Week of July 23 - July30, 2011

7/23/2011; O545 I was up and getting ready for another challenging day on the Great Loop. The Star Point Marina at Port Severn is five minutes to Lock #45 and then out onto Port Severn Bay. This is my 40^th day of great cursing weather and today I have a mild chop coming out of the NW. I passed through Lock #45, the last lock on the Trent-Severn at 0900 and headed North on the Georgian Bay on the small boat channel to Honey Bay. 

Today’s cruse can be summed up as one challenging moment after another. Right off the bat we headed into NW winds that created a medium chop, that’s#3 out of #5...  The channel marker sticks were there at the beginning but became few and far between as I cursed north. My GPS only shows the shore contour lines and some of the major islands but not all of the smaller islands that were out there.

About ½ hour into the curse, the GPS and shore line told me I should be turning NE but there were no sticks to follow. I stuck with the GPS and made the move and within five minutes my first red stick came into view.

The Georgian Bay Small Boat Channel takes you through many small barrier island passes and up several long channels and it keeps you off the main bay which can be and was very choppy. The small boat channel takes you through a carbon copy of the 1000 islands but this area is called the land of 30,000 islands and a wonder of scenic beauty.  Ontario has two major island areas to cruse on and this one is the super star! The channel markers take you in and around the islands and into major channels and then smaller channels and its like boating on a serpentine highway leading north.  After passing Honey Bay, I got in line with five larger boats and followed the leader up the channel through the heavy chop.  At one point I could see at least eight larger boats all lined up like ducks in a row following each other up the channel and creating a smoother passage.

In the smaller channel areas I passed the larger boats and made greater time. At one point I ran out of markers and headed left but a larger boat headed right. I came around a smaller island and in doing so saw many very large boulders in the water and realized, oops, I should be over with the larger boat.  The Pontoon has such a shallow draft that I went over the rocks with room to spare and brought the engine up.

I passed Perry Harbor around 1300 and decided to make it to Sturgeon Harbor before tying up.  I was passing through such beautiful waterways and the weather was all in my favor so I kept heading north.  I made it to Ojibway Resort in the Sturgeon Harbor channel at 1630 and pulled in for fuel.  I was advised by the attendant that I could stay on the other side of the island where the staff parks their boats.  Yes, the staff here comes to work by boat.

The mooring was a fantastic slip on the lee side of the island and looked like I was parking on a small lake in the Adirondacks.  Chase and I went for a short walk through the woods and a staff member came up to us and advised me that I may see Black Bear, Moose and deer on the island.  Well, no such luck but we kept our eyes open.  We had a picnic dinner and were in bed early after a long curse. At around 2200 hours I was awakened by a violent wind storm coming straight at my stern.  I was up in a flash to check my mooring lines for the boat and dock was in a rock and roll dance. I went back to bed and put up with the rock and roll until around 0300. The morning news stated we had wind gusts up to 40 mph.

7/24/2011; after a not so good sleep last night, I was up at 0600 and wondering what the day would bring me out on the water.  The skies were clearing up and the sun rise was out of this world.  We shoved of into mildly choppy waters and came back into the small boat channel where the waters calmed down to glass.

At 0900 I followed the markers back out to Georgian Bay and felt this couldn’t be right.  Well as it turned out, the markers take you to the bay or if you turn right around a sharp rock turn you stay in the channel.  I looked back and saw several markers headed north in the channel and turned back and got on course again. At 1130 this happened again but I couldn’t find the inter channel markers so I stayed on the bay for about a mile and then saw markers leading me back inland. I got into the channel and no more markers!  I pulled up to a cabin and asked where the channel went.  Some very nice person named Bill got into his small fishing boat and lead me through a very small channel that only a small fishing boat and a pontoon boat could make it through to the larger channel about 300 yards away.  At one point, the water was so shallow and the sides of the passage so narrow that I had about a foot on each side of the boat and two foot under the boat. The water was super clear and you could see your way all the way through.

I entered the larger channel and followed the markers until, yes; you guessed it, no more markers.  This time I stopped and waited for a larger boat that was behind me to come through and I followed him up the channel back towards the bay where the channel turned right and headed north again. 

I made it to the French River and went up and down stream for several miles each way but no more small boat channel heading north.  I then made it out to the bay and went a mile off shore with a mild chop and the winds at my stern and headed to the North Georgian Bay about 25 miles away.  Along the way, even off shore this far, I still passed over large boulders and twice with the engine up I slightly touched a couple of rocks. 

I set my GPS for the Little Current Marina and instead pulled into the Harbor Vue Marina because of the red metal roofs.  I made it to the Marina around 1730 through a mild rain shower and was immediately invited to a pot luck dinner. This has to be my day because, believe it or not, my host Bob and his friend Bob said they seen my boat out of Sanibel and Pine Island in April, and they are from Charlotte Harbor and at the dinner I met several Loopers and other boaters from Ft Myers and Cape Coral.

All the boaters at the dinner were all extremely friendly and the pot luck dinner was out of this world. Bob advised me to stay in the Harbor Vue Marina and his friend Stan; the manager would take good care of me in the morning.  Bob also went over some North Bay charts and my GPS to show me the best way to get across.  He also advised me on US Customs where I have to pass through upon reentering the USA. Chase and I were in bed by 2100 hrs and slept like babies until 0630.

7/25/2011; Chase and I were up at 0630 and help Bob make ready for his curse today.  He pulled out, in very calm waters, at 0745 and I waited for Stan to open the marina shop.  At 0800 Stan and his crew arrived and I sat down with them for coffee and discussed what I needed done to the boat.  At 0845 the Patriot was pulled out of the water and into the shop bay for her 300 hour oil and gear lube change and by 1000 hrs we were back into the water fueled up and ready to go. In recognition for my efforts they gave me 1^st class service and a very nice discount on the fuel and oil change.  Truly, its guys like this that makes the world a better place. 

I shoved off at 1030 right into a NW wind with a very heavy chop which caused me to pull off the Bay, much like what happened to my on the Chesapeake Bay at Kent Island. I pulled into the Little Current Marina where I had the pot luck dinner last night, sit this one out.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous but the NW wind is something else and strong enough to have the main marker buoy leaning over at 45 degrees. . 

7/26/2011; Wow, another wind storm last night much like the one I had at my stern two nights ago. The weather man was telling us relatively calm seas but around 2230 hrs a big blow came in and I was up checking the mooring lines and rolling up the canvas to allow the wind to pass through. Its 0845 and I am sitting on the Little Current Yacht Club patio looking out at the water and all I can see is little white caps dancing on the water and wind gusts about 10-15 mph.  We are advised by the weather channel that the winds will die down by noon time. Seeing is believing but I will keep the faith.  The winds died down at 1700 and the night was a perfect calm. I hope it holds this way until the morning and then I will shove off.

