On to Bald Head Island, then a Boat Yard, June 18-24

So we enjoyed our time at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in Little River SC.  $1 a foot including a pool, two nice restaurants and a 3 mile boardwalk around the facility.  Some shots from our walks.

OK, there was nothing else, just a nice stay as long as you do not need provisions. Not to many people around all weekend except at the restaurants.  The staff is very good and friendly too!  A very nice stop to do some laundry and chill out for a couple days.  Julie took me to a great prime rib dinner on Father's Day at Clark's Steak and Seafood House right on the harbor...it was a great meal and view!

On Monday morning we got started around 7 AM for our 40 mile trip to Bald Head Island.  Nice golf courses along the way.

A derelict shrimper along the way.

We stopped in Southport to top off the diesel tanks and arrived at Bald Head around noon.  Here is the ferry we had to wait for to clear the narrow channel before we could enter.

 

A very nice facility here, we plan too stay a couple days.  In the evening we rode our bikes about 3.5 miles each way to the eastern beach to attend the "howl at the moon party" on the beach.  There were probably 250 people there, a gentleman singing familiar songs and the full moon rise was fantastic!

 

Everyone moving to the water to "howl at the moon"

We rode our bikes back in the dark (yes we have lights!) and saw deer and lots of golf carts on our way back to the boat. 

 



Golf carts at sunset as we are walking back to unlock the bikes for the ride home.

Tuesday morning we took a nice walk over to the Old Baldy lighthouse (1817) and around a few of the streets to see the homes, etc. 

 

There are no cars on the island, just golf carts, a tram and bicycles for transportation.  Lots of nice paved golf cart trails to ride.

 

 

From a road crossing the island golf course.

 



A shot from the harbor entrance.

Its been windy the last couple days with 4-6 foot seas outside the marina.  In spite of that, our friends Evelyn and Clark (Sea Moss) came into the marina yesterday.  We last saw them in the Bahamas at Cracker P's Full Moon Party on Lubbers Quarters in the Abacos.  We teased them that they just missed another full moon party by a day!!  We were able to swap stories and such on Tuesday night.  They brought us a piece of wonderful New Jersey baked apple pie as they just got back to their boat a couple days ago.  It was delicious, thanks Evelyn and Clark!!  Sea Moss left on Wed morning in some pretty rough water so we hope they had a reasonable crossing over to the ICW a couple miles away. Here is a shot of their boat in the marina before they left.

We have taken walks and bike rides around the island each day.  It is so nice with just bikes, pedestrians and golf carts (except for an occasional service vehicle of some sort). 
We came here on the recommendation of Jeff and Susie aboard Idyll Time and we thank them for the tip...it was a really nice stop.  Hopefully our paths will cross in the Fall or Winter.

Another nice sunset from our slip in the marina.

Here is a shot of a 1960 Merritt Boat Works sport fish, totally restored wooden boat that was our neighbor for a couple days. Beautiful vessel. They are leaving right after the ferry.

We departed following the 7 AM ferry out of the harbor. 

This trip took us to a marina where the boat will be stored and a list of maintenance items completed by the boatyard while we are away visiting family and friends until early August. It will be real different living out of a suitcase without the gentle rocking, wave noise, etc.  But we look forward to visiting all our children, Mom, siblings and friends while we are away.  The "crew" (including Julie and me) readying things for being pulled out of the water. They allow the boat owner to get the boat into the lift well and have one crew member aboard to help with lines.  We then had to climb out with a ladder to the pier before they lift. Hey it saved us a $50 fee for them to do it! :>)

Being lifted from the water on Friday morning.

Why we need to get Velox or Prop Speed paint on the props and shafts for salt water. (zoom in)  Eight months in salt water with no protective coating on shafts and props will do this....this could be the source of the slight vibration we have on the list.

 

Thanks for following our blog.  More later.....