 11.9 miles Time Underway = 2:45 Average Speed = 4.4

Scene from anchorage in the Little River on a rainy morning

Weather: Rain most of the day, when it wasn’t raining, it was drizzling; the temperature ranged from the high 60s to the mid 70s; the wind was out of the NE and increased in strength as the day progressed; small craft warnings were posted for the coastal waters.

Comment: Our traveling distance was only 12 miles today. That’s a good thing, considering the weather. It rained throughout the night last night, heavy at times, and most of the day. More showers are forecast for tomorrow.

The Barefoot Landing Marina, our chosen destination, no longer provides free docking space. About four years ago, the free dock space at this tourist center was eliminated. Now, one gets to pay $1.50 per foot for the privilege of spending money in one of the one hundred or so shops and/or restaurants that make up this shopping center. Of course, we obliged by having lunch and dinner out (the only other time we haven’t fixed our meals aboard was pizza night at the Dowery Creek Marina. Anna Marie purchased a pair of boat shoes and several snack items that we’ll save for the next cocktail party onboard.

We walked around the shops, more for the exercise than for the shopping. In the evening, we did another circumnavigation of the area to check out the menus of the one-half dozen or so restaurants that are in this complex. For lunch, we chose Joe’s Crab Shack, one of our favorite Jacksonville Beach joints, and we took our evening meal at T Bonz. The meals were good, but the meals aboard are certainly equal if not better in quality and ambience.

When not in the shopping center, we alternated between watching a movie and working on the computers.

Our daily practice, after shutting off the engines, is to check the engine hours. This requires taking the hood off the starboard engine to read the hour meter. Following this small task, I replace the hood and raise the prop and shaft out of the water. The lever that releases the starboard engine wouldn’t budge. Using a bit of leverage, I pushed the lever again and this time it moved easily, but the engine still wouldn’t budge. Something in the mechanism is broken but I have no access to determine what. For now, the motor will stay locked in the down position. At this point, the problem is a nuisance, not a disaster. It is better for the engine and for our speed when under sail, to have the prop out of the water. I hope to rectify the situation sometime soon, but am not sure how to proceed while the engine is in the water.

Little River Anchorage, Calabash, SC (Day 022)

Little River Anchorage, Calabash, SC MM 341.7
Distance Traveled = 60.5 Time Underway = 10:10 Average Speed = 6.0

Weather: Overcast with showers into the late afternoon, then steady rain; the wind was out of the NE generally less than ten knots; there was a slight chop in the Cape Fear River and the waterway was relatively flat; the temperature ranged from the low to high 70s.

Comment: Gnats! We were bothered by gnats for much of the day! The variety was unique in that most had three, three-hundred HP Mercs on their transoms. These gnats are actually expensive fishing machines that travel the waterway with impunity, creating nagging wake as they speed by.

Once again, we spent our time in the gray of an overcast sky and experienced a few showers during the day. We were fortunate to have a boost from the current for much of the day. The run on the Cape Fear River was uneventful and quick. We arrived at the exact time for a push from the maximum ebb current. We hit speeds of 9.6 mph using only the motors. As we traveled down the waterway, Anna Marie confirmed our reservations with Osprey Marina in Socastee, just south of Myrtle Beach, SC. They even said we could arrive a day or two early. Our plan was to put in a longer than usual day today, which we did. Tomorrow, we'll spring for a dock at Barefoot Landing and walk around the shops and do some touristy stuff. It’s only about nine miles to Barefoot Landing, so we’ll enjoy a later than usual start and an earlier than usual conclusion to our day's travel. On Sunday, we’ll travel about 20 miles to Osprey Marina where we’ll be in residence until we fly out on Wednesday.



Fishing for Spots


We arrived at the Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge about 40 minutes before the 1600 opening. Rather than tread water for forty minutes, we put the anchor down. As we waited, we watched two men in a small boat set a long fishing net. It stretched over ½ the way across the waterway. After about fifteen minutes, they began to retrieve it. They told us they were hoping to catch some spots for dinner. On this set, they didn’t pull up any fish. They steamed off down the waterway a few hundred feet and began hauling in another net. It was time for us to pull up the anchor, so we didn’t see if they caught anything on that net, however, after they had it aboard, they motored up the waterway. We don’t know if they were heading home or to a different fishing area.

