We are the 15th cruiser to anchor in here tonight. Many of us have insurance that won’t allow us south of this island until November 1.
Day off tomorrow!
64.22 miles for today… we went 2 hours longer than originally planned to give ourselves a day off tomorrow.
Friday: All the way to our Slip C-103 at Port 32 Ortega Landing, Jacksonville.
This Beaufort SC marina is on Factory Creek (which is also a well protected anchorage IMO) can take your reservation using Dockwa.com. However, I suggest you call Kimberly at their main telephone number and make the reservation in-person. She is a sweetheart and will make you feel like YOU are their most important customer ever!
Of course, she will say, “While I am helping YOU, you ARE my most important customer.”
Across the way, in-town Beaufort, are large public docks (free for the day/evening) with lots of great dining choices and shops.
The famous and popular “Gene’s Anchorage” is just south of town. Any chart will show you how to safely enter from the south.
When we plan to come to Beaufort for a few days, we mix it up with a free dock stop or two, some anchoring out, and always a visit with Kimberly at Ladys Island Marina to do laundry, shower up, and re-provision. We usually have our mail and packages forwarded here as well. This marina also has a discounted WEEKLY rate!
There is a wonderful write-up about Kimbery and her husband’s cruising experiences in the Oct 2024 marina newsletter.
https://ladysislandmarina.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/October-newsletter.pdf
48 miles from Church Creek (ICW mm 488.2), noon to 5:30pm… to ensure some tide beneath our keel and prop through some skinny water.
Solar had no problems bringing the bank of two Battleborn GC3 LiFePO4 back up to the max.
We winter in the St Johns River in FL. We are getting close! We have a car waiting, and our slip, dentists, physicians, and scheduled maintenance.
Today we completed a 53 mile trek to Church Creek (aka New Cut Landing) mm 488.2, longer than we like. Here is our float plan for the finish of our trip to Canada that started on April 1.
Sat Oct 26 Ladys Is Marina mm 563.3 (48 mile day tomorrow).
Sun Oct 27 Bull Creek mm 565 (28.7 mile day)
Monday Oct 28 Delegal Marina + visit Marlyse & Phil Libby mm 601 (36 miles)
Tuesday Oct 29 Dupline River mm 649 (48 miles)
Wednesday Oct 30 Cumberland Island South mm 711 (62 miles). “Rubber Day”as our yacht insurance won’t cover us south of this island until Nov 1. We can also split the 62 miles by staying in north Cumberland THEN move to south Cumberland Island… breaking up that 62 mile day!
Friday November 1 Sisters Creek FL mm 740 (29 miles)
Saturday November 2 Port 32 Ortega Landing Marina mm 740+25=765 (25 miles), and then Clay County.
We plan to vote in-person on November 5. Then Shelly flies to BOS on Nov 6 to be with family for brother Andre’s “Celebration of Life”.
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Addendum Nov 1
We stayed at Cricket Cove Marina in North Myrtle Beach NC last night. Zack from Jimmy’s Marine came to our slip to get the generator running again.
Wacca Wache Marina has $3.15 diesel fuel. We’ll fill up tomorrow at the cheapest cost per gallon in all of 2024, less than half what we paid per gallon in Canada!
Sat Oct 19 Carolina Beach North anchorage. mm 295.1
Sun Oct 20 Holden Beach Marina. mm 323.4
Mon Oct 21 Cricket Cove Marina, North Myrtle Beach. mm 345.
Gotta average 40 statute miles per day to make Port 32 Ortega Landing (JAX) by Jan 2. 
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ICW mm 157.5 Hobucken NC (close to nothing!)
It was COLD last night. We burned diesel fuel with our generator to stay warm. Plus it got windy this a.m.
SO, Tying up here at MAYO was the right move. Plus we got some seafood + hardware. Great prices.
5 days in Belhaven were “nice” but being disabled is never a good feeling.
“Community” means we all depend on each other for help. None of us can go it alone. We helped local businesses; they helped us. We like Belhaven (and Oriental a lot… (NC)).
But, it is nice to be underway on our own power again.
It has a better than 50/50 chance of developing into a named storm, which would be called Nadine. “Everyone” is watching!
Addendum: Tuesday
ADDENDUM Wed night
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Addendum Oct 18 Fri
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We met several new friends and a long time friend at Spoon River, Belhaven NC – ICW mm 136.
Billy & Sara of Coconuts
Greg & Lisa of Beach Breeze
and “local” Diana joined us all tonight for a great dinner together. ((Packed house even on a Monday night! Reservations recommended.))
