Trawler Punches on the IntraCoastal Waterway

First Time in Wrightsville Beach, NC

Today was again clear and crisp in the high 50’s at sunrise.  We had favorable current until Southport, NC and then going up the Cape Fear River
the current was 2.5 knots against us.  The good news is the wind was in the same direction so there was no chop on the water.  There was a lot
of weekend boat traffic and a few very inconsiderate larger boats.  On the Cape Fear River two large boats passed at the same time at full speed
both sides of us – that made for an interesting wake!!!!! Tonight we are anchored at Wrightsville beach, NC with about 10 other boats.  We have never stopped
here before – the anchorage is nice in the middle of a very built-up area, but with lots of boat traffic.

Wrightsville Beach Anchorage:

Today’s Stats: Location-Wrightsville Beach, NC  ICW MM 283.2, distance traveled 63.48 miles, average speed 8.30 mph, 7.21 knots

We ducked the bad weather

Central South Carolina on the coast did not get any bad weather yesterday, not even rain.  Today it was cooler than any day since leaving Virginia last fall – only 59 degrees.
We had a very favorable tide and current as we made our way through the beautiful Waccamaw River and then on to the over developed area of Myrtle Beach.
It was time to buy diesel again – we stopped at Osprey Marina and put in 116 gallons at $3.69 per gallon – that worked out to 2.58 gph since the last fill and about
3.22 mpg. Traffic on the ICW was light, two power boats passed us and we passed 2 sailboats.
Tonight thanks to our Friends Chris & Frank Erwin we have courtesy dockage in Little River, SC.

Today’s Stats: Location-Coquina Yacht Club, Little River, SC ICW MM 345.9, distance traveled 60.06 miles, average speed 9.24mph, 8.03 knots

Mini Monk Trawler Rendezvous in Georgetown, SC

We are waiting for the line of storms now to the west of us.  We have three Monk 36 trawlers at the marina:
Punches #73 Joe & Sandra Urban, The Cooper # 91 Rusty & Betty Hughes & Prime Time #203 Dale & Renie Lauermann.
Is that a record for Monks in one place by coincidence?  We are enjoying the shopping and restaurants of Georgetown,
including a great fresh breakfast at Thomas Café.
Below: Monk 36 Trawlers at Georgetown, SC: left to right: Punches, Prime Time ( behind dark hull boat )  and the Cooper.

Today’s Stats: Location-Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC ICW MM 403, lay day.

Short run to Georgetown, SC

The wind was just starting to pick-up when we left the dock in McClellanville, SC. For about 2 hours  we had good shelter in the ICW,
but when we reached the open waters of Winyah Bay the strong south wind hit the outgoing tide and created 2 foot waves.
That lasted about 30 minutes and the we made to turn into Georgetown.  It was still windy when we tied up in our slip where
we will take a lay day until the stormy weather passes through.
The marina filled up with boats also seeking shelter from the same weather coming.

We are now “easting”; slowing making the curve along the Carolina coast which is as much East as it is North.
Georgetown, SC is a delightful town and the local Piggly Wiggly market was happy to pick us up and take us back from our marina for grocery shopping.
My new shower and AC sump pump arrived today, I installed it and Sandra is happy we can run the A/C in the main salon again especially in the
muggy weather we have been having for about a week-more summer-like than April even for South Carolina.

Today’s Stats: Location-Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC ICW MM 403, distance traveled 27.81 miles, average speed 7.94 mph, 6.90 knots

First Bad Weather of the Trip

The day started great with calm winds but cloudy  skis. There was some wind and chop crossing Charleston harbor but just afterwards a large
squall line and rain hit us for a couple of hours.  We tried to anchor in Graham Creek but the wind and tide made impossible to set the anchor so we
went on another 9 miles to a dock at Leland Oil Company in the historic town of McClellanville, SC.  The town is quaint with nice older homes and
a tiny downtown.  I walked there, got lost ( yes!! ) and a local drove me back to the dock where I shared a beer with the very friendly residents here.
below is a local church and real estate office in town.

