Overnight in North Myrtle Beach

Date:                                  April 18, 2013

Days on the Cruise:             24

From:                                Harbor Walk Marina, Georgetown, SC

To:                                    Barefoot Resort Marina, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Statute Miles:                    52.1

Time:                                7.33 Hours

Cumulative Miles:             868.4

On Board:                         Chuck, Susan, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut, 

We are in North Myrtle Beach on Thursday Night

It was hard to leave Georgetown, but we pulled out of the marina on a calm morning and started bucking the tide going North. We saw "Blue Herron" and "Lightfoot" from Fernandina Beach as we left the marina, not realizing that both had come in the afternoon before. We kicked ourselves that we had missed getting together with them, and hollered out as we passed that we would catch them up the ICW.

The view out of our front door this morning

Looks like a nice big River House

An abandoned Rice Paddy

Kyakers on the Waccamaw River

The trip today was notable in that we moved out of the marsh environment and into the cyprus swamp environment. 

Leaving Marsh Country and entering the Land of Cypress

The waterway got considerably narrower and started looking like our rivers in Alabama. We could smell wild flowers and foliage once again, and the smell of the salt air and he sea seemed to vanish. 

More twist and turns looking at the sailboat ahead of us

Unlike other days, we did not see the ocean at all, as the waterway turned inland and we did not get to go along the beach. In fact, as we got to Myrtle Beach, the main road was right along the waterway, and the seafood joints, fast food places, and touristy things were right next to us as we cruised. Susan wanted to go through the "boat through" at McDonald's to get a burger.

We arrived at North Myrtle Beach after only averaging about 7 mph, which was a very slow day. We were both tired of the slow go caused by the tide flowing against us and the incessant "no wake" zones that we traveled through. It has become amusing to see the different "No Wake" signs that people put up. It is not legally enforceable to create your own no wake zone, but, people waste their money trying. Everything from banners and 4'x8' painted plywood signs hanging off the dock, to signs that are painted to look "official" with a fake logo on the bottom. My motto is that I am legally responsible for my wake, and if I can go through an area with minimum wake, then I will. I certainly don't put out any kind of damaging wake at 7 or 8 mph, but I do put out a wake. Enough pontificating on this for today.

We stayed at a marina that was recommended to us at last year's Looper's Rendezvous called Barefoot Resort Marina. It looked like your basic garden variety condo development to me.

Barefoot Resort Marina in North Myrtle Beach

The dock master was so nice and accommodating, and he kept Maggie filled up with dog treats. This might be her new favorite marina. We ate dinner at the on site restaurant. It was OK. My steak sandwich was very tasty. It rained in the early evening and we did not get to wash the boat, which is in bad need of being cleaned. As tired as we were, I was not disappointed that we got to stay inside tonight.

I am watching a possible electrical issue that has cropped up. It is manifesting itself through my electronic throttle and gear shift controller. I spent the evening at Barefoot researching what might be the problem, so we are anxious to get this resolved.

Tomorrow we head to Southport, NC!

Thanks for Reading.