Do not be bashful to call (former single-handed cruiser) Diana for a ride or any local favors you might need. She helped us with our CAT parts delivery needs today.
Related past posts:
https://shellerina.com/2023/07/22/belhaven-nc-cruisers-ambassador-port-officer/
https://shellerina.com/2023/07/21/belhavens-most-famous-dinner-spot/
Addendum October 31, 2025
So, here is the rest of the story:
Crocks have the pointier snout, are usually larger and more aggressive.
To date, we have not seen either. But the southern St Johns River, we hear, will certainly be a place to see one or both of these species.
Reportedly, there are occasional sightings in the northern St Johns River and Ortega River where we winter.
FMI:
https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/reptiles/crocodiles-and-alligators/
We experienced a bad electrical smell after securing on the hook in the southern end of the Alligator River. We had successfully transited the Albermarle Sound and the Alligator River in great weather conditions… without a problem until we STOPPED and dropped the hook?!?!
The smart shunt indicated that there was 76 Amps of draw from the main lead acid bank.
Unfortunately, the engine would still not start. The mechanics here at River Forest Marina suspect a failed 130 amp circuit breaker in the same circuit. The starter may also be faulty as one thing I tried was to jump the starter solenoid with a wrench, and the starter turned, but the Bendix Gear did not engage the engine’s flywheel.
UPDATED paragraph:
The starter is less than a year old, so it was covered by CAT’s warrantee. No cash had to be exchanged for a new starter. CAT accepted the 11 month starter giving full credit…
Everyone here at River Forest Marina has been great with their help. TowBoat US took care of the tow through the Alligator-Pungo Canal to get me here.
This is one of our favorite towns on the Loop and ICW. So, we could be holed up in worst places!
The third ownership transition in as many years just took place this month here. More details on that will soon follow!
Search our blog for:
Grand Manor Marina
River Forest Marina
Belhaven NC
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ADDENDUM Wed Oct 16
Our engine starts again!
Bill was reasonable.
Belhaven: Oct 11,12,13,14,15
Today:
We crossed Pamlico River and anchored at Goose Creek aka Eastham Creek anchorage ICW mm 153.5.
611 sm to go … to Ortega Landing.
Everything is good here except it can be a bit “rolly” depending upon the wind.
The Grand Manor mansion on premises is a popular wedding venue, for people who get married a lot. There were two weddings during our tenure this week.
Daily: “Thanks for being my wife again today!”
445 statute miles to go for Ortega Landing – Fairfax / JAX FL in about 23 days. (Avg: 20 miles per day.)
Hurricane Milton is likely to mess up the west coast of FL from Tampa south to Ft. Meyers. Flooding from rainwater is expected in the St Johns River, our hailing port. With a narrow Mayport Inlet being the only place to drain, the water levels at our winter “home” marina will likely take weeks to recede. We are still 3+ weeks from there. We are safe and feel in control of things. Many friends of ours are less fortunate.
Unfortunately, others will not be as fortunate.
Leaving Indian Creek, Kilmarnock VA this morning.
Departed 8:45a.m. Arrived 3:30pm. 54.8 sm on the day. 3400 miles for the season, so far. 506 miles left to go to Ortega Landing in JAX. Average about 18 miles per day. Easy pace.
Atlantic storms (Kirk&Leslie) appear to be non-issues. But there may be something cookin’ on the Gulf of Mexico.
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Addendum: Sat Oct 5…
Congratulations to Favors who had a third day in a row of transiting well over 50 miles per day. From Phoebus anchorage (N of Norfolk VA) with us Friday night, they continued over 60 sm to make Coinjock NC. (That marina is known for its prime rib BTW.)
Indian Creek – Kilmarnock VA from Solomons Is MD.
This is one of our favorite anchorages.
Norfolk is at ICW mm Zero.
The St John’s River in FL, where we hope to be on Nov 1, is at ICW mm 740.
Friday is a definite GO!
Saturday is also looking good to make AYB Atlantic Yacht Basin ICW mm 12.2… easy to re-provision there, and cheap fuel: $3.05 tax incl if 200 gallons.
I observed sea water coming into the aft bilge when the generator was running, and to a lesser extent when the generator was not running.
Zimmerman Marine fit me into their schedule today and this is what they found.
We are very pleased with the service and results here at Zimmerman Marine, Solomans Is MD
Gregory also installed a second (larger) hose on the outside of the 5/8” business hose to shield it from the chafing.
Yard Manager, Ryan Ducey was “on it” calling me first thing this morning; I filled out the online service request last night after hours. Joanna was great too. “All good!”
