Myrtle Beach – Exhale on the Water

Shrimp, Shrimp, Shrimp!

Charleston, SC

It was a delicious Charleston Bloody Mary – the perfect breakfast on a rainy sunday morning! Look at those yummy olives! We recommend the Blind Tiger! 36 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29403; check out the critter friendly patio dining.

Fun historic trivia from their website: The term “Blind Tiger” was coined in the late 1800’s to describe the illicit drinking and gambling establishments rebeliously opening their doors as temperance legislation swept across the country. The first “Blind Tigers” in South Carolina sprung up in 1893 as a defiant rebuttal to the “Dispensary” laws.

Welcome to new boater friends, Hilary and Duane Steinroeder on Rightview, yes, you can find her on AIS now!

Thanks to Hilary, we found Rainbow Row. It was worth the walk, although it would have been nice to skip the drenching down pour!

Spanning from 79-107 E Bay St, Charleston, SC, Rainbow Row is famous for the longest intact stretch of 18th-century Georgian row houses. The houses are joined by common walls, but the roof lines – and the colors – vary. Local Legend suggests the bright palette was intended as an aid to navigation, to help drunken sailors determine which house they were supposed to sleep in!

History Trivia – If you are curious about the individual homes, click here for Wikipedia details!

Shrimp Time! Leland Oil Marina, McClellanville

And then there were shrimp boats . . .

We tied up at Leland Oil, excited to connect again with Tiki Queen. We have been friends with Karen and Leland McClellan since we did the loop in 2018. Thank you both for inviting us to your sweet home, designed by the ever young, ever talented Leland.

This brick treatment is called weeping mortar. Zoom in and you can see the bricklaying technique that intentionally allows the mortar to seep out. More than just aesthetic (yes, I think it looks REALLY cool), the method prevents water from infiltrating the foundation and basement – you are very clever Leland!

Check out their garden – with an abundance of amazing veggies and fruits.

Thank you Karen and Lee for spoiling us with an unbelievable shrimp dinner.

FRESH McClellanville shrimp, prepared by Karen McClellan. Yummy.

Ready for more shrimp stories? Did you know that McClellanville was one of the many back drops for the 1994 oscar winning Forrest Gump – including the devastated shrimp fleet that smashed ashore? Click here to watch the very short but very memorable Bubba Gump shrimp scene from Forrest Gump (1994) – brilliantly based on the true story of Hurricane Carmen (1974), which destroyed every shrimping boat in Bayou La Batre except for one boat – the Jenny [YES, the surviving boat was really named the Jenny!!]. Forrest Gump fans remember the lovely Jenny (Robin Wright).

Click here to enjoy a fun song from the Forrest Gump soundtrack, “On The Road Again“, performed by the Highwaymen: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson.

Georgetown, Harborwalk

Georgetown is quaint, with fun local stores and excellent restaurants. Looking for customized embroidery? Try the Harbor Shop in Georgetown, where K.K. whipped up these hats for us.

We are happy to report the George Hotel is finished. We heard the food is amazing, but it’s a little pricey.

Wacca Wache (WW) Marina

Outriggers Bar & Grill (at the edge of the marina) is under new management with a delightful upgrade in the menu as the kitchen offers a nice selection of fresh fare.

You can sit inside, or bring your dog(s) and sit under the massive tree.

Boater’s Tip – Marina prices (per foot) and fuel prices (per gallon) at WW are OFTEN the lowest in the region. Call ahead and check! The staff is skilled and their banter is amusing – all good clean fun. If you time it right, there is live music under the majestic shade tree. We strongly recommend this stop.

Myrtle Beach Yacht Club

Finally, a lighthouse for our subscribers. This stop reminds us of loyal crew member Craig Adford and fellow looper Bruce Peck, SeaTrek. Sorry Bruce, no lemon drop martinis this time.

Southport Morningstar

Well hello Tra Sea! Thanks, Tim, for meeting up on the one whistle.

Tim Harris, Tra Sea, named for Tracy Harris (not pictured)

Southport, NC

Say hello to Mark Cardone, Rick’s very FAVORITE neighbor, who used to live across the alley from us in Belmont Shore, CA, lovingly referred to as his “brother from another mother”.

After escaping the hustle and bustle of CA, Mark and Linda have created a serene oasis

surrounded by deer, which Linda definitely feeds!

Although Buttercup wasn’t too sure about the cats

we enjoyed the Friday (usually Sunday) gravy.

