Blog

We left Norfolk, VA, passing all sorts of military ships, barges, etc.  The largest naval harbor in the US.  After a 5 hour cruise up the beautiful Chesapeak Bay with calm waters & sunny skies, we went a few miles up the Rappahannock River & docked at The Tides Inn.  We had 2 great days catching up with Frederick, Jenny & their 4 adorable girls, Rowland & Frankie (old horse friends from Virginia) & Trip’s sister, Beth, husband Jim & our 4 neices, Devon, Maggie, Olivia & Ellie.  The Tides Inn was a great place for entertaining aboard. 

After leaving Beaufort we put in a long day going through the Pamlico Sound & inside the Outer Banks to Manteo, NC where we spent the night.  Cute fishing village with a great lighthouse.  The next day we cruised up the Outer Banks through Coinjock, NC, a popular cruising stop on the ICW.  From there we made it to Norfolk, Va, after negotiating our first lock (only 100 or so more to go) & docked right downtown in the restored waterfront.  Reminded us of Baltimore, MD.  We had our friend Betsy on board for a tour & cocktails.

The first day out of Charleston we continued meandering through the SC low country with stops in Georgetown & North Myrtle Beach.  We crossed over into NC & spent 2 nights in Wrightsville Beach.  From there we were able to check out downtown Wilmington.  Next stop Beaufort, NC.

We docked at the Downtown Marina in Beaufort & had friends Don & Gloria over for a drink.  We spent the night & cruised to Charleston the next day.  We docked near the old market at the Maritime Center & drove to Tryon for a week to get caught up while Steve & Summer worked on a “to do” list.  When we got back on board we hosted some of our NC/SC friends, Maude, James, Gary, Shelley, Mike, David, Becky, Jim, Jane, Polly, Nick, Laura, Steve & Joann on board for a cocktail party & luncheon cruise along the Battery the next day. 

After a day running in the ocean we passed Jekyll & St. Simon Islands & docked right downtown in the historic district of Brunswick.  Watched the Kentucky Derby with mint juleps & had a great meal in the fly bridge.  The next day we opted to go back to the ICW & meandered through the beautiful marshes on our way north to Savannah.  We spent 2 nights docked downtown in front of the Hyatt & enjoyed all that Savannah has to offer.

We spent a couple nights at the Municipal Marina, right downtown & next to the Bridge of Lions.  What a treat!  Oldest town in America!  Lots to offer.

The first night out of PB we stayed near Port St. Lucie, the next night near Melbourne, where Alan’s relatives, Chris & Tony, got off & headed home, & the following near New Smyrna Beach on our way to St. Augustine.  An amazing amount of dolphins in the ICW.

On April 24 we cruised along the coast to Palm Beach & tied up at the Brazilian Docks, just a few blocks from Worth Avenue.   Our main reason to be in PB was to be part of a big 50th birthday celebration weekend for our friend Matt.  It was the last hoorah in a 3 month long celebration.  Oh well, one’s 50th is a big deal.  That night we went to a birthday party for him at the home of some Chicago friends, the next day our friend Jeff took 30 people for a birthday brunch cruise on his 112′ Westport, a beautiful yacht.  Late in the afternoon Alan’s neice & her husband boarded to join us for a few days cruising north.  That night we had a cocktail party for 20 friends & (hopefully) wrapped up the celebration.  The next morning we headed north to continue our journey.