MERRY CHRISTMAS...we miss our TUMBLEWEED. However, things are looking up and the Captain has said we'll return to the boating life this spring. Plans include a train ride to the Potomac River, car rental to attend the Looper's Spring convention in Myrtle Beach, and then head to DC by boat for some fun. We are determined to finish the loop and return to St Louis area in the early Fall. Til then we are land locked and thinking of our boater friends.

Arrived home safe and sound ...and right on SCHEDULE. Now settling into the daily Wichita grind, catching up with family, getting haircuts, etc...we are scheduled to do three presentations about our travels and adventures at the Shepard's Center...Sept 22, Oct 6, and Oct 20...guess we'll have to get those photos organized. For now our plan is to return to boating in April 2010. I try to remember to keep this blog updated as we make those plans.

We loved the folks at Coan River Marina. Gary, the owner, is an airline pilot. Needless to say, he and Floyd had tons to talk about...and not just boats. He and his crew was hard working and did their best to insure we were happy. I spent the day finishing laundry, taking photos and staying out of the way. Reagan, the dog, kept me company. We were ever so grateful that folks had suggested we use this facility...leaving for this long is hard enough...but it sure helps to know your boat is among friends.

Those haul outs are always amazing to watch....though if you are the owner/boat driver, it is a totally nerve wracking experience. Then we got to see what living in salt water since March does to the underside of your boat. After the power wash, the decision was made to repaint the hull. So for now, she's on the hard...due to be shrink wrapped for winter. We hope to return in Spring of 2010...man, that seems like a long time away.

Arrived Coan River Marina near Lottsburg VA at noon-thirty on Saturday, June 13th...managed to hitch a ride to Richmond for rental car. Air Tran flight to Wichita is booked for Wednesday AM...should be home around noon. We've been cleaning and getting ready for dry storage all day...I will take photos of boat at haul out and post...then that's it until we return next spring...soooo sad!!!!

I almost forgot...guess who greeted Floyd in the front head this morning...KERMIT the tree frog...we thought we had left him behind at Carolina Beach...6 days ago. Seems he not only was aboard, but inside!!!! Floyd kindly escorted him to the bushes alongside Midway Marina, Coinjack NC...hope he has a long and happy life...feel free to stop and see him if you are in the area...

Gotta love a man with a plan...he wrote it down and planned it out...and it worked...we left at 6 AM and I got to see sunrise over the water...a first!!!! The center photos is our chart book with a "you are here" green sticky and those pesky bridges with a pink posty...and that was just one page....we arrived in Norfolk before 2:00...plenty of time for me to enjoy the floating pool...this marina is HUGE...room for 300 boats and it seems like there are about that many here...several fuel docks...lots of activity. We are on schedule to arrive at Coan River Marina (our final destination for this leg) on Saturday. Weather looks like it could hold or turn bad...tough call...but with our luck so far we are expecting no problems. Hopefully will get everything ready and be able to fly back on Wednesday or Thursday. While I'm looking forward to being home, I know I'll miss this life...gonna be a long year...

We saw the cutest things at Dowery Creek Marina...bottle tree and a bottle bush...equipped with lights even...and then discovered that Frank aboard the PEACEKEEPER who we had seen at Green Turtle Bay and then met at Carrabelle stayed here last winter and made them....small world!!!

Wednesday June 10...When we saw the clear sky and smooth water, we couldn't get out of Dodge fast enough...we came across Albemarle Sound with a strong cool breeze stirring up the water...and even a pirate ship...it was just a four hour short hop to Coinjack NC...we are docked at Midway Marina...I got to use the swimming pool while working the laundry detail...and guess who pulled out right with us this morning...yep, ELIZABETH ROSE has been behind us all day...and they are docked across the chanel at Coinjack Marina...wonder if they'll leave with us tomorrow???? We have spent most of this evening planning and figuring. The journey tomorrow to Norfolk involves one lock and 10 low bridges...some that open only on the half hour, some on the hour, and two that are closed from 3:30 to 5...it is gonna take a miracle for us to make it through all this and get fuel and get to Tidewater Marina in time to swim....yep, starting at oh-dark-thirty....