As we watched the fishermen, it began raining. It continued to rain well into the evening, even after we had the hook down in the Little River Anchorage. We spent the evening trying to hear the Phillies broadcast and working on the logs.

This is an ariel view of the anchorage in the confluence of the ICW, the Little Rive and Calabash Creek


View Larger Map

Wrightsville Beach, NC (Day 021)

Wrightsville Beach, NC MM = 283.2
Distance Traveled = 40.2 miles Hours Underway = 8:08 Average Speed = 5.2 mph


Weather: The day was overcast and we had some showers in the afternoon. We are expecting more showers this evening and for the next two days. The temperature ranged from the mid 60s to the high 70s. The winds were mostly light out of the south but clocked around to the southwest in the afternoon. We had a couple of gusts in the 12 to 15 knots range.

Interesting house along the waterway


Comment: Once again, we had an 0700 start. We had just enough light to get underway. The air was a bit drier this morning. Our windshield and bubble glass were free of moisture. Such has not been the case for most of the trip. Usually before hauling the anchor, we must wipe the moisture from both the inside and outside surfaces of the glass. It is a real treat not to have to do that chore.

SUNSHINE has been merrily humming along since I replaced the sparkplugs back in the Solomons. Both engines are performing well.



Colorful chairs, boy on a rope swing and PIRATES! (click photo for a better view)


We were in a parade of four sailboats (SUNSHINE, Kwanesum, Smooth Move and Double Dutch) today and at various times we had two or three trawlers following along, waiting for an opportunity to pass the sailboats. The three sailboats seemed to know each other fairly well. We wondered if they had met in Elizabeth City. We played leap frog all the way to Wrightsville Beach, where SUNSHIE peeled off for fuel and the Wrightsville Beach Anchorage. We assume the others were headed to Carolina Beach for the evening. At various points throughout the day, we heard reports of skinny water. Double Dutch was the first to run aground. The trawler, Painkiller, went back to pull Double Dutch off. After a short while, Smooth Move ran aground. He managed to free himself. A couple of hours later, he ran aground again, and, once again, he managed to extricate himself from the bottom without and outside assistance.


Another catamaran in the Wrightsville Beach Anchorage


We fueled up at Sea Path Yacht Club and Transient Dock and then made our way to the Wrightsville Beach Anchorage, about one-quarter mile distant, where, after setting the anchor, we worked on our blog and answered e-mails.

Mile Hammock Bay, Camp LeJeune (Day 020)

Mile Hammock Bay, Camp LeJeune, NC MM 244.5
Distance Traveled = 58.3 Hours Underway = 9:50 Average Speed = 6.0 mph

Weather: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy to cloudy in the evening; the wind was light and variable, less than ten knots all day


Comment: At 0500, I awoke to a very still and peaceful anchorage. I could see the stars above through the hatch over the bed. The night was so calm that I could watch the same group of stars without interruption for several minutes. SUNSHINE was not swaying on the hook at all.


One of our favorite waterway houses - on Adams Creek Canal, outside of Beaufort, NC


We were underway at 0700 on Adams Creek and canal. There was a slight mist over the water. We were traveling with the current, making over 6 mph. This is a most pleasant way to travel.

As we entered the open waters of the Newport River, on our way toward Morehead City, the wind remained light and the water surface had only a few ripples. The sun was shining and we were having a terrific day.

As we ticked off the miles, we discussed several options for stops along the way. We are only a few days from Myrtle Beach, where we will leave SUNSHINE for a week as we must go home to attend to some business.

Because we have this deadline (we hate deadlines), we were forced to bypass one of our favorite stops to visit friends on Emerald Isle. We were also forced to bypass a invitation to visit New Bern. We really want to stop to see friends in New Bern, but things haven’t worked out for that to happen. We do hope the invitation still stands when we are headed north or perhaps next fall when we’re headed south again.


Marines head out for a military exercise from Mile Hammock Bay, Camp LeJeune, NC


After nine hours and fifty minutes of traveling the waterway, we had the anchor down in Mile Hammock Bay in Camp LeJeune, NC. We saw several boatloads of marines heading out for maneuvers. Helicopters buzzed around frequently into the early evening. There are seven other boats in this anchorage. We haven’t met or seen any of them before. The group we anchored with last night has stopped either at Morehead City or Beaufort, so we are with another cohort. We see how long we hang with this group. Our plan is to get to Wrightsville Beach tomorrow. We’re expecting showers for the next three days, so our distances traveled each day might be reduced.

