Georgetown to Myrtle Beach via the Waccamaw

Another weather perfect day and Viridian, Dash Away and Second Wave cruise out of the Georgetown Landing Marina, SC and motor north on the Waccamaw River.  The palm trees and Spanish moss are being replaced by hardwood, cypress and pine trees, reminding us somewhat of the Tennessee River banks.  This massive river took us all the way from Georgetown to just south of Myrtle Beach, SC and was one of the most scenic routes we have been on if you like lazy winding rivers with very little sign of civilization along the way).

The AICW departed the Waccamaw and continued parallel to the coast, through north Myrtle Beach and the "rock pile" to our destination of Myrtle Beach Yacht Club Marina.  Looper traffic was pretty thick on this leg of our journey, and we traveled much of the way as a four-boat flotilla all the way into the marina.

Dockage here was only 1$/ft. and there was a Wednesday night special dinner menu at the yacht club until 7:00 PM.  Before we could eat we had to repair a clogged seacock using a coat hanger and a shop vac.  Once this was working again, we all met at the restaurant by the marina and ordered the special.  It was spare ribs for me and fried cod for the firstmate, and it was excellent!  A walk with friends around the lighthouse at the end of the harbor boardwalk as the sun set wound down this 60 mile passage as we make our way north to the Chesapeake Bay..

That's the news and here are some views:

We are here

Today's route from Georgetown, SC to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, SC

Entering the Waccamaw River north of Georgetown, SC

This was quiet a wake we took today

Four Looper boats heading north

Looper flotilla

Going Coastal

Sunrise in Awendaw Creek, SC was as spectacular as the moonrise last night.  The moon came over the Atlantic Ocean horizon as red as the sun.  It climbed into the starry night sky to the calls of whippoorwills in the marsh and the sloshing of the tidal current against the hull of Viridian.  Sunrise followed with brilliant red colors that highlighted the fins on dolphins as a large pod swam next to the water's edge chasing their breakfast.  It was a good night anchoring in Awendaw Creek; anchors were pulled up at 0750 and Viridian, Dash Away and Second Wave idled back out to the AICW and made our way north toward Georgetown, SC.  High tide was at 0930 this morning, so we would be traveling during the last half of the flood tide and all of the ebb tide cycle.  This would guarantee we had as much water under us as possible and allow us to arrive at our destination during slack tide.

The route took us from Awendaw Creek at Bull's Bay past McClellanville and the Santee Coastal Reserve.  Next we cruised across the South Santee River at Goat Island and into the Fourmile Creek Canal.  Fourmile Creek crossed the North Santee River and led us to the Duck Creek where we passed Kinlock Island on our way to Estherville Minim Creek Canal.  The Great Pee Dee River and the Waccamaw River merge at Georgetown and make the Winyah Bay that flows into the Atlantic Ocean just southeast of Georgetown, SC.

Docking at Georgetown T-dock was a breeze.  We just pointed the bow parallel to the dock and the breeze carried us right into our dockage.  Once tied up, the crews of Viridian, Dash Away and Ocean Star hailed a taxi (which happened to be a quad cab pickup) and went to Wal-Mart for provisions.  (The crew of "Ocean Star" is from Ketchikan, Alaska.)  We didn't need much in the way of food stuff, but we have been thinking a couple of Huffy fixed-gear bikes would simplify our shore transportation needs somewhat in the coming months, so we took advantage of the pickup taxi and purchased two new mobile devices and brought them back to the marina.  After adjustments were made to fit our bodies, we rode them into Georgetown with Captain Mike of Dash Away and met the crew of Second Wave for dinner on the Dock walk and ice cream dessert.  On the way back to our marina, we rode our bikes thorough the old neighborhoods of 300-year-old homes of Georgetown, SC.  The live oaks here were just as impressive the way they grew to cover the street from both sides, making a dreamy tunnel of huge limbs and moss-covered branches.

