Sunday, 6/17/18: Departed Bucksport (MM378) at about 10:30. Went to Osprey Marina for fuel. Always the best price on diesel. Tons of turtles swimming around the fuel dock….They must like the fumes…..Back on the Waccamaw, tons of ospreys-and babies-it’s that time of year. Went by Barefoot Landing, almost always a stop since year 2000, our first trip down the ICW. Marina closed-remodeling. Then went by the Rock Pile, a stetch of the ICW that has rock formations on both sides…..has a negative reputation. I think it’s cool. This time, tide was too high to really enjoy the formations. Best time to travel this area, dead low tide-all the formations exposed. Went to the North Myrtle Beach Yacht Club for the night. (MM346). There must have been at least 270 people-years securing  us to the dock-us and two fellows…..Dinner at the Officers’ Club, upstairs from office. Pretty good food.

Monday, 6/18/18: cast off before 8. Nice morning but hot. Anchor down in Wrightville Beach (MM286). 60 mile day. Crossed Cape Fear. Hate this one. Larry thinks it’s the name-it’s not-have had some tough times there. We will call it Cape Rosey from now on- won’t matter. Found a cut under Lizzie’s left arm. Harness dug in. Really deep-I freaked. Ran up to pilothouse and took the wheel while Larry came down to remove harness and take a look. Called vet in Beaufort, NC. Said to wash and put antibiotic on it. Made an appt for Thursday, 10 AM. I was ready to rent car and drive….

Tuesday, 6/19/18: LIZZIE ok. Acting normal and allows us to handle her, and the cut. Nice morning. Anchor up by 7:30. Very breezy from the west. Really low tides-seeing 1 ft (really4-we need 3.5) several times. Folks seem to have trouble in this area. Larry really does a great job. Birds were standing almost by the boat as we went by….hot 96, heat index 110….anchor down in Mile Hammock Bay (MM254). This is part of Camp Lejeune-no going ashore. Very hot, stayed in the pilothouse just so we could catch a breeze. Larry brought up ice water…..at night, seems we were under attack by helicopters. There was some sort of exercise going on. Felt as if they were going to land on our pilothouse. There were about 6 boats in the anchorage with us. Going on well after midnight.

Wednesday, 6/20/18: Sat out on the porch. Dolphins all around. I could hear the surf from the ocean.  A treat on this trip…Anchor up 6:50. LIZZIE still ok. The hole is deep. Easy ride to Town Creek Marina, Beaufort (MM 200.9). Heat advisory.

Thursday, 6/21/18: Borrowed the courtesy car to bring Lizzie to vet. Live Oaks Vet Clinic. That is her southern vet anyways-awesome vet and place. Yep, deep, can see muscle…..must treat twice a day with spray and oral antibiotics. I read after 12 hrs, the wound can not be stitched…she confirmed….she said after 24 hrs……should stick around for a few days to make sure it starts to heal well. Sooooo…..we got a rental car and decided to spend about a week. Picked up rental car and did some errands.

Friday, 6/22/18: Drove to the Outer Banks. Over 3 hrs one way. Went to the Wright Brothers Museum. Building being remodeled but the grounds were open-and that was great!

 

Then we went for barbecue and drove down the to Brodie Lighthouse and Oregon Inlet. Went further, viewing the sand dunes. The inlet is tough-mostly large sports fishing boats. I can see why….

 

As we drove back, a nasty storm hit while we were on the Alligator River bridge. And we were stopped because the bridge was opening.

We go under this bridge all our trips…..

Saturday, 6/23/18: My 61st birthday. LIZZIE is improving at a good clip. The spray is amazing-will use it on us if necessary. She doesn’t like the antibiotics-she runs hides, head fakes Larry. He is such a good Dad. Went into downtown Beaufort, shopped, antiqued, and had early dinner at Ribeyes.

What a week….