Isle of Hope – Exhale on the Water

Just a sweet old song

Oyster Bay Yacht Club, Fernandina Beach, Florida

We stopped at our final Florida Council Club – located at the northern tip of Oyster Bay Harbor, in north east Florida – Oyster Bay (OB) Yacht Club. True to their name, we confirmed OB serves Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

But no, Gail, we did not get to enjoy one of our favorite white wines since the yacht club was closed to visitors and members – reserved for a wedding. A big thanks to OB club members from M/V BadLad, Kemper and Anne Harr, who gave us a personal tour of the community. Congrats on your new Sabre!

At some point, the wedding party came to us! This photo is for Phil, our favorite wedding crasher.

Georgia on my mind

We said goodbye to Florida, for the summer, followed by a sweet hello to Georgia. This is for Mark C, a perfect fit for his smooth voice. Go ahead, sing along.

Ray Charles – Georgia on my mind.

Jekyll Island, GA

Some of our boater friends (DB) prefer to blast past GA. Not us. We enjoy the slow journey of the ICW, preferring to stop along the way. Just look at that smooth water! Full disclosure, this Jekyll Island photo was taken shortly after a formidable thunder and lighting storm.

Boater’s Tip: Zachry’s Riverhouse is found just above the marina, tucked between the trees. The food is good, and the beer is cold.

Zachry’s taxidermied critters are often dressed for the season. Not entirely sure what they are celebrating this time …

Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island

At the end of the island we discovered ghost crabs. This little character was roughly 3 inches in total.

The ghost crab has phantom-like moves. Their pale coloration, which matches the sand, makes them difficult to spot, and they can quickly disappear into their burrows at the slightest disturbance, capable of moving at speeds up to 10 mph – that’s faster than Exhale at her best speed!

Thanks to Samantha (boss lady at Jekyll) we took the courtesy car to Driftwood Beach, aka the boneyard. Notice the massive trees compared to Capt. Rick, who is slowly walking by!

The beach’s apocalyptic landscape made it a unique filming location for the long running (2010-2022) TV show “The Walking Dead”, and it was the backdrop for a plethora of movies, like “The Tomorrow War” 2021 with Chris Pratt, “X-Men:First Class” 2011, “Red One” (2024), and more.

Here’s a shimmering moon photo for Dave Lubs from my new iPhone.

Brunswick, Golden Isles, GA

The marina was very quiet. Just a short run from Jekyll to Brunswick, time for a fun boat name. Embracing Diversity with our critter lovers, this is for Ynot!!

Boater’s Tip, when you check in tell the dockmaster the number of passengers on board to get a $5 coupon per person for the adorable Coastal Coffee shoppe, where they serve a delicious chicken salad croissant sandwich.

Kilkenny, GA

This is for Tracy Harris, and Lola, who have a love hate relationship with this stop. A few sections of the dock have recently been repaired, but it’s still a wobbly walk from our boat to the shore.

A little history: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Kilkenny plantation dates back to 1733; once known for summer fishing vacations, the property changed hands many times. The main house is still standing! Overlooking the river, she’s located directly above the marina.

The magnificent structure was neglected for decades, until Henry Ford acquired it in 1930 – properly restoring it as a private home. Click here if you want to learn more. No worry, speed readers – it’s okay to skip the Wikipedia history lesson and just enjoy the photos.

Isle of Hope, Savannah, GA

Traveling north to Savannah, the sky is befitting at the Isle of Hope. Sit back, relax, enjoy the beauty of Georgia.

Boaters Tip: This family run marina provides two courtesy cars – making it easy to explore and provision. Enjoy the food at several nearby restaurants, or drive to the magic of Savannah!

These whimsical critters can be found at at the Driftaway Cafe

Here’s a garden sloth for Alisha,

and some googly eyes for my birthday boy, Zach Silverstein.

Hello Beaufort, SC!

