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SC AICW to Erie Canal Loop Seg
  • AICW Great Loop Segment
  • AICW Great Loop Segment

SC AICW to Erie Canal Loop Seg

We trailered the boat from our home in Pensacola to a family reunion in SC and launched at a ramp on the Waccamaw River next to a marina where we had a reservation for 9 nights. En savoir plus
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  • Début du voyage
    25 juin 2024
  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Brookgreen gardens
    You can spend a nice day wandering Brookgreen gardens and not see it all600 year old Live Oak tree draped in Spanish MossOld rice field now managed for wildlife, esp birdsJuly 4 Golf Cart Parade

    Weeki Wachi marina

    25 juin 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    On arrival after launching and docking, we had all green LEDs on the shorepower AC panel, but no 120v power. We tried two cords, 4 pedestals, and two 50A adapters before calling a local marine electician (Frank at BOAT Tech) who came to the boat at 6pm and got power back on by 8pm. He came back the next night from 6 to 9pm to fix some other issues he found , all builder errors.

    We attended a family reunion at my brothers house at Litchfield Beach, SC. Lots of family meals, a July 4 decorated golf cart parade and a day at beautiful Brookgreen Gardens.    En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur

    Myrtle Beach

    5 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    We cruised north on the beautiful Waccamaw River to a protected marina at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. It was too hot to use the pool. After the pristine wild shores of the Waccamaw river, the ICW becomes more of a canal lined with homes (and rocks, in the section named 'The Rock Pile'). Lots of slow zones. We avoid being on the water on July 4.En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Cat O' Mine in Heavy Cruise Mode with 900 pounds of E0 gasFlying the Looper burgee at Myrtle Beach Yacht ClubWe never pass a Maritime MueseumTown is both historic and quaint, with well preserved historic homesthree lift tractors and three lanes

    Southport, NC

    6 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Lots of inlets and holiday weekend boating traffic. Southport Morningstar Marina has the busiest rack n' stack we've ever seen, with three forklifts in constant motion. These monsters can't travel on any roads, so when one breaks it's a real special outfit of mobile mechanics with cranes that repairs them. AGLCA presenter and Southport Harbor Host came by to meet and greet...and got the five minute tour of the entire boat. Well, maybe it didn't take THAT long!En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Sperm whale skeleton that washed ashore in the 1960's at the Maritime Mueseum
    1860 Fresnel (pronounced free-nel) lighthouse lenspirate era enema kitheated bar to cauterize wounds. Looks like Fun.Beaufort NC (pronounced bo-fort) historic homesThe best marina laundry we've ever encountered...and it's FREE!Homer Smith marina captain's lounge, open 24/7 with cipher lock comboFree cold water in the captains' loungeHomer Smith Marina Office and lounge, air conditioned bath houseWe had five days and nights where the rooftop AC would only work part time; now running greatWide, floating Bellingham docks at BeaufortThe Cruising Life...fixing your boat in exotic places.

    Beaufort NC. Homer Smith Marina

    9–13 juil. 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    96 miles, a big trip for most Looper boats, but much of it was at 25-27 MPH in long straight waterways with few no wake zones. We concur with the uniformly good WWG ratings for this marina with attentive staff, wide, newer floating docks in a protected basin. Free bulk ice! Spotless, air conditioned bath house. They have the ONLY marina courtesy car we've ever used that did NOT have the Check Engine light on (though it did have a tire pressure light on).En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Last evening at Beauforttrash bags protect the folding chairs and dry boxes from rain and spray underwayMorning WSG crossword puzzle goes with morning coffeeSafely docked at Bishops Marina before the storm and Small Craft warningsMarina also has RV spaces, 2 BR RV rentals and cute cottage rentalsOur walks were on the road, but lonelyClubfoot creek, Havelock, NCCalm before the stormSecured before the three days of SCAWind howling and halyards banging away