7/27/2011: We awoke to a perfectly calm bay and channel that was like a mirror. You really appreciate the reprieve you get when you come into calm bays or canals after crossing the rough waters. And sitting out high winds for a day or two is like a Minnie vacation off the water.  We shoved off at 0645 for I didn’t want to miss any of this calm weather after the two days of wind that we have had.

I made it into the small bay and headed to the North Channel and the Benjamin Islands where I hope it will remain calm. Lucky for me I followed two sail and one power boats up the channel because there were no markers.  I was told the channel was well marked but couldn’t find any of them. After going around a few of the many rocky islands, I found markers and headed NW for the Spanish River. 

The water was very calm as we navigated around the rocky islands which were to many to count.  At 1000 I passed through the Spanish River bay and headed north to Blind River. At one point I started heading around one large island to the Port side and saw a sail and power boat go around the starboard side. I followed them and yes, there was the green marker just out of my sight. The channel opened up quite a bite and the waterway became the size of Cayuga Lake. At 1200 I passed Blind River and headed north for Thessalon Harbor where I plan to spend the night.

I then took a final bearing for the Thessalon Harbor and looked across the N Georgian Bay at Drummond Island and the USA and found that it was the same distance.  I shot an azimuth for Drummond which was 26 miles away and made the decision to go for it.  The distance and my speed of 12-14mph would allow me to make the island in 2.5 hrs. I had a slight wind coming from my stern and there was only a mild chop on the water.

I made my heading adjustments and headed SOUTH, yes, I was at the Apex of my curse in N Georgian Bay and all my headings will be down hill from now on!

At 1600 I was pulling into Yacht Haven, the major marina on the island and the US Customs office.  The customs officer went through his check list and then asked me for an ID. I showed him my FL driver’s license and he said that would not do and wanted a birth certificate or passport.  Well I had the passport and advised him that coming and going through Canada only required my driver’s license and it is the new enhanced license.  He looked at the license once again and said, yes that would do but the passport was better.

I topped off with gas, 24 gal, fed and walked Chase, rented a pickup truck for $12 and headed into town to celebrate my crossing of Canada and return to the USA!

7/28/2011; 0600 the weather and winds are calm but look iffy!  I will be seating my heading for Mackinaw Island Michigan which I understand no cars are allowed.

I headed out across Sturgeon Bay from Yacht Haven and into the De Tour passage towards Lake Huron about a 12 mile curse.  As I entered Lake Huron I came into my first fog bank and it stayed with me for the next 1.5 hrs.  I made it around the main channel point and headed out for Martin Reef about eight miles into the lake and 4 miles off shore.  The fog bank lifted a few miles from the reef and it was clear sailing to Mackinaw Is some 20 miles away.  The humidity was at least 95% and I felt damp most the way across N. Lake Huron.  The water on the lake were rolling swells of .5 to 1.5 feet high, coming out of the SE and pushing me all the way across.  It was quite a thrill pontoon surfing down the swells and at times I would go from 10 to 15 mph on the down side surf.

The sky remained high over cast and the temp. stayed around 75-80 degrees all day.  I made it to Mackinaw Is. Around 1200 and passed a trawler that had left Yacht Haven two hours before me.  The lake remained calm with a minor chop all day.  When I was out there, I could just imagine how rough this lake passage could be and say my blessings for the way I have had it for this crossing.

I passed under the Mackinaw Bridge and headed for the N Michigan coast.  What I didn’t count on was that the coast line goes out some 12 miles on a barrier reef before you can turn down the main coast line.  That equates to 12 miles out and some 15 miles back in and across the bay. I continued down N Lake Michigan to Little Traverse Bay, some 45 miles away.  The lake had a slight chop and the winds were coming out of the SW.  I made it to Traverse Bay and had to cross the bay and down the coast line another 12 miles to Charleviox, MI where I pulled in for fuel and to tie up for the evening. Today we did 105 miles in very calm seas and I feel awesomely blessed by the weather and waves and wind conditions.  I hope to shove off early in the AM. Chicago is still a little over 200 miles away. 

AFTER 3 WEEKS AT THE LAKE HOUSE ON CAYUGA LAKE, GEORGE & JEAN LEFT SUNDAY MORNING 7/10/11….

Sunday:   They got an early start and did 95 miles all the way to Oswego….had one more lock to go to Lake Ontario, but they had to wait until 9:30pm for the lock to open…the lock was right by the motel where they had prepositioned their car, so they toured the area while waiting the 3-4 hours for the lock to open.  Once the lock opened, they passed thru,tied up at the marina and stayed the night in the motel.

Monday:   Jean took the car and headed up to Sackett’s Harbor.  George got going early and crossed Mexico Bay and made it up to Sackett’s Harbor in 3.5 hours !   Water conditions were not as bad as Albemarle Sound and the times he was in the Chesapeake…but……….  he had no whitecaps, but the rollers which had built all the way from Toronto were at 3-4 ft +…….they were not sharp, short  waves, but long rollers……he had a light breeze from the southwest, a tailwind which helped along the way……they were at the marina by noon…..I have stayed at Sacketts Harbor for some time in the late ‘90’s…..there are several very, very good restaurants….and a microbrewery which makes some the best beer I have ever had…I am very jealous!!!  Today was probably 65 miles.

I HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN….AT MY MOTHER’S, MYER’S POINT ON CAYUGA LAKE FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER’S WEDDING RECEPTION…ABOUT 15 MILES FROM GEORGE’S LAKE HOUSE, SO WILL REFER TO HIS DETAILED LETTER ABOUT WHAT HAS GONE ON FOR THE LAST 9 DAYS.

“Jean and I have had a wonderful week touring the Erie & Oswego Canals and then up to the 1000 Islands for three days.  We stayed in Sackets Harbor two nights, one night because of the winds and then up to Clayton and Alex Bay.  Jean is now on her way back to FL and I am on the Trent-Severn water way, much like the Erie Canal going across So. Ontario.” 

Thursday (7/21):  recvd a call from George at 1:00pm, he was at Kirkfield Lock on the Trent Canal, about 2/3 of the way to Georgian Bay.  He is hoping to get to Lake Simcoe by the end of today…..the lake is about 70 miles north of Toronto, if you are looking at a map.  He has 20-30 mph winds right now, so he may have to wait a day to cross the lake…..as you may notice on a map, the lake is not small……and he is being cautious.  He has passed the high point of the canal’s system, and all the locks now are lowering him.

