After a fun trip with guests aboard from Southport, we were excited to welcome the arrival of my cousins Jim & Patty!!! We had a really wonderful relaxing evening. We started with a visit aboard Magnolia followed by a terrific dinner! THANK YOU Jim & Patty for sharing your weekend with us!

There is a couple mile stretch of the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) called the rock pile. This short distance cuts through solid granite rather than the usual mud/sand etc that is found along the coast. The goal is to transit this section of the ICW at low tide so the rocks are actually exposed! We departed early and as can be seen we entered at low tide.

What a beautiful beautiful morning!

One of the several troublespots along this section of the ICW. Note the narrowing of the channel between the red mark and the dock ruins.

After a quick fuel top-up at Osprey we entered one of the most beautiful sections of the ICW, the Waccamaw River ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waccamaw_River ).

A surprisingly quiet Saturday afternoon on the river!

A lovely anchorage at the south end of the Waccamaw.

Scored a second beautiful anchorage in a row on near Charleston.

We spent a couple days visiting with our friends Mims and Vicki…of course more yacking than picture taking! While in Charleston we also picked up our friends Jerry and Winnie. They too were Pentagon Sailing Club members before relocating to Beaufort SC.

The plan was for Jerry and Winnie to ride the 90 miles down to Beaufort on the inside with us. We would have the pleasure of anchoring out and enjoying a peaceful barbeque.

Jerry btw was one our “sailing 101” instructors back on the Potomac River.

We had a great time and think Jerry and Winnie did too. We dropped them off midday in Beaufort and then continued on to just north of the Savannah River…close enough to watch the ships pass by into and out of Savannah.

Up early with the birds working to into Georgia before some approaching bad weather arrived.

Seeing a tug and barge is not uncommon in our world…this one though we passed way out in the middle of no-where…frankly never expected to this….

Sapelo Light – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapelo_Island_Light

Car Carrier — https://www.freightwaves.com/news/golden-ray-ship-that-capsized-at-port-of-brunswick-to-be-cut-up

Sidney Lanier Bridge — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Lanier_Bridge

“Beverly S” — We met Larry & Sue last winter in Palm Beach and we hop-scotched around, past each other ever since. It was finally in Brunswick that we finally were able to catch up face to face…granted it was only long enough to get them fueled up and on there way but thats really what makes me happiest about this life. You may not see “that person” or “those people” for a year. The moment you are together your shared moments start again.

I have been keeping this blog since we started this journey…even before we left actually. Someday when I am old a grey and have nothing better going on I am going to come back and relive each of these moments we shared and just maybe I might fix the spelling and grammar too….the moments though, those are what I will be longing for….thanks for following. Be Safe A**2

We departed Campbell Creek and made a long day passage around the peninsula to New Bern NC.

Annette (KK4YVJ) and I (KK4YVL) are both licenced Amatuer Radio Operators licensed at the “General” level. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_licensing_in_the_United_States ). We belong and are part of the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club which meets daily via our HAM Radio. Members are located far west Texas, Nassau Bahamas, Maine and the entire east coast. There is a yearly picnic previously held in Melbourne FL but this year in New Bern NC. Annette actually has a family history of Amatuer Radio, her father David (W8YBF).

We arrived in time to take part in a small pre-picnic happy hour hosted by Jeannie (N4WFM ) and Bill (KE4VUF).

Returning to the marina where Magnolia was moored we were gifted with a spectacular sunset.

It was a fun day of seeing and many cases meeting people we have only spoken to over the radio. Many former cruisers are now rv’ers so the location was the local KOA Campground. Lunch was a catered affair and was some of the best fried chicken I have ever tasted!!!

Our friends Tom & Sandy (SV Anania)

After a wonderful day ashore Magnolia was underway racing cooling temperatures.

The day started off beautifully!

How beautiful? Beautiful enough that required the “super good looking” over the top sunglasses. Ugly, but very effective again on the water glare.

A brief overnight stop at the Marine Corps Camp Lejeune

Heading for Carolina Beach, NC. This is one of those stops that was WAY overdue…it is one one those “you must stop” stops which we often bypass. Finally though it was time. Sadly, Britts Donuts was closed for the season…:-(

Next stop up was Southport NC and a visit with our friends Joe and Christine.

(http://www.oakislandlighthouse.org/) — (http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Island_Light) — First up was a private tour of the Oak Island Lighthouse.

While we climbed the 170ft to the top of the light, Christine opted for the quiet walk along the beach!

We definitely scored the perfect afternoon for the visit. The views of Oak Island, Cape Fear and Southport were amazing! Looking east towards Cape Fear.

