Salty Tales of the Cheeky Monkey III Part 7, Homeward Bound

Brielle, United States

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:50:00 -0400

And we’re off at 6:45AM, fifteen minutes behind Ramrod, who coincidentally also came from Stuart and is headed for Brielle, just inside the Manasquan Inlet. Happy to have a buddy boat in our sights! The relentless wind has finally subsided so we can now consider the Atlantic our route home. Forecast has improved ever so slightly putting my persistent trepidation at bay and the tiny flags on the Rover have settled down considerably, a good omen to be sure. Wish us luck on our final 11-12 hr stretch of open ocean! At least there are no nuclear subs this time!! 👍😊 After quite the adventure at sea, we pulled into Barnegat Inlet instead of Manasquan at 5:25PM, nearly 11 hours after our departure. We never did see Ramrod again after they left the dock in Norfolk, so much for a buddy boat ha ha! After an unusually quiet 45 minute ride up Barneget Bay, we made it safe and sound to Bayhead, our home port, thus ending yet another salty tale, perhaps our last to Florida. 😢 The jury is still out on that decision, but not to worry, it’s not our final journey at sea. There are plenty of places yet to see and after a well deserved rest for the mighty Cheeky, her courageous Captain and first mate, we’ll be back! Many, many thanks to those who joined us on this adventure and a special shout out to those who commented along the way. We always get excited when we see the notice that someone has posted and can’t wait to read it! Good sports all, hope to see you soon! Until then, stay well and stay salty! 😉😘

Bidding goodbye to the American Rover this morning as the moon rises.

A busy Thursday morning in the Norfolk Harbor as we pass by on our way to the Bay Bridge opening, which takes nearly an hour to reach from our marina.

Calmest seas we’ve had all morning, after 3 hours of 3ft short chop. 😳 Sure hope it stays this way! 🤞

Passing Assateague Island, we’ve made it to Maryland!

This lookout at the mouth of the Chesapeake has seen better days.

Ocean City, MD for fuel and a quick spray after a salty morning! 😉

After a journey of literally ups and downs, we are nearly home!!

The Barneget lighthouse never looked so good through the super salty window of the Cheeky Monkey!

Norfolk, United States

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:30:00 -0400

Off the dock at 6;15AM, fifteen minutes earlier than our target to beat no less than 13 bridge openings today on our trek to Norfolk. Already left three boats in our wake including one that must have cost upwards of $10 million dollars. 🎼That don’t impressa me much, 🎼 it only goes 9 knots! Made it to the first bridge, North Landing, for the 7:30 opening, which lines us up nicely with four other boats for the Centerville Turnpike Bridge at 8:30. Spending the morning waying up our options between a Chesapeake route or an ocean route home. Tomorrow’s and Thursday’s weather don’t look grand. Friday is an ocean possibility, but the winds pick up early afternoon and we need to be in Barneget Inlet by then, or ditch at Cape May and wait it out for a week. Last year’s log may offer us some insight toward our choice. Made the executive decision to stay put in Norfolk for at least Tuesday and Wednesday nights due to wind gusts up to 35 mph and boy, it feels like it! We no sooner tied up at Waterside Marina about noon and the howling began. Feels good to be tethered in a nice marina with an excellent dock hand named, James, who remembered us from our fall trek south. 👍😊 Day 2 Norfolk Exciting day planned today catching up with chores. 😉 Nearly back to the real world. It’s funny how by this point in the trip, we’ve both had our fill of expensive, over-sauced restaurants and are ready for a nice, home-cooked meal so that’s today’s gig, Captain’s specialty, Shepherd’s Pie! In honor, I’m wearing my Six Pence Pub shirt from Savannah, best British pub on the planet. 🇬🇧 Decision made, we’re heading out tomorrow at 7AM targeting Ocean City, MD for a fuel stop. Weather and crews’ nerves permitting, we’ll venture back out and head towards Cape May, NJ. Conditions aren’t ideal, but if we hug the coast, the Northwest winds will be in our favor. After crossing the mouth of the Delaware River, we’ll again decide if we have time and inclination to set our sights on home via Barneget or Manasquan Inlet. If not, there is a slight window Friday morning to get out again and finally get the Cheeky, and her crew, in our Jersey berths! Fingers crossed!! 🤞

Sunrise over Currituck Sound, a real beauty this morning. Even better, we’re beating the predicted wind gusts of 35 miles an hour, which seem unlikely given the current conditions.

