Finally Heading South

[cafesport]

We got hung up last Sunday at the great bridge lock for three hours waiting for the tide to drop enough so they could open the lock. We hit it at high and with all the extra water it was 2 foot above normal. Alligator bridge is back to normal operation as well.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

The flock is heading to warmer climates....Safe travels everyone

 

[O C Diver]

Safe traveling, Ted. One morning this week a big Fleming was southbound in the ICW, churning along at a good clip. The migration has begun.

Thanks! Yes, all sorts of boats heading South.

Hi Ted, We await your arrival. Be safe. H and J.

Looking forward to seeing the two of you! Hope Sunset will still let me in with a tin (aluminum) boat for a dinghy.

Safe and happy travels, Sir Ted! Looking forward to getting underway soon myself.

Yes, it's not any warmer in upstate New York. If you need anchorages, marinas or any other recommendations, shoot me a PM.

We got hung up last Sunday at the great bridge lock for three hours waiting for the tide to drop enough so they could open the lock. We hit it at high and with all the extra water it was 2 foot above normal. Alligator bridge is back to normal operation as well.

Dealing with my own little drama. The South Mill bridge won't close or open all the way. Hoping they have everything resolved by Monday. Will sit out the weather here in the Swamp tomorrow, but may have to take the other route on Monday if the bridge isn't fixed.

The flock is heading to warmer climates....Safe travels everyone

Thanks! That 30 degree weather thing doesn't work for me.

Ted

 

[O C Diver]

Today's tip for the day. When heading into a major shipping port like Norfolk, remember to look behind you.



At 15 knots, he closed the gap quickly!

Ted

 

[rslifkin]

Yes, it's not any warmer in upstate New York.

No, unfortunately it's not. And I've got that thing called "work" keeping us from taking the boat south for winter, so it just got tucked into a nice, cozy spot in the marina's storage shed. At least that means I've got a few months to do some work on it...

 

[ranger58sb]

Alligator bridge is back to normal operation as well.

That's good to know. I've been watching for updates on that, hadn't seen anything anywhere else yet...

-Chris

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Ted, we also started south yesterday, from Rock Hall. pulled into Oxford at 1500 to explore the town. Had a nice walk with friends, dinner at Pope's Tavern. We will wait out the remnants of Nestor today and head to Solomons as soon as we can.

 

[High Wire]

Have a safe trip. The AIS was full of boats headed south in the Chesapeake Bay. We are a few days behind you in Solomons. We will be going via Coinjock route.

 

[O C Diver]

Ted, we also started south yesterday, from Rock Hall. pulled into Oxford at 1500 to explore the town. Had a nice walk with friends, dinner at Pope's Tavern. We will wait out the remnants of Nestor today and head to Solomons as soon as we can.

Safe travels!

Have a safe trip. The AIS was full of boats headed south in the Chesapeake Bay. We are a few days behind you in Solomons. We will be going via Coinjock route.

Will come back out of the Dismal Swamp and go Albemarle and Chesapeake canal if I don't get good news later today.

Ted

 

[fryedaze]

Safe travels Ted. Fryedaze will depart Solomons Nov 5th. She goes on the hard today for yearly bottom work and detailing. Tempertures are dropping and we gotta git outta here.[emoji1] Heading for LBK again this year.

 

[O C Diver]

Safe travels Ted. Fryedaze will depart Solomons Nov 5th. She goes on the hard today for yearly bottom work and detailing. Tempertures are dropping and we gotta git outta here.[emoji1] Heading for LBK again this year.

LBK = Long Boat Key?
If so, wave when you go by. Thinking about a cruise up to Tarpon Springs this winter. Have to see if you or Healhustler want to make it get together.

Ted

 

[BandB]

Safe travels Ted. Fryedaze will depart Solomons Nov 5th. She goes on the hard today for yearly bottom work and detailing. Tempertures are dropping and we gotta git outta here.[emoji1] Heading for LBK again this year.

Wifey B: High 87 degrees, Low 80.

 

[cardude01]

Have a safe trip. I’m thinking about about emulating you and heading north next hurricane season. Maybe to the Chesapeake area next summer? Never been up that way.

 

[fryedaze]

LBK = Long Boat Key?
If so, wave when you go by. Thinking about a cruise up to Tarpon Springs this winter. Have to see if you or Healhustler want to make it get together.

Ted

Yep, Longboat Key. We have visited Tarpon a few times. Great cruising from where you are to Tarpon.

 

[fryedaze]

I see your in Mile Hammock tonight. I heard the hurricane broke the ocean free to the ICW at the turn just north of Mile Hammock basin. Is it still opened up?

 

[O C Diver]

Well it's been some stops and starts between the weather and an 80 year old bridge. Was planning to take the Dismal Swamp canal to Elizabeth city on Monday, but an 80 year old bridge at the South Mill lock, broke almost closed. So neither car or boat traffic could get past it. On Sunday it was determined that Maybe it would be fixed on Monday. Ended up coming back out of the Swamp Sunday and got to Great Bridge to take the Albemarle Chesapeake canal. Missed dinner at Cypress Creek Grill in Elizabeth city. Monday wasn't to bad, but Tuesday was a virtual traffic jam on the AICW. Actually, everything moved smoothly, but just more boats traveling on it than I have ever seen. Spent last night in hmason's secret anchorage in Oriental NC. Had dinner at M & M's. If you find yourself in Oriental, the food is great and extremely reasonable.

