Salty Tales of the Cheeky Monkey III Part 5 Northbound Trek

Point Pleasant, United States

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 18:40:00 -0400

Cape May, United States

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Norfolk, United States

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Coinjock, United States

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

The wind has returned to test us once again!! Safely maneuvered off the dock with the help of a kind gentleman, and with the help of another fine gentleman maneuvered our way into the diesel dock For the best-priced diesel on the East Coast so far! Advertised as $3.99/gal if you pay them in cash, there’s a $.20 discount and they don’t charge tax! They say it’s like getting $.47 off a gal, whoo hoo! It’s really more like $.27 but we’ll take it! Luckily we stocked up at the easily accessible Wells Fargo ATM the day before in Georgetown so we’re good to go! We should have originally fueled up when we arrived and the wind was calm, but we forgot 😳 and once we were in that slip, and the wind started blowing, forget it we weren’t gonna let the lines go until this morning!! All good now! We should have an easy time getting off the fuel dock since the wind is blowing us right into the river. No ocean today, the waves are 4.5 feet but we will challenged by the Palmico Sound out of the Neuse River, which could prove formidable! I’ll let you know how it goes! Been loving your comments along the way, three in one day yesterday. Wow, it keeps us going! Thanks! 😊 Can’t wait to see everyone! Have decided to blow off Dowry Creek in Bellhaven this afternoon and head straight to Coinjock. This will set us up nicely to catch a beautiful ocean day on Wednesday! I’m all about that and the Captain knows it! Fortunately, he doesn’t mind going fast and today is actually a better day than tomorrow to cross the Albemarle Sound, which is our next challenge today. No sweat crossing the Albemarle sound, we’ve never seen it look so nice! As a matter of course, I had to sit up front keeping a sharp eye out for those nasty black crab pots, but fortunately, we did not hit any!! Landed safely in Coinjock about 3:30pm and are planning a more relaxing day tomorrow doing the numerous bridges and the Great Lock up to Norfolk where we’re going to try out a new marina called The Landing. Should be fun as it’s supposedly located next to museums and restaurants. 😊 The day after that, we’re headed for the long trek back home!!! 🎉 Weather promises to be lovely but degrading by 4 PM so we better be well tucked into Barnegat Bay by then. 😉 PS a little tip on the Coinjock restaurant… if you want prime rib, you need to reserve it ahead and the Mates’ cut can easily feed 2 with all the other fixins they give you 😉

Gorgeous just new floating docks at Homer Smith, Marina. This place must’ve cost a fortune, but they did it right! At the fuel dock before we depart.

The Cheeky Monkey III is making short work of the Palmico Sound as we leave the other boats in our rearview mirror!

Another monster on the prowl!

These are the waters of pirates past. Surrender your booty!!! 😳

Couldn’t believe how muddy these waters looked most of day. Nothing but vegetation out here!

Barges are always a surprise on the waterway!! Happily, we were already docked when we saw this one! 😉

Beaufort, United States

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

The 10 kt current calmly sends us on our way as the Cheeky departs Georgetown about 7:30am and heads towards the Atlantic. The wind has finally decided to take a break making it possible to duck outside avoiding the dreaded ICW cut near Myrtle Beach. Made a last minute decision to change course to Beaufort, North Carolina, instead of Southport, South Carolina. After seven hours on a gorgeous, flat ocean, we landed no problem in the beautiful brand new Homer Smith Marina in Beaufort, North Carolina. They even have a brand new captains lounge where I can watch American Idol tonight on the big screen TV, hip hip hooray!! 😂🤣 Another state closer to home, tick done!

Threading the needle at red buoy off the Frying Pan shoal at Cape Fear. Steer clear of the frying pan!!

Captain busy checking the Garmin! Red buoy safely averted. Whew!

Didnt see any land for the whole 7 hour trip! Note Frying Pan Shoal to the left.

Beautiful water!

Rounding Cape fear! 😳

Spotted no less than 10 turtles on our ocean trek!

There goes the turtle for his typical dive down as we arrive!

Beautiful Beaufort waterfront!

