Christmas weekend was spent at the hotel pool and the beach. We were also able to find a wonderful church for a candlelight Christmas Eve service.
Beach time!!
Eliana playing in the sand.
Sun, sand and grandkids…..can’t get much better than this.
Becca loves horses and loved to see them going down the beach too.
Grands can have fun and giggle over the silliest things!
Zach, 3 years old, learned to ride his bike WITHOUT training wheels!! His smile says it all!!
It was chilly this day but we still walked the beach and collected shells.
The crafts the grands made to decorate our hotel room wall for Christmas. We loved having it there!
Everyone enjoyed the hotel pool…..it was heated!!
Becca demonstrating her amazing swimming abilities!
Eliana and Zach swimming with Gramps.
Christmas morning with the grands at their RV.
Opening stockings
Face timing with cousins on Christmas day.
Walking the beach after Christmas breakfast.
Swimming on Christmas afternoon.
Lots of digging in the sand.
He quieted the sea with His power
Texas for Christmas….not on our usual list of places to go. But there were grandkids there we hadn’t seen for 6 months. So off to Texas we went. We spent 2 weeks there and took enough pictures that we will divide our visit into 3 posts.
Week 1: The first week we enjoyed the beach, reading, playing and a train museum.
Your know you are in Texas when you see these!
Bolivar Lighthouse…we took the Bolivar/Galveston ferry over to Galveston. We can always find a way to be on the water!
Galveston means we are at the beach!!
Sea shell collecting!
The water was almost warm enough – for the kids at least!
Dinner by lantern. Fun time!
Reading time with Gramps at night.
The next day, reading time with Nana.
The kids were sooo excited to get a Christmas tree….they didn’t care how small it was!! It fit perfectly in their RV.
Building lots of cool things with Snap Circuits.
Coloring, crafts and puzzles in the hotel.
Dinner time in their RV when it got too chilly to eat outside.
Visiting the rail road museum in Galveston.
We had so much fun seeing all the trains.
Zach was so excited to go into the BIG trains!
Nana sitting in the museums train station waiting room.
Playing with trains at the train museum – appropriate!
Big paintings of trains too.
Zach with the train mailbox – notice the jacket.
He quieted the sea with His power
Yes, New Orleans! I know it’s not one of the normal stops along the way for a sail boat but we are driving to Galveston TX to spend Christmas with our daughter and her family so why not stop in NOLA for a cafe au lair and a beignet (french doughnuts)!! It was a fun afternoon looking at beautiful architecture, street musicians and interesting shops. Yes, we walked along the water front and watched several barges go by and a cruise ship get underway. We never tire of watching boats on the water. The French Market was bustling and Cafe Du Monde ( the original Coffee shop from the 1860’s) was packed! SO…..we enjoyed coffee and beignets and later for dinner we had crawfish étouffée. Yummy cajun food!
And now we are off to Galveston TX for Christmas!!
He quieted the sea with His power
Historic St Augustine. We love St Augustine!! And we especially love the first weekend in December in St Augustine ever since our first year traveling south when we coincidentally arrived in St Augustine on the first weekend of December. We know you’re not supposed to have a schedule on a boat, but this is one schedule we try to keep. That’s when St Augustine has their 1 1/2 hour long old-fashioned Christmas parade through the historic down town area right on the water front. All kinds of groups participate and the streets are packed with people watching. The pictures don’t really do it justice, but they give just a taste. It’s so much fun!
Then on the first saturday of December is the Colonial Night Watch re-enactment. The night watch commemorates when people lit up the town and stood watch to protect the town from invasion.
Then the first Sunday in December is when the local church we go to has their Christmas cantata.
All in all, a great weekend to be in a great town!
Some of the floats and groups that marched in the parade. Everything from dance classes and dog rescue groups to businesses and bands.
The re-enactment includes not one, but two volleys from all the muskets carried by the re-enacters. We’re not sure if they yelled “cover your ears!” during colonial times, but the warning was much appreciated!
Not sure who ranks these things, but St Augustine supposedly ranks among the top towns in the country for Christmas light displays. The entire town square is decorated!
No visit to St Augustine would be complete without touring the old fort.
After St Augustine, we continued south and anchored at Rockhouse Creek where we were treated to another beautiful sunset!
He quieted the sea with His power
Our next leg took us to Fernandina Beach Fl. We love this little town and thought we were going to have to miss it this year. They sustained quite a bit of damage from hurricane Matthew and have been completely closed until this week. They were able to get the dinghy dock accessible. The rest is closed until at least spring and maybe longer. They are working hard to get everything fixed!
Since they opened the dinghy dock we were able to go ashore, walk around town, eat a burger at T-Rays and enjoy looking at all the Christmas decorations.
Weather moving in while we were in St Mary’s.
High tide almost got this mark.
Fernandina marina is closed.
Fernandina harbor Christmas tree.
The wise men are here!!! Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!!
T-Ray’s for a great burger!!
We thought of our two granddaughters, Becca and Eliana, when we saw this pretty doll Christmas tree.
Leaving Fernandina Beach at first light.
He quieted the sea with His power
Greg and I have been so blessed this year. The blessings are too numerous to name! We hope everyone has a good turkey day!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Off shore sunrise.
He quieted the sea with His power
Our next stop took us to Beaufort SC. We love Beaufort with it’s beautiful waterfront area. We encountered others who were in Beaufort for a “mini vacation” by car so we aren’t the only ones who appreciate the beauty of its southern charm and hospitality. We enjoyed wandering and looking at the beautiful gardens and architecture as well as the water front along the river.