Tuesday June 9 dawned bright and sunny...with a forecast of scattered thunderstorms...we left Sea Gate...drove in the ditch for hours and hours...following the sailboat Elizabeth Rose...passed her as we crossed into the wide open spaces of the Alligator River...and there they were...THUNDERSTORMS...rained so hard that our radar thought it was a solid obstacle...good the captain had me there to wipe off the screens...pretty exciting...just as the skies cleared we docked at Alligator River Marina...and guess who pulled in behind us??? Yep, Elizabeth Rose. Before the night was over, all the slips between us were full and several big power boats were on the face dock. Guess everyone was tired of dealing with rain...and so it rained most of the night.

Another exciting day of boating...and this time we were observers not participants...we started the day in a fog...literally...I was more than a little skittish but Captain Floyd was busy practicing his driving skills using only radar and chart plotter cause we sure couldn't see much...Just as the fog lifted we were passed (again) by a sport fishing boat "ALBA". We played that game with them yesterday as well...soon he was out of site. About an hour later we heard him calling TowBoatUS...seems he'd misread the markers and run aground. We figured we'd catch up and get to see the spot so as not to make the same mistake ourselves. Wide open spaces til then...Neuss River...you can see England from there...suddenly about two miles ahead...we saw smoke. NOT GOOD...seems the shrimp boat LUCKY had caught fire...we hit the throttle, changed course to see what we could do...but by the time we arrived a small fishing boat had rescued the two crew members...a quick call to the Coast Guard...LUCKY seemed to be at least one third to half aflame...a few photos and we were back on course...we learned later that she sank. WHEW...this was not Lucky's lucky day. We arrived at Dowry Creek Marina (Belhaven NC) right on schedule with a stow away...we had noticed a couple of small tree frogs aboard at Georgetown...guess one decided to hang with us...Floyd was sure surprised to see him on the fender...he is still here somewhere. Should we name him??? Kermit????

Up and at 'em...two bridges that only open on the hour or half hour...timing is everything...Captain did good...we spent no time waiting or speeding down the waterway...though I did get him to go fast for 2 minutes...I told him Tumbleweed would like it....it was a day of babies (geese that is) and military. Passing Camp LeJune took HOURS....one guide book mentioned that the waterway was often closed as marines practiced firing or landing maneuvers...but no luck for us...we hardly saw any signs of life...Arrived at Sea Gate Marina, Newport, NC, right on schedule.

Another long day of boating fun as we cruised to Swan Point Marina in Snead's Ferry, NC....I did manage to convince the Captain that maybe it would be a good idea to take a day off...so Saturday is a planned down day...sleep in, have a BIG breakfast, go to the store, take a nap, just take it easy...and he agreed. On the way we saw this HUGE giraffe in someone's yard and thought of my mom...she'd have loved this...

On to Carolina...another new experience a pontoon swing bridge that would only open on the hour to let pleasure boats through...so we are loping down the water way and I said something about it being 7 miles to the bridge...and we'd left at 7:15 to make the 8:00 opening...well, at 7.5 mph we weren't gonna make it...Floyd hit the throttles and before I knew what happened we were flying...19 mph seemed so fast...but, hey, we made the 8:00 opening...the rest of the day seemed so sllllloooooowww...saw a herd of goats taking care of the grasses on an island...felt and saw the ocean...analyzed the barnacles growing on the docks...and saw another lighthouse...this one was for real...Pulled into Federal Point Yacht Club right on schedule and discovered springtime in North Carolina...seems there was this threesome of male ducks ...mating in the water...yep, I have evidence...

Georgetown to Myrtle Beach...long hot day...full of some new and interesting experiences. Just when you think you've seen it all...it's a tram car...over the waterway...taking golfers from their cars to the golf course on the other side. ...and then signs that we were closer to New York City than Miami...and then of all things, a discount mall with its own marina...and Floyd drove right on by ....I was having a small stroke... then along came another distraction...and old guy on a jet ski...he drove along beside us for quite awhile...talking about our boat, the great loop experience we were having...then he'd speed off, only to return and repeat the whole thing. Floyd insisted that he was hitting on me...but no thanks. Coquina Marina entrance was marked by a private lighthouse...probably because there were three marinas/yacht clubs located there and one of them was called Lighthouse Marina. More than a little confusing...but we got it worked out. Kermit the tree frog was left behind there.

