CAPERS ISLAND, GEORGETOWN, MYRTLE BEACH YACHT CLUB

Abreojos is a slow boat.  We typically run at between 6 and 7 knots - that's approximately 7-8 mph to a  landlubber.  So, you get the idea that it takes all day to run 40-50 miles.  Add to that the issue concerning the tides and you have even less running time during daylight hours.  As such, each day, we stop for the night in some new place.  At the end of our first day out of Charlestown, we found an extraordinary spot to anchor for the night and discovered a great hike on Capers Island.

The anchorage is just off the ICW.  You basically turn left up this creek and drop the hook before the bend, in about 10 feet of water.  Then drop the dink and cruise it about 3/4 of a mile to a pier at the end of Capers Island, a barrier island.  Then you follow this trail that leads past an "impounded" lake full of gators (allegedly) and through the scrub, the pine trees, the oak hammocks, and finally the beach on the Atlantic Ocean. 

We got to the beach at low tide and it was quite a sight.  White sand as far as the eye could see, scattered with exposed oyster ledges.  What was most strange looking however, was the trees.  It looked as though some force had come through there and really tore the place up.  It looked like a post war landscape on the Normandy coast.  It was spectacular.  We spent the afternoon walking the beach and collecting a backpack full of conch shells.

The following day, we left for our next stop on the way to Georgetown - another stopover anchorage called Minim Creek.  I have no photos of this place.  I couldn't get out to take any because of the bugs.  We stayed in buttoned up tight and left as soon as we could.  It was amazing.  On the sunny side of the boat, there were Dragonflies lined up every 6" on the lifelines.  Then, there were piles of dead mosquitos on the gunwales under the same lifelines.  I think the dragons eat the mosquitos!  Anyways, on to Georgetown.

Georgetown was a nice surprise.  It lies at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, the Waccamaw River and the Sampit River just north of Winyah Bay.  It's a cool little town with lots of nice restaurants and bars, antique shops, theatres, hotels, B&B's, and gift shops.  So many of these little towns like to emmulate towns like Savannah and Charleston with all their historic landmarks and dedicated historic homes and other monuments.  It's almost funny when you read a sign that says, so and so entertained "Washington" here in 1775.  Note I did not say, "George Washington", just "Washington".  It could have been Bob Washington for all anyone knows, but someone named "Washington" was apparently lavishly entertained. 

 

The town has revitalized over the past few years and the main street is very pretty.  There are fresh flower beds and planters, herb gardens, and a very nice waterfront boardwalk.  The town hosts several festivals a year that attract mostly motorcycles.  However, the waterfront is very cool and there are several very small marinas to chose from.  Or, you can do like us and anchor out right in front of the clocktower.  We didn't cook at all while we were here.  It was really warm and humid out so we dined in town with our friends on The Love Shack.  There is a great bakery here that produces some of the best bread I have ever had.  I would love to know their secret.

Ater leaving Georgetown, we stopped for the night at a place we refer to as the "Oxbow at the 375.5".  It was a beautiful spot.  The water was deep enough and wide enough to make anchoring easy, and the area was surrounded by green and tall trees.  This area on the charts is denoted a cypress swamp.  Beautiful.  We saw aligators there, too.  The water is very very tannic and coffee colored.  This place is on the Waccamaw River.  As such, the cruising guides recommend use of a trip line on the anchor because of the likelihood of hooking something untoward, such as a tree stump.  So, I did.  I put a small buoy on the end so I could hook it with a boat hook when retrieving the anchor.  It was interesting to see how the boat behaves on its anchor depending on the wind, current, and tides.  We dropped the anchor, backed down as we let out approximately 90 feet of chain, set it well, and then shut down.  The next thing we know, the buoy is basically sitting right next to the boat.  It stayed there all the time.  There was absolutely no pull on the anchor whatsoever.  We slept just fine that night.

So, after spending a few days battling the bugs, the heat, and the humidity, we decided to stop at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club.  We found them in the cruising guide and it was indicated that they had a pool.  Also, they have probably the lowest price for diesel on the east coast, and, they were only $1.45 per foot for dockage.  So, we cut our day trip short and stopped for the night.  Tomorrow (or later today, I should say) we will be heading for Wilmington, North Carolina.