Chesapeake bound!

Today is 7/27- it was a layover day in Hampton, VA.

We finally went grocery shopping! We had a cab come pick us up and now we're stocked! Bagels even!

While we were gone, Barry got the part he needed to fix the THRUSTERS!!! Yay!

Our guests, Dick and Fran arrived and we went to dinner at a really good restaurant- I had Mahi- yum-oh!

When we got back to the boat, we saw jellyfish under the boat next to us- they have lights under the stern, so they lit up like a display!





Tomorrow, we're headed to Solomons, MD then to Annapolis...

catch ya on the flip side! :D

mint chocolate chip

Today is Sunday, July 26- Happy Anniversary to Momma and Daddy! :D

This morning, we left Coinjock, NC headed for Hampton, VA (just past Norfolk).


We saw TONS of bridges today- the most memorable being The Great Bridge Bridge. Way cool- it’s a 4-lane bridge! And the whole thing just rotates backwards…


Once we got through the bridge, we had to go through a set of locks. The water level changes so drastically in the canal that you have to go through a dam, then they lock it behind you, the water level either increases or, in our case, decreases, and then they open the dam in front of you, and you’re free to carry on as usual. We took pictures:




The Norfolk Naval Yard was a happening place! We got to see some super duper ships!
check out the guns on that thing!!



and a submarine!!!
...the picture I took wasn't adequate... the submarine was mostly submerged.


Tonight we’re staying at the Hampton Public Docks. Once we got settled into our home for the next 2 nights, we washed the boat down. Fun stuff!

we have company coming to stay with us tomorrow- friends of the Captain’s!

Tomorrow is a layover day, as well as a grocery shopping day! There’s finally one close enough! We are in serious need of some bagels…

still bagel-less.

Today is 7/25.

No news is good news, right? Not much happened today…
proof: I started James Patterson’s book “Sunday’s at Tiffany’s” at 6am and finished it by 9am.

We made it to Coinjock by about 2 this afternoon and had to refuel. Within four hours of us arriving in Coinjock, 3 more Outer Reef 65’s had joined us. We look like a boat show with limited stock.

here is a picture of Risky Business (us), Copeing, SeaBright, and Andale.

SeaBright:

There are 40 Outer Reefs in the world. 4 of them (10%) are docked in Coinjock, NC.

Tomorrow, we’re headed up past Norfolk, VA to Hampton.
Holler! :D

anchorless.

Today is Friday, July 24.



Last night (Thursday) we stayed in Beaufort, NC. We had an awesome dinner at the Beaufort Grocery Co.

Today was full of adventures. While riding up through the Intracoastal, we were able to add a crazy house to the collection: ...notice, if you will, the matching boat in the lift…

A little while later, we heard some splashing on the starboard side and looked and there were TWO dolphins, just chillin with us! They played in our wake for probably 20 minutes. It was way cool.








The plan for today was to anchor out instead of docking at a marina. When we got to where we were planning on anchoring, we ran into “Copeing,” a fellow Outer Reef 65.

We chatted with him for a while, but turns out we had to roll with some punches. As you know, we have no thrusters. Which apparently means we have an inoperable anchor as well. So, we headed back about 5 miles to River Forest Marina in Belhaven, NC. a.k.a. The Middle of Nowhere.


We were offered a golf cart by the dock master so that we could head into town to find a grocery store. Before we left, he was nice enough to give us directions and tell us that, “there’s just one little thing wrong with it… it has no brakes.” But that’s ok, he tells us, if we need to stop, we can just throw it into reverse and stomp on the break til it stops. Needless to say, it was an awesome adventure. It was hard to stop (obviously) and even harder to steer.
Oh, and we never found the grocery store.

We had dinner onboard- pork chops and couscous! (and apple sauce, of course!) and there was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL sunset. I took a picture, but it turned out pretty bad, just suffice it to say it was PINK. Very cool.

Tomorrow night, we’re headed to Coinjock, NC.

Thanks for reading! :D

p.s. 10 points if you know what a coinjock is!

Thrustless.

