We started off the day on Oct. 28 in cloudy, drizzly weather leaving our Calabash River anchorage at 7:35. We cruised by Myrtle Beach – one of the busier areas on the ICW.
We passed a surprisingly large casino boat – probably the biggest passenger ship we’ve seen on the ICW.
By 9:30, a torrential rainstorm hit for a short while but fortunately there was no thunder or lightening.
We soon entered the Waccamaw River which rivals the St. John’s River in Florida for beauty. It is a gorgeous river winding through lush greenery and comfortable waterfront homes all equipped with their own private docks.
About midway through our journey we stopped at the Osprey Marina for fuel. We waited for a thirsty power boat to finish fueling before it was our turn. We had stayed at this very pleasant and conveniently tucked away marina on our way north but it was only noon so we planned to continue our cruise after taking advantage of their excellent fuel prices.
Speaking of fuel – we had anticipated that the biggest chunk of our cruising “kitty” would be spent on diesel. However, we’ve been able to take advantage of the dip in fuel prices throughout this trip. So instead of fuel being our highest expense category, eating out has taken its place!
It eventually stopped raining but the day remained overcast. For the last few days, we have frequently been in a procession of boats all making their way south towards warmer weather.
We reached our anchorage around 3:00, an early “quitting time” for us. We debated if we should proceed further because it was so early and the current was in our favor. But we decided not to and we took the rest of the afternoon to relax. Jonny actually slowed down enough to read and take a brief nap!
Our anchorage next to Butler Island was indeed a beautiful setting. We were the only vessel there amidst a completely undeveloped landscape of open shoreline and waving grasses. The only sign of civilization was a backhoe on the shore that may have been there to repair a nearby dam (we hope it wasn’t a portent of encroaching civilization)!
Lynn made an extra good dinner that evening (chicken breasts with bacon and vinegar) along with acorn squash (stuffed with apples and dried cranberries) and sautéed zucchini and onions. All the while cooking and eating, we were on the phone with Stephanie who is considering a couple of job opportunities that are likely to have her working in New York City. She has been faced with a lot of job placement decisions since she’s been at Aramark, and she is definitely exhibiting a strong ability to manage change effectively!
The day was topped off with an awesome sunset. Afterwards, we had a very quiet night at anchor. It was so calm it felt like we were sleeping in our land bed!
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