Heading South

Well I am leaving my beautiful garden in the hands of others, and heading south. For those of you along the waterway, if you see a catamaran called Sunspot Baby anchored in your neighborhood that's me, with the Captain and our intrepid dog crew, Toby, who has recently had unscheduled surgery and is wearing a cone on his head and a diaper on his butt.

It's been a wild ride - getting the boat ready to be gone for 6 months, getting the house and yard ready, and although the boat is prepared, I can't say the house is clean enough or the yard in any shape for winter. Last weekend the Captain hooked a chain to the truck and the big Confederate Rose that was sending its roots under the deck (and probably the house), and pulled it out, taking part of the yard with it. Smaller parts of the Rose are now planted in various other parts of the yard, and he also moved the Brown Turkey fig to a more sheltered location.

I will pick lots of rosemary, oregano, thyme, and there's even a little basil left in some more protected areas to take along. I hope the Confederate Jasmine takes a big leap while I'm gone.

Various friends and relatives will stay in the house, and our neighbors, bless their hearts, are in and out on a daily basis. The garden will (hopefully) nap through the winter, and be there in the spring when I return, weeds and all.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone, and think of me every now and then.

Entlie

Hey, Entlie! You'll be going right by my dock if you stay in the ICW! Sure would like to say Howdy... Any idea when you'll be passing through the Charleston area? I know in the early stages of a trip like this you'll be looking to "make miles", but if you don't want to stop, I can at least holler at you on the VHF and jump up and down as you motor on by...

Just of interest where are you going?

Say "hi" to me when you are on the ICW at Sunset Beach. Sunset Beach is the one that has the old original pontoon bridge that only opens on the half hour. Good sailing!

Barbara

Hugs and we need to get together when you return as I will be living at Kennel's Beach full time
Retiring Nov. 29th.

Hugs and have a great trip.

Lavina

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.

It usually takes us about a week to get to Charleston if we stay on the ICW, but we have a friend in Charleston who's having surgery we might stop a night to see.

Stono, what mile marker are you on the ICW? I'll call you on the VHF if possible as we pass by.
BDunn, are you on the waterway as well? I'll do likewise as we pass by if you have a VHF.
CorellHHI, we are headed to Florida, then will cross to the Bahamas, then down island in the Exumas chain of the Bahamas. Our ultimate goal is Dominican Republic, weather and all conditions being favorable. We haven't been any further than Long Island before.

We have a web site with position reports, photos, and travel reports. If anyone is interested, send me a PM and I'll send you the link.

Entlie


Entlie

Interesting question, Entlie! I have NO idea of the mile marker at my house! Locals don't use those things... But I can tell you this: as you come around a bend in the river right after passing Ross Marine on the port bank (it's on most charts), you'll wiggle your way around that bend and eventually line up with a range marker. The front of that range range marker is on my neighbor's property, the lower one is on mine. So if you stay in the channel, you'll pass within 100' of my dock. Sure would like to wish you well in passing... I may have to dump my boat in the river and chase you, just to say HEY! Not often we get to meet a DG up close and personal...on the water!

What an adventure! I think you are experiencing a great "vacation" coming up, Entlie!

What a great looking boat/ship! It looks safe enough that even I might leave terra firma to enjoy it!

Hope you keep a journal (and perhaps post it here?).

Happy Sailing to you and yours!

Shoe

StonoRiver, on the chart it looks like you are at mile marker 479 of the ICW. Mile Zero is at Norfolk, VA.

We sometimes anchor in the oxbow just south of you, and take our dog Toby to the launch ramp at the high rise bridge across the waterway, so we are somewhat familiar with the area.

I sent a DMail to you and Horseshoe with the link to our website, which shows where we are, with reports and photos. Not really a journal, but sort of.

Departure is still Saturday, but many things to do before that comes true.

Entlie

Thanks for the link to your website, Entlie. Very interesting to me and I'll be cruising with you vicariously!

Wishing you the best of the bestest trips. (And hope Toby is fully recovered and healthy and ready to sail!)

Shoe

Neat website, Entlie! No need to drop the hook in the oxbow this time! We're dog lovers too, and have 5 acres Toby can pick up all his P-Mail on. Tying up is a lot less hassle than dropping anchor for me...especially in plough mud. That stuff can mess up a deck!! Also well wired into the local vet. community if Toby needs something (my wife wrote the book---literally---on vet practice management). I'll follow your progress on that incredible website!

We are on the Morgan River, 3 miles off the ICW shortly before you get to Beaufort (SC). I'll dmail you with the particulars.

Have a safe trip.
alice

StonoRiver, what a great offer! We just might take you up on it!

And Ardesia, look forward to your DMail. We haven't anchored in the Morgan River before - we have stopped several times in Beaufort, though - both going up and down the ICW, and using the Port Royal Sound Inlet.

Toby and we are off to the vets this morning to get stitches out. Difficult for a hard-driving, adrenalin junkie dog to be laid up. Especially when he still thinks he could be playing frisbee every day.

I'm still cleaning out flower beds. There's a little basil at the bottom of the plants that hasn't frozen yet - I'm saving those to pick just before I leave. And want to stock up on rosemary, thyme, oregano and chives, all in that same bed. Probably my last garden chore before we leave. Pulled the sweet potato vines out of my egg pots on the deck, and had lots of sweet potatoes. Could you really eat those things? I just throw them away.

Departure looks more like Sunday than Saturday - better weather and more time to finish up.

Entlie

OK maybe I need to wave as you head for the ICW. We are down and I go back to work Monday. Hubby will be here till Weds. and is going back to Raleigh for my retirement reception. LOL
Hope you have a wonderful trip and I have finally got slow dial-up here at Kennel's Beach. I will have no option for high speed or and DSL as I have been told by everyone we are tofar out and away from Towers.or other ways to connect so I am stuck with this mess . Man I am so spoiled now to go back to this is tuff..
Waving fromthe dock at KB.