Today was an awesome day. and I am exhausted. We did the best job docking today! (the Captain says so!) but before all that, we had a whole day on the water and we saw some really cool stuff... here you go!

just as we pulled away from the dock (at 6:15), we were able to get this picture of Oak Island lighthouse:a lighthouse lit up! Imagine! :D

As requested, I was able to document us entering Cape Fear:

While approaching Wilmington, we passed our friend we saw in Jax! Five Star! and I was able to get virtually the same picture I got on Friday, but in reverse!

here's a guy just makin his living selling bait from a cute little shack:

we had to go through a whole bunch of bridges, some of which they had to open for us! (we're very tall...)

this first one is Wrightsville Beach:

this one is the Figure 8 swing bridge... that's right it pivots!

next was the really good stuff: yard art. These North Carolinians go all out!

GIRAFFE:

HIPPO:(I know it's hard to see, but I promise you that not only is that a hippo, but it's the brightest pink hippo EVER!)

SWAN:

There was also a huge metal structure that looked like a cross between a mermaid and Neptune... but when I tried to take a picture of it, there was so much light reflecting from it, the entire picture was bright white light... so, there you go... our day in a nutshell.

...don't spit into the wind...

This morning (7/22), we left Harbor Walk Marina in Georgetown headed for Southport, NC. 10 hours later, we made it!

…I should probably set the scene for you: BEAUTiFUL weather!!! I’m sitting outside, facing the marina, enjoying music from Pandora… mostly BlackHawk… I love them now.

Ok, so moving on to what we saw today: a tire swing!!!



A Topsy Turvy Tomato Plant! …not on a boat, but let’s not push our luck… (I know they're hard to see, but I promise there are 2!)



The Oak Island lighthouse!



The purple-est house you ever did see! Who paints their house this color?



A floating bridge! The Sunset Beach Swing Bridge:



You can't tell me that thing doesn't look like it's gonna fall apart...


p.s. everytime we pull into port and we're hosing down the boat to get the salt-nasty off of it, I inevitably spray the hose into the wind, effectively soaking me, and causing me to break into song "...Don't spit into the wind, don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger..."

peace out homies!!! :D

...don't tug on Superman's cape...

Today is 7/21... Daddy's birthday!!! :D

This morning, as we were leaving the Charleston City Marina, we passed by Ft. Sumter and I was able to get an ok picture of it:



Today was a great day on the water, we’re all pleasantly surprised how not miserable the weather has been… Momma’s prayers must be workin!

We got to see 2 lighthouses today:

Cape Romain (sorry it's so tiny...):



And Georgetown:



Just in front of the Georgetown Lighthouse was a Coast Guard vessel doin some work in the channel- that was fun to see- it was huge!

Tonight we are staying in Georgetown. And it’s a good thing too! I was so angry with myself yesterday for not getting a praline when I had the chance! I was hoping they would have them here, and not only did they have them, they had a sign on the sidewalk announcing it! Think it was an omen? I did. I bought 2.

We window shopped a lot, found a good bookstore to peruse, and then we found this in the window of a restaurant called Buzz Roost:



Ew?

We also went in a shop that had a t-shirt that read, “It’s better to let a fox guard your hen house than to give your dog the keys to your truck.”

…must be South Carolina humor… we don’t get it.

We went to eat at a place called The Dock House where I had the BEST fried shrimp I’ve ever had! I know that’s a huge statement, but don’t worry, I thought about it… it’s the truth.
Here we are!



Tomorrow, we’re headed for Southport, NC... it’s gonna be a long day- 10 hours on the water… no worries though, we’re taking the scenic route through the intracoastal…
Thanks for reading! Later dudes! :D
p.s. If anyone cares to explain the t-shirt, that would be groovy.

Ew. Gross.

Today was a layover day in Charleston. Woke up a little later than usual... and by that, I of course mean 3 hours... had some breakfast, vacuumed, dusted, etc, the Captain got the part to fix the thrusters (HALLELUJAH!), the "cable" guy came and fixed the satellite TV, and then we went exploring!!! A shuttle took us from the marina into downtown Charleston, where we meandered through the straw market, went in some really fun stores, and then we took a carriage ride through the city! ...and I learned a very important lesson. I do NOT want to work with horses. ever. When the horses come back to the stable, they are hosed off and then this guy has to take their temperature! ew!

anyway, enough about that... on to more exciting things... I can cross a picture off the scavenger hunt list! Sea gulls on pilings... sort of... this one is a couple of pigeons on pilings...



and here's a sea gull... on a cleat.



oh, one last thing: we figured it would be a good idea to post pictures of the boat! duh!
here you go!





