We awakened to a trifecta of biting insects: no see ums, mosquitos and biting flies. On their journey through our boat, they first stopped to buzz Becca, then feed on Michael, so they were slow and sluggish when they presented to our V-berth for David to smash them. This inspired us to start moving early and we headed up the Waccamaw River.
Due to the potential discomfort of a downwind 12 hour sail with quartering waves, we opted for the South Carolina waterway on Easter weekend Saturday with a new destination of Myrtle Beach. We coordinated flights out for our visitors on Sunday and a marina within uber distance of the airport.
The Waccamaw River around Georgetown was quite lovely where large cypress trees with Spanish moss joined us. Then it became a little more winding and narrow and the lovely day brought everyone to the water. There were jet skis, motor boats, a water skier, hydrofoils, inner tubes, and fishermen flying up and down the waterway. No wake buoys were hidden by the waves that enveloped them. Three boats raced one another, up and down. . Those of us heading along the waterway were treated to every variety of boat wake, and at one point a jet ski came so close that it sprayed water all over David at the helm.
Michael and Becca helped ease the anxiety by entertaining us with playlists, crossword puzzles, and of course, cockpit Chauncey. They made sure boat snacks were plentiful. Becca enjoyed the radio chatter and hailed a boat for us to pass as well as a bridge.
The Sockasee swing bridge, our final low bridge of the day was particularly difficult. The tender had us standing by in the current for about 15 minutes. David had to do two standing turns with current in a narrow channel. Above us, a fixed bridge that was 0.1 miles before the swing bridge. Other boats were all around us.
We were happy to arrive at the Grande Dunes Marina. They put us in the north basin on an open facing dock along the north wall of the marina. We had plenty of room there for our port side tie and a dock hand to catch lines. We were thinking of an uber to the beach to cool off and relax but asked about the pool at the hotel adjoining the marina. It was a go.
We headed to the pool and found an open gate. We had a swim and a hot tub, perfect after our day on the boat. We cooked our fish for dinner with some pasta with pesto, onion, pepper and asparagus. We topped that off with some key lime pie from the marina restaurant.
Early to bed as an uber will arrive for Michael and Becca at 4:30 am.