Mark Cardone, Mary S, Capt. Rick, Linda Palmer and Buttercup

Celebrating Milestones: Birthdays – May 29, Joe Solari (80 young) and Doug Belknap; May 31, Pamela Ledward; June 1, Craig Adford, Mark Marlow and June Bug Skyllar Gill; June 3, Lorrie Swink

Reminder – June 7 is national donut day!

Next Up: Carolina Beach Marina

Heavenly North Carolina

First, a return visit to Alligator River

At the foot of the Alligator Bridge the gas station / gift shop / food counter is a popular rest stop for US Hwy 64 motorists and for ICW boaters. In the words of the patron who walked in behind us “this place never changes.”

Alligator River – Fried Chicken

We have stayed at the marina numerous times over the past 5 years. The fried chicken was sooo good we would talk about it for days; the well-seasoned cook was a charming southern woman, who seemed to put her heart and soul into every meal! Unfortunately, this time she was not there, and I don’t think she shared her secret recipes with her replacement. So Disappointed. Gail B was smart enough to order a salad – which came with hamburger pickles, so odd. On a side note, we hope NP43 Beach Breeze, fka Gypsy Soul, is doing well.

The replica of Cape Hatteras lighthouse remains a fav.

Belhaven, NC; Spoon River

Formerly known as Jack’s Neck, then Bellport, the waterfront village of Belhaven earned its official name in 1899.

And the heavens opened up … On September 23, as Ophelia made landfall, a storm surge flooded the entire town of Belhaven. Like most of Mother Nature’s annoying natural disasters, the devastation was quick and widespread.

This video is from LiveStorms Media

We arrived less than two weeks after the flood; in spite of Ophelia’s unjustifiable mayhem, irrepressible businesses were reopening.

Our favorite restaurant, Spoon River Artworks and Market, was amongst the most Resilient! Farm to Table meals prepared by Mark and Teresa.

Travelers – Make the time to eat there – It’s a MUST!

FINE WINE TIME! Instead of a printed wine list, you walk into a beautiful room, where you can pick out your own treasure.

Oriental, NC; River Dunes

If you read our posts this summer you know we were on a quest throughout Maine and Canada to see a moose, any moose, with no luck at all. Amused to see this trophy in North Carolina!

Morehead City, NC

Morehead is another walkable town, with well-maintained structures.

Boater’s Tip – This year the annual North Carolina Seafood Festival and Boat Show is/was from October 6 – 8. Celebrating nearly 40 years, the three-day event reportedly attracts more than 200,000 – Capt. Rick was VERY happy to miss the crowds.

Hampstead, NC; Harbor Village Marina

We also found this boat name adorable – for Ray and Caryl– notice, Little Bit is the tender, Little Bit More is the Rossmore

Boater’s Tip: Harbormaster Brett Ulisnik is likely to have a dog treat in his pocket! A quiet little spot, there are no restaurants nearby making it a perfect night to eat on board.

Southport, NC

Southport is a picturesque waterfront community! A walkable spot, with charming local store fronts. Not surprisingly, it is a popular filming location, with more than 30 listed on IMDB (click here), including Dawson’s Creek, Weekend at Bernies and Safe Haven (for Linda Palmer)!

Halloween Decoration for Morgan

Brothers from Another Mother Reunited!

Say hello to Mark Cardone – Rick’s brother from another mother. Together they tell LOTS of stories of the good old days. Fun fact: Mark’s son was our wedding photographer!

In honor of the wine-infused Italian meals typically concocted by Mark – which we have enjoyed together for more than 15 years – Rick and I prepared dinner on Exhale; handmade meatballs and “gravy” slow cooked for nearly eight hours, to be served over angel hair nests. The boat was smelling yum-a-licious by the time they arrived.

You might notice the familiar attire – Rick and Mark have a very similar collection of those Costco shirts!

Mark and his wife, Linda Palmer, are former neighbors from Belmont Shore, CA. Oh how we missed you guys, including the champagne corks that Mark would aim at our home, across the alley.

In May of this year they moved to North Carolina, a HUGE change from our beloved beach community in California!

If you want to take a break from your day, click here to check out the UTube channel launched by Mark and Linda, with segments about travel, pets (they have three cats and more than a dozen wild deer), Halloween (it’s an obsession), and an irreverent cooking show. Parent Advisory: some of the 1-Minute Recipes are not for kids!

Looking forward to seeing you in Florida, Mark and Linda!

Chillin the Most – cool boat name with a beautiful Aussie!

Celebrating with sweet Golden Ours

Southport is also the home of Tim and Tracy Harris, NP 45 Golden Ours.

Tracy loves Buttercup – you can see it’s mutual!

