We Start Our 2023 Cruising Season!!

 Wed.  Feb 1, 2023  Osprey Marina to Awendaw Creek   60.7 miles

The holidays are over, our 2 month slip rental at Osprey Marina is over, and we're ready to find a bit of warmer weather.  After topping off the water and fuel tanks and pumping out the holding tank we said our goodbyes to the team at Osprey and headed down the Waccamaw River for points south. Specifically, we're headed to the St. Johns River with hopes of exploring it all the way to Sanford. 

Leaving our home base for the past 2 months - Osprey Marina

The forecast was calling for cloudy drizzly weather, but it turned into a very pleasant 75 degree day.   Caught an outgoing current all the way down the Waccamaw - still one of our favorite sections of the ICW as you meander through forested swampland before coming to the open flatlands approaching Georgetown that at one time were fertile indigo and rice fields. 

Warm sunshine shows up as we exit the Waccamaw and head under
 the  Ocean Hiway Bridge north of Georgetown

Once in the Minim Canal you come across the unique Minim Canal Bridge
 - a floating barge swing bridge

A quick sniff of the air as we passed the papermill in Georgetown verified stopping there was inadvisable today.  Besides, we wanted to make time as we had a favorable tide height for passing through the once again growing shoals around McClellansville.  Easily passed through with the help of an extra 2.5' of tide. No problems and even got our first dolphin sightings. Traveling this time of year is unique with so little traffic.  Passed one boat all day - a sailboat headed north up the Waccamaw.  

Wildlife scenery along the ICW.
Can you spot the white heron?

Made it to our anchorage for the night - Awendaw Creek.   This is a new anchorage for us but one worth remembering.   Easy in/out from ICW.   Good anchoring depth of 10-12', plenty of swing room and room for multiple boats.  Drawback is it can get crowded during the migration season and it's very exposed surrounded by marsh grass - making it buggy in warm still conditions.  We were hoping for a nice sunset over the marsh to end a wonderful first day back on the water. Unfortunately, the weather gods finally brought in that dreary weather and so we ended with dinner and early to bed planning a first light departure the next day. 

Journey for Feb1.2023