Today’s Stats:  Location-McClellanville, SC,  ICW MM 430, distance traveled 68.53 miles, average speed 8.40 mph, 7.3 knots

long Day on the Water

The great weather should hold until Thursday morning ( we hope!!).  Today we left at sunrise and ran the boat 10 hours taking us past
Hilton Head, across Port Royall Sound, past Beaufort, SC where a barge had a bridge channel blocked but there is enough water
to use another span opening and then the 10 mile run down the Coosaw River. Winds did pick up in the Coosaw and we had some chop
for the first time today. There was a little more traffic on the ICW today, we passed a total of 7 cruising boats both north and southbound.

Tonight we are anchored in Steamboat Creek about 30 miles south of Charleston, SC.  We are still on-track to make Georgetown, SC on
Wednesday morning ahead of the cold front and possible bad weather.

Today’s Stats:  Location-Steamboat Creek, SC,  ICW MM 496, distance traveled 87.23 miles, average speed 8.73 mph, 7.58 knots

First marina since leaving Stuart

Happy Easter !!!! Great weather, calm winds – sounding like a broken record.  Today we made our way through more marsh grass and sounds in Georgia.
Once again very light boat traffic, we passed 2 boats northbound and two boats south bound.  The day started on low tide so we had a favorable
current most of the way and good water under the boat as we passed through some of the shallower sections of the ICW in Georgia ( without
maintenance or dredging for over 10 years now ).  Tonight we are at Thunderbolt Marina near Savannah, GA.  We met up with follow Monk trawler owners
Dale & Renie Lauermann from Maryland for dinner.  Sandra had time to do laundry and I finally got the boat cleaned up.  We are looking at a cold
front coming through Wed to Thursday and will try to make it to Georgetown, SC before it arrives.

Today’s Stats:  Location-Thunderbolt Marina, GA,  ICW MM 583, distance traveled 62.60miles, average speed 8.71 mph, 7.58 knots

Today the Current was With Us

Another perfect day for cruising in  a trawler.  Calm winds and 70 degrees as we left Cumberland Island, Georgia.  We had to cross
the infamous St Andrews Sound where you touch the ocean at the inlet; but wind and tide were in the same direction and on a scale of 10
the crossing was an 8!!  One again we saw almost no traffic on the ICW – we heard many sailboats offshore since conditions were favorable to
travel up the coast on the ocean side.  We passed 3 boats going south and only 1 sailboat going north.  Tonight we are alone in our secluded anchorage
in the sea grass of Georgia; winds have picked up to a little over 10 MPH but we are snug and enjoying the quiet. We will head for Thunderbolt near Savannah tomorrow.

Today’s Stats:  Location-New Teakettle Creek, GA,  ICW MM 646, distance traveled 66.53 miles, average speed 8.87 mph, 7.71 knots

Great day on Cumberland Island

We took the dinghy ashore this morning to explore Cumberland Island.  The place is magic, the towering live oaks covered with Spanish moss, the sound or birds and the ocean.
Just a few minutes into our walk along the river we saw a wild horse.  Later along the beach Sandra enjoyed collecting shells while we looked at all the stranded cannonball jellyfish.  there
were also some horses along the beach.  All in all a great day on one of the finest beaches on the east coast of the US!!

Today’s Stats:  Location-Cumberland Island, GA,  ICW MM 711, distance traveled 0 – Lay day.

Into Georgia Today

The current gives and it takes away – today it was on the take side so the day’s trip was a little slower.  We topped up our fuel at
Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Beach, FL at $3.97 per gallon and we took 111 gallons.  That should take us easily into South Carolina
where prices may be a little better but who knows in a week or so?  This is the highest I have ever paid for boat fuel.  We had more
boat traffic and one boat in particular “All Fired Up” waked everyone behind me.
I had slowed down to idle when he reached me, but he came by digging a large hole and throwing a big wake.  I yelled and he looked behind
his boat and said ( really!! ) I am not throwing a wake.
I yelled back he is responsible if he rolls me and he finally slowed down – the behavior of some boaters is crazy!!!
We crossed into Georgia today and will take a day off tomorrow  to tour the beach of Cumberland Island a favorite stop for us.

