​Current Location:  ICW MM 776, Camachee Cove Marina, St. Augustine, FL
Miles Traveled:  37
Weather:  Sunny, calm, high-70s
Highlights: Raised anchor at 8:30 this morning, just before low tide, and motored up the ICW past yesterday's troublesome bridge, and also under 3 additional bridges that we needed to clear before the tide came back in.  Cleared all 4 with plenty of room to spare, then motored through a very beautiful stretch of the ICW between Jax and St. Augustine.  Arrived at the marina around 2PM, got settled at the dock and checked in, then walked over to Vinnie's for pizza and calzone.  Back to the boat around 4PM, and caught up on reading, blog updates, and trip planning.  Watched Survivor before turning in for the night.

​Current Location:  ICW MM 738, Jacksonville, FL
Miles Traveled:  62
Weather:  Sunny, breezy, low-70s
Highlights: Stars were out in full force tonight, and the half-moon rose around mid-night, so was very peaceful as we sailed wing-and-wing with light winds directly behind us.  Early in the night, we were averaging between 5 and 6 knots of speed, but as the wind died in the early morning hours, our speed dropped to about 4 knots.  Finally turned on one of the engines, and motor-sailed the last few hours, arriving at the Jacksonville inlet (St. Johns River) just before noon.  Rode the tide up the river about 7 miles, averaging over 9 knots most of the way, until we hit the ICW turn-off.  Day didn't end well, however.  We were trying to get under the ICW bridge, but our windex snagged in some construction safety netting that was hanging down below the bridge.  We were able to back out of the bridge before any further damage, but decided to anchor north of the bridge for the night, and wait for low tide in the morning before attempting another pass.  Dropped anchor around 3PM and used the rest of the day to catch up on sleep, eat a light dinner, and catch up on emails and reading.

​Current Location:  Atlantic Ocean, 15 miles east of Savannah, GA
Miles Traveled:  66
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy, high-60s
Highlights: Slept in today, then puttered around the boat until 12:30 (high tide).  Raised anchor, and rode the tide down the Beaufort River and out the inlet to begin our over-night trip to Jacksonville.  Had 10-15 knots of wind from the NW, and 1-foot following seas, so was almost perfect conditions.

Current Location:  Cowen Creek Anchorage, just south of Beaufort, SC
Miles Traveled:  55
Weather:  Sunny, breezy, mid-60s
Highlights: Raised anchor at sunrise, and motor-sailed down the ICW approx 55 NM to Cowen Creek, a very nice anchorage just south of Beaufort.  Set the anchor around 3PM, just in time to watch the last half of the Panthers victory.  Amy's still fighting her cold, so YOYO for dinner, then she turned in early while Terry watched the Red Sox win the World Series.

​Current Location:  Church Creek Anchorage, south of Charleston, SC
Miles Traveled:  27
Weather:  Showers early, cloudy, windy, high-50s
Highlights: Amy slept in this morning (still fighting a cold) while Terry caught the marina shuttle to the Harris Teeter for some groceries.  Back to the boat around 10, then packed everything away, squared away the boat, then untied from the dock just after noon.  Swung by the fuel dock to top up the tanks, then motored across the harbor and up the ICW about 25 miles to Church Creek.  Dropped anchor around 4PM and turned on the Florida-Georgia football game.

​Current Location:  Charleston Harbor Marina, Charleston, SC
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly cloudy, chilly, breezy, low-60s
Highlights: Slept in and lazed around most of the day today.  Amy's cold not much better.  We did get 4 loads of laundry done today, plus a little bit of organizing and cleaning, but mostly read, watched TV, and caught up on sleep.  Dinner tonight of mac and cheese with hot dogs, and then turned in early.

​Current Location:  Charleston Harbor Marina, Charleston, SC
Miles Traveled:  55
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy, low-60s
Highlights: Raised anchor at sunrise (6:45), and motor-sailed up Winyah Bay to the ICW, and then down to Charleston Harbor.  Made good speeds (avg of about 6.5 knots), and caught the tides just right through most of the trip, seeing high tide through McLellandville, and a falling tide under the Charleston bridge.  Tied up to the marina dock around 4PM, checked in, grabbed an early dinner of meat loaf, baked potatoes, and cooked carrots, then turned in for the night.  Amy's cold is still keeping her down, and with bad weather coming in, we're looking forward to a lazy day tied to the dock tomorrow.

