Cruising the Chesapeake Bay

16 Saturday Jun 2018

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in From the helm

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Atlantic ICW, Beaufort Docks Marina, Beaufort NC, Belhaven, Boat, Bridge Tender Marina, Bridge Tender Restaurant, Causeway Cafe, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal destinations, Cruising, CruisingTheICW, Dog, Georgetown SC, Harborwalk Marina, Mainship 34T, Marinas, Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, NC, Slow Dance, Southport Marina, The Big Tuna, Waterfront dining, Wilmington NC, Wrightsville Beach, Wrightsville Beach Marina

Calm and cloudy

The decision’s been made. This summer “Slow Dance” will be cruising the Chesapeake Bay! Plans are for:

First night: Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC
Second night: Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Third and Fourth nights: Joyner Marina, Carolina Beach, NC
Fifth night: Top Sail Island Marina, Surf City, NC
Sixth thru eighth night: Beaufort, NC
Ninth night: Belhaven, NC
Tenth night and beyond: Open to suggestions, but know that barring the unforeseen, we’ll be heading to Elizabeth City, NC and then up the historic Dismal Swamp Canal to Chesapeake, VA before continuing a far north on the Bay as Annapolis and/or Saint Michaels.

UPDATE: “Slow Dance” now has “her” AWESOME new Garmin electronics package, the Cummins valves are adjusted, and as “precautionary” maintenance the Cummins and Kohler have new impellers. Last, but not least, the hull gets a thorough inspection, cleaning, and zincs replaced as needed. Now just counting down the days!

This summer’s cruise will be “Slow Dance” longest cruise since traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Ross Marine, where we dropped her off to correct issues discovered during her pre-purchase survey. On this cruise, she will be proudly flying her American flag, her and America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association burgee.

Follow along as this summer’s adventure unfolds!

Oh Captain, My Captain

Historic Seaport of Georgetown, SC

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by “Oh Captain My Captain” in Destinations

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Atlantic ICW, Boat, Boats, Coastal destinations, Corona, Cruising, CruisingTheICW, Dog, Georgetown SC, Great marina, Harborwalk Marina, Historic Georgetown SC, ICW, Mainship, Mainship 34T, Marinas, The Big Tuna, Trawler

Georgetown, SC. This historic, seaport town has become our favorite “long weekend getaway” destination. From our slip in Mount Pleasant to the Harborwalk Marina is a leisurely six hour cruise aboard Slow Dance. Recently, when making the supreme effort to get there before sunset, we made the trip in five hours, and were still respectful of all No Wake zones.

Georgetown is the County Seat of Georgetown County, also know as the Hammock Coast of South Carolina, thanks to its popular beach communities of Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Pawley’s Island, and Litchfield Beach. Though we typically stay at Harborwalk Marina, there are three others within walking distance of the historic downtown shopping and restaurant district. Currently, the marina is undergoing a welcomed expansion, but is definitely still open for business. For the 2017 Georgetown Wooden Boat Show we were docked on inside of their new face dock, and loved it. Of course it puts Slow Dance‘s 34-foot size into perspective when there’s a 75-foot Off Shore yacht on the other side of the dock!

Being creatures of habit, we stay at Harborwalk Marina because it is the closest to downtown. All of the marina’s slips are only a very short walk to land and marina facilities – which is important to any cruisers traveling with a crew that includes canines. Our “first mate,” Kate, gives Harborwalk “two paws up!”

On Front Street, which runs parallel to the town’s riverfront Harborwalk, there’s a good selection of restaurants from which to choose. Kate’s first choice has been The Big Tuna, thanks to it welcoming canine crew members. My “Admiral” has tried a myriad of their offerings, but seems to come back to their crab cake or grouper sandwich. My two favorites are their seared tuna, and when available, their awesome whole fried flounder. Have yet to have a meal without the house salad, with housemade ranch dressing. Prices are very reasonable!