Adams Creek Anchorage (Day 019)

Adams Creek (6 miles south of Oriental), NC MM 187.5
Distance Traveled = 55.8 Hours Underway = 8:40 Average Speed = 6.4 mph

Sunrise over Dowery Creek

Weather: Mostly sunny although we spent about one hour in overcast conditions; winds were about 15 knots true out of the east; temperature range was mid 60’s to mid 70’s

Comment: SUNSHINE spent a good portion of the day motor-sailing at 8+ mph. We made quick work of the Pungo and Pamlico Rivers before entering Goose Creek and the canal that carried us to the Bay and Neuse Rivers. The Neuse was lively and we sped along at over 8 mph motor-sailing on a beam reach. We slowed a bit when we rounded the corner, putting the wind on our stern. Eventually we rolled in the jib and motored the final 10 miles to the Adams Creek Anchorage.

A Hitchhiker!

While outside of Oriental, Anna Marie answered a call over the VHF radio. Canvasback Too was hailing SUNSHINE. He and Anna Marie spoke for a few minutes. Dave is going to try to time his arrival at Osprey Marina with our return to to SUNSHINE on October 21. Recall that we hope to be in Myrtle Beach by October 14 as we must return to NJ for a week. Sadly, for that to happen, we couldn’t pull in to Oriental to see Captain Dave and his crew (Chucky, Elvis, and Tipsey).

Sunset over Adams Creek

At 1535 we had the anchor down. We are anchored with a new group of six different vessels (save for Solace) as we have left our Elizabeth City cohort behind.

Dowery Creek, Marina (Day 018)

Dowery Creek Marina, Belhaven, NC MM 132.0
Distance Traveled = 30.5 Hours Underway = 5:25 Average Speed = 5.75mph

Weather: Morning fog burned off by 0830 hours; light wind out of the SW; temperature range 61 to 79 degrees; calm seas

The fog is lifting at the Tuckahoe Anchorage

Comment: We raised the anchor in bright morning sunshine at 0725 after waiting forty minutes for the fog to burn off. While underway, we saw fog hanging over the Alligator-Pungo Canal. We figured the canal fog would be the last to burn off so we motored at a slow 5 mph pace. Talk on the marine radio suggested that it might be 0900 before the canal was passable.

SUNSHINE traveled a mile or two to the beginning of the canal where, at 0805, we dropped the hook to wait for the fog to lift. Four other boats were at this anchorage, and they were waiting on the fog too. At 0830, the fog was lifting and motors were started. We were in a parade of five sail boats being led by two shrimp boats.

Shrimp Boat leads the way into the canal and the fog

It was a most pleasant trip. SUNSHINE was tied up in Dowery Creek Marina at 1250 hours. This is the first marina for which we have paid a slip fee since we departed Cape May. Given the weather forecast for 20 – 25 knots NE wind tomorrow, we decided to attend to chores today. The port and starboard engines received oil changes and oil filters, Anna Marie did the laundry. We also fueled up and pumped out the holding tank, after which, we borrowed the loaner can to get some staples from the grocery store. We splurged for a pizza and enjoyed it while watching a baseball game in the boaters lounge at the marina.

Back on the boat, we attended to the logs. Once again, we didn’t have an internet connection so postings and blog maintenance will have to wait for another day.

Deep Point Anchorage (Day 017)

Deep Point Anchorage, NC MM 102.2
Distance Traveled = 51.2 Hours Underway = 8:12 Average Speed = 6.2 mph

Weather: Bright sun all day; temp range 57 – 86 degrees; wind light and variable; calm seas

Comment: Even with light wind, we bounced around last night while tied to the sea wall at Elizabeth City. We needed a slight breeze out of the north or west to blow us away from the wall. This place would be horrendous with strong winds out of the south!

We motored all day, although we did get a few hours with the jib unfurled and the motors running. The Pasquotank River, Albemarle Sound and Alligator River offered seas that were less than one foot. In the Alligator River, we found a couple of stumps in mid channel. It was easy to see them today, but in different conditions, it might be another story.