​Current Location:  Winyah Bay Anchorage, near Georgetown, SC
Miles Traveled:  68
Weather:  Sunny, breezy, low-60s
Highlights: Frustrating day today.  Raised mainsail and anchor at 8AM, looking forward to a good sail with reaching winds from the north and 1-2 foot following seas.  Instead, we got NE winds and 3-4 foot quartering seas.  With the wind directly behind us, we normally set the sails "wing-and-wing" (genoa out to one side of the boat, and mainsail off the opposite side).  This works well if you can keep the wind directly behind you, but the quartering seas wanted to swing our stern around every time a bigger wave came through.  We struggled through without the auto-pilot most of the day, but around 3PM, with the winds fading, we pulled in the genoa, and finished the crossing with main sail and engines.  Dropped anchor around 5PM just north of the Georgetown light house, grabbed a quick dinner, watched Survivor, and were asleep by 9PM.

​Current Location:  Little River Inlet Anchorage, N. Myrtle Beach, SC
Miles Traveled:  52
Weather:  Sunny, calm, high-60s
Highlights: Raised anchor at 8AM, and motored down the ICW in sunny skies and no wind.  Originally planned to stop at the Inlet Bar and Grill in Ocean Isles (free dock for the night, and good food), but found out they were closed Mondays and Tuesdays (boo!).  Motored instead an additional 10 miles to Little River Inlet, where we dropped anchor at 5PM behind Bird Island, just off the ocean.  It's a very nice anchorage (although we're the only boat here tonight),, and it gives us good location for the next 2 days, where we can jump outside in 2 50-mile trips and be in Charleston by EOD Thursday.  Leftovers for dinner tonight, then caught up on the blog while Amy cleaned up.  Watched Jeopardy and NCIS, then couldn't keep our eyes open any longer - time for bed.

​Current Location:  Masonboro Inlet Anchorage (ICW MM 283)
Miles Traveled:  68
Weather:  Sunny, breezy, low-60s
Highlights: Left Beaufort at sunrise (7:15), and had a very nice motor-sail across the Onslow Bay to Masonboro Inlet.  Had favorable winds until about 2PM, then they started fading away, so we furled in the genoa at 2, then dropped the main sail around 4, and motored the rest of the way.  Set the anchor around 5:30, said hello to a couple of dolphins that stopped by for a visit, fixed dinner (baked beans with hot dogs, cole slaw, and brown bread), watch a bit of TV, then collapsed into bed.

​Current Location:  Beaufort Docks Marina, Beaufort, NC
Miles Traveled:  18
Weather:  Sunny, windy, low-60s
Highlights: Slept in late while listening to some high winds, then got up and watched the Sunday talk shows.  Winds died around noon, and we lifted anchor and motor-sailed across the Neuss River, down Adams Creek, and into Beaufort harbor.  Tied up to the docks around 4PM, just in time to watch the great 4th quarter comeback of the Panthers win over the Eagles.  Amy cooked scallops with pasta and bacon for dinner (yummy!), then some light TV and reading before turning in for the night.

​Current Location:  Oriental Harbor anchorage, Oriental, NC
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Cloudy, rain showers, low-70s
Highlights: Terry is still coughing and fighting a bad cold, so we slept late, read and watched movies during the day, and caught up on some chores.  Scallops over pasta for dinner tonight, then more TV and movies before turning in early.

​Current Location:  Oriental Harbor anchorage, Oriental, NC
Miles Traveled:  42
Weather:  Sunny, calm, high-60s
Highlights: Raised anchor at 7:30 and followed the ferry out of the channel and into Pamlico Sound.  Motored in calm seas and winds across the sound and up the Neuse River to Oriental.  Arrived around 3PM, and dropped anchor just outside the harbor in about 8 feet of water.  Cooked the red drum on the grill for dinner, served over rice with a garden salad.  Watched TV and read before turning in early.

