This morning, after defrosting the refrigerator/freezer and the freezer, we got underway for Georgetown.
The salt marsh slowly changed to higher ground as we passed inside Cat Island and into the Winyah Bay, heading for Georgetown. Our plans had been to be in Georgetown in time for church, but, when we realized we hadn't made it, we kept going.
One of the most interesting by-passes I've made off the ICW, we did this morning. The Sampit River, the Great Pee Dee River, and the Waccamaw River all come together at Georgetown. The ICW goes up the Waccamaw, and we chose to go up the Great Pee Dee, then into Jericho Creek, and back into the ICW. What a GREAT detour! You should do it if you have the air draft to get under the 20' Hwy 17 bridge!
The Great Pee Dee River is surrounded by abandoned rice fields, though I noticed towards the northern end that some appear to be working again. The old wooden weirs are at various places along the banks. The water changed from salt to fresh, and I could notice the air smells changing.
Jericho Creek runs into the Great Pee Dee, and we took that right hand fork. The creek is a little narrower than the Great Pee Dee, as well as a little deeper. I never saw less than 8' anywhere, in either place. There are water hyacinths in the Jericho Creek, and some of these pretty purple flowers. There are a few fallen trees near the banks. It twists and turns a lot before it joins back with the ICW, and is absolutely beautiful!
Where we joined the Waccamaw River and the ICW, the river is wide, and passes by Pawley Island. The river is slowly turning into a cypress swamp, which is really a nice change from our weeks in the salt marshes!
Ellen chose our anchorage tonight. She picked an absolutely gorgeous place, in a creek with large trees, and a huge sand dune, oh, and hundreds of folks who came to spend part of Memorial Day week-end! The name of the creek is Thoroughfare Creek, and I highly recommend it on any week day. We came upstream about a half a mile to anchor, and ran the RIB back to the beach, where we shoved up with the locals. There are hiking trails in the woods, and on the other side of the huge sand dune is a lagoon, with an equal number of people on that side. It is really a cool place! I can envision it in lonelier times.
Where we anchored, however, was evidently in the middle of the wake-board, water-ski, race your jet ski zone. I think five or six boats a minute passed us all afternoon, most at full speed. As the day got later, I became more concerned about the drinking boaters as one guy on a wakeboard tried to tag the boat as he went by. He missed, and they turned around and let him try again.
At sunset, one boat came idling up the river, and I remarked with glee, "There's the first guy that's idled past all afternoon!"
Ellen wisely surmised he was drunk, so of course he had to come talk to us for a bit. He told us a couple of times we were going the wrong way if we were going to Maine. Fortunately for us, when the tide turns again, we will be facing the right direction!
This is the boat idling into the sunset.
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