Georgetown, SC…a day later than planned!

29 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in Destinations, Dining, Marinas

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Beaufort NC, Beautiful yachts, Belhaven, BIG TUNA, Charleston, Coastal destinations, Corona, Cruising, Georgetown SC, Harborwatch Marina, ICW, M/Y Chanticleer M/V Shear Water, M/Y Integrity, Maine Boats, Mainship, Mount Pleasant SC, Slow Dance, Soundings, Trawler, Waterfront dining

When you mention Georgetown, folks immediately think of the “trendy” Washington, DC suburb – for better or worse. THAT Georgetown is a little too “whatever” for me. It may be an okay place to have lunch or dinner, and ‘people watch,” but it doesn’t have Harborwalk Marina or the BIG TUNA! Georgetown (SC), home of Harborwalk AND BIG TUNA, we love you, and we’re not alone! Harborwalk and Georgetown (SC) are our weekend get away destination and our first overnight destination on every northbound cruise.

Yesterday’s travel up the ICW to Georgetown was our first chance to see the new Garmin electronics at work. Beautiful and user-friendly best describes the touchscreen units at the upper and lower helms. Now I have to learn all they are capable of!

Yesterday as we cruised by McClellanville, I asked CT to take the helm while I made a quick trip to the “facilities.” In an unusual turn of events, I didn’t get the helm back until we got to the Georgetown Harbor. So much for being the captain! I think maybe she was identifying with Saudi women finally getting the right to drive.

Harborwalk’s new docks are still under construction, but one new face dock and a beautiful new dockside office are complete and fully operational. Dock Master, Chris Carroll and his crew are a credit to the town — warm and friendly service that let you know you’re welcome and appreciated. By the same token, it’s hard to go anywhere in this Georgetown without getting into a conversation with locals that seem genuinely glad you “dropped by” their little Southern town.

As always, dinner was again at the BIG TUNA. On a side note, eat your heart out, Steve Swanson! THAT’S why I sent you the pic. Kate said to tell Dock that he missed a great evening of treats galore, and a beautiful sunset. Kate wants Bucky to give her a job cleaning up the French fries that customers drop. Needless to say that customers that didn’t bring their dogs on vacation sure gave Kate a lot of love.

When we docked yesterday afternoon, we were tied up across the dock from the beautiful, 114’ Westport, “Integrity.” When we returned from dinner, we saw the 110’, 1973 Burger, “Chanticleer,” and “Shear Water,” a beautiful sport fishing boat had docked for the night. The Hinkley launch for the “Integrity” was bigger than “Slow Dance!” Humbling, very humbling for our little Mainship!

Today, thanks to CT again having taken over the helm, I can finally complete this post that kept putting me to sleep last night. Sure hope you can stay awake long enough to read it!

Fair winds and following seas.

Wrightsville Beach, NC

29 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in Destinations

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Atlantic ICW, Boat, Bridge Tender Marina, Bridge Tender Restaurant, Causeway Cafe, Coastal destinations, Cruising, CruisingTheICW, Featured, ICW, ICW ports, Lanes Ferry Dock & Grill, Mainship, Marinas, Waterfront dining, Wilmington and Beaches CVB, Wilmington NC, Wrightsville Beach, Wrightsville Beach Marina

Wrightsville Beach, NC. “Voted North Carolina’s Best Beach.” Considering the myriad of beautiful beaches along North Carolina’s three hundred mile coastline, being voted Variety Vacationland’s best beach is a pretty strong statement. For cruisers docking at one of Wrightsville Beach’s marinas, the beach is just about a mile walk or four minute Uber ride away.

The beauty of Wrightsville Beach marinas is their convenience to restaurants, the beach, and shopping. It’s a little unusual to find a West Marine so close to marinas, but their 1930 Eastwood Road, Wilmington location is within a half mile of Bridge Tender and Dockside marinas, (technically located in Wilmington, but directly across the ICW from Wrightsville Beach Marina) and Wrightsville Beach Marina, and just over a mile from Seapath Yacht Club. I know, several years ago – before Uber – I had to find it to buy a new VHF while staying at the Wrightsville Beach Marina. With only a bike for transportation, the convenience of the store was a blessing.

This past July, between our trip north on the ICW and then cruising back south, we spent about five days at Bridge Tender Marina.

Blue Heron and Slow Dance from the WB Bridge The marina staff was as great as the location, I only wish they had shower and laundry facilities. The adjacent Bridge Tender restaurant is a local favorite, and having tried a couple of their dinner specials, I can understand its popularity!

Though we haven’t used the Dockside Marina, on the ICW just south of Bridge Tender, we have eaten at Dockside Restaurant numerous times over the years. It’s another favorite among locals.

Before leaving on our cruise north, a neighbor told me that if we overnighted in Wrightsville Beach, we HAD to have at least one breakfast at at the lengendary causeway-cafe-from-the Causeway Cafe. We did, and it was a great, totally Southern experience next door to Wrightsville Beach Marina and within easy walking distance of Bridge Tender.

One thing is for sure, Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast has no shortage of great restaurants! Another “Southern experience” one that became an instant favorite is one that an old friend, now living in Wilmington introduced us to, Lanes Ferry Dock and Grill. Located at 1101 NC Highway 210, Rocky Point, NC, it’s on the North Cape Fear River, about a 45-minute drive from Bridge Tender Marina. Their hot dogs with butter-grilled buns are definitely worth the ride if you’re a connoisseur of hot dogs. The homefried potato chips, R.C. and Cheerwine sodas – or their homemade sweet tea – are simply bonuses! Kenny “Big Mac” and Marie McManus try to make sure that every customer leaves full and satisfied! A parking lot filled with cars in the middle of nowhere is always a sign of great food!

Wilmington, like Charleston on the South Carolina coast, is blessed with being a historic seaport city complimented by beautiful beaches. Wilmington is approximately 18 miles up the Cape Fear River from the ICW at Southport, NC. In that 18 mile distance are three marinas with transient dockage along the River. Two, Port City and Cape Fear marinas are located adjacent to downtown and the historic district. Wilmington Marine Center is on the Cape Fear, approximately three miles south of downtown. All three are popular among cruisers.

While the ICW and beaches of the Cape Fear Coast may be “attractors” to the area, Wilmington offers an abundance of excellent attractions for the entire family. The WWII battleship, North Carolina, moored on the Cape Fear River, across from the historic district, is one of North Carolina’s premier attractions, and has been named one of the “Best Ship Museums in America.” Antebellum homes, historic gardens, Fort Fisher, site of the largest amphibious battle of the Civil War, and the award winning North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher are just a few of the attractions of the Cape Fear Coast. The Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau website gives cruisers an in-depth, easy to navigate overview of all this beautiful, historic seaport has to offer. Don’t take my word for it, check it out!