This hose was not that old. It was replaced in Aug 2022 when the heat exchanger was re-conditioned. The sea water pump was new in May 2021 before we started our Great Loop circuit. So this was not a neglected system.
Just goes to show: “Stay ahead on maintenance tasks!”
Noteworthy was 8 days in Atlantic City waiting for a weather window south (outside) to Cape May NJ.
The inside route ultimately worked…
Goal is October 31 to Cumberland Is GA (ICW mm 711), then Jacksonville two days later.
We met Steve and Sally in Atlantic City. We all were waiting for a nice weather window on the outside to make Cape May. We ultimately chose the NJ ICW inside route, which worked out just fine!
Steve & Sally aboard Favors have been buddy boats with us since Atlantic City, shown here on the Chesapeake.
Hurricane Helene messed up some friends and their boats along the Florida panhandle aka the “Big Bend” and north into western No Carolina.
We are pressing on to make Norfolk VA, mile marker ZERO on the Atlantic ICW (110 miles to go). We will have more protection from storms once we are inside there. The month of October will be spent traversing to Cumberland Island GA, then St Johns River (mm 740), close to our winter “home” on the Ortega River. The National Weather Service does not allow hurricanes in FL after November 1. So our yacht insurance says it is OK to be in FL after that.
Good supper tonight – Solomons.
Lots of friends and family are concerned about our safety with severe weather here on the east coast.
Know that we are in Cape May NJ tonight. We want to make Delaware City tomorrow or Friday.
Even better than Thursday if needed.
Charlie gave me a lift to the wine store during his lunch break today! Thanks Charlie!
We only got 179 Engine Hours out of the 10 micron primary fuel filter element this time around. I guess I’m going back to the 30 micron variety!
I changed both fuel filters up on the Trent Severn Waterway just 2.5 months ago.
Prior two fuel filter changes were done at delta 435 hours (2022) and delta 729 hours back in July, (both runs with 30 micron.) So this one needed so soon means we go back to 30 micron!
During these 2.5 months, we took on fuel in Peterborough ON, Clayton NY, Whitehall NY, and Manasquan NJ.
A first for us.
We saw no less than 6 feet of water beneath us the whole day. 6.5 hours, 50 miles, not nearly as scary as the charts show!
I recommend it!
Click on video below.
Fortunately, this marina had a reduced rate for a week-long stay. (They use Dockwa.)
We stayed at the Sen. Farley State Marina for seven nights waiting for a weather window on the outside, that never came; plus we spent a night anchoring out in Rum Basin. We lost over a week of progress before finally deciding to try the inside route. Both Janthena & Galene had done this passage years ago, and Destination did it a week or two ago. So, “Can’t be scared!”
As it turns out, it was a very good cruise. We’ll certainly do this route again, without hesitation. “Just time it with the tide.”
Our passage was complete when we pulled into Sunset Lake just north of Cape May.
Very close to Cape May, this is arguably, a better anchorage than by the USCG Station and Boot Camp. No current, less wake, etc.
Just don’t tell anyone!
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It was a relaxing morning! We went back to sleep.
As the day progressed, it got windier later in the day; plus there were lots of weekend pleasure craft and excursion boats in the area. It coulda been better; it coulda been worse.
Monday Morning
The weather forecasts pointed to several days of wind, plus we were out of some staples that we needed. So we used Dockwa to get a slip at the huge marina at Golden Nugget called the Frank S Farley State Marina, named after a beloved US senator from NJ who died in 1977.
Tuesday 9/17/2024
We converted our Dockwa reservation here to a 7-day stay because the weather looks nasty for several days. (Basically we can get 7 days for the price of 5).
We next progressed, with high tide beneath us, just past Little Egg Inlet, which we had actually entered in May of 2022 to go north towards the finishing days of our Great Loop. (See https://shellerina.com/2022/05/03/nj-coast-strategies/ for our first time trying out the inside route of NJ ICW)
This time, we went by Little Egg Inlet and dropped anchor between the two anchor icons you can see below:
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The strategy of short daily passages, using both sides of high tide, helped us make it through the skinny waters that show up above in the hotter colors of the spectrum.
We will continue to use that strategy tomorrow to make our anchorage into Atlantic City called Rum Point Basin.
Using NEBO we see that friends Linda & Brian of Destination are a day ahead of us. Since everything south of New Egg Inlet is new water to us, we pick their brains for a report of what is ahead for us.
He was a masterful speaker/presenter at countless Looper events. We learned so much from him. He made ours a safer boat with his stories and generous sharing of deep knowledge of the sea and waterways, but also showed us how to be adventurous AND curious in our cruising and Looping pursuits.