Sailors have a tougher time making the bridge openings and doing pretty much everything else, but they seem to love it! 🤷‍♀️

Centerville Beudge opening after a 40 min wait. The boat in front named, It’s About Time, says it all! 😉

Following Its About Time through yet another bridge

Manning, or should I say, womanning the bow at the Great Lock in VA, that sort of snuck up on us this year as we contemplated our future options.

Like an old friend, the America Rover is today’s neighbor off our stern. Remember her? She’s a beauty and worth the visit!!

Visual says it all, stay put!

View of Dockmaster James’ office from our kitchen. He runs the whole operation himself and does a great job!

Waterside Marina is a great choice for a Norfolk visit, within striking distance of a liquor store, an Irish pub, a general store full of requested items only, ha, ha, and a movie theater in a mall! Oh, there’s also a WWII battleship to tour, the USS Wisconsin, within walking distance that we plan on visiting tomorrow! 👍 Skeeball competitions in the Waterside pub are fun too! 😊

Leaving Coinjock and the myriad of mosquitoes it offers. Goodbyeeee!

The American Rover looking majestic in her evening gear.

Fun to imagine sailing on this vessel as today’s fierce winds roil her bow.

Excited to see visit the USS Wisconsin today. Look how close she is to our slip!

Busy Norfolk Harbor, no sleeping in here! The roosters at Coinjock are replaced by massive, cruise ship horns blasting!

Cheeky and her new bestie, American Rover.

Wow, those are some mean machines!

Martin in his element at the helm of the USS Wisconsin, known as Wisky!

A typical sight on the ICW. Martin on the helm of the Cheeky Monkey going port to port with a tanker.

Coinjock, United States

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:30:00 -0400

Got up so early Martin didn’t recognize me! 😂😂 4:30 AM is not my finest hour. Trying to beat the wind today across the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. Not sure what’s going happen after that since Wednesday and Thursday look like a big blowup with gusts up to 35 miles an hour, but that’s outside so we have a potential to keep moving inside to Norfolk, where we may get stuck for a few days. Darn! Believe it or not a buff crew from a massive boat docked behind us was up doing push ups in the parking lot as we readied the Cheeky for departure. Oh, paleeese, give me a break while I’n busy scarfing my Aleve! 😂😂 Off the dock by first light at 6:15, with help from a friendly, nervous, new boater. He had already run aground previously so he had good reason to be anxious. Martin filled him in on Aqua Maps and Bob423, which are a God send when traveling the back creeks of the Carolinas. On our way to the Pamlico Sound, here come those pesky crab pots again! Whew, made it unscathed by beating this afternoon’s winds, now onto the Albemarle. Whew! We made it thanks to the Cheeky Monkey’s powerful Caterpillars and Martin’s nerves of steel! It was not a pretty crossing, white knuckles and hair raising all the way, but the cheeky monkey powered through! I think next time we’ll wait for a calmer day. 👍😊 Either way, I would never do that Albemarle Sound without either being a sports fishing boat or a catamaran. They seem to fair best! Nothing better than being all tied up at Coinjock for the night (even though it’s the middle of nowhere) after tackling both the Pamlico, (which was fine today) and the Albemarle, which was not! Prime rib, their specialty, here we come, a queen cut easily split between two.😋

Waiting for first light while the Cap studies the charts.

Up with the big boys today!

Sunrise over the Harlowe Creek. The water is deceptively calm here, but we know what we’re in for with the two sounds we’re attempting today.

Scenery can turn on a dime when the mist rolls in.

Watching out for those pirates on the port side!

