12/ 1-2 We are finally off

After a several day delay, we finally left the dock on Friday, December 1st at 7:30.  We had discovered on Sunday that our refrigerator wasn't working.  Thankfully, we had not moved our food aboard yet.  Al, another boater at Joyner, diagnosed the problem and we ordered the part to be delivered.  UPS did not meet up to the overnight delivery and it was finally delivered on Thursday and we went to pick up the piece at the UPS headquarters in Wilmington.  Al had taught us how to install it and in no time we were cooling.  We got the food and slept aboard that night to get an early start on Friday.

The sun was shining but it was chilly as we headed out hoping to go to Myrtle Beach.  One of the nicest things on the Great Loop was coming into a new marina and hearing someone calling your name.  Well, as we headed into Barefoot Marina, we heard "Ann Marie!".  This is the home marina of Rod and Susie Busbee.  It was great to see them!!  They live aboard their new boat, a 65 foot Fleming.  We went out for Mexican and then for a tour of their new boat.  We traded stories of our travels since completing the loop and our plans for future travels.  They are such nice people and we wish them wonderful voyages on the new boat.

Then a knock came on the boat.  Our neighbors from The Tides, Marcie and Ed Scullion, were in the same marina too!  They love to take their boat to Myrtle Beach on the weekends.  They have just returned from a trip to New Zealand.  They said New Zealand has lots of small roads, sheep, cows and sailboats.  I loved hearing about their travels.

Saturday morning, we started out early.  We cruised one of my favorite areas of the ICW, the Waccamaw River.  The water in the Waccamaw is black because of tannins in the water.  It makes the river very reflective of the trees along the sides.  We stopped at Osprey Marina for fuel.  They always have the least expensive fuel prices.  They also sell the best Red Pepper Jelly.   I stocked up with 2 more jars.

We are getting in to areas of South Carolina and Georgia where we really have to watch the tides.  We were making good time and had the tide rising as we headed toward McClellanville, SC.  We had not expected to get that far.  This means we can go through Jeremy Creek tomorrow in the morning while tide is high.

So we have had two full days.  It will be early to bed tonight too.