Beaufort (with a view) is a preferred stop! Boaters – tie up securely with sturdy lines, the marina gets a little rough. Kudos to Capt Rick and Tom Matovich who rescued a certain boat that tried to escape.

Within easy walking distance from the Safe Harbor marina is a quaint town. With a lovely array of boutiques, there are numerous retail options on Bay Street – and on the various side streets – including a great spot for a relaxing pedicure :-) Nail Bar on Bay. Walk ins accepted, or book on line.

Old Bull Tavern, Beaufort, SC

And, Beaufort is home to Capt Rick’s all-time favorite restaurant along the ICW. Located at 205 West St, Old Bull Tavern is a must!

Boater’s Tip, plan ahead (at least one week), Click here – and make your reservations on line, request either the Middle Room or the Pizza Oven Room, and definitely order an Old Fashioned!

We were thrilled to see Ashley Moore again, our fav – thanks for remembering us – you look amazing! Can’t believe your little one is approaching 5. Congrats.

On the topic of amazing, introducing McDreamy eyes Derek (for all of you Grey’s Anatomy fans), co-owner and host extraordinaire; thanks for the amazing strawberry corn cake!

Who else has been there: definitely Jeff and Dr. Patty North, Trevor, Tim and Tracy Harris, and Gail and David Bernstein; any others?

We left the dock today at 06:15, as the sun was gently rising. Unexpected bonus for the early start time – on the VHF radio we heard a distinguished, familiar voice – shout out to Lorrie and Rodger Swink on Reality, ships passing at first light!

Next Stop: Charleston, SC

Happy Memorial Day everyone. A sad thank you to all those military men and women who we have lost. Here’s a little photo of my father, who served during WWII.

Celebrating Milestones:

Anniversaries – May 25, Gail & David; May 26, Jeff & Dr. Patty North; May 27, Carly & Brandon

Birthdays – May 25, Zach Silverstein; May 28, Scott Ginsburg; Brennyn; May 29 Doug Belknap; and May 31, Pamela Ledward.

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Filling in the Gaps

As noted in our last post, before our side trip to Austin, Exhale covered a LOT of lovely water that we have not reported on yet – starting after South Port (NC, thanks David) then pausing at the Isle of Hope, GA.

So grab a cup of coffee or a nice beverage and let’s fill in the gaps. In time, not teeth, although given our location either is possible.

Capt Rick is bundled up for the ride.

Capt Rick and Buttercup, blankets provided by Tonto’s Reward

Little River, South Carolina

There’s something special about a pink house!

It reminds me of “Mr. Pine’s Purple House” by Leonard Kessler. Here we go: “Mr. Pine lived on Vine Street in a little white house. “A white house is fine,” said Mr. Pine, “but there are FIFTY white houses all in a line on Vine Street. How can I tell which house is mine?” Come to think of it, this book might be banned in Florida, since the theme is embracing diversity. So add it to your library! Click Here! A Florida retiree (ironic), Leonardo Pine (Kessler) passed away at the age of 101 in 2022.

Wacca Wache, South Carolina

You are right Tumbleweed, it’s fun to say! It’s like a blend of wack-a-mole and Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida. Boater’s Tip: Fuel up! The price of fuel is low due to a friendly rivalry between Wacca Wache marina and the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club.

This marina has the best shade trees!

Boater’s Tip – the water is a little skinny, but the dock hands are experienced, just go slow.

Georgetown, South Carolina

Georgetown is a walkable town with plenty of small shops and eateries. At dinner I spotted this sign. The mantra is perfect! Life is full of noisy distractions, but if you focus – inhale, then exhale deeply – you can enjoy what is happening in the moment. Be present! (Thanks, MO)

Charleston, South Carolina

The structures in downtown Charleston are stunning.

We introduced the lovely Hotel Bennett heading north.

During a walk about, in front of the hotel Gail and I discovered a line-up of vintage cars. Craig Adford can probably name all of them.