Plagued by windy weather at every opening and happy to be inside where the white caps are starting to pick up. Tomorrow’s crossings would be impossible! So fortunate to have the nippy Cheeky as we nicely pass all the lumbering sailboats and trawlers, keeping our sports fishing reputation in check. 😉

This huge freighter in the narrow Alligator River named Island Lookout took an unexpected right turn into the woods in front of us. 😳 We radioed and he said he was OK, but we kept a hand ready hand on the throttle as he turned back towards us during the pass

Beaufort, United States

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 15:30:00 -0400

Bald Head Island, United States

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:30:00 -0400

This salty sea life must be getting to me! Broke my own record and got up at a brisk 5:45AM even beating the alarm. Naturally, the Cap was up before me, studying charts and what not. Bit of a rough start this morning leaving Georgetown as the lines soaked by last night’s heavy downpour were tough to dislodge from the cleats. The misty morning has us second guessing the additional steam wafting from the engines, but we can also see our breath for the first time in months so hoping that explains it. I’m sure we’ll get no sympathy from friends in the northeast who have been seeing their breath for months, brrr! Take note mates, ICW mile marker 383.7 has the cheapest fuel on the coast so far, 3.14 for diesel. Just be careful not to throw a wake turning the corner into Wacca Wachee Marina! Heading into the dreaded “Rock Pile,” now, our least favorite stretch of the intracoastal, as there is granite on both sides of the channel and if you veer out, your props are toast! If possible, it’s best to bypass this Myrtle Beach stretch by choosing the ocean route, but this morning’s wind wouldn’t allow it. We’ll test the Atlantic again this afternoon to beeline to Bald Head. ETA about 3PM. Made it safely to Bald Head after a long day on the ICW and a final one hour ride on a rough ocean, out of Little Inlet, Captain’s choice. I happily sat it out on the couch downstairs. Our boating friends,Tom and Jenny formerly of C Dock in Stuart, generously offered us their boat slip next to their lovely home on Bald Head Island for the evening. Many thanks!!! The only thing missing is them! 😢 They are busy tending to their award winning vineyard this weekend. Hope to catch them next time!

Heading from the Sampit River to the Great Pee Dee which promises a wide open, full blast, 20 minute ride according to the Harborwalk Dockmaster. Music to the Captain’s ears!

This seasoned seafarer sits stationary in the spooky mist. Eery, but tough to catch on the pic!

Nice to see the rest of last night’s clouds breaking up in the distance,

🎼Danger there’s a break down dead ahead! 🎼

Waiting patiently behind the Tia Marie for the cute Little River Swing Bridge to open. Current rips here so need to be careful. Poor Tia Marie just got too close and nearly got her stern kicked by the opening bridge until her Cap quickly scrambled, did an about face and ended up behind us at the last minute. 😳 Too true that in boating you are always just three seconds away from disaster.

Our destination for this evening, Bald Head Island. Like Tom said, “ you can’t beat free99!” 😂😂 And one state closer to home!! NC! 👍👍

The ocean was a bit choppy today, although it still looks pretty!

It was a gorgeous night on Bald Head Island. Someone at the local bar told us it was a pink moon when a bagpiper plays on the beach and people howl. 🤷‍♀️ Oops, didn’t get the memo!

The Cheeky Monkey III in all her glory!! 💞

Steamy sunrise over the Great Pee Dee River on our way to NC today, hurray!

This says it all! 👍👍😊

Georgetown, United States

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 13:30:00 -0400

Plan B worked out beautifully! Waves kicked up half way to Bald Head so we ditched Plan C and wisely chose the nearby Georgetown Inlet. An excellent choice for us! Super dockhands, inexpensive fuel, and a beautiful berth for the night. A minor issue plaguing the Captain was again solved by his indispensable first mate who discovered a bar of soap had lodged in the open head system as we tossed in the ocean waves! Simply put, with surgical gloves in hand, I forked it, saving us yet another $1000 bill! All good to go now!! 😉😂😂😂

Heading towards the Georgetown Inlet. The dark blue line on the left shows the ICW route we would have taken, but the ocean was fine! 👍

Our Georgetown berth for the night.