Monday (7/25 pm)  Just got an email…..

“Yo there,
 I am stuck at the Little Current Marina all day due to the high NW winds.  I arrived at the Harbor Vue Marina last night after a very long cruise of 120 miles but the weather and wind were with me.  Immediately I met Bob who has seen my boat off Pine Island, they live near Charlotte Harbor.  Well they took me to a pot luck dinner and I met several other boaters from Ft Myers, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda.  This morning he introduced me to Stan who runs the marina and 
 I sat down with them for coffee and discussed what I needed done to the boat.  At 0845 the Patriot was pulled out of the water and into the shop bay for her 300 hour oil and gear lube change and by 1000 hrs we were back into the water fueled up and ready to go. In recognition for my efforts they gave me 1^st class service and a very nice discount on the fuel and oil change.  Truly, its guys like this that makes the world a better place.  I hope to shove off in the in the early AM and head out for the North Bay Channel which will bring me back to the good ole USA. “

Wednesday (7/27)   just recvd a phone call, very bad connection.  After waiting in Little Current Marina for the last 2 days, this morning was calm and clear.  I figure he made about 120 miles and he crossed over to the USA.  He is on Drummond Island, far western end of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron.  Water was calm and he made great time, including crossing a very large bay between the islands.  If you look at a map he is just to the east and above Mackinaw Straits.

He is sputtering a “bit” about the customs clearance procedures……when he went into Canada, he cleared customs via a phone call…in the US the “procedures” were a bit more “cumbersome”…….the town is about 12 miles from the marina, and they rent a car for $12 to go to town….

Friday  7/28   email : “Attached is week #7. I am in a Pub in Charleoiux, Mi. and running low on battery power! Please send around, George”   Bill Banfield

July 6, 2011

I ship off again on Sunday after 4 weeks of shore leave at the family lake house on Cayuga Lake, NY.  I will be sending out weekly loop updates and keep you all in the loop.  This part of the trip will cover over 4000 miles and I should be back in FT Myers by early September.  More later... George S.

Update from George for Week 4 June 10, 2011

0500 June 10, 2011; I was advised by several boaters that the winds on Lake
Oneida can get very strong and that I should leave early to cover the 30 mile lake
before the winds pick up. Well, we were off by 0530 on a very cool morning and
as soon as I left the harbor protection, I headed into mild northwest winds coming
straight at me and making a medium chop on the lake. I had to endure these
not so pleasant conditions for the next two hours and even put on three wind
breakers. Yes, my hands were cold!

As I approached the end of this 30 mile journey, the sun started coming out and
the lake became calm. I entered the channel to Lock 23 and started calling the
Lock Master. By the directions on the chart and my GPS, the lock was only a
few miles up the canal but a few miles on the chart made out to be 30 more cool
minutes before I reached the lock. The Lock Master was a something else! He was a great
guy.  He gave me coffee and some cookies for my morning trip. He was also
very interested in my mission and took a filer to make copies and pass out.

From Lock 23 to Lock 1 on the Cayuga Seneca Canal it’s 5.5 hours of the most
beautiful canal / Seneca River scenery you can imagine. It was close to what
you see on the Waccamaw River in SC or the Dismal Swamp in NC. I passed
through Lock #1 at 1230 hours, after 7.5 hours of travel with 2 more hours to go
before I reach the lake house. Just before I entered Cayuga Lake for the final
stretch, Jason, my son-in-law called to tell me that the lake had north to south
winds with a mild chop in my favor. As I started into the lake, he was right on
and I set my GPS as meth straight down the lake to my location.

At 1530 hours I was tying up at my dock. Wow, I was at the lake house, what a sense of relief and
a long moment of thank you’s to the Creator and Mother Nature for taking me on
this wonderful 27 days of beautiful weather, adventurous and challenging boat
ride. No more long boat rides for another 3 weeks

Update from George for Week 4 June 9, 2011

0700 June 09, 2011; We pushed off into another beautiful cool day after the
result of the storm that passed through last night. I had another 11 locks ahead
of me if I was going to meet Carol and Phil Jones at Sylvan Beach, Lock 22, that
afternoon. Well, one Lock lead to another and then another and by noon I was
only passed Lock 17 with five more Locks or five hours ahead of me. My cell
phone went dead because of it trying to stay connected in a very limited use area
and I had the Lock Master’s at Lock 17 & 19 to call Carol and advise of my delay.
At Lock 21, the Lock Master called Carol and I got to talk with her. She had left
her cell phone at home and they had been waiting over 3.5 hours at Lock 20 for
my arrival.

I arrived at Lock 22 at 1830 hours after another very long day. At Lock 20 and
21, you start down hill after being raised over 300 feet by the preceding Locks.
Also, the canal in this area becomes a canal and not the Mohawk River and it’s a
straight as you can draw a straight line. From Lock 19 to 22, I had a strong wind
in my face and the glare of the sun. In several places, I hit debris and had to
stop the boat to clear the engine.

Carol was waiting for me at Lock 22 Canal Wall where we tied up for the evening.
She took me to the local gas station, run by the Seneca Indians, and we topped
off with cheap gas. We then went to dinner and shortly after Chase and I were
zipped in for another night.

Update from George for Week 4 June 8, 2011

0600 June 8, 2011; we shoved off at 0630 and entered Lock #1, The Federal
Lock at 0655. All locks on the Erie Canal open at 0700. I was followed into the
lock by two trawlers and two sail boats with their mast taken down. You cannot
sail across the Erie Canal because there are too many low bridges.

We passed through the “5 Steps” of locks that raise you 165 feet from the
Hudson River to the Mohawk River in about 2.5 hours. The Locks in this section
are only a few minutes apart but passing through each lock takes about 30 – 45
minutes each. The Lock Masters are very good about having the Lock ready to
receive you and the doors are open or opening as you approach the Lock.
It took all day of beautiful cruising to travel through 11 Locks. After passing
through Lock 11 at Amsterdam, NY, I tied to the wall and kicked back. Chase
loved chasing the Geese and ducks back into the water. I met the Lock Master,
Howard, and he was very interested in the boat and my mission. He took
several pictures of the boat and a flier that he was going to make copies of at the
American Legion to pass out.

After settling in and getting Chase fed, I went across the RR to a local Italian
Restraint, called Russo’s, and had a great Lasagna dinner. After dinner, I made
it back to the boat to baton down the side curtains and wait for a very powerful
thunder storm to blow by. The storm came in and moved out like a freight train
and only rained for a minute or two but the wind made up for the rain! Yes, we
got a little damp but not soaked.