I think the last presentation of his that I saw was about their Down East Canadian Loop trip, Looper Palooza with Shelly and my brother Russ who flew down (to FL) from Maine a couple years ago.
David Fuller US [Nuclear] Navy (ret)
Anchored here for the night.
Thursday 9/12
We departed Captain Bill’s Landing to transit the Pleasant Point Canal close to slack tide / flood begins (12:30pm), in the southerly direction; heading for NJ’s ICW!
We have heard good things about the Metedeconk River anchorage, which is one of the first anchorages south of the Pleasant Point Canal. That river goes in (west) quite a bit … for good protection. Kinda a big side trip, but good IF you need some protection.
We chose Kettle Creek instead… it shows a bit more progress south for our day’s effort.
Kettle Creek is a bigger “bay” than it appears on the chart. But we were able to find a good spot in the lee of land to drop the hook. It worked for us this day/evening.
Friday
We were awake before sunrise to have some tide beneath us for the way south to Harvey Cedars.
Shelly snags a sun rising after we weigh anchor!
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Harry Cedars NJ
How do you like your stake?
The third pair of stakes entering this area is missing the triangle starboard stake.
Be sure to stay CLOSE that single square one upon exiting. We polished our prop exiting.
Anyway, that’s how we got to Harvey Cedars!
This was our second time in this part of NJ ICW; we were more relaxed this time compared to our first time. So far, so good.
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Point Pleasant Beach NJ
Manasquan Inlet
Capt Bill’s Landing
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Ray is an FCC Extra Class amateur radio operator and ARRL Registered Instructor.
Today he fired up his Icom 7100 transmitter and an end-fed long wire antenna to see what he could work.
DX Stations worked:
T77LA in San Marino (a sovereign micro-state inside of Italy.)
SC5GB in the Dodecanese (Greek islands near Turkey in the SE Aegean Sea.)
PA1WRB in the Netherlands
9A3SMS in Croatia
EA8DMZ & EA8CVX in the Canary Islands
HK3C in Columbia
GI0D in Northern Ireland
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Domestic Stations worked:
K9UIM in IL
WB0VZK in IA
N0JQX in AL
KY4KP in GA
As we get underway, the month and hours ahead look good for us to push off.
Bannister Bay, Lawrence NY
Nice pics off the bow this hour. Rental car is returned, provisioning is done, projects are [almost] all done for this 2-week stay in Great South Bay, Long Island NY.
Generally September is our pick for the open waters off NJ, Delaware Bay, and the Chesapeake. Then we have the protection of the ICW from Norfolk VA south to GA in October. Then FL after November 1, after the National Weather Service prohibits hurricanes in FL.
Plus, we are expecting some company for our last evening here! Any guesses of who might be coming for supper?!
Rest assured, “Grampy Ray”, (tonight’s photographer) got his licks in … holding Lucas during Lucas’s last shift aboard Shellerina for this month.
Buffing compound and wax got some neglected gelcoat back to 100% this week. Lookin’ good. (Pics to follow).
Solar upgrade also progressed. A/C on the SUN is close at hand!
We have begun a process to upgrade our solar system so it can give us A/C air conditioning during the day on anchor (or underway).
Step 1 look
Bump the inverter up to 3000 watts. Completed today.
So the 3-year old charger/inverter goes on the market.
Step 2
Add one more 200 watt PV solar panel to bring us up to a theoretical kilowatt to feed the system.
Completed Monday 8/26/2024
Step 3
Wire in another manual transfer switch to safely move the salon A/C unit and the sea water pump from the boat’s native power (shore or genset) to the solar system when desired… ensuring these appliances can only be connected to ONE source at a time.
This means there are THREE possible sources of power to the A/C system: Shore, Generator, or Solar.
Being able to run A/C during a sunny day on anchor without the fuel and noise of the generator will be wonderful!
Lucas Alexander Sirois, born July 21, 2024
ADDENDUM Thursday eve
Shelly & I had several weeks of “goodies” shipped to this address while transiting Canadia. So, tonight was my time to go over to make the transfer from their home to the rental car. Plus we went grocery shopping. Replenished, there is no room for PEOPLE on the boat now! LOL.
ADDENDUM Friday eve
Addendum Monday Eve
Such a great city!
https://shellerina.com/2017/09/15/the-little-red-lighthouse/
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This anchorage is a favorite.
Many memorable voyages, north and south, have begun or ended here at this place.
Bannister Bay, Lawrence NY
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“Thousand One, Thousand Two, etc”.
Each 4 seconds = 1 mile away
Sound travels slower than light.
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Kingston almost became the capital of the state of New York. Albany won out because of its geographic separation from NYC.
