"Returning Home 2004 -Charleston to Cape Fear River" South Carolina Travelogue by grandmaR

Passing barge and tow- April 19th - Charleston

Bob returned the rental car, and we cast off. We stopped at the fuel dock and got 27 gallons of fuel and a pumpout. Then the boat absolutely refused to back the direction it normally goes and we almost had to back all the way out of the breakwater.

It started out very windy - up to 19 knots. Bob put up all the sails. We passed a barge and tug that were coming into the harbor (pictured). I have only this one photo of leaving Charleston. The rest of these are all of coming in the Cape Fear River.

April 20th - Oak Hill Light off Southport

We have never been offshore off Isle of Palms before. With binoculars, I can see the low fixed bridge between Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island, and the high fixed bridge over the ICW that is near the Isle of Palms marina but it is too far away for a photo. I can hear the Ben Sawyer bridge on the radio trying to get people to stay between the fenders. (There is only water under one side of the swing bridge - the other side is very shallow.)

Bob says the engine rpms are worse than ever. I had a nap and read from Claiborne Young's book to Bob.

1339 - trip so far 35 sm at an average speed of 7.4 mph. There are some rollers rocking the boat. We are coming up along Cape Romain but we are so far offshore that I can't see either the land or the lighthouse. After Bob's nap I went down to rest, and dreamed I was riding a bike with the inner tube sticking out. I think this is because of the rollers. Bob said there were dolphins playing around the boat while I was asleep.

April 20th -Bald Head beach and surf

1834 - trip 69.4 sm. We are going to have to slow down or we'll get there in the dark. We have a nice steak dinner, and then Bob goes down for a nap. Didn't stay long and came back up before it was really dark. I took another nap and came up about 2300.

Bob went down for to try to sleep again. (I didn't have to tell him -he suggested it this time) But he was only there about 20 minutes when he came up in his stocking feet (!!!) (He has tender feet and wears shoes ALL the time.) to sheet the main in harder so that when the rollers rocked the boat it wouldn't bang around so much. Then he went back.

In order to keep the boat from rolling so much and also in order to slow down our speed a bit so we won't get to the Cape Fear River before dawn, I'm tacking back and forth (or actually jibing back and forth) and keeping the wind about 120 degrees on each side.

April 20-Surf along a shallow spot off the channel

I see a bright light in the western sky. A ship? Where would a ship be coming from?

No - it's too big and too high up for a ship - plus I can't see any red or green lights.

A lighthouse? Can't find any lighthouses on the charts over on that shore, and again it's too high up.

There's no moon tonight, and I know stars don't rise in the west, so it can't be a star (one time I kept thinking that rising stars were ships until they got up over the horizon too far) and it's too bright.

A plane taking off? But it doesn't seem to get higher. Eventually the light goes away, so I guessed it was a plane that landed. After a bit I saw another one.

Apri 20th - Bald Head silhouetted

There is not much traffic on the radio except the CG - I can hear their transmissions all the way from Mayport to Cape Hatteras. Did hear an Army ship saying that it has hazardous cargo.

Later in the night, I heard the CG asking people if they'd seen flares that the light dawned.

Those lights I saw were FLARES!!!

About 0430, I waked Bob up to take his watch, and lie down for a bit.

April 20th - Early Bald Head car barge

When we came in the river, it seemed like the cargo ship ahead of us was on another track. I later found that they've changed the channel so it doesn't come straight in the river like it used to. It doesn't make much difference as far as depth goes, at least for us, but it may keep the big ships from having so much opposing current.

I see the barge with the contractors and workers cars for Bald Head - I wouldn't like my car getting salt sprayed on like that.

Looking across at the marina from the land side

As we came in - about 0700, I heard people asking where they could get fuel. I heard LITTLE BLUE talking to Southport marina and asking for fuel. So I got on the radio too and said we needed fuel.

We got there right as the marina opened, and got 22 gallons.

Next : Southport