Current Location:  Silver Lake anchorage, Ocracoke, NC
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Sunny, windy, mid-60s
Highlights: Slept in this morning, and watched some morning shows, then took the dinghy over to the seafood docks and picked up some fish, shrimp, and scallops.  On the way back to the boat, the dinghy motor died on us.  It was acting like it wasn't getting any gas, so after rowing back to the boat, Terry worked on the motor while Amy sorted out the seafood.  Turned out the tube inside the gas tank had fallen loose (no clamp on the hose, for some reason), so after fixing the problem and stowing the tools, we were off again to explore the town.  Walked over to the visitors center, checked out the museum, and picked up a couple of knick-knacks at one of the local craft shops along the way.  Grabbed a late lunch/early dinner at Dajios (Amy had the fish sandwich while Terry had the burger (fish sandwich was better choice)), then back to the boat.  Terry is still fighting a cough/cold, so we both turned in early, ready for an early start tomorrow.

​Current Location:  Silver Lake anchorage, Ocracoke, NC
Miles Traveled:  85
Weather:  Cloudy, breezy, some showers, low-60s
Highlights: Seas remained choppy, and winds variable, so continued our trip down the coast motor-sailing with jib only.  Had a band of showers (with some lightning) pass over us around 2AM, and the tug finally passed us also, but quiet night otherwise, and we're averaging about 6 knots (running only 1 engine at a time).  Seas finally calmed down as we rounded Cape Hatteras, but wind was on the nose, so we motored the last 4 hours into Ocracoke Inlet, up the channel, and dropped anchor in Silver Lake around 2:30 PM.  Grabbed a quick dinner of leftover pasta casseroles, sent off an "Arrived Safely" message off via inReach (no Sprint cell phone service here) then napped for the rest of the day.

​Current Location:  Sailing Atlantic off OBX, near Oregon Inlet
Miles Traveled:  150
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, windy, high-60s
Highlights: Raised anchor at 7AM and started off on our overnight to Ocracoke.  Had a great sail down the bay, northerly winds of 15-20 knots, choppy seas, and averaged almost 9 knots down to the bridge/tunnel.  Lost our wind shortly after (but not the choppy/snotty seas), so motor-sailed down the coast past Virginia Beach and the OBX.  Mid-night found us about 2 hours north of Oregon Inlet, for a total of about 150 miles for the day.  We're on a 2-hour rotation watch, with one of us sleeping (trying) while the other keeps an eye out for traffic.  So far, we've had one other sailboat paralleling us about 5 miles out to sea, and a tugboat has been slowly gaining on us from behind, but nothing else in sight - very quiet night.

​Current Location:  Jackson Creek Anchorage (Deltaville, VA)
Miles Traveled:  10
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy, high-70s
Highlights: Raised anchor around 10 and motored over to the Fish Bay marina for gas and diesel (after shooing all the mosquitoes off the boat).  However, they had electrical problems, and pumps weren't operating.  We waited around for a couple of hours for maintenance to show up, and even borrowed the marina bikes for a 2-mile ride to the grocery store and back, but around 2PM, pumps still weren't fixed, so we gave up and motored around the point to the Jackson Creek marina.  This marina isn't even marked on ActiveCaptain or Aquamap, but turned out to be a very nice, full-service facility, and Jackson Creek turned out to be great for anchoring overnight with good protection all around.  Topped the tanks up with 50 gallons of diesel, then dropped anchor around 3:30.  Terry is fighting a cold, so he napped while Amy did a load of laundry and baked rolls.  Pierogies with kiebasa, cabbage, and cranberry sauce for dinner tonight, then watched some TV (DWTS) before turning in for the night.  Up early tomorrow to begin our overnight sail down to Ocracoke - calling for light rain in the morning, but should be good wind and weather otherwise.