Today they are hosting the Roundout Music Fest
They tell me this city is the latest hot spot to buy real estate fixer-uppers in New York State. (Boating season is too short for us!)
Today’s route:
Purposeful late start today to get a “push” from the tidal current in the Hudson River.
Less cruising time, less fuel, more sleep before pushing off!!!
Last June we tried this anchorage for the first time, riding the tide NORTH. Today we had less tide under the boat, but made the entrance without incident, and 2 feet of water to spare.
I had a great “chin wag” with this group who just arrived today. I think they have timed it better than us to experience Troy’s world famous Farmer’s Market on Saturdays (year round!)
Trouvaille, from Long Island NY, will tour Lake Champlain and several parts of Canada for the rest of this season. Then winterize on the hard until spring. THEN Karin + Dennis will return to circumnavigate Lake Superior next season! What a great plan!
Thanks to this community for this free docking, free 30A shore power, and free self-serve Pump Out (which worked really well!)
You can figure this out! And, it turns itself off.
This is on the north end of the free wall.
Lots of room for plenty of boats, and lots of 30A power pedestals.
South of Lock C-3 and immediately after the bridge at mm 9.42 on the Champlain Canal / Hudson River (north of Waterford NY.)
We did not stay the night because we wanted to get back to sea level today! 3 locks and 2 hours below this fine spot.
The Hudson River is tidal all the way past Albany NY to this lock. So the tides and tidal currents are now a factor for us again as we move south.
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Triangle Loop details
With our passing Waterford NY today where we were on Monday June 10th to start the westward trek on the Erie Canal, we completed this triangle through parts of NY, Ontario, Quebec, and VT.
In addition, did a lot of the Trent Seven Waterway, (which this map does not show.)
Note that there is a St Lawrence River route that follows the US-Canada border for many miles, and a Rideau route that goes up through Ottawa.
We took the St Lawrence River option. This option fit our big picture calendar better, it gets us to Long Island NY sooner to meet Lucas, our new grandson!
Today we passed through Locks C-6 and C-5.
The Lockmaster in C-5 asked about our vertical clearance requirements and when we are planning to pass C-4.
With some antennas lowered, we need 16.5 feet instead of 18.5’.
He indicated that there was an upcoming bridge after C-4 where the lock operators will have to “lower the pool” to ensure 17 feet of vertical clearance for us at this low bridge. He also needed to know WHEN we will make Lock C-4.
Evidently, C-4 only opens the lock for southbound passage 3 times each day; 8:00a.m., 10:00.a.m., and 2:00p.m.
So, we had to commit to which southbound lock time we would use. We picked 2:00 p.m.
We also went online to SnagASlip.com to make a reservation at Troy Downtown Marina for Wednesday night. By my calculations we can make it through all five locks to secure there AT SEA LEVEL Wednesday night!
Being at sea level is exciting for us for TWO reasons:
No more locks until Great Bridge VA and …
We will be that much closer to meeting our new grandson Lucas Alexander in a week, on Great South Bay, Long Island NY.
SCHEDULED Lock Times ?!
The reason for limited/scheduled locking at C-4 is that the DNA of an invasive species has been detected and the NYS Canal Corporation and state biologists are taking precautions to stop the advance of this fish northward in the canal system.
Fishing is VERY popular in Lake Champlain. We passed hundreds of bass boats up there! An invasive species like this Round Goby could screw everything up!
Special lock operating procedures, and a limited schedule is part of the strategy to keep this threat in-check.
Schuylerville NY
If you call and get the answering machine, have no fear, Henry will call you back in a timely manner! Just leave him a message (with confidence and your number!)
While the physical plant here may not compare to places like Burlington Harbor Marina or Yacht Club Montreal, the spirit of Henry and ALL the staff at Basin Grill will impress and make you want to come back.
Lots of locals come here too in addition to transient boaters.
Floating Docks here were “doable” whereas the hard-to-resist “free walls” WITH shore power in Whitehall and Fort Edward were not “doable” for my wife who could not scale the cement walls to get off the boat … the past two nights in a row!
It was time for some floating docks … nearby to where we were.
So, scratch up $2/ft and come here. The entertainment and Wednesday “Trivia Night” … and camaraderie can’t be beat.
Related post: https://shellerina.com/2024/08/14/kids-these-days/
They just cannot get off their smartphones!
But I caught them tonight!
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Our conversation went on for two hours after that, here at this great venue with great customer service.
A great connection was made tonight with them fer sure!
Related post: https://shellerina.com/2024/08/14/schuyler-yacht-basin-campground/