Sunset at the Deep Point Anchorage

After 8:12 hours, we dropped the hook in the Deep Point Anchorage at AIW MM 102.2. Tonight, we were going to enjoy a special dinner, grilled steaks smothered in a hickory and molasses rub, scalloped potatoes and cucumber salad. For desert, it was coffee, tea and biscotti’s in the cockpit while we watched a magnificent sunset. It was a most peaceful setting. SUNSHINE and crew were alone in a quiet anchorage at peace with the world.

Elizabeth City, NC (Day 016)

Elizabeth City, NC MM 51.0 Day 016

Distance = 23.4 Hours = 4:40 Average Speed = 5.36 mph

Boats tied to the NC Visitors Center Bulkhead

Weather: Bright sun all day! Light winds out of the South; Calm water in the Canal and Pasquotank River; The temperature range was 50 to 79 degrees.

Comment: We departed the NC Visitors Center at 0750 in order to make the South Mills Bascule Bridge by 0900. The bridge is two-tenths of a mile before the South Mills Lock. It was a cool morning, 50o at wake up time. There was a light mist over the water; it made for an idyllic scene. We slowly motored toward the bridge, trying to time our arrival with the bridge opening. All six boats docked at the visitor center were locking through this morning.

SUNSHINE tied to Southern Cross - NC Visitors Center

Thankfully, we only saw a few particles of duck weed. Last year, the canal was covered with the weed and it caused havoc with every boat’s cooling system. Not so this year! We were locked down about eight feet, an easy elevator ride down.

Morning on the Great Dismal Canal

The canal and the Pasquotank are very scenic and we enjoyed the trip very much. We always look forward to our stop in Elizabeth City, especially the dinner and a movie at the Carolina Theater and Grill. Tonight’s feature was “Nights in Rodanthe,” starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. The actors did a fine job on this sad love story. We liked the movie, several of the other boaters did not because of the ending.

SUNSHINE tied the the Elizabeth City Sea Wall

Mayor Steve greeted us at the dock and invited us to stay for several days. He was so persuasive, we didn’t have the heart to tell him we were leaving tomorrow. We’d like to stay, but we have places to go and people to meet.

We bought a few things from the new farmer’s market, held right on the wharf, visited the Museum of the Albemarle (a must see and it’s free!), walked the dock, talked to a gentleman who was taking his parrots for a bicycle ride, and walked to the movie mentioned above. “Nights’ in Rodanthe,” shot locally on the outer banks, is sure to be a hit in this area as it was filmed on location. Mayor Steve advised is to get to the theater at least an hour before it opens so we could get a table for dinner. We took his advice and were third and fourth in line, behind two ladies in beach chairs (their husbands were to join them a bit before the theater opened. Next time, we’ll bring chairs too!

After the movie, we boarded SUNSHINE as she bounced against the sea wall to which we were docked. The very light 5 knot south wind has a 15 mile fetch from the Albemarle sound so the motion was lively. After completing the logs, we let it rock us to sleep!

Monument to the Rose Buddies

NOTE: The port hull has been riding low in the water. We checked the sealed compartment to find a substantial amount of water. We used the back up bilge pump to remove what I estimated to be about 35 gallons of water. Iit tasted like fresh water and was very clean, making me think that it was rain water. We have no idea how it could have gotten there. We’re going to have to keep an eye on this development.

NC Visitors Center (Day 015)

North Carolina Visitors Center, NC MM 28.0

Distance Traveled = 39.8 Hours Underway = 9:15 Average Speed = 5.7

Weather: Bright sun all day! The wind was out of the SW @ 5 to 10 knots. The temperature ranged form 70 to 81 degrees.

Comment: Sadly, SUNSHINE left this year’s flock to strike out on her own. Tally Ho and Reflection are spending the day in Hampton Roads. SUNSHINE thought of joining them, but her crew has a commitment in NJ in mid October. The crew will be gone for a week. We hope the rejoin the Flock when we return to SUNSHINE on October 21 in Osprey Marina near Myrtle Beach, SC.

We navigated the Elizabeth River without problem on this sunny day. It is day fifteen of our trip, and we requested the first of what will be many bridge openings as we journey south again.

Once again, SUNSHINE and her intrepid crew are taking the Great Dismal Swamp Route. The crew enjoys the change of pace offered by the swamp and the Admiral especially likes Elizabeth City’s dinner and a movie. We’re up for that tomorrow.