    Bishop Marina, Havelock, NC DAY 2

    12 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    Small Craft Advisory in effect for three days stay at Bishops Marina in a well protected creek three miles off the Neuse river and ICW. The owner and dockmaster met us at the dock and secured the boat for the coming nasty weather. These mom and pop type marinas are often not listing in WWG but can be found on Google Maps. The winds were indeed strong with gusts over 35 MPH and torrential rain. It's a bucolic quiet setting off the beaten path with a large air conditioned lounge, bath house and attentive owners and $2/ft (no 40 foot min) with AGLCA discount.En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    1890 homestead on Mitchell Creek, NC
    The halyards are quiet todayup to 18" water level changes due to wind, not tides. High short finger piersWhat a difference a day can make! Calming weather

    Havelock, NC DAY 3

    13 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    The Small Craft Advisory expres later today. The Neuse River and part of Pamlico sound should be calmed down by the time we leave tomorrow morning. The water pressure pump was cutting out intermittantly then quit completely. It's deep in the starboard sponson and a pain to get to with my head down there with a headlamp plus both arms. I cut and redid all six connector butts...still wouldn't turn on. Then I thought, "What would Bob do?" and it came to me that he would have first cut and connected the red and black 12v leads to a known good 12v battery, bypassing the switches, fuses and circut breakers. No joy, dead pump motor or leads. I ordered a replacement from Defender (closer) to be sent to the Elliot's place and hopefully meet them (and less importantly, the pump) there. It's a boat, it's always something. At least the Coleman AC decided to behave itself. And the engines have been flawless. The port bilge pump (expoxied to the bilge rather than screwed into the bottom of the boat) fell over with a huge wake, so re-did that, too.
    We can carry 7 days of provisions with two Engel dry boxes and two roto coolers outside plus a 2.7 fridge and solar panel, but historically have averaged 7 days max between pumpouts. That works out fine for the way we cruise and favor marinas over anchoring out.    En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur

    Belhaven, NC, Dowry Creek Marina

    14 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌩️ 86 °F

    Calm seas from Havelock, NC to Belhaven, even though I took a wrong turn DEEP into Pamlico sound almost to the barrier islands. By the time we both realized my mistake, it was shorter to continue arnd an extended shoal (meaning 20 miles long) than back tracking.
    Lesson learned yet again: Whenever a crewmember questions a turn, stop and figure it out before proceeding. No harm, no foul, Lesson Learned Again.    En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Lambs Marina, NC
    Lambs Marina, just south of Elizabeth CityAlbemarle Plantaion free laundry, free bulk ice, free docking 48h with pool, free pumpoutWide boardwalk to climate controlled bath houseAlb Plant dockmasterAlb Plant sunset. Many free docks on site, this is the bestRusty RR swing bridge should have collapsed decades ago

    Albemarle Plantation to Camden, Lambs

    16 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    The Albamarle Sound in NC is shallow and can be rough. Three forecasts predicted 5-10k winds and waves under 1 foot, but it got very windy and rough with wind waves over 2 feet and a lot of slamming and and wave sneezing and cabinets flying open and everything falling out as we crossed the Sound for 30 miles. The marina is nestles in a creek with little wind exposure. There are a group of marinas which offer 48 hours of dockage for free (Albarleloop.com). The best by all accounts is Albamarle Plantation Marina within a condo resort which has free dockage, good water, free shorepower, free bulk ice, free laundry and good dining at low prices. We planned on staying two nights and enjoying the pool during the 105 degree heat advisory, but the forcast changed to guts to 25 MPH this afternoon and the next 3 days. So we decided to leave right after breakfast with most of the wind to our backs. It's hot but the Coleman AC is keeping the cabin at 75 in 96 degree sun, so we're happy and comfortable. The South wind seems to pick up every afternoon. Just before the marina is an ancient RR swing bridge with three feet vertical clearance and rust flakes the size of dinner plates falling off. It's manually operated. Later a giant 3 locomotive train came by (very slowly) so it still works.En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Pasquotank RiverLeaving Lambs Marina, closest to South Mills LockNarrowing Pasqutank RiverTurners Cut, No Wake area on Pasquotank RiverDismal Swamp tannin water from cypress treesDismal Swamp reflectionsReflections at the only turn on the Dismal Swamp CanalSouth Mills Lock entranceDuckweed fills South Mills Lock, but floats on surface. Lock #201 for us!Duckweed doesn't clog engine intakes 6 inches under surfaceBoth Dismal Canal locks and bridges are run by the same tenderMeeting a GH47 with 14 ft beam was a challengeAmazing canal reflections and bird lifeDeep Creek bridge and lock (#202 for us) with heavy construction

