Today we started a bit late (I had to bicycle to the UPS store to overnight some legal documents for signature) and then we headed upstream toward Myrtle Beach. The ICW followed the Waccamaw (not “Whack A Mole”) River for most of our track today. Most of the trip was through rural terrain, with small streams entering the Waccamaw every mile or so. We even saw an airboat company taking guests along the river and then out into smaller streams.
Along the way we rounded a riverbend and found a swing bridge closed in front of us. On channel 9 the bridge tender told us to hold up, dropped the gates, swung the bridge, and then invited us through. We hit neutral, treaded water for awhile, and moved on when the channel was open.
Most of the day we traveled through rural areas. Then we entered the south side of MB. New homes are popular! We saw many new homes being built or recently completed, and many beautiful waterfront mansions.
Barefoot Marina, our “on the fuel dock” home for the night, is just across the ICW from two restaurant venues including Lulu’s, owned by Lucy Buffett, Jimmy’s sister. We are enjoying the Bonnie Raitt covers!
First thing tomorrow morning we enter the “Rock Pile” which a local captain described to me as the most treacherous five miles of the ICW.