We locked through the Deep Creek lock with six other boats. One single handed captain was totally unprepared for the lock. He had no fenders to keep him off the wall and no dock lines. He handed the lock master two scraps of rope. Neither was long enough. His dinghy was on the bow of his boat, a Bristol 27, blocking any access to the bow. He couldn’t tie a bow line on so he affixed it to the line he used to strap the dinghy to the deck.

As the lock doors opened to let in water from the canal, 8 feet above us, the crew of SUNSHINE had a difficult time holding the boat in position. We were, for the first time, in the front of the lock. The force of water rushing in creates a white water effect in the lock and the boats in the front want to turn their bows to the force of the water.

That’s exactly what happened to the Bristol behind us. His bow turned away from the wall due to the force of the on-rushing water. The captain’s meager attempt at tying bow line didn’t hold, and the Bristol swung around with amazing speed, ready to bang into the vessel tied behind him. Luckily, the crew of that vessel saw what was happening, and fended the Bristol off with a boat hook until a fender could be placed into position.

Once the water levels of the lock and canal were at equilibrium, the Bristol was able to turn back into position and exit the lock. The gentleman’s skills at boat handling were seriously questioned by the crew of the other vessels in the lock. Several boats were going to tie up to a bulkhead after the bridge, but when the Bristol tied up first, everyone kept going to the visitor’s center. No one wanted to be tied up to that boat!

SUNSHINE arrived at the North Carolina Visitor Center to find the bulkhead full. We tied to a sailboat captained by Greg. He has been living aboard for ten years. There were three other sailboats and one trawler tied up for the night. Tomorrow, we’ll all be headed for the South Mills lock and Elizabeth City.

Mill Creek, Hampton Roads, VA (day 014)

Thursday, October 02, 2008 Day 014
Mill Creek Anchorage, Hampton Roads, VA MM 196.2

Distance = 46.3 miles Elapsed Time = 8.0 hours Average Speed = 5.8

PDQ 36 "Pretty Penny"

Weather: Mostly Sunny all day! Temp range 59 – 72; Winds 10-15 NW; 1’ seas

Comment: SUNSHINE went sailing today! After clearing the Fishing Bay Harbor Fuel Dock, we raised the reefed main (we were expecting 20 knots wind gusting the 25 out of the northwest) and motor-sailed down Fishing Bay to the Chesapeake. Small craft warnings were posted but Reflection and Tally Ho, who had departed the anchorage before us, reported that the conditions were moderate compared to the forecast.

S/V Tally Ho under sail

Once out in the Bay, we unrolled the jib and started motor-sailing. We were unable to see Reflection, but Andrew was sailing sans engine at a reported 4 knots. As the wind picked up, we were able to shut down the engines and raise them out of the water. We took off like a shot! It took about two hours to finally overtake Tally Ho but when we had to fire back up, Tally Ho pulled ahead again.

Old Point Comfort Light

The sail itself was sometimes frustrating. The wind was fluky all day. At times we’d be sailing along at eight or nine knots and suddenly be at four knots, sometimes slower.

Fort Monroe

At one point, it appeared that the wind was finished for the day. The Bay became almost glassy. We fired up the motors and as we proceeded with sails and motors, we passed a PDQ 36 “Pretty Penny” headed north. We spoke on the radio with the owner who was single handed. No sooner than saying goodbye, the wind picked up and we were off under sail again.

This time, we were able to sail along generally between 5 and 9 mph. It was during this stretch that we caught up with Tally Ho. After our two and one-half sail, it was motors on as we motor-sailed the final two miles to Mill Creek in Hampton Roads, VA.

Reflection was already berthed in the Hampton Town Docks when Tally Ho and SUNSHINE anchored behind Fort Monroe in Mill Creek.

After the anchor was set, we launched the dinghy for the first time since last spring. The engine fired up on the first pull. We visited with Andrew and Vanessa aboard Tally Ho and talked of each crews’ thoughts and expectations for this trip (their second and our third).

We shared our decision split with the flock with Andrew and Vanessa. Tomorrow, we will begin a push to get to Myrtle Beach, SC by October 14 because we have a flight home from there. We have some commitments the need our attention. We’ll be back aboard SUNSHINE on October 21, 2008 and hope that Reflection and Tally Ho will be passing through around that tie.

Back aboard SUNSHINE, we tended to the logs and hit the sack.