Dec 2, 2022 Our Cruising Season Comes to an End - Osprey Marina, SC

FAST FACTS: Total Trip  1785 miles,   Engine Hours  203.4,  Fuel Used 1175 gallons.   We therefore averaged 1.5136 miles per gallon,   5.777 gallons per hour and 8.77 miles per hour.  Normal operation was at 1400rpm showing speed just over 10mph.

 Friday Dec 2   Osprey Marina, Socastee, SC  57 miles

After a much needed full and uneventful night of sleep we were up early and off the dock by 7:30. Nice sunny morning but cold again so ran from the pilothouse most of the day.   Fair number of smaller boats out fishing requiring us to slow down to minimize our wake.  It's that time of year when triple play inshore action is available with trout, flounder and redfish. All good eating.    AIS was showing a boat named Bobbie Ann and labeled as "Fishing Vessel" well ahead of us but going just 6.5mph so we knew it was only a matter of time until we caught up.  As we got closer it was obviously not a fishing vessel but a tug.  He was ahead of us as we approached the notoriously shoaled Lockwood's Folly Inlet. We were using the Bob 423 track overlaid on the latest COE survey.  It requires staying on the far right of the channel almost to the shoreline fighting the inlet current, then shooting across to the far-left side of the channel.  We were hitting it at low tide so were watching Bobbie Ann make his way when we noted a number of funny sharp maneuvers.  We got through fine although we saw a few spots with just 4' under the keel.   Bobbie Ann hailed us and said anytime we were ready to pass him just give a shout on Channel 10.   We chatted a bit and learned he draws 11'. Said he puckered up a few times going across the inlet.  Pushed his way through and said "The old girl does a good job hunting for that deeper water".   We got around him and wished him safe travels.  Called him back when we passed through Shallotte Inlet and saw just 2.5' under our keel (7' total depth) at one point.  Said he may have to wait for tide to rise but we eventually saw him behind us.  Still can't figure how he got across that shoaling!

Getting ready to pass Bobbie Ann

Lockwood Folly Inlet crossing 

Next up was the Little River inlet.  No drama here as it's a major inlet used by the shrimping fleet out of Calabash.  Well marked channel and deeper water. This area is our old stomping grounds.  Just past the casino boat docks is Mariners Pointe Marina where we kept our Trojan 9 Meter International for several years before we moved to Fl. Lots of good memories fishing offshore trolling for kingfish, mahi, yahoo, spanish or bottom fishing for snapper, grouper, etc.  

"Big M" and "The Big M" casino boats at Little River.
Buildings in background on left are at Mariners Pointe.

Heading into Myrtle Beach and the multiple slow/no wake zones. Plenty of development continues along the ICW which amounts to little more than a ditch here. We seemed to be in perpetual low tide all day as we traveled along so not a big surprise when we entered the section called "The Rock Pile" at low water. I actually prefer it then as you can see the hard rock outcroppings that have damaged a number of unsuspecting boats when hidden by higher water.   Overall, not much traffic other than a few sailboats flying Canadian flags heading south for the winter.   One last bridge at Socastee who opens on demand then a few more miles and we were heading into the entrance channel for Osprey Marina and our home port for the next two months.

Passing the "Barefoot Queen" in the ditch.

After settling in at Osprey Marina learned my brother Paul (yes, another brother) and his wife LeeAnn were at their condo in Garden City for the weekend. Made plans to meet up with them at Murrells Inlet on Sat. for a walk around the marsh walk to view the Christmas decorations and then grab some dinner at the Dirty Dog restaurant while watching the ACC Championship football game between Clemson and UNC.  Fun game for Martha and me as Clemson finally made a QB change and got things going to easily defeat UNC.  Not quite as much fun for Paul and LeeAnn.  Always great to see family!!

John, Martha, LeeAnn and Paul showing our team colors

We had an interesting follow-up a few days after docking at Osprey Marina.  Boating friends sent Martha a link to a video on Facebook (I still refuse to subscribe - scourge of the earth!) of our boat heading down the Waccamaw River to Socastee.  Apparently, there's a guy who films passing boats and posts them on his Facebook page - Show Us Your Boat.  Great video but I'm not tech savvy enough to figure out how to post it here. Martha managed to grab a screenshot. 

