2020-04-12 Magnolia on the Move (700 Mile Week)

Magnolia had a nice winter in South Florida but it was getting time to get on the move north. Our friends and mentors Greg & Marie aboard SV Second Sally were on a non-stop passage from St Thomas Virgin Islands so did not want to miss the opportunity to miss connecting with them.

It was soon time to get on the “road.” We were looking to get offshore as much of the trip north as we could. We did see about a weather window about a week out and so Magnolia got underway and headed up the coast of Florida with a plan to jump off at St Augustine and see how far north we could get.

We were anchored in North Lake Worth (Palm Beach) where we met up with Greg and Marie. Since Magnolia and Second Sally have both been isolated we were feeling comfortable enjoying time together.

Getting underway I thought it was time to confess what life underway is really like…when we are underway in open water, we use this little remote control to drive Magnolia up the waterway….sorry to bust any bubbles…

We made a quick stop at Cocoa Village and happy to see there are new docks and waterfront improvements going on. Going to be really nice when its done!

Magnolia at anchor in “The Trailer Park.” There are a number of “derelict” boats anchored here and the locals refer to it as such….

We have books and charts that show the information about when bridges open etc….I do not remember actually seeing a sign on a bridge before. Oh, sorry some bridges we can go underneath…some bridges we call on the radio and ask them to grant us passage and they raise the bridge for us.

Bird Island, on the Indian River near Cape Canaveral.

The Indian River next to Cape Canaveral is a wonderful wildlife habitat. Here we are heading for Haulover Canal where we go from the Indian River to Mosquitto Lagoon….thankfully not as bad as it sounds this time of the year.

We anchored in New Smyrna Beach for the night and up early for the long trip to St Augustine, our weather window opens tomorrow and we need to be on time!

We anchored just offshore from Fort Castillo de San Marcos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos). Do not even ask me to pronounce nor tell you the history but its all in the link above.

After a good nights sleep we were up and underway at first light heading out St Augustine Inlet.

We were soon way out in the ocean sharing our space with this handsome sea-turtle.

The day was just perfect at sea and as you can see the evening was heading the same way. We knew the morning was going to bring some less than ideal conditions, as turned not as bad as expected.

After 236 nm we arrived into Winyah Bay, SC and a VERY good nights sleep!

Ours friends on SV Runaway anchored nearby after arriving from Fernadina….when the window opens….cruisers move!

Progressing up-river from Winyah Bay leads to the beautiful Waccamaw River (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waccamaw_River)

We get such a kick out of counting turtles on a sunny day…..though Doctor Fauci would not approve….

We have never been out of Little River inlet but it was a calm day and day in the ocean beats shore anytime!

Off shore from Southport, NC heading towards the Cape Fear River.

Our forgot that we entered Cape Fear (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Fear_(headland)) once before. We were on the SV Magnolia on an over-night from Charleston. The forecast came out to be a lie and it was a horrendous passage…arriving the inlet with its huge standing waves was a morning we now want to forget once again. This arrival was NOTING like that!

After stops in Carolina Beach (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Beach,_North_Carolina) and Camp Lejeune (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Base_Camp_Lejeune) we arrived in Moorehead City, NC, just inland from Cape Hatteras (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Hatteras). We are expecting a pretty good “blow” so we came into the Yacht Basin to a dock to sit it out and do a little boat cleaning. As with most others, we will have a low key Easter as most others…that will not be stopping us feeling grateful.

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