Day 182 - April 13, 2013: North Myrtle Beach and Barefoot Marina

The morning was still as we turned north passing abandoned rice fields and old plantation estates. We entered the Waccamaw River, which flows parallel to the ocean almost to Myrtle Beach before turning inland. The scenery changes dramatically here as you pass through the unique cypress-gum swamps and bottomland hardwood forests. The high trees along the waterway are topped with osprey nests,  and eagles are frequently seen here migrating north for the summer. Some declare this is the prettiest river along the East Coast.

Waccamaw River entrance on the right

Hardware forests in swamp land

With all of the many channels and merging rivers and cuts that drain this area, there may be many channel markers in view simultaneously. You can tell when you are on the ICW because all of the green markers have a small yellow box at the center top.

Osprey nest

ICW marker

As we cruised towards Myrtle Beach, we started to see the signs of civilization again with docks and homes on levees. The last few miles are through a narrow dredged waterway called Pine Island cut, after which you come upon N. Myrtle Beach and Barefoot Marina. This is the home marina of Rick and Betsy, on Rick 'n Roll, whom we had contacted and planned to meet for a marina pig roast potluck supper. They are well known within AGLCA and speak frequently at the Rendezvous. At the pig roast we met several other looping couples and had a great time chatting on the dock before eating way too much.

Socastee Swing Bridge

Homes on the Pine Island cut levee