Update from George for Week 4 June 7, 2011

0600 June 7, 2011: Wow, after 9.5 hours I arrived at the Troy, NY City Dock.
The day started a little late after yesterday’s trip but went very well. It’s my 24th
day of perfect cruising weather!

I had to cross the Hudson River to fuel up and I met John P. who owned the fuel
dock. Just two hours together and we were like Bro’s! He took me to the local
market to get a few things and while I was there his wife gave him Rosaries to
give to me for my travels. He also gave me a special gift that kept me going all
the way to Troy. You can figure what that gift was? I departed his fuel dock
at 0900 and arrived in Troy at 1830 hrs. The Hudson River has always been
special but today in a magnificent sunny day it was something else. I just sat
back and road the waves.

My only concern was that the motor ran a little rough last night and this morning
with fresh gas it ran perfectly all day. Also, on my way up the Hudson, I kept
running into large sections of debris. There were tree limbs, 2x4’s, large boards
with nails, mucho seaweed and more sticks than you can imagine. You could
spot some of the debris by the birds sitting on the logs and floating down stream!
I had to stop the boat more than five times to clear debris from the engine.
However with all of that to contend with, the river was flat with a south wind
and tide pushing me north and the main reason I made the trip in such good
time. One thing I found out about an hour into the trip is that you must follow the
markers. Even though it’s the wide Hudson River there are muddy and sandy
shoals and shallow spots. I never touched bottom but came very close. Once
again the GPS kept me on a true course.

I passed by Mike’s Matera’s home on the Hudson and gave it a custom wave.
There was a cute little light house in the middle of the river near by and of curse
I went around the wrong side and the bottom came up pretty quickly, but no
touching bottom.

I pulled into the Troy City Marina, a 500 foot floating dock along the seawall in
downtown Troy with several Restraints and Bars above looking over the boats. I
was advised by one of the boaters that several boats were robbed last night and
to be on watch. It was hot, muggy and I was very tired after a very long trip. I
had Chase by my side and no one came near us.

We will be up early once again and head for the 1st of many locks on the Erie
Canal tomorrow. The weather is supposed to remain warm and muggy.

Update from George for Week 4 June 6, 2011

0530 June 6, 2011; we got up to the most beautiful morning with very calm seas
around us. I packed up and headed out at 0600. It was low tide and my first turn
into the channel I hit the bottom. Wow, that came up fast and reminded me to
stay between the sticks and in the middle of the channel.

Unless you were there, you cannot imagine how beautiful and calm the waters
were through the marsh lands heading north from Atlantic City. I was like in a
dream the water was so calm the air smelled so clean and the sun shine was
so brilliant. I came to a place on the ICW where the sticks were gone and once
again if it wasn’t for my GPS I couldn’t have found the pass.

About an hour up the canal I came to a place that was a spitting image of Cape
Coral, called Manahawkin Bay, but the homes were a bit more expensive than
on the Cape. I next came to Barnegat Bay and it’s HUGE but the waters still
remained calm. However the ICW markers were over a mile apart and I had to
set Way Points on the GPS to stay in the track. All the way across the waters
remained extremely calm.

In the last part of the ICW in Northern NJ you cross through the Pleasant Canal
that takes you further up the intercostals before you enter the Atlantic. The canal
was far from pleasant for the river draining out was hitting the incoming tide and
the canal was churning. I came out of the churning canal and headed for the
Atlantic. Before going out I topped off my tanks and asked the attendant how the
water was on the Atlantic. I don’t know, just go out and find out and then hit the
gas.

Well, I entered the Atlantic at 1200 and it was almost dead calm with a little roll
from the south. I took the gas attendant’s advice and hit the throttle and headed
north for 30 miles of open Atlantic Sea. I stayed 200-300 yards off shore and
beat feet. I felt like I was traveling up a lake coast line with mucho beautiful
homes and hotels along the way. I made Sandy Hook in two hours and what an
awesome sight to see the Verrazano Bridge and the NYC Skyline ahead of me.
I crossed the bay between Sandy Hook and the V Bridge in 45 minutes and
headed up the Hudson River past the Statute of Liberty and downtown New
York. The worst wave conditions were in the NYC harbor from all the Ferry
traffic coming passed me in every direction. Once past the Navy Air Museum
and the Intrepid Air Craft Carrier I had very good waters all the way up to the
George Washington and the Tappan Zee Bridge. I was on the water 12 exciting,
beautiful, exuberating and exhausting hours today and I wouldn’t have had it any
other way. Oh yes, the Creator, Mother Nature and all the Guardian Angles were
with me to make this journey as remarkable as it was.

As I passed under the Tappan Zee Bridge, two Sherriff’s pulled up to me and
we had a nice chat about the boat and my adventure. They couldn’t believe I
have come so far in a pontoon boat. They advised me where the Half Moon Bay
Marina was located and I headed up river another 10 miles.

The Half Moon Bay Marina is a private club that takes transients but they don’t
like dogs. Of course Chase, being Chase, went right up the ramp and took a
beautiful dump to the astonishment of the neighbors! After a long day, I was in
the rack by 2030 hrs.

Update from George for Week 4 June 5, 2011

0600 June 5, 2011; Last night was very cool when tucked in and were up to over
cast skies with the sun shine coming from the north. The floating docks rocked
and rolled till midnight caused by wakes of passing boats who must not be able
to read or understand the NO WAKE signs. I have only been in NJ a few hours
and so far I have found the most un-courteous boaters. They seam to rule the
waters with no concern for other boaters. Well, it’s 0700 and time to unzip the
pilot house and head north.

Grounded, or I at least hit the muddy bottom, just 50 yards out of the slip and
right next to the red stick. Tide is out and the guys told me to stay just inside the
sticks or in the middle. The next thing to greet me was the very cool weather. It’s
only 62 out and the wind is from the ocean. The skies still look like rain but the
wind seams to be keeping the clouds to the west.

The NJ shore line along the ICW is a maze of intertwining streams coming into
the main channel. Once again, it looks much like the Georgia and SC channel
and you must stay between the sticks.

The homes along the ICW are stacked onto one another and there is “0” lot lines
and I can imagine that the homes go in the $ high 500K. Most have hinged
ramps that rise and fall with the tide so they can get into their floating boat docks.
I could see the Casino’s of Atlantic City some 15 miles out and now I am in the
back channel cruising behind them. I can’t wait to see if the pictures come out.
I came upon my first draw bridge and had a fifteen minute wait and the second
draw bridge seamed to open on my command. Both bridges were connecting
roads that went to the beaches.