Lavina



.00 B

Hi Lavina, Thanks for your note. I answered your DM with our web site link.

Sometimes slow speed Internet is the price you pay to live in Paradise!

Entlie

Lavina, Happy Retirement! Is today the day?
BDunn, I thought of you as we went through the Sunset Bridge Pontoon Bridge today.
Just before we left, I cut a bunch of herbs. So we have rosemary, chives, lemon and rose geranium leaves, etc. Forgot to cut the lavender ! Darn!

Have a great weekend!
Entlie

I'm so glad you're off and sailing smoothly. Glad you had good weather as you passed us.....hope it continues for you and hope Toby's doing well. Happy Sailing!

Barbara

I retired the 29th and am at Kennel's Beach till the 10th. We moved a few things but I am gonna box up more to move. Have a great trip keep in touch as I am enjoying the map and tracking you.
Hope Toby is doing OK.
Went over to Oriental this AM and it is very quiet there.
Its cold here.We are putting up Christmas lights tomorrow.

(((((hugs))) and good sailing.

Lavina

Update - December 10, 2007. We are in Fernandina Beach (Amelia Island) Florida, and wearing shorts for the first time on this cruise! We thought of many of the Carolina Garden folks as we passed through your spots - I think I have Dmailed everyone. However with limited time and moving every day, no chance to connect.
One exception was a lovely visit with StonoRiver - we tied up at their dock, had a chat on Sunspot Baby, and then we all (including Toby) toured the beautiful gardens and greenhouse. We left having made new friends (and a couple of cabbages from the winter garden which we are enjoying immensely). Thanks so much for your hospitality. Photo Attached.
Toby is getting better every day. His left leg where the muscle was cut in the surgery isn't working 100%, but he can jump from the dinghy into the boat with little problems. He had a great run at StonoRiver's, and again in on Walburg Creek at St. Catherine's.
From a garden and landscape point, we have had terrific views of scenery and vegetation as we cruise. Now the palmetto trees, live oaks, and Spanish Moss are spectacular.
Sunspot Baby is behaving herself - but we have had some delays from dense fog. For those who don't have my website link and would like to have it, you can Dmail me and I'll send it to you.
Happy Holidays - Entlie

Great! Sounds like you are continuing to have a great trip!

I've enjoyed looking at the pics on your website, and reading your notes.

Wishing you more smiles and sunny days!

Shoe

You could have worn shorts here all this week.

Great picture.Is that Stono's place? If so WOW

Yup! That's Stono's place. It's beautiful, that's for sure.
Entlie

Hey lady it got up to 81 in Raleigh, Ed said it was 80 when I left KB to come back here to pack stuff.Also friend is going on on a trip so I am cat sitting for her.

Lavina

Wow Lavina - great temp report!
Cat sitting should be fun - our cat goes to visit friends on the Trent River when we cruise.
They say he's the best cat they have, and he isn't even theirs!
Entlie

Hey lady glad you get to check in I am enjoying your trip. It is 79 and we are expecting rain.
How is Toby? Loved your Christmas tree.LOL Its so cute.
Am gonna plant palm trees this next week hopefully so when you get back you can have a few if you want them.

Happy Sailing

Lavina

Hi Lavina, thanks for your note. Toby is great. He's having a lazy day today. I took his photo today snoozing in the cockpit when we were on the water.
Entlie

Oh how cute, what a great dogs life.

Have fun.

Lavina

Anyone else wish they were Toby??????

of course not! who's gonna sleep when you can study for exams!!!! (said with a small touch of sarcasm)

Merry Christmas to everyone from me (Entlie - Lynn), the Captain, and Toby on Sunspot Baby. We are tied up in the New River in Fort Lauderdale, and it looks like our Christmas gift may be a weather window to depart for the Bahamas on Christmas morning. The pre-cooked duck in the freezer will have to wait, and we will be eating finger food tomorrow, but hopefully will be in Nassau tomorrow.

Toby is doing ok, but not great. However, he is somewhat manipulative because we notice he needs help sometimes but other times can take great leaps in a single bound when the mood hits him. That's Toby for you.

Has anyone grown sprouts before? I have done them a time or two on board, and brought seeds with me. Once the festivities are over I will be hungry for a stir fry and getting out the mung beans.

Happy Holidays and God Bless,
Entlie

Merry Christmas to you, too!

So you leave tomorrow, and will be in Nassau in one day!!? Wow! That's fast sailing!

Hope you have a great Christmas Day on the water!

Wishing you, hubby, and Toby and great holiday (and hope that freezer duck gets to greet you soon!!).

Shoe

The weather window is a Christmas gift for sure. Safe sailing.

We arrived safely in Nassau mid-day December 26. We had a couple of adventures which we will post on our web site (anyone who still doesn't have the link and wants it can d-mail me).
Toby did fine on the trip - he is getting to be a pro at this, but still managed to hold out for a potty break till we arrived in Nassau.
Sunspot Baby was a good girl, with the exception of a fuel tank clog about 20 miles out of Fort Lauderdale. The Captain switched to the other fuel tank, and we ran all the way on that, arriving with fuel to spare. Now he gets to find the problem before we move on.
Conch fritters for lunch today.!
Entlie

yay~ Ya'll arrived safe and sound! (And I was wondering where Toby went to the bathroom on that boat!)

Were there no winds to sail and you had to motor-cruise it all the way?

Enjoy those conch fritters, they sound, uhhh, interesting! :>)

Shoe

Toby managed to hold out all the way until we arrived in Nassau. What a dog!
Conch Fritters yesterday, and Cracked Conch for lunch today. What a life!
Entlie