The lead driver from Whip Dash said they were there to pick up a party of 21 southern belles. https://www.whipdash.com/ An elegant way to tour Charleston!

Gail and I wondered if the ladies got to choose the car to ride in, or, if it was going to be the luck of the draw. Do you have a favorite? Perhaps Rolls Royce or Bentley? Gail said “no thanks” to riding in the Mustang. The Chevy Bel Air is for my cousin, John.

Beaufort (sounds like view), South Carolina

With a little extra time to unwind, Gail and I visited our favorite nail salon – Nail Bar on Bay (843) 379-3456. Open 7 days a week, walk ins are welcomed.

Welcome back to Old Bull Tavern! Consistently amazing, our favorite server, Ashley, remembered Rick’s drink and menu choice!

Total YUM!

Consistently the BEST Old Fashioned, ever!

Boater’s Tip: Request a table in the pizza room – it’s a perfect place to watch the magic happen!

Hilton Head, South Carolina

It was splendid to reunite with our sweet friends Jeff and Patty North, M/V Lady North, NP49 euro style.

Clockwise from the top: Capt. Rick, Mary S, Dr. Patty North, David and Gail Bernstein, and Jeff North.

They both looked fabulous. Recently retired, we can see they enjoy life on the water!

Savannah, Georgia; Isle of Hope Marina

Tonto’s Reward and Exhale settled in for a well-deserved break while the humans and one very spoiled puppy went Off to the Races! (see the last post)

Tonto’s Reward, David and Gail Bernstein

Richmond Hill, Georgia; Kilkenny Marina

After we returned from the Formula One races we headed to one of our favorite stops, Kilkenny Marina. It turns out Richmond Hill and our home base in Fort Myers have a very special connection – Henry Ford!

In 1916 Henry and Clara Ford purchased a winter home in Fort Myers, next to Thomas Edison.

Roughly 20 years later Clara determined Fort Myers was “too crowded”. Really? Let’s research that: Wikipedia reports the population was 3,678 in 1920, bursting to an insufferable 9,082 by 1930, okay … Apparently, Clara wanted a more private location, to escape the hustle and bustle. The world’s first billionaire solved that problem for his pretty wife: Ford acquired 85,000 acres in the low country, covering 120 square miles, then he immediately commenced building a new community.

By 1937, Clara was enjoying a 7,000 square foot mansion overlooking the Ogeechee River. Maybe she just wanted a bigger house, with a pool and a massive lawn, who knows.

Known as the Uncommon Friends, Henry Ford, John Burroughs, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison were reported to take fishing trips together on the Ogeechee River.

Now, for a small fortune, you can rent the historic venue for a destination wedding or special event.

Jekyll Island, Georgia

We love this little pub, the staff is super friendly!

and the mascots dress up with the season!

Seeing Double

Welcome to the North Pacific family, Greg and Ellen. Joining us at Jekyll was the newly launched M/V Bertha, another 49 euro style, she’s an Exhale doppelgänger. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”.

Enjoy your beautiful new home on the water!

Fernandina Beach, Florida

Crossing the invisible state line, we are BACK in Florida. Tom and Faye, M/V Treble in Paradise, you should be here!

Hey David B, did we go on another Bird Walk?

Celebrating Milestones.

October 29, Jo Callaway; October 30, Lana Savona; November 1, Sandy Houlder; November 3, Gail Bernstein; November 5, Cindy Ginsburg

Happy Halloween!

Coming Up: St. Augustine, Florida, Conch House Marina (October 29)

Off to the Races!

While Exhale took a little break – tied up at the Isle of Hope, Savannah GA – Capt. Rick, Buttercup and I flew to Austin, TX; hometown of Dana Belknap, M/V Tumbleweed, and second home of Craig Adford and Maureen O’Gara.

We left long before breakfast – Buttercup was not impressed.

It’s 4:08 am – why are we going for a walk in the dark?