That's the news and here's the views:

We are here 05/01/2018

Today's Route from Awendaw River, SC to Georgetown, SC

Sunrise no Awendaw River, SC - Dash Away as seen from Viridian

Sunrise on Awendaw River, SC - Second Wave as seen from Viridian

Arrival at Georgetown Landing Marina, SC

Finally decided to get some auxiliary mobile devices

Anchoring in the Low Country, Awendaw River

The weather couldn't have been better for a stopover in Charleston, SC.  Low humidity allowed long walks through the historic district without breaking a sweat.  The trip to Fort Sumter was interesting, and it was good to finally set foot on such an historic Civil War monument that I had read so much about since grade school.  We rented a car the following day and invited the crew of Second Wave to come with us to explore Magnolia Plantation.  No Looper can pass a grocery store, so we all stopped at the first Publix we saw and loaded up with provisions.  The following day, Sunday, we visited the 0ldest Baptist church in the South, First Baptist Church of Charleston.  We got there early enough to get a tour of the building by one of the deacons.  We did some more walking after we returned our rental car Sunday afternoon and stopped by Harry's for a bowl of shrimp & grits.  Didn't get back to the boat till about 7:00 PM.  Needed to fill the water tanks and wash 3 loads of laundry.  Normally, this laundry task is uneventful.  It would have been had both dryers not broken down.  Being on the Megadock, it was 437 steps (514 for Meg) from Viridian to the washing machine.  Now we had a bushel of wet clothes and it was 9:30 PM and nothing to do but take them back to the boat and start hanging them to dry anywhere we could.  Fortunately, by morning they were dry enough to take down, thanks to the low humidity we were enjoying.

Monday morning came up clear and cool as we assisted Dash Away getting off the dock followed by Viridian.  A big sport fisher cruiser waked us on the way out and rearranged things upstairs and down.  YETIs full of hot coffee exploded on the galley floor & rug, followed by a tumbler filled with tea.  Books found new locations, and furniture on the fly bridge was turned over.  We had no warning he was coming up as we were staring off into the rising sun trying to locate the channel markers in the Ashley River.

Today's 34-mile cruise took us east then north past Fort Sumter, out of the Ashley River and into the AICW at Sullivan's Island.  Passing through the Sullivan Island Narrows, we crossed under a few bridges and on to Isle of Palms. Skirted Dewee's Island off the Copahee Sound and through low country to Sewee Bay.  Passing Bull's Bay on the starboard side, we turned into the Awendaw River at river mile 33 for the day and dropped our hooks with a view of the Andrew Creek Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.  I say, "our hooks", because Dash Away and Second Wave joined us in our large anchoring field.

That's the news and here's the views:

We are here 04/30/2018

Today's Route from Charleston, SC to Awendaw River, SC

A little more Charleston

A replica of the CSA Hunley Submarine

Henry's Jazz & Seafood Restaurant and Bar. Charleston, SC

Couldn't leave Charleston without having some shrimp and grits

Monday Morning Departure

Going east first thing in the morning is challenging 

Fort Sumter before the flag is raised

Dash Away at anchor in Awendaw River as seen from Viridian looking east towards the Atlantic Ocean

Second Wave at anchor in Awendaw River as seen from Viridian looking west towards the AICW

Low Country Awendaw River, SC

Docktells onboard Second Wave with Viridian and Dash Away in Awendaw River, SC

Charleston, SC Views

Charleston South Carolina

Fort Sumter

Shell Lodged in the brickwork

Back in Town

Magnolia Plantation

The current home on this plantation is the third structure that was built as the by the Drayton Family.  The original home built in the 1600s was struck by lightning and burned.  The second home was burned by Union Troops during the Civil War.  This third home started out as a cottage and was enlarged to what it is today.  The main attraction on this property is the gardens that were cultivated and not destroyed during the war.  Also, this property has remained in the Drayton family since 1676 and is still managed by the current Drayton heirs.

This view was originally the backdoor of the house.  It is now the front door

This view was originally the front door.  It is now the backdoor.  The reason they reversed the entrance is because before road traffic grew the primary mode of transportation was by boat on the Ashley River.  When more people began to use roads with horses and wagons and eventually automobiles, the main entrance was reversed to face the road.  In the near future, will homes be built with the main entrance facing the sky?

Exploring the Gardens

Bible Garden

Bamboo Garden

We didn't carve our names!

It was a beautiful day to tour the plantation.

The Oldest Baptist Church in the South

Today we attended the 1100 service at the First Baptist Church in Charleston, SC.  Here are some views we were allowed to take before the service began.

One of the two staircases leading to the balconey

Window Boxes, Doors and Flowers