Boater’s Tip: With so many great places to eat in Southport, stay an extra day or more so you can explore!

Thanks for the Flowers, Tim Harris! Can’t wait to see you and Tracy again!

Closing with a bonus photo for Craig and Commodore Gary, NP45 Knot Dreamin – zoom in!

Celebrating Milestones.

It’s Fall! Wishing a very merry un-birthday to all y’all!

Coming Up: Little River, South Carolina – where we first met Bruce Peck, MV Seatrek in 2018. I think it’s time for a lemon drop martini :-) You should be here Craig Adford! See you soon in Austin.

Chasing a Squirrel

Maddie loves to go for a walk, especially if she can chase a squirrel. The only thing she loves more is a proper belly rub, on a certain Fleming of course.

Beaufort, NC

Our stop in Beaufort (pronounced “no” in North Carolina) was a great chance to reconnect with fellow Maine Event boaters from Treble in Paradise, NP45.

Hi Tom and Faye – safe travels on your slow journey back to Florida!

Wrightsville Beach, NC / Harbor Island

Kiss Her Too, iii is another beautiful North Pacific 49, hull number 4. Several months ago we saw this boat from a distance, at Spring Cove Marina on Solomon’s Island. What a surprise to find her tied up just a few boats away.

On board are Tony and Judy Kuester and their two dogs. Can you believe she is a 2015 model?! So gorgeous.

Back at the Marina, Maddies was on a quest for cookies, alas, no luck.

We took on fuel at Wacca Wache, a teeny tiny marina on the Wacca Maw River.

Georgetown – Fresh Shrimp

Thanks Gail for the suggestion to buy fresh shrimp in Georgetown. A short walk from the Marina, this place was amazing; the shrimp dinner we made was absolutely delicious.

Breaking News for our Sports Fans

Did you know the rivalry between the Giants and Dodgers began in the late 19th century when both clubs were based in New York City? The Giants played at the Polo Grounds in the borough of Manhattan and the Dodgers played in the borough of Brooklyn.

Ryan Mendoza, Matthew Valdez, and Javier Angulo

So proud to know these men! Friendly rivals reunited at the ball game. Oh yes, the Dodgers got to celebrate the win!! Tony and Taco were dancing in the streets. Sorry MV, it was an amazing game!!

Georgetown

Back to Georgetown – we left BEFORE dawn, surrounded by calm waters.

Engine Room Inspection

Some tasks on board require an extra set of eyes. Thus, Maddie often supervises Capt. Rick’s engine room duties.

Everything seems to be in order, are you coming up soon?

St. John’s Yacht Harbor, John’s Island

Another early morning departure rewarded by a gorgeous sunrise.

Beaufort, SC

We greatly enjoy Beaufort (pronounced with a “view”). It’s a town with great little shops and award winning restaurants. Scroll back in our blog to read about our stop heading north.

Look Craig and Maureen, we got to eat at Old Bull Tavern, at 5:30 pm! Check out this lamb-a-saurus. That’s a happy Capt. Rick.

The city of Beaufort, SC knows how to enjoy life. These popular swings, found on the promenade of the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, have a spectacular view. Their slogan is “Swing, Stroll, and Stay a While.”

Sniffing is almost as good as chasing squirrels.

Hilton Head, SC

Bruce Peck, Beverly Abel, Capt. Rick and Mary S. Dinner at Ela’s

Reunited with Sea Trek, we dined at Ela’s. Enjoying a Lemon Drop Martini, continuing a tradition with Bruce Peck.

Celebrating the Norths

Congrats to fellow NorthPacific owners, Dr. Patricia North (recently retired) and P. Jeffrey North, Esq. It was spectacular finally meeting you! Long Cove Club was lovely.

The Norths recently opted to down-size their land base (congrats on the sale of your house) and up-size their water home. Owners of an NP43, they are now busy customizing a new NP49 euro, scheduled to arrive in 2022.

The challenge of selecting a clever name is in progress, contenders include “Just a Splash”, “Copycat”, or “Patty’s Way”. With two gorgeous German Shepherds on board, I am suggesting they call their next boat “Good Shepherds”.

That also reminds me of the 2006 movie “The Good Shepherd” starring Matt Damon and Robert De Nero, with scenes filmed at Yale (for Ryan). Worth watching again.

We look forward to cruising with them in Florida and in the Keys this winter. Thanks for the amazing wine.

For Mija and Ynot

We leave you with a rhetorical question (that’s for Jeff). Did you know that the IATSE strike was averted? Hooray!! With a strike off the table, Taco is extremely relieved Alisha and Tony will not have to cut back on his rations.