    Camden through Dismal Swamp to Norfolk

    17 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    You reach Norfolk through either the Dismal Swamp Canal at idle for 22 miles vs the Virginia Cut route. Most Loopers choose the Dismal Canal, but you have to time your passage around the limited lock openings and your no wake speed and much time you spend at the Visitor Center and trail.

    We had a 'Check Engine #2' warning and audible alarm at the first lock that we've never seen before. We're used to the overheat piezo on the Yamaha Tach gauge going off when seaweed wraps over the water intake grates on the lower legs, but that's never shown up on the display, which I hooked up to the engine ECM via N2K backbone many years ago. Also getting some shifing stiffness and no Neutral detent on engine #2 (which is Starboard in Garmin World). I'm worried we will need a certified Yamaha dealer to hook up a Yamaha YDS (code reader) to find which one of hundereds of posssible codes that engine is throwing. For the truck, Code P1265 is under "Powertrain: High to Low Short in Cylinder #5 Fuel Injector." (Don't ask me how I know). We'll need to pause and look into that.    En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur

    Tidewater Marina, Norfolk Day 2

    18 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    We were delayed getting into Norfolk by the RR bridge closing for a 500 mile long train going 4.2 MPH. Then it broke (the bridge, not the train) in the closed position (7ft vertical clearance) while a bunch of workers in hardhats and yellow vests stood around looking at it with their hands on their hips...that's always a bad sign. The same thing happened approaching Beaufort with another remotely operated RR bridge with no bridgetender. It didn't go back up until they ran a locomotive over it in the other direction an hour later. It's frustrating when there's no human to contact re whether the expected wait is two hours or two weeks or two years (like the Kingston bridge).
    We had a great lunch at a waterfront bistro for Eileen's birthday. Also found that of the two Yamaha certified shops with Mobile Service, the first didn't have any and the second soonest available is August 8. Happy Birthday! The good news is that on re-reading the entire Yamaha F150 Service Manual the Diagnosing the Electronic Control System lists only 13 possible codes (numbered 1-46), one of which is Incorrect Neutral Switch Signal. It doesn't mention whether these 'codes' would generate a 'Check Engine' alarm on a networked display. We're paused while the new FW pump should arrive at Ken's home tonight and they return from a trip tonight.
    Now I'm thinking the rattling noise is from not being entirely in gear, and in retrospect it's only occured in Neutral or at idle speeds. We've seen a similar situation before, caused by a $5 part that can't be reached unless you remove the powerhead.    En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Daily duck visit
    Fresnel lens from a lighthoseVery busy Norfolk waterfrontNavy ships getting refittedWaterside areaI feel so small!Waterside marina is not busyTwin lobster rolls shaed with crab chowderGiant crane and pushboatManeuvering crane beside Navy shipTidewater yacht marina with our yachtAnother day, another duck visitNorfolk sunset