Picture from Show Us Your Boat on Facebook.
Growing that ICW moustache on the bow!

Journey for Dec 2
Final trip of 2022

Dec 1, 2022 St. James Plantation Marina - Southport, NC

 Thurs 12/1  St. James Marina - Southport, NC  70 miles

We had a bit of an uneasy extra day and night at Mile Hammock.   Only one boat left in the morning - the rest stayed at anchor with us.   Winds would be swapping direction all day and night and gusts were expected up to 35 along with some bands of rain. While the anchorage is protected enough that no choppy waves develop it is still fairly unprotected from winds - especially anything with a westerly orientation.  As can be seen on the screenshots from our anchoring apps, we spun hitting every compass heading during our stay.  We may have even dragged anchor a bit. We never got outside our anchoring safety radius which was good.  Unfortunately, a catamaran anchored nearby did break free at the absolute worst time with high winds and driving rain.  Owner got drenched but managed to get the boat reset about the time the squall passed. Thankfully it was during the day and not the middle of the night.  Felt terrible for him but glad it was not us!  

Navionics plot above - AquaMaps anchor alarm below

As the day wore on the rainy weather started breaking, although the winds continued.  That gave our marine friends an opening for more maneuvers.   Frogmen back in the water training with  undewater scooters.   Then the aerial assault started with touch and go landings again.   At least today the aircraft of choice were much quieter helicopters.

Marine chopper in the afternoon sun

 Wed. AM we were raising anchor early at 6:45. Bit of a NE breeze blowing but we would be in protected waters most of the day with the exception of coming down the Cape Fear River. The wind there would be at our stern so a non-issue.  We had 2 bridges of concern. Figure 8 Island Swing Bridge which only opens on the hour and half hour and then the Wrightsville Beach Bridge which only opens on the hour.   Our plan was getting to Figure 8 at 10:30 and then scoot the 5 miles to Wrightsville for the 11 AM opening.  Not much traffic on the waterway although we did get hailed for a slow pass by Huntress, a large sportfisher who had been following us. He took off after passing us showing a speed over 20mph on AIS which I though odd.  He would still be too late for the 9:30 Figure 8 opening so wouldn't be able to make the 10 AM Wrightsville opening.  We meandered along at our 10mph pace to the Figure 8 bridge arriving at 10:20 and were able to proceed unencumbered after lowering our VHF antenna due to the extra clearance from a low tide.  Found out from Martha several days later she had a little mishap while tending to the antenna.  Glad this boat has wide walkarounds and stout railings or I would have been performing a man overboard maneuver.  Approaching Wrightsville, we could see Huntress idling nervously in front of the bridge. We went through the 11 AM opening together recalling that old story about the tortoise and the hare.

We had hoped to see my brother Pete as we passed Carolina Beach where he has a house.  Timing just didn't work out. Several days later my brother Bill told me he had also been in town that day and could have watched us as we went under the Snows Cut Bridge.   Martha took a turn at the wheel for some of the "fun" driving today.  Took us through the narrow and twisting Snows Cut with a strong current pushing us hard from behind.    Then out into the Cape Fear River where a 2+ knot incoming current slowed our progress making for a tense passing of a fast-moving incoming tanker. Finally, back on the ICW and passing Southport which is our normal stopping point.   We had decided this would be a little longer travel day to insure arrival at Osprey Marina on Thurs. by midafternoon.   So, on we pressed for a few more miles and into St James Marina for the night.   A simple sign on the ICW and a narrow easily missed entrance channel leads into the marina. It's part of a private larger development but also accepts transients. Very protected, nice folks, restaurant on site, decent rates, clean restrooms.  Took on 120 gallons of diesel just so tanks would be about 2/3 full.  Not the best price but certainly better than most.  Dinner on board to keep cleaning out the fridge and then early to bed.

Dockmate at St. James Marina decorated for Christmas

Journey for Dec 1