With the temperatures around here rising and those deer flies creating havoc...we've decided that early departures make for better days...so for now we'll do our 6-8 hour days earlier...the trip from Isle of Palm to Georgetown was better...though not much we wanted to do there. Stayed at Johnson's Marina, about 2 miles up the river ...small, mom and pop operation...they said there was an alligator...but we never saw him...heard the tree frogs though...and one even rode with us to Myrtle Beach.

Leaving Charleston was a bit of a trick...noting our place among the mega yachts, wind and current issues could have made for an expensive lesson on boatman ship...but hey, Captain Floyd pulled outta there like the champ he is...whew, cause for celebration!!! We passed Ft Sumter and another lighthouse on our short hop to stay at Isle of Palm Marina. We gassed up along the way at Toler's Marina. They were suppose to have a discount and be opened when we arrived...neither of which happened. But another interesting experience at arriving and leaving a dock...could have been another costly lesson...but handled like the true boaters we are...yes, we are getting just a little giddy...

Nighttime on the mega dock was something else...those mega yachts put on quite a show...well worth the price of admission...

So sorry...we've been travelin' hard and I have done a terrible job of keeping you posted on our adventures...photos don't want to upload...so I'll add them in tomorrow...
forgot to mention that during our Charleston stay we were also docked next to sail boats competing in the global ocean race...also going on was the Charleston Spoleto festival...two weeks of cultural activities. Everything from opera and ballet to banjos and home cooking...We happened into a sushi bar just as they were setting up for some African drumming and dancing on the court house steps...what fun!!!

We have seen 5 Historic Mansions, done the Gray Line bus tour, the Slave Market Museum, walked miles and miles, ate sushi and left Charleston without crashing into any mega yachts. We did solve the mystery of the yacht named GAME TIME. We knew it was a sports star, then saw the TALL guy and knew he played basketball. Finally discovered it was Jerry Stackhouse, NBA Mavericks. He and his family love boating and hang out in Charleston for the summer. Pretty cool. We made a short hop to Isle of Palm Marina just 11 miles away, cheap gas, cheap dockage, and laundry day. Tomorrow we head to Johnson's Marina in Georgetown. Watch for photos later...it is hot, hotter, hottest. But at least there are no green headed flies!!!!

Photos of BIG boats in Charleston...and you thought we were big...ha.

Loved Beaufort...quaint town...took the carriage ride recommended by Linda Niles...and met up with friends of friends...had a nice evening of wine and conversation on the aft deck before heading out to Charleston...notice interesting accumulation of sticks from ICW...

OMG...when Charleston City Marina said they were putting us on their megadock, we thought that meant big dock. It means BIG BOATS...we are the smallest boat here...most in excess of 120 feet. We spent a pleasant evening googling some of the names. The MUSE was our favorite. It is a charter that sleeps 8, has a crew of 6, and has lots of water toys. You can get it for only $98,000 a week. Do you think they'd take a check????

Yesterday we were tourists in historic Savannah...and there were lots of us. Rode in a horse drawn carriage for an overview (horse threw a shoe), then walked to cathedral, cemetery, river front area, markets, squares, Thomas-Owens Museum tour, and ended at Paula Deen's restaurant. Somewhere along the way Floyd found his sign...hehehe ...Returned to the marina tired and very full...we sure slept good. Today awoke to rain...and now it is just HUMID...we had thought we'd leave for Beaufort but since our mail isn't going to arrive until tomorrow we'll be staying around. Oh, the joys of traveling. Hope all is well with you...

We've seen them in Tennessee, Kentucky and all along the ICW...eagle like birds, nesting in the channel markers...feeding their young....but TODAY Floyd pointed one out and I was finally in the right spot at the right time to get a great photo.

Finally we see the sun and have georgeous weather for cruising the ICW...today's challenge is a lovely passage called Hell's Gate..and there happens to be a big dredge parked right in the narrowest spot...not a problem...that Floyd is one sharp captain... We had a short day of traveling; only about four hours to Thunderbolt Marina...arrived in Savannah safe and sound...smooth docking inspite of strong tidal current and winds. Tomorrow we play tourist and plan to eat at The Lady and Son's Restaurant (Paula Deen's place). I'm having to explain who she is to the guy I'm with!!!! He's gonna love it!!!!