North Myrtle Beach to Georgetown

ICW 355-403

I was quite surprised to see a gondola crossing the ICW this morning. It was carrying golfers from one side of the course, accross the ICW, to the other. Rather than skiis being transported on the outside, there were golf bags!

We are transiting a pretty, and very desolate, stretch of the ICW today, the Waccamaw River. Cypress trees grow out of the tannin water near shore, turtles sun themselves on dead logs, hyacinths grow on the river surface, and families of eagles build their nests in the trees. We’ve seen lots of nests, but no eagles. A huge flock of blackbirds flew over the boat – hope none of them wanted to buy it!

Before you sign on to crew with us, there are a few things you should know about the cruising life. Everything and I mean everything, takes longer to do on a boat. Take for instance, paying two bills. Doesn’t seem like much of a task when we’re home, a few minutes and I’m finished. Not so on the boat. On DeLaMer the process goes like this: turn on the computer; attach the cell phone to the computer; attach the cell phone to booster antenna; open Verizon Access (usually up to a minute to load); open AOL (another minute or longer and very often accompanied by an error message saying it can’t connect -- close AOL, reopen AOL); open the email with the scanned bills from Donna (our wonderful “Mail Lady”); download the documents; open the zip files; set up the printer; print the bills; and finally – write the checks.

That’s only the first part of the process! The next challenge is to find a mailbox. Yesterday at Barefoot Landing I asked the dock master if there was a drop box nearby – after all it is a huge very well developed outdoor mall. He said, “I don’t know of any, but if you can’t find a mailbox, bring the letters back. I go past a Post Office on the way home, I’ll mail them for you.” (This has happened quite often along the ICW, folks are very accommodating.) The Information Booth in the mall knew where there was a drop box. He said, “Go seven stores down, take a right, cross the wooden bridge. You’ll see the Christmas Shoppe ahead, the drop box is behind it.” After a ½ mile walk we found the box, and mailed the the two letters. Thankfully, we have most all of our bills set up to be paid automatically online. Other tasks requiring extraordinary time on board will follow in later postings.