I had to cruise by Atlantic City to the north and come around a point past
Harrah’s Casino and then cruise down the ICW towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The turn into the Trump Casino Marina was just under a main bridge next to the
Coast Guard Station and the seas became very choppy. I noted that once again
I arrive in choppy seas and am very thankful to have a place to tie up. I pulled
into the Trump Marina which is now owned by the Golden Nugget. Dave, the
marina manager gave me a slot and asked the Director of Activities, Ms. Harris,
for the comp. I was advised later in the afternoon by Dave that she authorized
me a 50% discount. Not a bad motel room on the water for $35 a night and what
a place to take a well needed nap!

I fueled up, went over the charts and if the weather is right I will shove off for
northern NJ early in the AM

Update from George for Week 4 June 4, 2011

HMS Patriot
Great Loop Boat Log
Week # June 4- June 10, 2011

0500, June 4, 2011: 21 days on the water and starting my 4th week.
We awoke to calm waters in the harbor and the outer harbor of Charles River
Bay had a slight chop. I decided to head out and cross the bay to find calmer
waters. The trip across the bay was very fast even though I had a 3-8 inch chop.
I made it up around North Point Pelorus on the Eastern Neck and headed up the
coast line just half mile off shore. Once around the point the waters became flat
with a chop every now and then, I made great time and arrived in Chesapeake
City on the C&D canal at 1030. I was finely out of the Chesapeake’s grip after
five days and decided to push on instead of staying over because the waters
were calm and the weather was outstanding.
I made it to the Delaware River by 1130 and headed south. I had a slight
incoming tide that soon would turn and the wind and waves were behind me. I
settled in for the 4-5 hour trip down the Delaware to Cape May. I found the River
to be quite peaceful and all the negative reports were unfounded. However, I
believe the river could change for the worse the next day and I was going to take
advantage of this fine cruising day.
About half way down the river I came to a side river and two fishermen told
me there was fuel stop about two miles up the incoming river. I made the trip
through the Georgia wet lands type of landscape up the winding river to find
three marinas. I topped off my tanks and headed back to the river and my trip
south. Most of the river is empty of housing and there was one large nuclear
power plant. I did pass a few settlements but didn’t notice any road ways into the
developments. I must get a NJ map.
I made the last costal light tower at 1545 and started to cross the Delaware Bay.
The shore line on the other side had vanished a half hour ago for mouth of the
bay is over 12 miles wide. I kept the eastern shore line in sight and headed
straight to the Cape May Canal on my GPS for it was also out of sight. I opened
up the engine to 15 MPH and boogied. I had a calm rolling sea, tied and wind
with me and made it to Cape May at 1655. As I headed across the east west
canal to find a place to tie up a large car ferry came out to great me. Huge when
you are this small along side. The marina I am in is 75% full and no marina
manager to talk with. Oh well, I will be out of here early in the AM. The weather
looks like rain and I have put down the side certins for the first time in 21 days.

Week 4, Tuesday June 7, 2011

Per Bill Banfield.. Left early again and is moving well up the river.  He is now running by/dodging a lot of debris in the river….trees, tree limbs, junk, etc.  He has a following breeze and is making good time. Passing by West Point and Bear Mountain area is beautiful….noted that as he passed out of the tidal influence area, the construction of docks changed…no longer seeing the floating docks.  Weather is clear….another perfect day!  His goal is Troy, just before the entrance to the Barge/Erie Canal and just above Albany…..a long day……I estimate 129 miles for the day, another 6:00am to 6:00pm day.

Week 4, June 6, 2011

Left at 6:00am…..water was like glass….by 11:00am, he was at Point Pleasant and refueled….ocean was like glass!!!  At that point, he had to transition to the ocean for the 30 miles up Sandy Hook, then across Raritan Bay and into NY harbor….he is passing the Statue of Liberty right now !!!!!!!   Per George, this is the most spectacular day yet !!!!!  His plan is to go to the Nyack Yacht Club at the Tappan Zee Bridge…he will be under the GW bridge within an hour or so, and at the Tappan Zee bridge about 1 and ½ hours later !!!!!!!! Per friend Bill Banfield.

Week 3, June 3, 2011

0630 June 3, 2011, I spent a very windy and rough night tied to the dock.  At 0200 I was up and tied more lines to the boat because the wind was pushing hard at my stern.  I was up and about with Chase and one look out to sea told me I would be here another day.  I checked the weather report and once again the seas are supposed to calm down.  Now it’s a wait and sees and I don’t need to go out in those choppy waters for any reason.  As Jean says, sit around and enjoy the break, a tough thing to do when you want to be on the way.  Oh well, it’s another beautiful day except for the wind. 

Week 3, June 2, 2011

0500 June 2, 2011; I was up and ready to go at 0600 and the waters in the bay were dead calm.  Oh, but what lie ahead and just around the under the Bay Bridge. The following sea and wind turned to a NW wind and came straight at my port bow with a pounding blow.  I headed at an angle to my first way point of the tip of Kent Island and with the help of the Creator; I made it around the point and headed south into the Charles River sound. I saw a red and white light house about 3 miles away and headed that way.  Once inside the break water wall I entered the Castle Harbor Marina.  It was 0730 and the marina was closed so I tied up to the fuel dock after two go rounds because a stiff breeze kept pushing me off the dock.  I moored the boat and took Chase for a walk about. 

At 0800, Danielle the Dock Master arrived and I told her of my plight.  She said welcome aboard and asked me to move my boat ahead so that other boats could have more space when they come in for fuel.  The wind continued to be very strong with 10-15 mph gust and only one boat came in for a pump out and two large boats went out into the rough seas.

Jim my next slip mate introduced me to Dan Humbert, a retired Navy Master Chief and his dog Willy and Dan introduced me to Jim the assistant dock master and a retired Navy chief.  All were interested in my travels and very supportive. Dan, a seven year old cancer survivor, lives on a large 60 ton trawler, and does boat eminence in his spare time.  They and several others took me under their wing and made me feel at home.

Well, needless to say, I spent a full day tied to the dock and watched the white caps build just off the marina entrance.  I did some minor repairs on the boat, started reading another book, had a soak in the hot tub and enjoyed my forced vacation at this beautiful and friendly marina.  The weather report stated that the seas would calm down in the evening and maybe I will be able to head out in the morning. 

