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We are traveling up the ICW along the coast of North and South
Carolina.
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The 3000 mile mark was reached in the segment of
our trip.
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We left the Isle of Hope Marina (Savannah) early Thursday May
twenty seventh heading for Beauford, South Carolina. Not being accustom to the rigors of cruising mile after mile we decided
we need REST.
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Two days were
spent exploring the town by foot and horse drawn carriage.
Beauford has a lovely downtown section where all the homes are on
the National Historic Homes Ledger.
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The town is lined with many old live oaks, which are called that because when a leaf falls off it there a new one is growing behind it. One being Angel Oak the most photographed tree in
town.
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High rain fall caused a special development in chimney structure
and the different stairs where for the ladies to keep their
dresses clean..
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Many movies were filmed here. Some of the notable ones were the Prince of Tides, Forrest
Gump, and the Big Chill.
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While passing the Presbyterian Church Cemetery we were enlightened
to the origin of many old sayings. "Grave Yard Shift"
coming from the person who walked the graveyard each night
listening for a bell to ring. It was believed that during the
typhoid epidemic that people were buried alive when they were in a
coma, as no one knew about comas, so they would tie a string
around the toe of the deceased and tie the other end to a bell
above ground. The person would walk the graveyard all night
listening for bells. Being buried alive was so fearful to one
person that he had an above ground tomb constructed and made his
family promise to bury him with a pick ax, bread, wine, and
candles just in case; hence( Graveyard shift).
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We also met an author who needs a picture of Lake County Indiana
Lemon Lake to complete her manuscript.
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Our next port was the Hazard Marina in Georgetown South Carolina.
The weather was extremely hot and Lee experienced a case of heat
exhaustion so we spent two days resting.
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Barefoot Landing was our next port. We were overwhelmed as this
was a free dock attached to a gigantic shopping mall with many
trendy restaurants and the Alabama Theater.
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We were fortunate enough to get tickets to their musical and
thoroughly enjoyed it.
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After the theater we ate at Dicks Last Resort which was billed as
the shame of Barefoot Landing and a place where you wouldn’t
take your mother... It truly lived up to its name as each diner
was given a hat with a quote written on it by the wait
staff.
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Many months at sea make anything looks good.
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Carolina Beach was our next stop where we were given a
courtesy car to drive to dinner.
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Not being accustomed to driving and following road signs we got lost
returning to the marina from town.
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The ICW is full of surprises we
found out from pink houses to when we were told that the next bridge was closed all
day for military maneuvers.
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Swan Point Marina allowed us to dock
in their lift well as they were jam packed with cruisers who were
stranded by the closing.
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Out of every dark cloud a silver lining
can be found. Ours was the Green Turtle Restaurant where we
experienced one of the best meals of our trip. We arose early on the
next morning hoping to make the first bridge opening only to find
out that it would remain closed until noon. Patiently we sat
watching helicopters fly over and listening to the booming of the
cannons firing over the ICW. When the ICW was finally opened we
cautiously departed trying to make the first bridge opening
knowing that the tide was low. As we passed through the bridge we
were surprised to see military vehicles monitoring the passage.
Motoring on we continued to see helicopters fly overhead and
military personnel along the way.
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Morehead City offered a calm
resting spot from our hectic day. After a pleasant meal at the
Sanitary Restaurant we went back to the boat and collapsed.
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At
Dowry Creek Marina located in Belhaven, NC we were faced
with another major decision, whether to take the commonly traveled
Virginia Cut or the alternate dreaded Great Dismal Swamp.
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Winston decided that the Alligator River and The
Great Dismal Swamp route seemed the more interesting of the two
and it proved to be a beautiful run. Along the way we stopped at
the visitors center which serviced both the swamp and US highway
seventeen. Further up the swamp we encountered this unusual
watercraft . When we docked Allen couldn't wait to don his
new tee shirt and make a statement for the world to
see.
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We are now docked in Norflok,VA.
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