June 8, 2012 Little River, South Carolina

Friday June , 2012

I can almost smell Wilmington and hear her calling me.  What a wonderful day on the intracoastal waterway.  Fred said in his opinion this was the most beautiful part of the ICW.  I agree.  We entered the “swamp” area with cypress trees lining the muddy banks with turtles on nearly every log exposed out of the water, water foul playing across the deep brown surface of the tannin colored waters, quickly reminding me that there are rich soils on her banks, tinting her with coffee colored liquid from the rich decay.  I am sure these waters are rich with nutrients lending a perfect breeding grounds for fish and wildlife.  It is easy to forget just a few yards away, there are concrete roads, creating links from one sleepy town to another.  The serenity is mesmerizing as I slipped into a life I seldom took notice to before I started this trip, not this much in depth anyway.  The day was laid back, I finished my book, took pictures and just enjoyed the scenery, reflecting on how I began this trip and not believing it is almost over.  I say that but it’s not true.  Since I met Fred, my whole life has changed, a new beginning, as he has taught me that every day is a beginning and an adventure.  I have not taken a single moment of this trip for granted, I am not sad to return to Wilmington, and I know we will be leaving again for another adventure just as special as this one.  Tried to find a place to tie up in Little River and have dinner but there was nothing available so we continued on.  We stopped in Calabash, tied up at an empty space and ran up the hill to get a bite to eat at Captain Nance’s.  The food was okay, nothing special but the experience was.  We caught ourselves laughing as I quickly brushed my hair and Fred brushed his as well as put his teeth in.  We were going out to eat.  You would have thought we were going to a fancy restaurant but it was a fish house.  After dinner we left the dock and motored to the Little River Inlet where we will set sail outside tomorrow to Southport, North Carolina.  From there we plan to take the ICW to Wilmington, where we will disembark and settle down for the summer.