One evening we went by dinghy around to Lady’s Island marina and walked the main street and had dinner at “The Fillin’ Station”. It’s not much to look at but the food was good!
We walked about a mile and a half out to visit a church on Sunday that was so very warm and friendly. Just about every one there spoke to us and invited us back when we come back through in the spring…..and we didn’t have to walk back to the anchorage either. A wonderful time of worship and fellowship.
Sunrise off shore
Enjoying a cup of coffee just after sunrise.
The main street through Lady’s Island SC.
The only pirate we’ve seen so far!!
I’m not sure how this white Egret stays so clean walking in the mud.
The Beaufort anchorage.
Friday night is steak night at “The Fillin Station” on Lady’s Island SC.
Our view while we enjoyed the steak dinner.
A beautiful back yard and driveway in Beaufort.
Most of these old homes still have beautiful gas lamps at the entrance to their property.
This one was used as a hospital during the Civil War….it’s now a private residence.
The old armory….built in 1956….is now a visitor center.
The building is dedicated to the youth who gave their lives for their country.
How to take a tour of Beaufort
Parriss Island…..where Marines are trained….
Cormorants look like they are standing guard….watching in every direction….strong current going with us too….
Sunset off shore
Super moon rising…..it was like having a huge spot light on us all night!
Almost to the St Mary’s inlet….fishing boats are out working early!
Sunrise just as we pass the first buoy heading into the St Mary’s Inlet.
He quieted the sea with His power
We really like the anchorage at Wrightsville Beach NC. Room for lots of boats, good protection, great holding and they have a great dinghy dock with an easy walk to the beach and several restaurants. We watch paddle boarders and people rowing through the anchorage….they are out there every day no matter if its raining or blowing 20 mph or 50 degrees!! It is also a good place to ride out weather fronts which we have done several times. We went to dinner with some good friends that live in the area and enjoyed catching up on life with them. Of course there are the usual boat chores to be done: we took the dinghy around to a marina and filled our fuel and water jugs. But we also spent an afternoon walking the beach and enjoying the sunshine!
You can’t miss the big fishing boats even when it’s still dark out!
ICW from the road in Wrightsville Beach NC.
A beautiful Sunset at Wrightsville Beach NC.
Sat out a front with rain and wind.
Dinghy dock in Wrightsville Beach NC.
Dinner with Bill and MaryLou….always a great time catching up!
Running errands…..Paperbird in the back ground in the anchorage in Wrightsville Beach NC.
Fuel and water…..ready to head back to the boat.
Watched paddle boarders and those practicing their rowing through the anchorage.
Beautiful day walking the beach.
He quieted the sea with His power
We’ve had a week of beautiful weather and some nice wind for sailing. We went through the Norfolk/Hampton area and into the Virginia Cut side of the ICW as the Dismal Swamp is still closed due to damage from the high water of hurricane Matthew. We really prefer the Dismal Swamp so much more….it is so much prettier and we don’t have to share the small space with HUGE power boats.
We had a great sail across the Albemarle Sound despite its reputation for rough conditions. Then through the Alligator River where we anchored at the entrance to the Pungo Canal. We debated whether that spot is the middle of nowhere or just within sight of the middle of nowhere. Either way, it’s one of the few places with no light pollution and no cell service – a very peaceful spot! Then through the Canal, across the Neuse River and on to the Oriental area where we met up with our friends Tony and Ann and their crew William and Frances on Stella Maris.
It was great to see them and spend some time with them sharing stories and plans. But then it was time to get underway again so we headed down Adams Creek and out to Lookout Bight along the North Carolina coast. This is one of our favorite anchorages with lots of beautiful scenery, some wild ponies and lots of sealife. In the spring we actually saw a Humpback whale inside Lookout Bight!
We have seen several bald eagles and today watched a bunch of playful dolphin, including a mom and pup, swim all around us as we came through Adams Creek past Moorehead City NC.
A beautiful sunrise.
A blue heron in the predawn light.
Getting underway at dawn, apparently with lots of airplanes too.
Wolfe Trap Lighthouse in the early morning light.
Sharing space with huge Navy ships.
Sharing space with huge tug boats pushing even bigger barges.
A gorgeous sunrise.
More tight space!!
A passing NC ferry.
A beautiful bald eagle in the early morning light. He sat there and watched the boats go by.
This bald eagle was watching a line of boats heading towards the Alligator River bridge.
Sunset in the Alligator River
Yep, another tug to pass in tight space.
I look for this little boat every year. Two Boys…..we have 4 grandsons that could work this boat one day!
Next to Stella Maris at the dock. A wonderful time.
A reminder of our creator out in His creation.
Lookout Bight lighthouse and a fishing boat working his nets.
Lady Kimberly at work……thought of you Kim!!
Lookout Bight Lighthouse. What a pretty spot!
He quieted the sea with His power
That’s what we are calling this past week while we had the engine work done. We enjoyed the fall colors, helped some more with the continuing kitchen remodel at our friends house. Went to another Navy football game, spent an afternoon playing with grands, got to go to Church at BEP again and then spent an evening with friends talking about different ideas for this winters cruising. We also spent a day at the boat getting some things done while the boat was out of the water…..more packing in the rudder gland, lubed all the through hulls, zink paint on the prop…..paint and powder for her upkeep!
He quieted the sea with His power
