The marina leases space to a group who keep goats here and on Goat Island

Before driving north to Vermont for our son’s graduation May 17 we had several days with which to tackle projects and play tourist.
Our first order of business was to get ourselves to a nearby UPS Store to send back our faux Engel (Isotherm cooler box) to the distributor in Ft Lauderdale. After getting Defender involved, the distributor agreed to cover the return freight cost (they provided their UPS acct #) and we “just” had to get it packed up and shipped. We called, we checked, we thought we had everything covered. Not so fast desperate captain; how about the UPS Store won’t ship on account? Time to regroup.

Off the boat, into the golf cart, into the cab and finally into the UPS Store.

The nice taxi driver lady was going to wait, but we ended up sending her off while we spent 45 mins having a shipping label faxed to the UPS Store and then reviving Russ when he heard the price to box it up. The store manager cut us a sweet deal and we left to eat lunch next door. The original plan was to have the box repaired (new cover and refrigeration system) and returned to us in Myrtle Beach by May 21. Not a good plan, when no replacement lids are in stock and time is needed to test any electronics switched out. In the end we said to keep it and we’d wait to have it sent to us in CT.
The water maker got pickled- and no that doesn’t mean drunk as a skunk but it is out of commission.We either have to make water every four days or flush it. Not doing either for longer means using pickling chemicals specially created to put the water maker on hold so to speak until you need to revive it. Our first time with this process and I am happy to report success and no additional gray hairs acquired.
Enterprise, our new best friend, provided our Chevy Malibu 4-door sedan after my dismay at the VW Beetle offered. While the VW would be fun for around town, we’d be driving over 2,000 miles with luggage and bags of stuff.

Close to the beach area of Myrtle Beach

Curious about the beach part of Myrtle Beach we stuck our noses in, but got a better look when we returned the car and were driven back through the “fun” area.
Wednesday we drove down about 17 miles to Pawley’s Island Beach; maybe you’ve heard of Pawley’s Island Hammocks, that’s the area. The UPS Store clerk told me that was the best beach around for beach combing and it contained an ocean side and a protected creek side for added interest.

The ocean-side beach at Pawley’s Island

Jelly fish close up

Along the creek-side at Pawley’s Island beach

Driving was a challenge; not that we’d forgotten how, but the structure of the roads, turning lanes and side access roads were not what we were used to. We had more than a few turn arounds because the Google map on the iPhone wasn’t quite as quick as it should be. Or maybe the assistant navigator wasn’t up to par. 🙂
On the way back Brookgreen Gardens welcomed us. Our several hour visit did not do the place justice nor will this post; suffice to say it is lovely, affordable and well worth the time to tour the extensive sculpture gardens, trails, and peaceful resting areas. We stayed with a tour guide for a short while to learn about the massive collection of primarily bronze and aluminum sculptures that were artfully placed around the grounds.

Diana the Huntress, I believe.

Interesting approach to sculpture and gardening

The Pavillion was a lunchtime surprise. Expecting something express, like cafeteria style, instead we found a choice of inside or outside dining in a comfortable setting and delicious food served promptly.
On to the trails with small exhibits, info signs, sculptures and other great reasons to stop and enjoy the surroundings. Brookgreen also contains a small livestock area, aviary, and a butterfly house, but we had to skip the butterflies.

The creek tour boat takes you out toward, but not into the Waccamaw.

Looking at the property map of Brookgreen, lo and behold we now know “what’s on the other side” of the Waccamaw  in the South Myrtle Beach stretch.

The aviary was noisy and you’d better watch your head- birds swooping all over

Gator mud love

I waited for Mr Red Fox to step out from the tall grass. Isn’t he cute?

Last but not least, guess who? A Barred Owl! Further proof that was hoo-woo we’d heard in Bull Creek

Prince Creek- umm wide enough for us? Sure is a pretty spot though

One of the consistently pretty stretches of the AICW is the Waccamaw River between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach, SC.  Wide, but not too wide and lined with cypress trees in various stages of life, many housing an osprey nest. Very warm temps and low winds allowed us to open our front panel daytime and use the bug screen at night. Very seldom can we do this so it was a welcome change and a better view too.

No matter where we are neither our ICW flip chart nor our Garmin charts show “what lies beyond” so unless we go ashore, check Google maps or pull out a Waterway Cruising Guidebook we don’t see beyond what our eyes and spyglass can see. I’ll return to this thought in another post ( if I remember!)

Osprey Marina expected us on Friday May 9 so we had time to dally yet still arrive mid-morning. Myriad creeks extend like spindly legs off the Waccamaw; some provide a place or two to anchor while others have more down than upside. Prince Creek had beckoned us for years and this trip made the “stop at” list. It began and ended at the Waccamaw, making for a scenic two mile side trip even if you didn’t plan to anchor. Reviews warned that depending on the size of your boat, the creek might be too narrow for its depth; meaning you had to let out so much anchor chain/rode that even at a minimal scope you might swing too close to shore. We’d see for ourselves.

Two attempts and 20 mins later we departed while  I searched for another spot.
Fortunately Bull Creek a mile north sounded good and looked wider. The heat wave continued (today hit 92!) a bit of breeze while anchored would be great. Deep too; we found 20+ feet until rounding the first bend- wow- 14 ft in a spot about the size of a queen sized bed. Russ made a bull’s-eye (oh, no pun intended) anchor drop and as we let out chain the depth increased to 18+ feet as we slowly moved away from the anchor. Alone, except for turtles, herons and egrets… well, that we saw, but we heard much more. As darkness fell around 8:30 a very distinctive owl hooting caught my attention. Our well-used Roger Tory Peterson Eastern Birds guidebook assured us that a Barred Owl was calling out in the cypress swamp nearby.

Turtle relaxation time in Bull Creek

Although we are a full month later than usual a few osprey still had chicks in the nest.

Active morning for this family as we departed Bull Creek

The channel leading in to Osprey marina looks narrow at first but is plenty wide for the dock, and several boats.

TowBoat U.S.:a two for one tow in to the marina- see? plenty of room. Pontoon to the right is in the ICW, no longer the Waccamaw at this point

So protected that wind, waves and current are simply not an issue. Our spot on the newly extended “V” dock was behind m/v Transition and m/v Laura D. For 13 nights Ortolan would be calling this spot “home”. Just boats, snakes, fish and more turtles.

R&R = rest and reflection