The next night was spent at anchor at a place called Mile Hammock, which is a very protected area within the boundaries of Camp Lejeune. It is a very safe anchorage as long as the marines are not shooting. Word has it that they give you plenty of warning if they are going to start firing.
Next night was spent a Carolina Beach. Virtually a sand spit away from the Atlantic. Our only dinner option was to walk along a long boardwalk through the salt marshes to the dunes, then walk along a dark path through the dunes area to a dive on a broken down pier. This place was frequented mostly by drunks and deadbeats. We fit right in as we strolled up to the bar and ordered a cosmopolitan and a gin and tonic. BLT's weren't bad and the drinks were cheap. We were glad to get back to the boat.
Next two nights were spent in Southport, NC, which is a lovely little town with lots of nice shops and fun places to eat. We stayed a couple of nights as the weather was marginal.
Our next stop was Coquina Yacht Club just north of Myrtle Beach. It was a very nice facility with a nice restaurant close by. As we walked to dinner, we noticed a few feral cats hanging around the dock and commented on how many dock cats we had seen in our travels. We ate a great dinner at the Officer's Club and returned to the boat. We had left one slat out of the companionway to allow some air to enter the boat. Unfortunately, one on the feral cats also entered the boat and pissed on my suitcase and my new Tilley hat. I was sorry we did not see the cute little kitty as I was sure he would enjoy a complementary swimming lesson.
We left the next morning after treating the violated hat and suitcase. We put them both on the deck to dry and headed through the "rockpile" towards Charleston. The rockpile is a long stretch of the ICW that has boulders the size of VW's on both sides of a very narrow channel. The rocks are just under the surface and you only have a few feet of clearance on each side. You must radio to all boats in the area to make sure there are no northbound boats coming up as you begin to proceed south as there is not enough room for boats to pass in most area.
We were glad to get through the rockpile unscathed and we anchored at a lovely widespot in the ICW about 25 miles north of Georgetown. We had the spot to ourselves and enjoyed a lovely anchorage with no sign of human habitation. We called our friends Ann & Clyde Hanyen and got instructions on how to grill our striped bass on our small gas barbeque mounted on the stern of the boat. Master Chef Clyde gave us fine directions and we enjoyed one of our best meals of the trip.
2 comments:
When you get back, I'm sure Rocky would welcome a swimming lesson.
We had a cat who pissed on a backpack. We hung it outside for six months before the smell was gone. We still use that backpack.
Loved reading your stories -- Karen just now sent me the link. But so many of your comments leaving me wanting more. Like the WWII vets who stop by to see if you "need anything." How do you know they were in WWII? How old are those geezers? How is it that they're still walking around, and what kind of help do they offer?
No need to answer now. I'm afraid there's a painfully painstaking interrogation in store for you when you return to Denver.
Oh, as to the fate of the cat who pissed on the backpack: we did NOT hang it outside for six months. But, sadly, we had to put it down.
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