Waccamaw River to Georgetown, SC

Had a leasurely breakfast and left Grand Dunes Marina about 10:30 this morning.  The Soccastee Bridge (11 feet clearance) is about 28 miles down the ICW and opens on the quarter and three-quarter hour.  By taking our time and watching the charts, we got there just as it swung open.  Just beyond the bridge, the ICW joins the Waccamaw River and runs for about 45 miles south to Georgetown, SC.  Most of this is through a wildlife preserve and the banks on both sides are natural and undeveloped.

Needless to say, this is one of my favorite sections of the ICW and we took our time, traveling about 8-9 knots.  Here are a few pictures (you can click on the pictures to enlarge).

I felt that we were being watched.

Some of the cypress trees reminded me of giant bonsai.

Others were simply majestic.

As we approached Georgetown, I called the Harbor Walk Marina to ask about slip assignment, etc.  I could see that there were some unusual ships tied up alongside.  They were full size reproductions of the Pinta and Nina.

Do you think we could pass for the Santa Maria?

There was a nice little boat behind us as well.

The Pinta and Nina's crew were taking the ships for a tour of the country and the next stop is Philadelphia.  They had purchased a new sail and we watched them attach it to the spar and hoist it up the mast.

By then the sun was starting to set.

What a fantastic day.  Time to pull out the grill and cook that pork loin.