Week 3, June 1, 2011

0800 June 1, 2011; I had a nice stay at the Comfort Marina and a free breakfast!

I headed out at 0700 for the local gas dock and they weren’t open.  When they still didn’t open at 0800 I left with the 18 spare gallons I had on board. I can do 6-7 hours of cruising with that much fuel and Annapolis is only 5.5 hours away. The weather was very hot and muggy and the wind was from the south which gave me following seas and tide.  The coast line was a bit curvy so I stayed out about 2 miles to get the best current and a straighter line from point A to B.  I made Annapolis in 4.5 hours, topped off my gas tank, only used 11 gals, and headed for the city marina.  I am now tied up along the main walk way and getting ready for the thunder storms they say are coming.  I have been on the ICW for the past 17 days and each and every day has been beautiful, weather wise.  Tomorrow we are off for C&D canal and Cape May.

Week 3, May 31, 2011

0500 May 31, 2011; Up with the birds and the mosquitoes!  I had to put up the mosquito netting last night and you could hear them swarm over the netting. 

Well, after two days, or maybe because I didn’t witness his potty, Chase finally went to the bathroom.  We then packed up the boat and shoved off at 0600 and made it two feet out of my slip.  The engine quit and I couldn’t get it into reverse or forward.  I drifted a few feet to another slip and Bill my slip neighbor helped tie  me off. 

Bill and his wife Lori and I sat around discussing the situation and getting phone numbers for local marina mechanics and having another coffee.  At 0700, Bill went to the back of the boat and shouted, I think I found out what your problem is!  I went back to the boat and looked at the shaft and there was anchor line wound around the prop!  I was in the water in a flash with a sharp knife and removed the rope. To my amazement, it was my rope!  I have know idea when it came off, most probably in the rough seas but I am surely blessed that it didn’t entangle the prop when I was out there in the high seas.  While in the water, I walked under the toon and inspected for any more concerns and found nothing.  The boat started up with a roar and it shifted into both gears with ease.     

I was off at 0800 into very calm waters.  However around the first point the wind picked up and I had a mild chop coming at me most of the way to Solomon Marina.  When I approached the Potomac River, the water became rougher and I traveled up the south side of the river for five miles where I turned into the waves and headed for Point Lookout five miles away.  When I made the turn you couldn’t see the other side because of the fog and haze.

Once across the Potomac the waves subsided and didn’t pick up again until I was about ten miles out from the Marina.  I was thinking about going further up the coast line but the wave action turned that idea off and I am sure glad it did.  The Solomon’s are a group of marinas located on the Patuxent River.  Once in the river, there were no more waves to contend with but the air got very hot and muggy.  I got into the Comfort Marina, at 1400, and received free dockage and the use of the pool and showers. I spent the rest of the day in total relaxation with lots of pool time for the heat index was 105 and the humidity was 98 %...

After I gas up in the morning, on my way out, I will be headed for Annapolis.

Week 3, May 30, 2011

0500 May 30, 2011; We were up early to the sound of ship horns and look out to see the Tugs already at work.  I got everything ready to go and we shoved off at 0600. 

The passage down the Elizabeth River was very smooth and we passed by half a dozen more navy ships.  As we entered the main channel out to the Chesapeake Bay, I had two super tankers in front of me. They weren’t leaving too much of a wake but their engine cavitations was making any headway bumpy.  I pulled past the stern of the tanker and the wave action was quite rough even though I didn’t see any wake.  At one point, I went up on one wave and came down into the leading wave and berried the nose of my boat and the decks became awash!  Whoa, what’s the rush and I let the tanker proceed out of my way.

Once around the southern point of Hampton Roads, I headed north along the VA coast.  The wave action was slightly choppy but when I came to the York River sound, another 12 mile passage, the wave action was just as bad if not worse than the Albemarie Sound crossing.  Fortuntally the waves and wind were coming from my left shoulder but I had to go out further into the Chesapeake in order to ride the wave action. 

The surfing action came back and we were picking up speed over each large wave.  I would hit a wave at 10 mph and cross over two waves at 14 mph.  After an hour of this I made the other side of the sound and started to pass landfall at the southern end of Mathews point. I believe I must have been five miles out into the Chesapeake Bay and started working my way back to shore as the wave action subsided. I made the Deltaville Marina some 50 miles from Norfolk at 1100 hrs.  I made some great time in all of that wave action and instead of going into the marina; I went across the Rappahannock River sound, an additional eight miles and pulled into the Windmill Pt Marina.  I will say that my chrising to the Chesapeake Bay lived up to my expectations and it could have been worse.

The Windmill Marina didn’t have a fuel dock but one of the staff took me into town to full up my gas cans.  I also had to pay, for the 1^st time in many days a slip fee of $35 but I get the use of the pool and lounge.  I gave Chase his first swim of the trip and then his 2^nd bath.  I went to the pool and had a cool dip and chilled out for the rest of the afternoon. The temperature is in the high 80’s and the Bay is as flat as glass.  I should be out on it but I need the relaxation. I am told that the Bay will remain calm for the rest of the week and the further north I go the better it gets. I hope to be off by 0600 tomorrow.

Week 3 May 29, 2011

0630 May 29, 2011; Well I can’t say the first part of my evening was very nice.  The wave action kept rocking the boat from side to side and it was like trying to sleep in a swaying hammock.  Around midnight it started to calm down and then the mosquitoes and no seems came out!  At 0130 I put up the mosquito netting and off to sleep until 0530 when Chase licked me in the face.  Must be time to do his thing.  The morning sun rise was just one of the very best and the rough sound I passed through last night was now super calm. 

On our morning walk, Chase met another Lab and I met his owner Tom a retired Coast Guard member and he took me to get gas and we also stopped for coffee.  At the gas pumps in town I paid $1.25 less than the marinas price.  Tom gave me his brother’s number in Cape May and told me to call if I needed anything. 

We shoved off at 0730 and headed into the Dismal Swamp waterway to Norfolk, VA.  I was amazed at how calm the water was as compared to yesterday.  About 5 miles up the waterway I came to a RR crossing but from my angle I couldn’t see the passage through.  I slowed down to a crawl and inspected the barrier in front of me and all it was, was an optical elusion for the opening was there but it looked like it all run together.

The Dismal Swamp canal has to be seen up close and personal for anyone to understand what an out of this world nature paradise this is.  I have seen several places on this trip that compare to this natural wonder but each is a spectacular green world of is own.  The trees and bank foliage come right down to the rivers edge and reflect upon themselves and give you a double image.

I came to the 1^st of two locks at around 0930 and they wouldn’t open the lock until 1100.  However, at 1000 the lock master opened the doors and let us in so five other boats that were coming up behind us could get locked in and now we wait. Oh well, this gave me a chance to re-rig my antenna that came loose in the rough waves I experienced crossing Albemarie Sound.