    Norfolk Day 3

    19 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Another day to reflect on options and explore Norfolk. I’m becoming more convinced that the ‘Check Engine #2’ display alam with rattling is a shifting issue, not an engine issue, and that the code being thrown is likely ‘Incorrect Neutral Switch Signal’. Local Brat and outboard expert Steve Baum offered his thoughts as well as his dock as we’ve decided to end this trip here, at the bottom of Chesapeake Bay. He volunteered to show me how the horizontal shift cable works under the cowling; if the fault is there it’s easy to fix. However, last time we had ‘stiff shifting’ in and out of Neutral it was due to a $35 ball detent in the midsection. To fix it properly required removing the powerhead and $1,300 in labor time. If it’s that again on this twin engine, we would much rather have our Yamaha Master Tech fix it at home in Pensacola, where we know he will stand behind his work. If it turns out to be a nothhingburger, we’ve had a GREAT time, seen and learned a lot, become better crew and boaters, added 2 locks to our 200, and (most importantly), met a bunch of the most friendly, helpful, caring and generous cruisers on the water.

    We have previously been lucky enough to spend six weeks cruising the Chesapeake on Cat O’ Mine years ago, before we knew anything about the Great Loop. We didn’t need to repeat that Segment, but when you can make over 25 MPH and 100 miles easy before lunch, 300 miles would have been No Big Deal. Adjusted plan for this Segment is CD Canal to NY and Hudson River up to Waterton, the start of the East Erie canal. We’re Lifetime Members of AGLCA, so we don’t have to be in a rush.

    Our current plan to get a rental car or fly back 350 land miles to the start point in SC has been stymied by the worldwide IT outages. We can get a Greyhound bus (they use paper) Monday for the ten hour ride back to our launch point, stay overnight with my bro, pick up the rig and return to load up and trailer home. If you own any Crowdstrike stock, we would suggest you sell it before its value drops to zero, or after that would also be a good move.

    Safe Travels!
    John    En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur
    Eileen thinks she can pilot Norfolk waters with her eyes closed
    From our Hilton 11th floor room1944 Destroyer Wisconsin with 16 inch guns, the largest everNavy drydockNavy vessels at the Navy BaseNavy vessels at the Navy Base, Roll on Roll offLots of massive container shipsBox ship being escorted into port by tugsDali ended up in Norfolk for further debris and box removal after taking down the Baltimore bridgeDali ended up in Norfolk for further debris and box removal after taking down the Baltimore bridgebusy harboraircraft carrierNavy frigate being escorted to baseDali view

    Norfolk Day 4

    21 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    We idled over to Steve Baum's dock with some gear trashing on #2. He gave us a ride to check out the City park and ramp and to the Hilton for our night there before catching the Greyhound bus back to Myrtle Beach in the morning. Flight attendents in line ahead of us were extending stays because they couldn't get on their flights. We took the 2 hour Navy Base cruise on Victory Rover, highly reccomended. There is a clean, modern tram system. After the Dali alluded with the Key bridge in Baltimore and was eventurlly dis-entangled, it was brought to Norfolk for cleanup. Tommorrow we hope to get back to my brother's home near our launch point at Waci Weechi marina, pick up the rig, and return the next day or so to load Cat O' Mine for the ride back to Pensacola. Lots of pics of Navy vessels and Norfolk busy traffic.En savoir plus

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  • AICW Great Loop SegmentSC AICW to Erie Canal Loop SegVoyageur

    Norfolk Day 5

    22 juillet 2024, États Unis ⋅ 🌩️ 81 °F

    We didn't expect a Notfolk Day 5...after a nice Irish dinner at Grace O'Malley with live instrumental music we enjoyed the view from the Hilton
    , knowing the boat is safe at Steve's dock. There weren't any rental cars or flights under $3000, so we planned to take a Greyhound bus. Maps had the location wrong. The bus AC quit after 15 ,minutes so they went back to the station and after four hours arranged for Uber rides to and from a nice hotel and a ticket for the days bus. Yesterday was a six hour goat rope tying to get a rental car. The Crowdstrike computer patch has caused a world of hurt in the travel industry!En savoir plus

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