A pic of the new George Hotel with a cute little tug in front. This is a great, little town to visit!

Just before the clouds opened up and doused us with thunder, lightning, and rain!

Yikes! A massive storm system is lingering ominously over our Georgetown slip!

Strange stormy weather to one side of us creates a gorgeous sunset on the other side. 🤷‍♀️

Charleston, United States

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:30:00 -0400

A large catamaran pulled in late last night complicating our departure, but happily we managed a smooth exit at 7:35AM thanks to the Captain’s careful study of the lines and currents. We are expected at the Charleston Maritime Marina tonight, which is a tough place to get into both reservation wise and current wise. However, the Cap got up early and read all the reviews of the marina and it seems not only does it have a challenging current for docking, but it also promises a wake filled night, since it’s abreast of the busy Charleston Harbor. Apparently, even huge cruise ships go by! Many of our Stuart cruising friends recommended it as the place to go for its great access to downtown Charleston and a supermarket. That is not to be denied, but do we want to take on the challenge or do we want to try the Plan B challenge of making it all the way to Georgetown, our destination for tomorrow? After a bit of a jam up in a narrow stretch of the channel, and some technical difficulties, which I fortunately fixed on the fly, we are now winging across the massive Dawho River Cheeky style and will arrive in Charleston by noon. Plan A or Plan B will be decided soon! Can’t keep you in suspense any longer! 😂😂 We actually got to Charleston by early afternoon and decided on Plan C, a full throttle up to Bald Head, originally Sunday’s destination! To get there, we headed outside to test the ocean waters since the ICW inside would have taken too long, even to Georgetown, by that time. It was lovely for awhile, and then it wasn’t, so we dialed back to Plan B and made it to Georgetown by 4. A wise decision to be sure and a great day to celebrate all the way around, here and at home!! 👍 😊 🎉

Sailboats littered the Charleston harbor this afternoon!

Always tiki part boats full of drunken dancing divas in Charleston harbor. Captain loves this! 😉

Sunrise over Broad Creek in Palmetto Bay Marina before heading for Charleston.

Open ocean ahead, which would be our typical route, but not today, as it’s a confused sea (conflicting waves) and a short chop every 5 seconds making for a very uncomfortable ride! We’re taking a left turn soon to continue on the ICW. After the left turn across the wide, choppy waterway north of Hilton Head which leads to the ocean, the channel markers will reverse to red on the right (signaling “red, right, return,” from the ocean) until you go under the large bridge, where they will switch to green on the right, signaling the way north. 👍 This happens all the time near an inlet and can easily cause confusion, so best to beware!

Huge dry dock area for large ships near Charleston. Seeing a ton more freighters now near the city. Not liking these big fellas!

It was a beautiful day for a sailing lesson in Charleston harbor.

Although lovely to watch, these young sailors did pose yet another challenge to today’s navigation.

Heading out to open ocean to test the waters.

Wow!! The ocean looks flat, even the amateur sailors are out! Let’s go! 👍

Hilton Head Island, United States

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:30:00 -0400

Broke our departure record this morning, up at 6 and lines cast off by 7:10! 👍👍 Ahead of us we have 127 nautical miles of long and winding Georgia flats. Having never cruised the Georgia Flats before, I sort of pictured us leisurely meandering through never ending, winding waterways at a snail’s pace, but I should know better by now, that’s not how this Captain rolls! 😂😂 Hey, I’m all in, go Cheeky, homeward bound! After all our engine repairs kept us land locked this winter, we’re now “livin’ the dream, one nightmare at a time,” as the Cap likes to say! 😂😂 Landed in beautiful Pametto Bay Marina next to Hilton Head around 3:30PM after a safe journey. Diesel is a good deal here, 3.49/gal so fill ‘er up! 😊 The Cap is giving the Cheeky a much needed Saltaway bath. It’s amazing how much salt she can accumulate even without an actual ocean trek! Soon time for a much-needed, well- deserved rest! 👍

Sunrise on St. Simon sound.

