Southport, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC

Day 1 Southport, NC Mile Marker 309.3
We decided to spend an entire day in Southport North Carolina. It was a pleasant little town with darling historic houses that I would like to have photographed. We took the dingy to the town dock to meet our friends for coffee. After coffee we took the kids to a little park and departed separately. Heesook took her Christopher and our Liv and Hanna to the library; Mattias went back to work on the boat and Don and I walked a few miles to the Walmart Super Store as we both needed provisioning as we intended to anchor out the next stops. We thought it was strange that such a nice town had cute gift shops, restaurants and marinas but only had a Walmart for grocery option. By the time we were done shopping it was after 3 p.m. We taxied back to our boat; Mattias and Hanna took Don and his loot back to his boat and Mattias stayed a little too long for coffee. On the return trip, Hanna and Mattias got stopped by the Coast Guard and Mattias got a nice warning as he didn't have a flashlight, whistle and was not wearing his lifevest. He said he learned a nice lesson there!

Day 2 Southport, NC Mile Marker 309 to Myrtle Beach, SC (Crossed to the South Carolina border!) Mile marker 346!
Mattias and Don had talked by radio last night to determine navigation plans. The ICW route was showing spots of shallow and shoaling areas, bridge openings to wait for etc. and we decided that we would try to go "outside" on the Atlantic Ocean instead. So up early and engines running at 7:15 a.m. We went out with outgoing tide and with the waves of open water meeting the tide it created terrible chop. We had an outgoing current of 1.9 knots, there were whirlpools, riptides and one spot looked like boiling water spouting up. At one point, a big wave crashed over the bow and we took in water through the hatch below. Turns out the girls had been goofing with the hatch and didn't latch it properly after being told dozens of times not to play and we didn't check before taking off...so, their beddings were dripping, soaking wet. The lifelines on the boats were decorated with brightly colored Ikea sheets of bugs, flowers etc. Looking like a gypsy boat cruising down the ICW! The only things we lost in the event were the kids two Leapsters and of course, 2 brand new game cartridges purchased at WalMart the day before! Another oops!
We decided to turn back and take the ICW route after all. Patience, our friend's boat, went on and radioed to say only 5 minutes after we turned in it was calm and serene. We didn't want to proceed on the ocean side as Hanna was looking and not feeling so well. We didn't want to scar and/or scare the poor girl for life!
The ICW proved to be okay after all. Mattias carefully navigated thru the iffy spots. He likes the challenge I think. We met up with Patience here at a marina since the anchorage spot was too shallow for either of our keels. The dockmaster is a nice chatty boater lady who warned us of fire ants but said the only alligator was removed some time ago!
We are grilling and having pot luck tonight on our boat.
More later,
Carrie

P.S.
Remember the couple in distress at sea? We saw them and their boat at the marina in Southport and their boat again at a poor anchorage spot on the way to Myrtle Beach. The dock lady said there will be casino cruisers passing by them all night! We can't believe they are still at it, and that the wife is putting up with the strife her husband has put her through!!! Crazy people everywhere!

P.S.S.
Photo shows how the South Carolinians are already decorating for Christmas...and it's not even Thanksgiving!