Wrightsville Beach (Anchorage)

Saturday May 2, 2015
34 12 143 N
77 48 241 W

Much nicer morning, sunny and calm. No tide or weather pressure today so we did not drop the lines till about 8AM. Easy day, about 20 miles on the ICW, 10 miles up the Cape Fear River then another 20 or so on the ICW. It was even warm enough to sit up on the Fly Bridge.

Hate it when this happens. But it does teach you that one should not rely 100% on the Chart Plotter. 

We had a decent run with the tide until we hit the Cape Fear River and "battling" a 3 knot head current. We lost focus long enough for a monster ship to take us 100% by surprise.

Plenty of anchorage space here, we were settled by 3:30 PM. The weather seems to be laying down nicely, Tomorrow should be great!

Sunst, Wrightsville Beach anchorage

Ocean Isle (Dock)

Friday May 1, 2015
33 53.390 N
78 28.345 W

Another early start in order to catch the tide. Yesterday we lost most of the fight, today we won big time. Managed well over 7 knots just about all day, arrived at our destination almost an hour early. In this part of the ICW there are very few decent anchorages - lots of man made canal. Plus there are lots of "small storms" passing through, and a tight anchorage would have been a worry. So we have taken a cheap slip. There is nothing here, we will eat on board.

The first part of the day was 20 miles or so of the Waccamaw River, probably the most naturally scenic part of the entire ICW. Both sides of the river lined with Cyprus swamp forest, the trees standing in water. A hard place to 'walk out".

Waccamaw River View

Cyprus forest swamp along the 'shore"

We also passed thru Myrtle Beach. As I am sure you are aware, MB is the "Mini Golf" capital of the USA. Plus lots of "nouveau rich" houses along the ICW.

Butler Island Anchorage

Thursday April 30, 2015
33 25.549 N
79 12.400 W

We were up at 5:45 AM and underway at first light. This was because we were aware of severe shoaling about 22 NM north, and needed to get there with at least 1/2 the tide. Everyone else seemed to have the same idea and at one point in the morning we counted 6 boats heading north. Quite unusual.

Our plan was to anchor in Wynyah bay for the night then head offshore to Cape Fear. But the weather forecast for Friday was slipping a bit and by Noon we decided to stay on the ICW for the next two days until Wrightsville Beach, and then head offshore to Beaufort. This plan meant two long days on the ICW, but we can still make it to the yard by Monday AM.

I have lots of favorite anchorages, and this is one of them. We enjoyed dinner on the aft deck. Grilled salmon.

Back to the IOP

Tuesday April 28, 2015

Long but uneventful flights to Charleston. Kylie picked us up in her NEW CAR. All was good on Tide Hiker.

Back to Anthem

Sunday April 26, 2015

In the car by 9 AM and "home" by 4 PM.

The road passed thru "America's Sahara". The dunes are huge, but with irrigation channels running thru them.

Hard to get a photo - 2,000 acres of water heating/steam generating solar. Built while we have been on the boat.

San Diego (The Bass wedding)

Friday and Saturday April 24 and 25, 2015

Deidre and I love a drive, and there is lots to see driving Phoenix to San Diego. We were on the road by 9 AM and at our hotel in Del Ray by 4 PM. Met our gang for dinner in La Jolla.

Wind generators as we approach the coastal mountains

The coastal mountains are very rocky. 

The road crosses 4 mountain passes, all about 4,000 ft above sea level. In the past we have seen snow, this time just fog

Breakfast Saturday morning in La Jolla with the Parsanko clan. Lost of fun.

At the wedding.

Arizona

Wednesday April 15, 2015

Uneventful day flying to Phoenix. Nick and Dick met us for dinner on the way to Anthem

Boyz Weekend (Thursday April 16 thru Sunday April 19)

The usual antics.

Monday April 20, 2015

Back to reality.

Swim at the community pool in Anthem

Tuesday April 21, 2015

Today we took Nick up into the mountains for a picnic in the mountains and a hike in the Lava Tubes. Good fun day.

The picnic fire!

Nick in the tubes.

Bob holding up the roof for Nick

We made it!

The entrance to the tubes.