It can get pretty lonely out here, and if we had our druthers, we would have preferred open ocean, but fishweather predictions are foreboding so we’re staying inside till Sunday, at best!

The dolphins are keeping us company as the sun rises on the Mackay River.

Can’t seem to stop myself from taking these sunrise pics. May be a good thing I don’t wake up this early every day!

Headed into “Hell’s Gate Channel!” 😳 Lookin’ for blue water. Whew, made it!

Just barely caught the dolphin in our wake!

This is a tricky bridge under construction at ICW mile marker 579. The opening width is super narrow! Sure glad we aren’t a Cat!

Uh oh! Look who just joined us for the evening! Better keep one eye open, Matey!

Now that’s a different mode of transportation!!

Full moon over Palmetto Bay Marina after the best seared scallop dinner on the coast at Carolina Crab. Good thing I can only order it once a year, my cardiologist would not be pleased!

Spotted a big cat (catamaran) named “What If,” underway. We passed them yesterday as well, but then we pass everybody all the time! 😂😂

Jekyll Island, United States

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:30:00 -0400

Trying hard to beat the predicted afternoon winds as our destination of Jekyll Island requires us to cross a tricky stretch known as “The Hole,” between Cumberland Island and Saint Andrews Beach. On the navigation map, this exposed area may tempt you to think that it’s an inlet, but steer clear! We set off exactly at 7:30AM when Asher and Joe, the friendly and excellent dock hands at Fernandina Harbor showed up to help as promised. There is a massive military facility located off to the left just after Fernandina Inlet and it’s good to note that as you approach it the channel markers temporarily change and red is on the right until you pass the facility. Moseyed into Jekyll Island, which is apropos for this kick back destination. Tied up for the night at 10AM, an unusually early time for the mighty Cheeky, giving her Captain a much needed rest after “flying” up the FL ICW. Jekyll Island is a wonderful stop if you don’t mind a little sting now and again, the bugs are dancing here!

Beautiful morning on the Georgia ICW, even though we narrowly escaped a crab pot or two until we slowed down!! 😳

The dreaded Hole turned out to be fine after all since we beat the wind. The waterways can vary so much depending on winds, tides, currents, and weather, especially foggy weather!! Best to check it all ahead of time and check your navigation apps daily. 👍

Went to a cool beach called Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island today. It’s littered with these massive trees! It was fun getting there too in the marina’s free golf cart!

Amazing to see under the trees!

The live trees everywhere on the island are very cool too!

Check out this old relic from The Gilded Age that you can rent for the afternoon. We took the free99 cart from the marina! 😂😂

There is some serious driftwood on this beach!! 👍

Zachary’s Riverside Restaurant next to the marina is a great spot. Just be sure to get there before 5PM when the bugs will eat YOU for dinner! 😜

The shrimp with butter sauce at Zachary’s Riverside are worth the trip, best I’ve ever had! 😋

View of the Jekyll Island Marina.

Fernandina Beach, United States

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Pulled in the lines at an easy slack tide this morning at 7:22 to catch the George Musson Bridge opening on the half hour. Nice! The gloomy skies are priming us for our return to the northeast, where reports are cold rain during the past week. We promise to bring back some Florida sunshine with us even though it’s not lookin’ too promising at the moment. Next stop, Fernandina Beach! Traveling at a pretty good clip despite the usual slowdowns for sailboats and houses without boat ramps. Even though it’s still early for snowbirds like us, there’s a surprising amount of traffic on the ICW northbound. And the temps 🎼 “they are a changin’🎼 Time to get cozy in jackets and jeans! 😊 Tied up, fueled up and cleaned up in Fernandina Harbor Marina on a sunny evening. Doesn’t get any better than this! If you ever get to Fernandina, a delightful, little town in northern Florida, check out Espana, a superb Spanish restaurant who makes a wicked good paella that was highly recommended by one of our Stuart buddies.. Yummy!!