Once through the lock it was like floating through a never – never ending land of green coming down to the waters edge with twin reflections.  It’s like sailing through a green tunnel and the reflection of the water and vegetation is breathless.  I hope the pictures come out.  The Dismal Canal is as straight as one can draw a line on paper and only 50 feet wide in most places with a no wake speed limit.  I can make 8 mph with no wake.

We made the last set of locks and draw bridge around 1500 and had to wait again for the bridge to open and then travel another mile to the lock.  There were four trawlers and two sail boats in our group.  Two of the couples had just purchased their trawler in St Petersburg, FL and were taking them back north to Toronto. Once in the lock it took another fifteen minutes for the water to let down.  At 1630 I was on the way once again to Norfolk.

Ten miles down the canal I made a left turn into the Elizabeth River that took me to Norfolk and past the Navy yards.  There were only three cruisers in dock repair yards and each one had a large Zodiacs rubber guard boat patrolling around the ship. What a boring way to spend the day.  However, I was most impressed the barges tied up along the water way.  I mean large enough to play football on!  HUGE! And all full with something like scrape metal, cement, grain, and who knows what else.     

I pulled into the Tidewater Yacht Marina around 1800, fueled up and got into my slip.  I must admit, I am a wee bit tired.  I sat around with a couple of very nice older sailors and we discussed the Chesapeake and how to cruse on her.  The chart book I have shows me the way north 20 miles per page and I hope to make 3 pages a day.  They showed me several marinas along the way.  Their advice is to start out early and end up early.  This means shove off by 0630 and arrive in my new port of call by 1400 and I should cover 50-60 miles on average per day.  It may take me 3-4 days to go up the Chesapeake to the C&D canal over to the Delaware and then a day down to Cape May.

Additional Info on May 27, 2011

0615, May 27, 2011: We awoke to calm waters in the harbor and decided to head out north to Elizabeth City, NC or somewhere close by.  Bill Strange helped me away from the docks and Bernie Harberts, the town news reporter came by to say farewell. 

As I rounded the bulkhead, the calm harbor turned to rolling seas with one foot swells.  I had to travel down the Neuse River for 1.5 hours in rough seas until I came to the left and the cut off to the back water channel to the Pamlico River.

I made good time to and through the canal system, a straight water way like I-75 or a landing zone for the space shuttle.  The scenery along the way was again out of this world. 

I came out of the 1^st set of canal systems at the Pamlico and had a two mile crossing and then up Rose Bay to Alligator Alley Canal which ran as straight as an arrow for about 25 miles and dumped me off into the Alligator River.  Once out of the smooth canal system the Alligator River turned into a very windy body of water with rolling 1-3 foot seas and mucho white caps.  I would rise up one wave and surf down the others.  The 26 foot length of the boat made the passage easy but very challenging. 

At the head of the Alligator was a bridge and approaching it was not an easy task.  As I kept getting closer, I kept wondering how I would get under it for it looked liked the cars were just above the water.  At the center span was a swing bridge but high enough for me to get under.  All along the way, I kept looking for a marina to pull into but nada!  Later I found out that I passed two of them but I couldn’t see them up the channels they were located on. 

After passing under the RT 64 bridge I headed across the Albemarie Sound, the largest body of water I have attempted to cross and I was still under heavy waves.  Fortuntally the waves and wind were coming from my stearn and this made travel easier but challenging.  The Sound is about 12 miles across because as I started across, I couldn’t see the other side. The ole horizon rule of navigation and being able to see only 12 miles out to sea.   In all, it took me just over 4 hours of these rolling seas to reach Elizabeth City.  I must say I didn’t enjoy this part of the trip, but what a challenging learning experience and sea trial for the other larger bodies of water I will encounter.  The boat and engine handled far better than expected and gave me the confidence for future rough seas.  In all I spent 11 hours on the water today! Tomorrow smooth canal travel through the Dismal Swamp to Norfolk, VA. 

Just before my arrival to Elizabeth City, I noticed a large Blimp Hanger and a Blimp parked outside.  I was told that this facility is where the Met-Life Blimp and all the others come from.  They even make the security operations blimp that we had over our FOBS in Iraq.  Also, a mile past this facility was the largest Coast Guard station and maintenance facility on the east coast.  Mucho jets, C130’s and very large hanger type buildings.

Elizabeth City offered some very friendly folks but nada facilities.  I was luck to find space along the city park dock wall next to two sail boats.  I was totally drained by my crossing of the Albemarie Sound and being on the water for 10 hours this day.  Sleep wasn’t easy due to the constant rocking of the boat and wave action. 

5/27/2011 Week 2

0530 I was up with the noise of fish jumping.  I took Chase for his morning romp, made a cup of coffee and shoved of at 0600 for Beaufort, NC and then on up the channel to Oriental, NC.  At 1100 hrs I was pulling into the marina harbor after a fairly rough crossing of the Neuse River with one to two foot swells and chop, which is part of the Pamlico Sound.  This has been the largest body of water I have crossed and most of the wave action is caused by the wind and not the tide.  I got into my side wall, free city birth for 48 hrs and then off tomorrow. Tom the marina manager has been a delight and gave me free pool and shower usages.  Nice place.  End of 2^nd week.  More later

May 26, 2011 Week 2

0600  The wind blew all night and I expected rain but nada.  The fresh air, steady breeze and a beautiful sun rise greeted me and Chase as we walked up the boat ramp for his morning doooo’s.  Several other boaters were also up and we discussed yesterday’s events and today’s trip goals.  You came all this way in that lake boat?  Yes and they advised me what to look forward too!     

I topped of my tanks with Non Ethanol gas and they gave me the uptown price for the gas.  Pulling away from the gas dock was a learning experience because the current had me stuck to the dock.  I had to back up and turn the stern on the boat into the current in order to pull away.

Once away, I headed for Duddley’s Marina some 65 miles away.  The ICW passes just inside the Atlantic Barrier Islands and most of the way in a channel connected by fresh water rivers.  Scenery as always just out of this world.  I feel I am in a Super Max movie and traveling through this entire natural wilderness at 10 to 12 mph per hr.

I arrived at Duddley’s at 1330 hrs and because of the old style marina, mooring polls and no floating docks plus the wind pushing me from East to West, I moved on up the ICW to the East Bank Marina.  The marina was also old style but I put into a slip anyway for I needed to get fuel. 

