To Southport, North Carolina in position 33:55.03N, 78:01.67W
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Wed 3 Jun 2009 13:38
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Our night in the Waccamaw river anchorage passed
without further incident and the morning was surreal, with fascinating bird
calls the only sound to be heard. The water was like a millpond with just the
odd broken branch drifting past the boat. We were up and about and on our way
just before 0700, but were the last of the 4 boats there to get going.
The Waccamaw river transit was over as we motored
into the outskirts of Myrtle Beach. The thick wooded banks gave way to huge
clapperboard properties with their own waterfront access, many with speedboats
up on hydraulic racks to keep them safe from passing boat wakes. We were again
passing under bridges and had a small delay with a swing bridge whilst the
bridge keeper waited for some school busses to go over before opening for
us.
We were closing back in on the coast again - you
could smell the sea air. Traffic on the ICW became more frequent as we were
rocked constantly by fast powerboats - there is no speed restriction on the
waterway. Some slow down for you, others don't, but we wave at them
all although many wave first.
Our nights stop was at Southport Marina just before
the junction of the ICW with Cape Fear inlet. A nice marina with, just a few
minutes walk down the road, a fishing community, with shrimpers docked along the
waterfront. We ate at 'Fishy Fishy' a cafe which served err... Fish. Nikki
had Grouper and grits. Phil had fishy cow (sirloin steaks). Great meal, we'll
return in the winter when we migrate south again.
 When the ICW splits your golf course in 2 this is
how you get across with your clubs!
 Properties fronting the ICW
  Coastal inlet into the ICW with beachside
properties
 At Southport Marina - our hulls near the waterline
are stained from the tannin from the
Waccamaw River water. Hope it comes
off!
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