Looking SW towards South Carolina.

Next two are view from the lighthouse towards downtown Southport.

Drinks for the crew after that climb!!!

Speaking of crews! As you can see Christine is a longtime crew since her passage aboard sailboat Magnolia. We finally put together an opportunity for Joe & Christine as well as out lighthouse tour guide Harry & Joanne to get underway to Myrtle Beach.

A little side note….our friend Joe use to have his own “boat” too. Which added no stress to the days underway period…

Yes, his last “boat” was the USS Mobile Bay! Yea, no stress….kidding actually none, which is why Joe is a great leader. None the less here is the Pilothouse Crew underway on the ICW.

All successful passages need to be celebrated with a bit of “Grog”.

Next up our visit to Myrtle Beach and family reunion!

For the life of me I have no idea why the a boatyard period has to end in the “rush rush, last minute frenzy.” Evidently there is a secret hidden rule that is documented no-where but most certainly exists…at least in my experience! We went back in the water as expected.

…but of course there was that last one more thing that needed to be completed on a Saturday afternoon…did I mention we were departing on Sunday Morning? Arghh!

Annette did manage some lady friends…I think they call themselves…”Kady Ladys”

After departing the yard we went to a friends dock and had 72 glorious peace and quiet…just me and my boat wax…it was then time to head for the Krogen Rendezvous someone thinks its a great idea to stuff 50 boats as close as they can get…perhaps it came through I am not a fan of this part of the Rendezvous?

Arleen (Arion), Annette (Magnolia) and Michele (Kindred Spirit)

Husband Bragging Moment: Annette came up with a “small” idea of having and “small” auction to raise money for the Abaco relief effort. It was suppose to be small until some sponsors got word and others started contributing some pretty major items to the auction.

Perhaps not the most photogenic of moments but she did and absolutely fabulous job speaking on the subject in front of the entire community. She knocked it out of the park. She and Arleen (Arion) worked on it together and they raised over $7000.00 in under a week. An amazing accomplishment in such a short time.

Out friends Al & Michele came all the way from Connecticut to Maryland for the rendezvous. Since they were coming on this way, they took advantage of the opportunity to view a Krogen 39 that was for sale in the Northern Neck of Virginia a couple more hours south. After viewing and assembling an offer they can be seen below sending said offer off.

So after the offer was sent off, Al won a Krogen Burgee…we knew then the offer was going to go through….the universe is always talking….we just have to listen

Of course there was much dining and dancing and I even managed a couple of rounds on the dance floor.

The closing of the rendezvous when 50 boats get underway at the same time….what could possibly go wrong.

Heading South

Departing the Patuxent River bound for the Chesapeake Bay.

Car carrier. I think this is similar to the ship that recently rolled over in Brunswick GA

MV Largo southbound on the Chesapeake Bay

We made an overnight stop in Kilmarnock VA where Al & Michele were preparing for the survey of their new to them Kadey Krogen 39.

We arrived Hampton VA to pick up my dad who was going to ride with us for a couple days. It was also my mother’s first visit to to Magnolia so she was able to finally see what we have doing.

It was a pleasant surprise to find Magnolia blossoms were still blooming in Hampton.

Getting my dad right into the cruiser life we walked downtown Hampton for a bite to each. We headed for Venture, home of the best Tater-Tots anywhere.

I am not sure dad has fully embraced the simplicity of our lives….yes, its about the Tater-Tots.

Magnolia got underway and the first major evolution was to transit the Great Bridge Lock. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Bridge,_Virginia ) ( https://www.visitchesapeake.com/blog/post/great-bridge-lock/ )

Magnolia continued down to the top of Currituck Sound to one of our favorite northern anchorages.

Unfortunately Hurricane Nestor decided to make a hard north turn from the Gulf of Mexico which cut my dads trip a little short. Rather than going on to Manteo as planned we were forced to spend an extra day at Coinjock, NC

After departing Coinjock Magnolia we crossed the Abermarle Sound and headed down to Campbell Creek for a visit with Mike/Kathy Orr & Beth/Rip Tyler.

If you want a picturesque view in North Carolina look no further than Campbell Creek. We are always welcomed here with open arms…and multiple docks to choose from!

We always have a wonderful time catching up with this gang. There is always a great exchange of information and generally catching up! We always depart with a full heart and lots to think about.

Sun sets on Magnolia at the “Orr Dock.”

A few hours later Magnolia prepares to get underway at first light.

We are on the move at first light heading for New Bern, NC and the start of our next adventure!

Next stop, New Bern NC for Waterway Radio Cruising Club Meeting