Well, no one came out to assist me in docking like the other marinas and when I jumped out of the boat, onto a 3 foot wide mooring deck the wind gave me a sharp pull and I went ass end over tea kettles into the drink!  Wow, what a shock to be in warm water knee deep in the muck!  As I held onto the boat, I reached down and pulled off my Crocks that were stuck in the muck.  Then I tried getting back on the boat but couldn’t because the muck wouldn’t release me.  Finally one of the dock hands come over to me and assisted me out of the water.  I was literally stuck in the muck! 

After introducing myself Trace and several outer on lookers, we all sat down for a well need beer.  I reviewed my mission and received several pledges.  At about 1700, Trace advised me that the marina manager wanted to speak with me.  Chris advised me that he had to charge me slip fees at $2.00 a foot or $52 plus tax.  Now this is an old slip with absolutely no amenities, like shower, fuel, provisions internet and we had to go up town to get fuel, ice and some food stuff.

Well, I took back my registration and said no way, bye-bye and shoved off.  Trace helped me untie the lines and told me of a deserted brand new marina only five miles up the ICW on the left.   Sure enough it was there and I mean a 1^st class marina with floating docks and totally empty.  I pulled in and tied up and was making a little dinner when two fishing boats pulled in and they told me that this place was under federal investigation and the ex governor was involved.  Oh well a free 1^st class slip is better than a hole in the boat!

5/25/2011 Week 2

0630 We woke up to a beautiful spring morning and the fresh smells in the air are terrific.  It was quite warm and a bit muggy last night but no bugs.  It looks like another great day and this will be the 11^th straight sunshine day we have had on this trip.

Howard the boat mechanic showed up at 0815 and he changed the oil from another row boat tied up to the back of mine.  Interesting to watch what he was doing and I learned how to do the oil change. 

0930 we shoved off and headed north.  About ten miles up the ICW I came to a Golf Course that had a Ski Lift Gondla taking golfers across the waterway to the golf course.   

I wasn’t 20 miles past Myrtle Beach and my Nav/Charts Maps on the GPS went off.  Well it was back to the red and green markers and my depth finder.  After about another 10 miles I got the road map image to come up but no Nav/Charts Maps the rest of the way.

Most of the ICW in this part of NC is like a straight super highway for boats.  How could I get lost?  Like most days, the trip was like traveling down a scenic highway.  Of course there were more big homes and boats but the most interesting was the docks they had to build to get out to the water.  In some areas the docks were more than 100 yards + long built over the marsh grasses.  I came to my 2^nd swing bridge about 3 hrs out of Myrtle and knew I couldn’t squeeze under it like the last one.  There were several large boats on the other side and three sailboats waiting on this side.  It was 1145 and if figured it opened on the hour.  I slowly creep up to the bridge and about 200 yards out it opened for me!  As I passed by I could see that I would have been at least a foot too tall if I had tried to go under. 

Several large boats past me coming and going and it seams that no one cares or has any courtesy when passing a smaller boat.  The wake they leave is huge and I must almost come to a dead stop and cut perpendicular into the wake to get through it.  Yes, many other large boats do slow down when they pass. 

I came up on the South Port marina just off the ICW around 1400 and decided not to stay but head up the Cape Fear River to Wrightsville Beach.  WELL, after making the turn into the river I almost turned back.  Coming at me was a large barge tug boat and passing along my right was a car ferry.  The wind was at my back and the tide was in my favor but the waves were choppy and high at times. With no GPS nav map to follow I kept a sharp eye out for the red and green markers and followed them up the river.  The road maps on the GPS showed me the cut off to the ICW canal and I set my heading for that location. 

BINGO, right on the mark and what a feeling to be in calm canal water again.  This river should be called the NO FEAR River.  Yes, it was a challenge!  Also, I must thank the Creator and Mother Nature for being by my side even though I am a good soldier turned SAILOR!

I pulled into Joyner Marina at Carolina Beach, NC and again I was greeted by a super staff.  Brittany the marina manager was more than help full and Capt. Ted gave me slip space and gas at the downtown market price which is a nice savings.  Dinner was a cup of soup and two hot dogs.  It will be early to bed tonight.

5/24/2011 Week 2

0700  I was off and headed across the Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley, Wando and Cooper rivers come together to form the Atlantic.  Once again I thank the maker of the GPS because trying to find the channel of the ICW on the other side of this vast harbor would be impossible.

I entered the ICW channel called the Isle of Palms and headed north.  Big houses, boats and $$$ galore.  I even came acrossed isolated cabins that would be 1^st class homes but there was no way to get to them unless by boat!  Once in the ICW headed north you travel through straight canal type water ways that meander very slightly.  The marsh lands of southern SC starting turning into beautiful wooded areas of Cyprus trees and Spanish moss. I saw many Osprey on nest and two Bald Eagles along the way.  Of course the bottle nosed dolphins were always present. 

About ten miles out of Charleston, my GPS maps program went blank and all I had was the arrow pointing in the direction I was headed.  It was now navigation back to the old way of following the ICW Red and Green markers and watching my depth gage.  Several times I came to one marker and didn’t see the corresponding marker for a half mile or so.  In that case I kept the compass heading north and kept the faith that I was in the right water way. 

I came into the Georgetown, SC across a large open marsh water way which was part of the Waccamaw River and once again it was decision time. The folks at two marinas in Georgetown let me down and stated when I was getting close that they had no way to work on my motor in the water and it was at least a week out before I could get on the schedule.  I was advised to head north on the Waccamaw river to The Hague or Anchor Marina’s.  It was 12 noon and north I went. 

With the GPS navigation maps down I could only follow the markers and with some common sense the other boats headed north. I once started to head under a bridge but noticed that the sail boats were going under the larger section of the bridge a little more easterly course.  I played follow the leader and yes it was the right direction.  The GPS navigation was coming on up in the outer right corner of my screen but I would have to travel the entire Waccamaw River from Red stick to Green stick.

The trip up the river, which is still part of the ICW, is out of this world spectacular. After 4 more hours of breath taking scenery I left the Waccamaw and entered the ICW channel toward Myrtle Beach and the Hague Marina.  My GPS navigation maps came back on the screen just in time to show me a very low swing bridge about a mile ahead around the next bent.  Yes, there it was and I estimated I had just enough clearance and when I went under the bridge, I squatted down for I made it with inches to spare.  Several spectators cheered and clapped as I came out the other side. At 1630 hrs I came to the Hague marina and tied up   George Russ the owner is something else and we sat around talking over a few beers.  He and his mechanic will look at my motor and change the oil in the AM and if all goes well I will be headed north again by noon.  It’s still hard to believe that I am three miles south of Myrtle Beach and I have only put 80 hours of cruising time on the motor.