Milestones:

Birthdays – Bushranger, Mark Rutherford – the month of celebrating continues! October 14: Linda Matlock; October 15: John Buckendahl, Jr.; October 22, Kelly Thorn-Hiebert

Next Stop: Kilkenny, GA

Swamp Swamp

Since European Settlers in the 1700s referred to swamps as “dismals”, wouldn’t that suggest the Dismal Swamp is really just a Swamp Swamp? I say, yes, yes! But, we’ll get back to the story of the Great Swamp in a moment. First a beautiful sunset from Georgetown, where we anchored out with Treble.

From Georgetown we traveled to Myrtle Beach. Destination: Barefoot Beach Marina. You were right, Beverly and Bruce (SeaTrek), don’t waste your time or your taste buds at the marina restaurant.

Myrtle Beach

Looking for Real Estate in a Super Charged COVID market? Location is key. Celebrating Tiny Houses!

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Anchored out with Treble we were delighted with a spectacular sight – the end of the ILCA Atlantic Coast Regatta, 113 Lasers registered, plus all of the coaches and judges. Here’s to Gail, who is a former Certified Judge of that regatta.

Wrightsville Beach Anchorage – May 22, 2021

Beaufort, NC

Welcome back to Beaufort – that’s No Bow in North Carolina, of course. With easy access from the Town Dock, this quaint little town is home to some of the very best fresh crab. We highly recommend walking off the beaten path to the Beaufort Grocery Co. When it opens at 5 pm there is a line, for a reason.

Belhaven, NC

Welcome aboard Jim and Susan Merritt. While the boys were doing yet another boat project, Susan and I got a private tour of the River Forest Manor, built in 1899. The dockmaster, Henry, is one of a handful of local residents who had the heart and vision to restore this gem into a magnificent wedding destination. The interior is stunning – check it out here: River Forest Manor

Elizabeth City, NC

Thanks to Gail Bernstein who encouraged us to progress on, we docked at the Mid Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City. The small dock located at the university was very accessible.

Mid Atlantic Christian University dock, Elizabeth City, NC

Trust me, you won’t find Sarah Palin here. This vibrant city is home to Ghost Harbor Brewing Company, and a growing number of trendy restaurants, romantic outdoor seating strung with Edison lights, all surrounded by exquisite historic buildings. REM – you would love the redevelopment!

Spectacular Super Flower Blood Moon – May 25, 2021

Dismal Swamp, Visitors Center – giving thanks to George Washington

In 1728 William Byrd II named this coastal region the Dismal Swamp on a series of survey maps that established the boundaries of North Carolina and Virginia. Here’s a random factoid – although known as a scandalous philanderer, the well established lawyer and politician was admired for his early advocacy of small pox inoculation. Consider this a shout out to all of you who are now fully vaccinated!

In 1763 an opportunistic George Washington saw the potential for development. Originally more than one million acres, the canal section, connecting Elizabeth City, NC to Norfolk, VA was completed in 1805.

Dismal Swamp, connecting NC to VA – May 26, 2021

We docked at the Dismal Swamp Visitor’s Center, a familiar and fabulous stop. Ynot, there is another turtle bobble coming your way.

Be forewarned, the swamp has a plethora of snakes crawling around – Tyler will tell you definitively, “Grandpa doesn’t like snakes“.

Smokey the Bear says, watch out for snakes!

Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend

It is with great respect that we remember those who fought to give us liberty and life, and we thank those that made the ultimate sacrifice for us. You shall never be forgotten.

Thanks to my WWII veteran father. This is for you.

Waterside, Norfolk VA – May 27 and 28

Norfolk, VA is home to the WORLD’s largest naval port. Fathom this military power: 75 naval ships, 134 aircraft, 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars. The extremely active training center boasts 275 flights per day, the equivalent of one every six minutes.

Battleship Wisconsin – BB64

Is it just me, or does this look like a Pixar character? Comments encouraged!

Nauticus Museum, Norfolk, VA – May 28, 2021

More Pixar inspiration

Sunrise, Norfolk, VA – May 29, 2021, 6:11 am

Goodbye and thanks to Susan and Jim Merritt, Gold Loopers, who traveled with us from Belhaven, NC to Norfolk, VA. Looking forward to seeing you later this summer!

Capt Rick, Mary S, Susan and Jim Merritt

Milestones: May 28 – Happy Birthday to Scott Ginsburg and Miss Brennyn (5)

Congrats to Danielle, Sandra, Abbey and Leo – on the road.

Next stop: Windmill Point, VA. Roughly 8 miles north of Deltaville.