Today had me transiting between Oriental and Mile Hammock (anchorage next to Camp Lejeun). Pictures for today:

Does this 25'+ center console that I'm towing down the AICW at 10 knots make me look big? He actually did a very professional job including passing a few sailboats in the river section.


If you anchor in Mile Hammock, plan to be the landing approach for the Ospreys. Quite the show this afternoon.


Ted

 

[O C Diver]

So I ended up in Southport NC today and had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.

https://www.josephsitalianbistro.com/home

What was truly amazing is this little dead end waterway right around the corner. Small enough that you probably need to bow and stern anchor just to keep you out of the way. A picturesque anchorage right on the edge of Southport. On the other side of the trees on the right is a small waterway that carries cooling water from the nuclear power plant. Well I guess no anchorage is perfect.



Ted

 

[cardude01]

That menu just made me hungry.

 

[O C Diver]

That menu just made me hungry.

It's funny, I don't think I've ever had a main course from the menu. They have 6 or 8 specials every night. Not only do they tell you what they are, but they describe the contents and how they're made. Tonight was shrimp, scallops, artichokes and ravioli with a light cream sauce. That and the steamed clams in white wine and garlic sauce to start.

Ted

 

[O C Diver]

Left Osprey marina yesterday heading for Charleston. As luck would have it, my itinerary would have me going through McClellanville at low tide. By10AM the winds were 20 to 25 South to Southwest. Reached McClellanville right at low tide. The winds kept some water in; the the low wasn't too extreme. Down to that point I don't think I saw less than 9' of water near low tide. Within a half mile of town it shallowed to about 8' minimum. After town to dredge Tenacious it got really skinny. Just as I'm about to pass the dredge, I see less than 6' with the depth alarm going off. Passing the dredge, it takes quite a while (15 seconds) for the depth sounder to accurately read the bottom because of all the suspended mud in the water. Then the water depth dropped to 9'+ for the rest of the trip to Charleston. They have a mile or so to go before than entire stretch is 9'+ at MLW.

Ted

 

[Cigatoo]

Looks like a great day to be running outside. Enjoy!

 

[O C Diver]

Looks like a great day to be running outside. Enjoy!

Yes it's a wonderful day offshore! Going from Charleston to Port Royal sound. Currently about 10 miles offshore.



Ted

 

[Woodstock]

It's funny, I don't think I've ever had a main course from the menu. They have 6 or 8 specials every night. Not only do they tell you what they are, but they describe the contents and how they're made. Tonight was shrimp, scallops, artichokes and ravioli with a light cream sauce. That and the steamed clams in white wine and garlic sauce to start.

Ted

I remember seeing you. This is our home marina and we love Joseph's too. They make an awesome soft shell crab appetizer or main which is my favorite. Rusty Hooks is getting their act together after opening last spring so that's another alternative.

 

[O C Diver]

I'll have to remember to reach out to you in the spring when I come back North. Always fun to me TF folks and have dinner together.

Ted

 

[BandB]

Left Osprey marina yesterday heading for Charleston. As luck would have it, my itinerary would have me going through McClellanville at low tide. By10AM the winds were 20 to 25 South to Southwest. Reached McClellanville right at low tide. The winds kept some water in; the the low wasn't too extreme. Down to that point I don't think I saw less than 9' of water near low tide. Within a half mile of town it shallowed to about 8' minimum. After town to dredge Tenacious it got really skinny. Just as I'm about to pass the dredge, I see less than 6' with the depth alarm going off. Passing the dredge, it takes quite a while (15 seconds) for the depth sounder to accurately read the bottom because of all the suspended mud in the water. Then the water depth dropped to 9'+ for the rest of the trip to Charleston. They have a mile or so to go before than entire stretch is 9'+ at MLW.

Ted

Wifey B: Only one time in my young life have I taken that trip inside. No thanks. Myrtle to Georgetown to Ocean to Charleston, thank you. Current conditions there are 2' at 7 seconds and the more important one is all the depth readings are double and triple digits.

 

[psneeld]

It's how I keep growth off the bottom of my keel every year....

 

[O C Diver]

Wifey B: Only one time in my young life have I taken that trip inside. No thanks. Myrtle to Georgetown to Ocean to Charleston, thank you. Current conditions there are 2' at 7 seconds and the more important one is all the depth readings are double and triple digits.

We're all very happy that you're out there along with the other flypaper.

Ted

 

[O C Diver]

Well they've pulled most of the buoys from Hell Gate. Other than draft, you could probably drive a container ship through there now. From what I understand, they have one buried cable that they need to identify the owner of, so that they can dredge and bury it deeper. Other than that, it looks like 12' at MLW and wide enough for 2 tugs and barges to pass each other. No reservations going through there in the dark at dead low tide.

Ted

 

[twistedtree]

Well they've pulled most of the buoys from Hell Gate. Other than draft, you could probably drive a container ship through there now. From what I understand, they have one buried cable that they need to identify the owner of, so that they can dredge and bury it deeper. Other than that, it looks like 12' at MLW and wide enough for 2 tugs and barges to pass each other. No reservations going through there in the dark at dead low tide.

Ted

Which Hell Gate is this? I only know the one in NYC.

 

[O C Diver]

Which Hell Gate is this? I only know the one in NYC.

Mile Marker 602 on the AICW. its a short passageway between the Ogeechee river and the Little Ogeechee river in Georgia, just below Skidaway Island.

Ted