Tomorrow mornin, we're headed to Georgetown, SC, where they will hopefully have pralines... I passed up about a dozen chances to get some today... rookie mistake.

Day 3

We're in Charleston! We had dinner on the boat- stir fry! mmmm! and we just got back from a walk to look at boats and such- and found some really cool boats, a couple really weird people (docked across from us... they have a cat. on a boat. that they walk on a leash. nuts-o!), and one amazing sunset...

here's a really cool boat that's in need of the work they're doin...



and here'a a gorgeous sunset picture that SO doesn't do it justice!



on they way here from Hilton Head, we saw 2 lighthouses! Morris Lighthouse:



and the Charleston Lighthouse:



also, today I spotted a sea turtle! no picture... they're illusive little devils... but it was cool!

we've got a layover day tomorrow, then we're headed to Georgetown early Tuesday morning... peace out homies! thanks for reading!

Day 2

Before I tell you about today, we have some leftover business from yesterday:
I give you St Simons Island lighthouse…

just a side note on this picture- the batteries in my camera died just before I could take it, so I quick ran down to my bunk, grabbed the batteries, swicthed them AS I was running back up the stairs, then jumped out the port side door just in time to catch the perfect picture, if I do say so myself...

Now, on to today… we got to see the Tybee Island lighthouse through the binoculars... but when I tried to take a picture of it, all we could make out was a speck on the horizon… then we got the bright idea to take the picture THROUGH the binoculars. Who knew that would work? Here’s the picture:



Tonight we're staying at Harbour Town Marina at Hilton Head.
http://marinas.com/view/marina/4405_Harbour_Town_Yacht_Basin_Hilton_Head_Isle_SC
They have a lighthouse too (we can see it off the stern of the boat...) But it's just for show... never been commissioned. here's a cool picture of it!



Tommorrow morning, we're headed to Charleston... that's all I have to say about today... thanks for reading! catch you on the flip side! :D

Day 1

Howdy folks! Congratulations, you’re reading my very first post from the boat! (I’m new at this blogging thing, so there are a lot of firsts…) let me set the scene for you: I’m sitting on the sofa, I’m in my comfies, and I’m stuffed because I just ate an amazing dinner at the marina’s restaurant. Oh, and it’s raining outside. Best trip ever? Duh.

So I wanted to tell you all the cool stuff we did today… or at least the stuff I can remember. (it was a long day… and we saw a lot of really cool stuff…)

ok, so first of all, just after we got past NAS Jax, we met a friend! A beautiful boat named Five Star, and we chatted with them over the radio for a while… they were on their way to Wilmington and followed in our wake until we got out into the channel… here’s a picture of our friends following in our wake- and that’s some of the Jax skyline behind them… oh, and some crazy sea gulls.



It's a little ridiculous that this is the ONLY picture I took today.

we saw TONS of bridges… but keep in mind we were in Jacksonville for much of the morning… right under the I-95 bridge, we saw 2 dolphins!

Later, just north of Jacksonville, we saw a dredger in action! Looked kinda like the one that was in our canal, only about 12 times bigger…

We saw the St Johns River lighthouse (WAY too tiny to get a picture of…) and the St Simons Island lighthouse (no excuse for not getting a picture of that one… shame on me.)

I learned how to set lines… and fenders… which is cool- in some ways it’s easier than on a smaller boat, and in some ways it’s harder. With a smaller boat, I generally have jumped off with the line in hand and brought the boat to me. Today, I learned how to be ready when the Captain gets the boat exactly where he wants it, then I throw the line. Oh, and I should mention, just as a little side-note/bragging on my Captain, he did it without thrusters! They’re broken til we get to Charleston.

Friends of the Captain met us here at Golden Isles Marina and had dinner with us. They’re gonna meet us again in Newport (tentatively). I just love meeting new people. :D

Also, while listening to the Margaritaville station on Sirius, we heard Jimmy Buffet’s cover of “Southern Cross.” Definitely a best part of my day…