North Carolina ICW

 Some beautiful homes

 Interesting sites along the waterway

This is definitely the scenic route. Lots of bridges that only open on the hour, so we ran all day slowly from bridge to bridge. Still we managed 110 miles.

Cape Fear

So we made into Cape Fear after another all night run. We are making great time.

Pulled an all-nighter...

And it was worth it. With a full moon night, our first run was Stuart to Brunswick, GA. A trip of about 270 miles from marina to marina.

Now the fun starts... again.

Seems just a few months ago we worried about Hurricane Season.
We waited it out last year while staying aboard Istaboa. Luckily, nothing happened. Then we went home to a domestic hurricane of sorts. Ill mothers and ill business made for a less than enjoyable stay at Rocky Point. Although we did make the best of it.
We spent more time in health care facilities and know more about Medicare, Medicaid's scary power, VA benefits, hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and finally hospice; we could write a how to guide on the logistics of caring for the helplessly ill.
So now it's officially the 2010 Hurricane Season.
and check this out...

 This one should not affect us here on the east coast but our friends in Guatemala will definitely be getting a boat wash. (Hold on Clyde, Mia, and Kaiser, we hope the blow is not bad up in the Rio Dulce River.)
Wonder what this will do to the mess in the gulf. Probably emulsify it like a crude oil vinaigrette.

Our plans have changed a bit as of a few days ago. Times being the way they are, making every dollar count; we were able to save a considerable amount on insurance by taking Istaboa north. At least north of the Georgia border line. Just for a few months then we will come back home to Stuart.
Since we didn't cruise the islands this year and my mother is being taken very good care of... Let's do a bit of cruising. We have never been north of Brunswick, Ga, so maybe cruising  the Chesapeake Bay will prove to be interesting. We're sure it will be.

We will keep you posted.

Adios,


Istaboa

Gulf Coast Benefit

GULF SHORES, Ala. - Jimmy Buffett and a few of his friends plan to give a free concert on the Alabama coast to show support for the Gulf region.
Alabama tourism director Lee Sentell says show will be July 1 on the beach at Gulf Shores.
Buffett's website says the concert is meant to demonstrate support for the people, businesses and culture of the Gulf Coast. It will be broadcast live on CMT.
Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band will be joined in Gulf Shores by Sonny Landreth, Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Jesse Winchester and Allen Toussaint.
A special souvenir T-shirt will be designed for the concert. It will be available online and at the show.

You want to help the Northern Gulf Coast? Take a vacation! Go to the Redneck Riviera! Get wasted in Margaritaville... again.

Cut from the Crusier's Net. An eyeball account.

The weekend will be kind to the Florida Panhandle. The oil slick has pulled back from the coastline as it moves slowly eastward. All of the Florida beaches have re-opened after several areas had swimming advisories (which many tourists ignored). Yesterday there was some yellow goo around the Bob Sykes bridge to Pensacola Beach, but even that has been cleaned up. The media pictures of these guys hanging off their swim platforms, mopping up the oil with a pom-pom on a boat hook are neat, talk about a solution that is labor intensive. As I said before, the locals are no longer getting excited about oil sheen or small tar balls. There could be long term impact to the delicate eco structure, but we are not seeing an immediate problem. The goo was a problem that has been cleaned up with a swam of workers, although we fully expect it will come ashore again. Just like the folks working the gushing well head, we are all learning how to deal with this new, strange situation.
The results of my earlier question are now available. Why are people canceling their Florida vacations? Everyone who has replied said that either they or people they knew believed that our beaches are covered with oily mess that smells like a garage. As I keep trying to say, that just isn’t true in Florida although conditions in Louisiana could be that bad. The Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce has set up beach cameras just so people can see how perfect the beaches are still. Help spread the word, come on down and enjoy the water and sand. The fishing is still restricted, but swimming is back again. Conditions can change daily, but the immediate spill forecast is looking good.
For boaters bringing their slow and expensive vessels into the area, be forewarned that you may not be able to move out fast enough to get out of a mess like our tourists with cars can move. Hurricane season will also complicate boater’s safety and piece of mind. We will be looking forward to seeing you all in the fall.
Stay safe and oil free,
Tom

Happy Father's Day

Pop.

Sometimes it's not what you see—

—It's how you look at things.

Found a website that provides really straight info regarding the impact the Gulf oil catastrophe is having on us cruising boaters. There's been a lot rumored about not being allowed to cruise on the Northern Gulf Coast ICW, but the Cruiser's Net states this is not so. Though this may change very soon.

Cut from the Cruiser's Net

As the Gulf Oil Spill grows ever closer to the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, count on the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net to keep you up to date on the latest news concerning this developing problem, particularly as to how it affects the cruising community.

Link to their site... The Cruiser's Net Oil Spill Updates.

USA.... USA!!!

Now it begins!!!

Go USA!!