First, a heartfelt thank you to Gail and David Bernstein who facilitated this amazing trip to see the Formula One races! Former Austin residents, they started going to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) track when it opened in October of 2012, that year Mario Andretti waived the green flag to officially start the races! It was reported that 117,429 folks watched the races that year – now that’s a precise number.

Gail, David, Bert and EJ are private seat licensed (PSL) ticket holders. Strategically, their seats are at Turn 15 – the best in the house! Rob and Kerry went last year, so they know what we mean.

If you have never experienced the frenzy, here are a few bragging stats from COTA for last year (2022): Record attendance: over 440,0000 sweaty persons; Economic impact ~ $10 billion, that’s with a “B”, think roughly two Super Bowls; Austin jobs ~ 64,000.

There were lots of Fan-atics in the crowd.

Although the final numbers are not in yet, 2023 was predicted by COTA to top all of that, in sweltering heat. We believe it!

With PSL tickets, we walked the pits on Thursday.

Just in time for a fun publicity stunt by Drew Barrymore, who posed with my favorite, Red Bull racer Sergio Checo Perez #11.

Red Bull racing team, Drew Barrymore and team principal Christian Horner.

Thank you to Maureen and Craig for spoiling us, rotten for an entire week! We ate, we drank, we ate some more!

Craig and Mo live in a peaceful community with lots of hiking trails. The view overlooks Lake Travis. We hope you get rain, soon!

Lake Travis – the water levels were VERY low

One of our favorite moments was the tailgate party in the parking lot!

Buttercup enjoyed every moment!

In Texas everything was fabulous!

Go Max Go

And the winner is …. Because this blog is late, again, you already know that Max won!

From Race Cars to Baby Pods, who knew!?

Not sure who to root for with so many great teams? Consider Williams – okay, the 2023 drivers did not fare well, but the company is awesome. Maureen, our hostess with the most-ess, offered a heartwarming story of the unexpected application of race car engineering utilized by Williams!

More than just racing – introducing the Babypod 20!

Real-time data is the oxygen, the lifeblood of a Formula One race car. Every ripple of movement – by the driver and his car – is carefully monitored and anlayzed. The car is also designed to withstand a 20 G-force crash, so when the car smashes into other cars, or a wall, it is highly probable the driver(s) will walk away!

BabyPod 20 Advanced Healthcare Technology (AHT) stock photo

Now imagine designing a portable, crash-resilient transport carrier for new-born infants! Made of carbon-fibre, the Babypod 20 is ultralight, temperature-controlled, with a built-in vital signs monitor (like the race cars!). Easily transferred to a stretcher, trolley, ambulance, car or helicopter, the pod has already saved the lives of countless infants!

Pure brilliance! Bravo to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, located in the London Borough of Camden, who partnered with Williams and Advanced Healthcare Technology to develop the Babypod!

“Second to the right, and then straight on till morning”

One more super cool thing about that hospital – Author James Matthew Barrie gifted all of his copyrights to Peter Pan (book and theatre) to support Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children back in 1929. It turns out, JM Barrie once lived on Grenville Street, behind Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). That house became the inspiration for the Darlings’ family home in his fabulous novel Peter Pan. In 1988 the House of Lords extended the rights, in perpetuity, to insure the royalty checks would continue! What a fabulous legacy. If you want to learn more, click here! https://www.gosh.org/about-us/peter-pan/history/

Celebrating Milestones (a few missed birthday).

October 22, Kelly Thorn-Hiebert; October 27, Steven “with a v” Hunt – still throwing flowers; October 29, Jo Callaway; October 30, Lana Savona

Coming Up: Heading to Kilkenny Marina

Note to our followers – our last post was from South Port SC – we will do a “gap post” soon to fill in the missing stops from Little River, Waccca Wachie (hello Free Style), Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort SC, and Hilton Head)

For Dana – FreeStyle caught up with us in Isle of Hope. We have been bumping into them for years now, beginning in Maine in 2021, and most recently during our Canadian adventure. You should be here, Tumbleweed!