May 1st - Barefoot'n is now in Virginia!

Hi From Virginia!

Barefoot'n is now in Chesapeake, VA!  We are just 8 miles away from Norfolk, our destination for the AGLCA convention.  We are just a bit early, so we are staying at Top Rack Marina and Captain Randy is working on an oil and filter change for Barefoot'n while it is raining.  

North Carolina was beautiful and we didn't know just how long the coastline was until we cruised it.  You see the scenery change from low country to huge pine trees all along the ICW.  There have been loads of ospreys sitting on big nests all along the way.  

Dinghy Barefoot'n at Morehead

We tied up in Morehead City, where we were the 'dinghy' for a great yacht that was in for some major engine repair.  We also met loopers on two boats (Sea Glide & Bucket List), and had dinner with them. 







After a night, we skipped over to Beaufort.  This a must-see quaint historic town on the water. 

Wild Horses across from Beaufort

There is a story about one of the headstones in this old cemetery.  It is a simple wooden marker and on it, it says 'Little Girl'. The story is that a little girl died while on a ship and the only way they had to preserve her body until they could get to Beaufort was to place her in a rum keg.  The headstone is actually made from the keg.  People that visit the cemetery leave her toys, beads, bears, etc. (See below)  Her father was a captain and lived on Front Street in Beaufort.

Old Burial Ground in Beaufort

'Little Girl'  

Morning at Belhaven

We just happened to be lucky enough to be in Beaufort for their annual Wine Festival.  :o)  We tasted a mango Moscato that was pretty yumo.  Beaufort also has a fantastic Maritime Museum.  The next day took us to Whittaker Marina in Oriental, NC. We caught up with the Sadlers on Slo Gin and Cindy and Larry aboard Bucket List. Nice stop and lots of grass for Princess Heidi, who yes, is STILL NOT using her pee pads.  :o(  The next morning we were off to Belhaven for an anchor out and cheeseburgers.  That was great and we launched the dinghy for ......wait for it......yep, Princess Heidi.  But we walked around Belhaven a bit and met up with some more loopers.

View of Belhaven from Barefoot'n

 The next morning, we pulled anchor and cruised through 'the ditch' on the Alligator River/Pungo Canal.  We anchored in a small cove called Broad Creek, just south of Albermarle Sound.  We had the place to ourselves!  Then we headed for the Virginia Cut and the town of Coinjock, NC.  Stayed at the Coinjock Marina.  It was a great place to stop as there aren't a lot of places along that route.  We met up with loopers aboard Rick and Roll and had dinner with them at the restaurant there.  The dockmaster had a full house that night and there was not an inch to spare, and I mean that literally.

Not an inch to spare at Coinjock 

And by special request from Slo Gin, here is photo of Joe and Ginny PASSING Barefoot'n along the river. Note the great speed with which they overtake us!  LOL

Captain Joe smiling

Slo Gin preparing to pass us to port.

That's it for now.  And the adventure continues.....

Capt Randy and the Admiral

4/20/13 - North Carolina

Greetings from the Tar Heel state!  

Mooring on Calabash River

Girl Time

After leaving Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach, we headed for an anchorage in the Calabash River.  The anchorage was right along the NC/SC border.  Very nice and protected, although we are still 'working' with Heidi to use her pee pad.  :o(  

The next morning we headed on to Bald Head Island, NC and spent a couple of days exploring.  OK, I found out that they call it Bald Head Island because many years ago as sailors approached the island, it had a large hill that had bare with no greenery on it.  The sailors said it looked like a bald head....and it stuck.   It is a very pretty island with Old Baldy, the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina.  

The marina is well protected from the Atlantic and ferries run continuously until late in the evening.

View of marina atop Old Baldy

BHI is a fairly large island with paved trails all over.  They only allow golf carts or bikes, so we opted for our bikes.  It is also a dog-friendly island.  Heidi was able to have some fun on the beach swimming and attacking a crab (which was dead, but don't tell her).  

Miss Braveheart fighting with dead crab

After leaving BHI, we ventured up the Cape Fear River and that brings us to where we are now.  Wilmington has a boardwalk in the historic downtown with lots of shopping and restaurants.  As the weather changed last night with a cold front and wind, we are hunkered down.  But guess what??

On Thursday, as we were returning from a long bike ride, we saw a very familiar face walking down the dock.  It was Joe Sadler!  Joe & Ginny's boat, Slow Gin was docked right next to us.  

Slow Gin

What a nice surprise.  We're still not quite sure how they caught us but glad they did.  They will be tied up for a couple of days too, as we wait out the windy conditions.  







That's it for today.  The adventure continues.....

Buds on the beach at BHI

  

4/14 Update From Myrtle Beach, SC

Hey Ya'll! (still in the South :o} )

Historic downtown Charleston

Charleston was a great town!  On the last half of our stay there, we toured Ft. Sumter and took in a historic carriage ride along the Battery and Rainbow Row.  Randy and I found a new ale that is pretty tasty.  It is called 'Son of a Peach' and it is yumo!  Perfect spring/summer ale.  

