Category: Intracoastal Waterway

May 21-22, 2017   Sunday & Monday

Before leaving the Isle of Hope, GA we took a morning walk and then headed for Hilton Head, SC. Rick’s family has vacationed at Hilton Head for years and we wanted to check it out. Hilton Head Island has a rich history and its estuaries are the breeding grounds for many saltwater species of game fish, sport fish, and marine mammals. The local dolphins escorted Andiamo and jumping stingrays entertained us, both on our way in and out of the island.

Hilton Head became an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports during the Civil War and was the home of Mitchelville, a town built during the Civil War for escaped slaves. We visited Fort Mitchel and I was surprised to learn that Ormsby M. Mitchel’s leadership was so remarkable that both the fort and Mitchelville were named after him. He served on the island for only 45 days before dying from yellow fever.

We stayed at the Windmill Harbour Marina, which you have to go through a 75′ long by 19′ wide lock to enter, that means your boat is pretty safe from storms. Most of the island is well-manicured and gorgeous, which is not surprising in view of the fact that approximately 70% of the island, including most of the tourist areas, is located inside gated communities.

May 19-20, 2017   Friday & Saturday

A bit of nostalgia Saturday as we sailed by Moon River, I couldn’t help but think of Mom and how much she loved the song Moon River. Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to sing in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it became the trademark song for the Andy Williams show. We watched that show with Mom every week in the late 1960’s.

Moon River is just one of the tidal inlets that form the Isle of Hope, one of the most affluent communities in GA, just fifteen miles south of Savannah. We are staying at the Isle of Hope and have enjoyed this antebellum community.

We went on a lovely walk around this morning and then used the courtesy car to provision Andiamo. While we were out we drove by Wormsloe Historic Site, the oldest of Georgia’s tidewater estates. Wormsloe has been the ancestral home of Georgia colonist Nobel Jones’s descendants since the mid-1730s. That’s a long time for a family to live in the same house.

Rick has a new love, a 35-foot Nordhavn that is moored behind us. He thinks we should sell the house, purchase a Nordhavn, and sail (or is that motor?) into the sunset.

 

May 18, 2017 – Thursday

For us, today was a slow uneventful day as we floated through mile after mile of salt marsh. Others, on the waters near us, had a more eventful day. We watched as a large motor vessel overshot a turn by about a quarter of a mile and then carefully backtracked into the proper channel. Several hours later we watched as a sailing vessel was not as lucky, he missed a turn and ended up aground. Fortunately, with a rising tide, he was able to power himself loose.

The saddest story we heard was over our VHF radio. We were on the southwest side of Wolf Island and heard a distress call from a sailing vessel on the east side (the Atlantic Ocean) that was taking on water. A nearby shrimp boat was not able to rescue the crew because of water depth but was able to relay information to the US Coast Guard which sent a rescue helicopter. We could not see the boats but could see the distant helicopter. The helicopter crew had to offload their 90-pound rescue pump in order to lighten their load so they could lift the three people that were on the sailboat. The shrimp boat was able to reclaim the pump for the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard was able to lift the crew of the sailboat to safely, but unfortunately, the sailboat sank. Constant reminders to always be vigilant.

We anchored off the main channel, around a bend on New Teakettle Creek, and did not see another boat until we pulled back on the main channel the next morning. We have been at anchor alone before, but usually, a few fishing boats will be out either that evening or early the next morning. At this anchorage, it was just us, dolphins, jumping fish, and the birds.

New Teakettle Creek Anchorage

May 17, 2017 – Wednesday

This morning we took the dinghy to Sea Camp on Cumberland Island and spent the day wandering around the Dungeness ruins, shelling on an Atlantic Beach, observing wild horses, ghost crabs, birds, deer, etc. and returned to Sea Camp via the dunes, palmettos, and live oak trees.

Relaxing in the evening we watched a Trident Submarine as it made its way out to sea as we had a glass of wine and enjoyed the sunset.

May 1, 2017 – Monday

Wow!  The people who live here take it for granted, but we were thrilled that we could see the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch today. I was standing on the bow of Andiamo and the video is a little shaky.

Following the navigation markers from New Smyrna Beach (NSB) to Palm Coast, we saw a beautiful catamaran grounded between navigation markers, good thing we are only 2.5 feet. Fortunately, they grounded at low tide and as the tide rose, they were able to float off the sandbar and continue their journey. We met the owners tonight, a family of five that have been cruising the Caribbean for the past year and are on their way home. They have lots of stories to tell their friends and family.

Coming into the Marineland Marina this afternoon was challenging, the wind was at twenty-five knots and the current was pushing us sideways, but the dock master was there to take our lines and all went well.

See you on the water!

Sunrise 6:43 am – Sunset 8:02 pm
• Temp 83 F Hi – 69 F Low – Mostly Sunny
• Day 189

 

 

 

 

April 29 – 30, 2017

April 30, 2017 – Sunday

We were up at sunrise to view the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch but at T-minus 52 seconds, the planned blastoff was halted because of an issue with the TOTO sensor on the first stage, they will try again tomorrow.

Leaving the marina we traversed back down the Canaveral Barge Canal to the ICW and continued north.

A mile portion of the ICW is called Haulover Canal, which I assumed must be someone’s name. However, I spotted a historical marker that explained that Native Americans, explorers, and settlers hauled or carried canoes or small boats over this narrow strip of land to get from Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River. Finally, in 1852, a canal was built to go from one body of water to the other. Today the canal is part of the ICW and a favorite fishing hole. Not to mention, it was the first time I’ve been able to get a picture of a manatee.