Today’s Stats:  Location-Cumberland Island, GA,  ICW MM 711, distance traveled 56.77miles, average speed 8.11 mph, 7.05 knots

Short Day’s Run

We had a very short run today so we decided to sleep in a little.  The weather continues to be very good ( fingers crossed ) and
for most of the morning the current was with us.  We did not pass any boats today and saw only one other cruising boat, a sailboat
going south.  Pine Island where we are anchored tonight 10 miles above St Augustine, FL is very peaceful with no development visible.  Tomorrow will be our last day
in Florida as we cross into Georgia.  I checked our fuel and we will top up tomorrow, trying to only buy fuel at the places with the best prices.

Today’s Stats:  Location- Pine Island, FL,  ICW MM 765, distance traveled 37.48 miles, average speed 8.52 mph, 7.4 knots

A Trawler Party In Palm Coast

The day started with a pleasant surprise – the Titusville, FL swing bridge is gone and a high rise bridge has opened to replace it.
One less bridge to deal with on the ICW.  It was another day of great weather and light ICW traffic – we were passed by just one high speed boat and we passed
4 other boats. Sandra and I saw an eagle along the ICW and many more birds in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.   When we reached our planned stop at Daytona Beach to anchor there were too many boats already there even at 1:30 in the afternoon so we decided to press on to Palm Coast where fellow MTOA members Phil & Sarah Lowe graciously offered a neighbors dock for the night.  We had a nice dinner hosted by the Lowes and shared by other trawler owners, the Lowe’s friends and neighbors and great fried fish prepared by Sarah’s brother.

Today’s Stats:  Location- Palm Coast, FL,  ICW MM 801, distance traveled 85.12 miles, average speed 8.51 mph, 7.4 knots

Is the Indian River Straight or what?

Today was day 2 on the Indian River – basically you are heading due north.  The weather is great and I was surprised how
little boat traffic we saw; we passed one trawler and 5 or 6 sailboats.  One large fast boat passed us and another small one
really rolled us – amazing how a small boat can create a large wake!!  With light winds from the SE we have anchored near
the Kennedy Space Center in the lee of the causeway.  Fish are feeding around us.  Today we saw two or three osprey nests and all had
chicks in them – I guess the Florida birds get and early start with breeding! We plan to get to Daytona Beach tomorrow.

Today’s Stats:  Location- NASA Causeway, Cape Kennedy, FL,  ICW MM 885, distance traveled 62.67miles, average speed 8.95 mph, 7.79 knots

Underway North!!!

We cast off the dock lines from our condo in Stuart, Florida and started the 3 week trip back to Virginia.
This just 3 days after we wrapped-up co-chairing a very successful Marine Trawler Owners Association
rendezvous at the Hutchinson island Marriott ( 51 boats, 177 members attending ).
The day started foggy but much cooler than the low 90’s we have had recently, reaching just the high 70’s.   Along the way we saw a few dolphins and a large loggerhead turtle just below Vero Beach.
Tonight we are at anchor just above Vero Beach and there is a sailboat and another trawler with us.

Today’s Stats:  Location- Pine Island, Wabasso Beach, FL,  ICW MM 946, distance traveled 50.49 miles, average speed 8.42 mph, 7.32 knots

Motor Kayaking at Ft Pierce

Sandra & I along with friends Dennis & Suzi Robinett decided to spend a day exploring the inlet and
mangroves near Ft Pierce, Florida.  A neat way to travel, a kayak with a trolling motor – we could cover
more ground and also deal with going into the wind, but still paddle in the skinny water thru the mangroves.

Check out the guides site: http://www.motorizedkayakadventures.com/