Patriot's Point Maritime Museum

Famous ironwork along gates

Federal flag returned to Ft. Sumter after the war

View of Pinkney's Castle

On top of Ft. Sumter

 Barefoot'n is now at the Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach, SC.  It is tucked in off of the Waccamaw River.  Very quiet and lots of tall cedars and pines.  We have seen lots of ospreys and turtles along this river.  We again decided to rent a car to see the sites of Myrtle Beach, Murrell's Inlet and Socastee.  It just so happened that fellow Unsinkables, Bud and Patrece aboard Almost Perfect, were already at Osprey Marina.  It was so nice to spend some time with them, having dinner at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse and getting some valuable tips and recommendations on what to see and do on our trip north.  

Bud & Patrece at Osprey Marina

As for Heidi, she celebrated her 9th birthday on the 12th, with some vanilla ice cream and singing.  And!  It just so happens that there is a goat farm adjacent to the marina.  Needless to say, she was super excited to go for a walk here!  :o)  

Hammin'
 it up at House of Blues in Myrtle Beach

Anchor out -
Morning mist over Graham Creek

Historic Georgetown, SC


Tomorrow morning, we will leave the great state of South Carolina and head for North Carolina.  And the adventure continues.....

Barefoot'n in Charleston, SC

Hey Ya'll!

Barefoot'n is now located in Charleston, SC.  Randy and I loved Savannah.  If you haven't had a chance to see this city, you should put it on your list.  We enjoyed it so much, we stayed a week.  It was wonderfully southern and so much to see.  I lost count on how many orders of shrimp and grits I have had! Everyone says 'Yes Ma'am'.  Wow.  We stayed at the Isle of Hope Marina the whole time, which is very quiet and the houses on Bluff Drive are gorgeous.  They had a courtesy car, but we ended up renting a car just so we could spend more time sightseeing.  We had to buy the movie, "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil", so Randy could see Lady Chablis.  She is back in town and performs on occasion.   

Tybee Lighthouse

Definitely in the South. (See flag)

 From Savannah, we headed for Hilton Head, which was a short run.  We stayed at the Sea Pines Resort and Marina and our slip was right under the lighthouse.  And, they bring you a  complimentary bottle of wine right to your boat!  How cool is that~  We had dinner at the Crazy Crab and I think it could have been the best oysters we have ever had!  You had to shuck them, but we ordered one dozen steamed oysters and got 2 dozen brought to the table in a bucket.  Yumo!  If you look at the bottom of the lighthouse, you will see Barefoot'n docked.  

See us?  Hilton Head Lighthouse  

After Hilton Head, we motored on to Beaufort and took advantage of the horse drawn carriage ride through the historical part of town.  Even Heidi got to ride in the carriage.  After the ride, we enjoyed Easter dinner at Plums Restaurant.  

And now, we are in Charleston, SC!  We are tied up at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina located in Mt. Pleasant which is right across the river from downtown Charleston.   We are right next to the Patriots Point Maritime Museum and have a great view of Fort Sumter.  There is a trolley that runs every 2 hours right into Charleston, so no need to rent a car.  And it's free!  

Customs Bldg in Charleston

Patriots Point Maritime Museum, Charleston

The Adventure Continues..........

That's it for now.  

Barefoot'n Adventures in Georgia

Hey Ya'll!
We are in Savannah!  Georgia has been lots of fun.  We arrived in Isle of Hope Marina, GA (which is right outside Savannah).  The weather was quite stormy yesterday, which made out trip on the Atlantic 'interesting' coming into Wassaw Sound Inlet.  The storms continue today, but hopefully we will get out this afternoon and do some exploring.  The island is quite charming with lots of beautiful houses.  The marina provides complimentary cars, bikes and are very friendly.  

Here are the places that we have visited in Georgia:  

• Cumberland Island - Saw the Dungeness Estate, the beach with all the sand dunes, wild horses & turkeys, and lots of trails

 

• Jekyll Island
• Brunswick Island - Walked thru the old downtown, paper mills nearby
• St. Simon's Island - Lighthouse, lots of restaurants and shops.  Used taxi to get into town.  Ate at Brogans.

• Isle of Hope & Savannah - Where we are currently.  

Tuesday, March 19 - Today is our last day in Florida!  We stopped yesterday in Fernandina Beach, FL.  It is a very quaint town and the marina is nice.  Tomorrow, we will head for St. Simon's, GA.  

March 14th Update

Hi Everyone!
Barefoot'n is now at the Titusville Municipal Marina.  We will leave at the crack of dawn for Halifax Yacht Club (Daytona Beach).  Randy heard that there was a little event called Bike Week going on .  From there, we will head to St. Augustine and be there for a couple of days.  The weather has been pretty typical for this time of year.....BREEZY!  But really, it has been nice.  The marinas along the way have all been great.

So, in order, here is where we have visited in the last 2 weeks:  Field Club, Pelican Bay (on anchor), St. Charles YC, Royal Palm YC, Owl Creek Boatyard (for some minor repairs), Roland Martin at Clewiston, Sunset Bay Marina at Stuart, The Moorings YC in Vero Beach, Vero Beach City Marina, Eau Galle YC, Titusville Municipal Marina (at present).

Heidi is doing well.  She has been lucky in that we have only done one anchor out so far.  We are still trying to convince her to use her new 'on-board facilities' (pee-pad).

Until next time, we miss everyone and hope all is well back home.

Randy, Vicki & Heidi
Barefoot'n