Our last look at Outriggers in NSB. We’ve had a lot of great times here. but the clientele is way too belligerent every time we visit.We won’t be back!

🎼Raindrops keep falling on my head!🎼

The adept Cap negotiated a tricky bridge maneuver through a half broken bridge in Daytona Beach.

Leaving everyone in our wake as usual. The Cheeky flies!

Can you spot the cute little passenger on this sailboat?

What’s up with the bridges today? Certainly not the bridges themselves, several of which seem to be in a state of disrepair. The L.B. Knox bridge tender kindly kept this half open for us without even asking!! We most definitely thanked him!!

Just passed Lady Gov, who joined our happy hour gang a few times when they were transients at Sunset Bay. She’s the former governor of Oklahoma, hence the name.

Cool pirate ship we toured last year in St. Augustine, now on the move!

The St. Augustine Bridge of Lions is stunning!

Our last sunset in Florida! Georgia bound tomorrow.

This was scary! As we left St. Augustine, seven police/border patrol boats full of marines passed by us in a hurry and the boat traveling in front of us turned around. We did not, but soon the police boats turned around and headed straight back towards us! We waved at the first two and they waved back, but it felt like we were target practice for them all, two at a time. I was glad I had my passport handy! Whatever next!!?!!

On our way back from dinner, the sky looked spectacular, even with the paper factory’s smoke stack spewing god knows what!

Our slip for the night.

New Smyrna Beach, United States

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Taking our time as we inch ever closer to our destination for tonight, New Smyrna Beach. Already spotted one poor couple on a sailboat run aground just beyond the green channel marker and nearly hitting it!! 😳 We didn’t dare stop to help, as they have a huge keel and were well and fully stuck! Soon after, a large, red Tow Boat US dinghy passed us racing south, hopefully heading to the couple’s rescue. Best to stay in the channel as it narrows near Wabasso. The Cheeky never disappoints as we picked up speed near a widening channel around Melbourne, which our Captain used to advantageously pass every other boat in sight! 😂😂 Our eta went from 8:30 tonight to 1:30 this afternoon. Size matters, but speed matters more, and the nippy Cheeky, Monkey, as always, has all others beat! 🏆Fifty-four nautical miles to go!

🎼 Heading out this morning, into the sun 🎼

Sunset at New Smyrna Marina.

A lonely sailboat follows us into Haulover Canal, one of the most biodiverse places on the ICW.

Love these natural trees in Haulover Canal!

As I snapped this pic trying to capture the two pelicans I never even realized there were several people sitting on the shore behind them, looking like they’re sitting there too!

Captain kickin’ back after a long day.

This drunken amateur boater nearly ran into our boat before smashing into our neighbors’s boat! This will be our last stay at New Smyrna Marina, too many crazies here!! What next?

Stuart

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 06:40:00 -0400

After sharing a lovely special Sunday dinner at Uncle Guiseppe’s with our faithful and fun happy hour dock crew, we set off at 6:45 on Monday morning from our favorite, new slip in Stuart. It was a bittersweet departure as some of our friends that we’ve known for years here at Sunset Bay Marina will not be returning next year. Fortunately for us, all being well, our plan is to return to the same awesome slip we scored this year, but we will miss the close friendships that we made once we return next fall.😢 We’re on our way home! 👍 😊

Stuart in our rearview mirror.

If you look closely, you can see our wonderful boating buddies who rousted themselves out of bed at 6am for final hugs and extra hands on the lines. 😘

Sunrise over the St. Lucie River. Haven’t seen this in awhile, being the late riser that I am! 😉😂

Heading towards the St. Lucie Inlet, but taking a sharp left onto the ICW before hitting the ocean. The run from Stuart to Ft Pierce is fast and easy, so that’s our best choice today.

Our farewell dinner with our happy hour gang at Uncle Giuseppe’s on our last night of the season. Sunday special is the way to go if you don’t mind gaining 5 pounds! 😜