19 November 2025
Cast off at 8 a.m. for a 70-mile run to Beaufort, NC. Weather couldn’t have been better—sunny skies and calm waters all the way.
A scenic stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway: the Pungo and Pamlico Rivers, Goose Creek, Upper Spring Creek, a man-made canal, Bay River, and the Neuse River—20 miles of open water that can get wild, but was smooth sailing. From there, we cruised through Adams Creek, its canal, and finally the Russell Slough Channel into Beaufort.
This leg is a textbook example of how the ICW brilliantly connects natural waterways with man-made cuts to create a seamless passage – the ICW. We made the trip in just 7 hours, enjoying perfect conditions the entire way.
After tying up at Beaufort City Docks and freshening up, we set out in search of a new dinner spot. We’ve always gone to Clawson’s, but tonight we tried something different—Ribeye Restaurant. True to its name, it delivered: a cozy atmosphere, an all-you-can-eat salad and soup bar, and steaks from 8 to 32 ozs. We had a great meal. See a few pictures below. Magnify the pictures by hovering over the picture and click Ctrl twice.
20 November 2025
We’re picking up the pace—up at 6:50 and underway by 7:00 sharp. This morning we left Beaufort and made our way south to Wrightsville Beach, covering 76 miles. It was a good push, but necessary if we want to reach Georgetown, SC in time for Thanksgiving. We’re on track to arrive this Saturday, which gives us time to clean up the boat and get ready for the holiday week.
And in our planning we understand what we have to do every day on the water. We have to decide where we’re going — and get a reservation or anchorage location, then review the waterway and manage the trip. How many no-wake zones will keep as at idle speed, what bridges must we meet a published opening time to get through without a long wait, and then we realize the weather and shifting shoals at some locations impact our trip and may keep us guessing whether we will go aground and determine how fast can we go through the area to make it to our destination before dark. Yep, it’s busy but this is what makes it great!
One of the photos below shows our route over a road map—it might help you visualize how we’re weaving our way through the Southeast. See this and more below. Magnify the pictures by hovering over the picture and click Ctrl twice.