If you ever find yourself in Beaufort, NC, I highly recommend the Beaufort Grocery Co for dinner. Wonderful sangria and strip steak! This was our first time managing to catch it open during our visit. Yum! 😋

Now that’s some steak! My cardiologist might disagree! 😬😜

Georgetown, United States

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Charleston, United States

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Slept in till 7 AM knowing we had a short trek to Charleston today, only 70 miles! Quite the treat, although we definitely needed it after a very noisy night of wind and water hammering the Cheeky’s hull. Once we let the lines go around 8AM and started down the ICW, we were quickly awakened by the deafening sound of fighter jets practicing their drills over our heads encircling the boat. The captain seems to be on a major mission to get to Charleston by 1 AM when the wind promises to blow. I’m all for that, but we’re trucking down the middle of crab pots on both left and right at 25 kts so I need to help keep a careful watch. Cheeky monkey out for now! Barrelled into the Charleston face dock under blustering winds about noon. Luckily we had loads of fenders out to protect the CMIII! After a clean up of both boat and crew and a few drinks to clam the Captain’s nerves, we headed into town on the marina shuttle. Wonderful to have that complimentary shuttle service at hand! Martin made his famous shepherd's pie onboard last night so after a quick app at Henry’s famous seafood restaurant, we headed home for a delicious home cooked meal. 😊 On to Georgetown, NC tomorrow with our neighbor, Wychmere from Marblehead, MA, following. 👍

Eye spy a fighter jet in the morning sun and I most definitely hear him!!

There he is, flying low, touch and go!

Trying to capture one of the many elusive dolphins along the way.

For some strange reason the birds went crazy following us here!! Just like Alfred Hitchcock!! 😳

Passed a massive towing station outside of Charleston.

Spotted another Cruise America ship, American Independence, at the towing station, obviously in for repair.

Our view of Charleston City Marina from the Cheeky.

The water has calmed down a bit on the face dock, but is still a little ominous.

Kokotea is an amazing ocean going sailboat docked in front of us tonight. Here she is!

Beautiful views at night!

Two Captains!! See the mural behind. 😊

Beaufort Island, United States

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Jekyll Island, United States

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Saint Augustine, United States

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

A beautiful sunrise sent us on our way this morning at a leisurely 7:45am. With Ponce de Leon Inlet in sight, we averted the ocean again today and chose the calmer path up the intracoastal due in part to the 30 mph gusts that woke us hammering on the hull this morning. Damn, just missed a submerged crab pot! Better keep my eyes off this phone and onto the potential hazards of the road! 😳 Later! Twelve miles out from Saint Augustine as we are all eagerly awaiting the solar eclipse, if we can even see it! Mostly cloudy everywhere! Never did see the eclipse, but hope you did! Thanks to all who shared their pics with those of us who were kept in the dark! 😉😂

Sunrise over the North Indian River. As I took the ‘live’ shot a pelican flew by at the perfect moment- cue the bird, ha, ha!

Open sesame at the George Musson Memorial Bridge as we depart New Smyrna Beach. Catch you next time, mates!

Skyline of Dayton Beach looms large on this otherwise quiet patch of our trek.

Colorful places along the way.

Just caught up to Dance Me To, who accompanied us through Haulover Canal yesterday. How is it possible that a sailboat outran the CMIII? 😂🤣 And yes, that’s a real live Paddle boat next to us!

Here we go again! Taking the lead! 👍

Cool wooden ship sailed all the way from Spain!

Now that’s a ship!!

Finally tried the highly recommended Columbia in Saint Augustine. I’m talkin’ 1905 salad, red sangria, and a whole loaf of hot, soft bread — yum!!

Gotta love those mossy trees in northern FL and Georgia.

A little history helps!

Can’t imagine climbing this rigging to that crow’s nest!

The Cheeky resting after a long day. 😊

Sunset over Saint Augustine Municipal Marina.

New Smyrna Beach, United States

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Cocoa Beach

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 16:30:00 -0400

Let the journey begin! Left smack on time at 7am for our trek north under a beautiful sunrise, with our Stuart happy hour buddies bidding us a fond farewell. What a great group, miss them already! 🥲 We expect to reach Cocoa Village Marina by mid afternoon as we dodge the weekend warriors hoping to catch something. The sun is up and so is our bow! Onward! Landed at Cocoa Village at a respectable 4:00 pm, just in time for happy hour, which the Captain quickly took advantage of for a well-earned beverage after a long day of navigation. Thank goodness for Salt Away for a speedy Cheeky wash!! It’s uncanny how much salt she can accumulate even on the intracoastal waters! Now the only decisions left for the day include either going to the excellent sushi place in town or the raucous, trivia-playing Irish pub! Guess which one will win! 😂🤣

A fond farewell!!

A gorgeous sunrise sends us on our way! 😊🌞

In action as we depart our winter home.

Happy Hour on C dock!

Interesting sights along the way!

Fort Pierce North Bridge. Will we make it? That is the question!! Whew! Just, with antennas down! Water is beautiful here!

Yikes, looks a bit dangerous!

Lovely view on a lovely day!! 😊🌞

Forgot to add this pic of Phil Collin’s boat, Genesis, which is next to our happy hour spot in Stuart. We never saw him, but word on the dock was that he’s not doing well, poor guy.