​Current Location:  Godfrey Bay Anchorage (Deltaville, VA)
Miles Traveled:  15
Weather:  Most cloudy, breezy, low 60s
Highlights: Motored into southern winds down to Godfey Bay (approx 15NM), and dropped anchor around 1PM.  We need to wait for a good weather window (north winds and fairly settled seas) before heading out for our overnight sail to Ocracoke.  Best window currently looks like Tuesday morning - but we'll decide tomorrow for sure.  Couple of additional boats joined us late, but very quiet night otherwise.  Terry fixed the anchor light (still looks like we have a loose wire/connection at the circuit board), then we watched the Panthers/Redskins game, caught up on some naps, and had a light dinner of leftovers before turning in early.

​Current Location:  Cranes Creek Anchorage (just off the Great Wicomico River, VA)
Miles Traveled:  65
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, breezy, chilly (low 60s).
Highlights: Raised anchor at 7:30, and had a long motor-sail down the Potomac and around the corner to the Great Wicomico River.  Dropped anchor in a nice little cove in Crane's Creek around 5:30PM.  We were the only boat in the anchorage, and had good shelter from all sides except east.  Hamburger casserole for dinner while we watched some college football before turning in around 10PM.

​Current Location:  Goose Creek Anchorage (Potomac River)
Miles Traveled:  52
Weather:  Sunny but windy, low 60s
Highlights: Cast of the dock lines at 9:45 and motor-sailed in chilly weather and gusting NW winds down the Potomac to a nice anchorage just north of Goose Creek.  Raised jib sail only - wind was too unpredictable and gusting to over 25 knots at times to worry about the main sail.  Dinner of sausage, peppers, and onions over pasta, then network TV before an early bedtime.

​Current Location:  Wharf Marina (SW Washington DC)
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Cloudy, bands of rain from hurricane Michael, mid-70s
Highlights: Met Jennifer for lunch (CAVA), then borrowed her car and stocked up provisions from Giant and Home Depot.  Back to the boat around 5 to stow everything away, then light dinner, reading, and TV before bed.  Expecting some significant winds tonight (40 knot gusts), so cleared the decks and put out extra fenders and lines, but should be fine otherwise.

Current Location:  Wharf Marina (SW Washington DC)
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly sunny, brief showers late, mid-70s
Highlights: Washed/waxed the port side of the boat today while Amy made rolls and straightened up the inside of the boat.  Afternoon naps, then had a very nice dinner at Kirwan's Irish Pub celebrating our anniversary - it was exactly 1 year ago today that we moved onto the boat.  Hard to believe - the time has passed so quickly!  Ben & Jerry's ice cream for desert, then back to the boat to watch Survivor and other light TV before turning in.

Current Location:  Wharf Marina (SW Washington DC)
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly cloudy, calm, high-70s
Highlights: Smithsonian day again today - strolled through the Hirshorn exhibits, then spent a couple of hours at the Native American museum.  Hot dogs on the mall for lunch while watching an albino squirrel, then spent about 2 hours walking through the lower levels (history) of the Museum of African-American History.  Jenn and Courtney came over to the boat for dinner (seafood from Captain Mike's), and visited with us for a couple of hours.

​Current Location:  Wharf Marina (SW Washington DC)
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, mid-70s
Highlights: Spent a lazy day on the boat during the day, then decided around 6PM to walk over to the WW2 memorial.  Really spectacular view all lit up, and we enjoyed the visit plus the walk around the tidal basin.  Back to the boat for a late dinner and to watch the Redskins game on MNF.

Current Location:  Wharf Marina (SW Washington DC)
Miles Traveled:  24
Weather:  Cloudy morning, sunny and calm afternoon, high-70s
Highlights: David, Helen, Georgia, and our nephew Mark arrived at the boat around 9AM to head down the river to Mt. Vernon.  Terry and David did a quick provisioning run to Safeway, then we cast off at 10.  Dodged floating logs and debris on the way down the river, and arrived at noon just as the sun came out.  Dropped anchor in front of the house, which sits high on a bluff overlooking the river.  Terry, Amy, and Mark did the 2-hour tour of the house and grounds while David fished and Helen and Georgia napped and read.  Raised anchor at 4, and back to the dock before dark.  Leftovers for dinner tonight, then turned in early after a long but enjoyable day.