Destination: Historic Conway, SC

After a nice dinghy ride of slightly more than an hour, we had lunch and spent the afternoon exploring the Riverwalk, the downtown historical society and local museum, and walking among lots of large, old live oaks, before cooling off on the dinghy ride back to the boat.

Having not yet seen the boat, our oldest son Tate took some time to come cruise with us. After picking him up at the airport on June 8, and some last-minute shopping (including a father-son excursion to the tackle shop for new rods and reels), we headed to the boat to prepare for the next day’s departure. Having been there far too long, we excitedly left Holden Beach Wednesday morning, June 9, with Tate aboard as our first cruising guest.

The hydraulic lines to the crane have been replaced and the ceiling panels reinstalled in the salon. With much effort, we cleaned the hydraulic fluid from the walls, floor and lower cabinetry, and even managed to save the upholstery fabric. Unfortunately, due to Covid-related shortages, the world is apparently fresh out of upholstery foam, so we wrapped the oil-soaked foam inserts tightly in black plastic bags and completely sealed the seams with sturdy tape, then stuffed them back in the cushions. It’s reminiscent of sitting on your grandparents’ sofa – a bit firm and plastic crunchy. But, hey, it looks good. And once the world returns to foam production, we will have the settee restuffed with something other than hazardous waste.

Matt and Laurie are fellow cruisers, much more experienced, who are also having work done at the Zimmerman Yard. Matt introduced us to goat cheese and olive tapenade at a great docktail evening!

Airlie Gardens, Wilmington NC

Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden

The Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden, dedicated to Wilmington’s “Flytrap Man,” occupies three-quarters of an acre in one of the world’s few microclimates permitting year-round outdoor growth of pitcher plants, sundews, Venus flytraps, and other insectivorous species. Flytraps growing wild. Native to Wilmington, NC. Who knew??