The Herb River

April 28, 2014

We were up early this morning to calm winds and cloudy skies, low tide and gathering wood storks. The marine forecast was not in the least favorable to an off shore run with NE 20 – 30 knot winds predicted, precisely the direction in which we would be going today off shore. It is hard enough slogging into the wind’s teeth on the inside, but off shore add in an ocean swell and higher winds. No – we will wait for a more favorable forecast.

So instead we had our usual French pressed Starbuck’s French roast, two cups a piece, me straight up, Emily with enough cream to make a gallon of ice cream; along with three strips of bacon a piece and an egg and cheese omelet to get our day started.

We weighed anchor at 10:30 AM in order to catch the incoming tide to push us along. Crossed St. Catherine’s Sound in a strong NE wind and an Atlantic swell, with spray in our faces. Up Bear River on an incoming tide first six then seven and a half knots, past Kilkenny, Big Tom and Redbird Creeks, down the Ogeechee River against the tide, cut through Hell’s Gate (a very narrow connecting passage) into the Vernon River where we picked up the incoming tide again and flew along at seven and a half knots with the jib up. Turned into the Burnside River, then through Skidaway Narrows and up the Skidaway River, then finally entering the Wilmington River at mile 585 ICU and our latest new anchorage on the Herb River (named for my friend Herb Wiegle back in Staunton.) 

 

Put in thirty-five miles today. This is a local hurricane hole where people bring their boats to anchor securely when hurricanes are predicted. Well protected with virtually no boat traffic. We are just a few miles from Thunderbolt, FL where we intend to take a night at Thunderbolt Marina, rent a car to provision and visit with a VMI Brother Rat, Gregory Scott Kinsey. Very excited to see him.