On June 4, 2010 at 11:05 AM I crossed my wake in the Neuse River after exiting Adams Creek. Technically I've finished the loop even though I still have to return to New Bern.

We crossed the Neuse and went into Oriental. Anchored in Green Creek, which is where Drew and I spent the first night on the beginning of the Loop in March of 2009. Later in the afternoon we moved to the City Docks and had a very enjoyable time in Oriental.

On June 5th we left Oriental and headed home. This is a picture of the new bridge and New Bern in the back ground. This was my first view of the completed new bridge from the water.

Allen Hardison, the commodore of ECYC, arranged to have a welcome party help celebrate my arriving home. In addition Debbie (my oldest daughter), Margaret, Laura and Barwick (3 of my grandchildren), came to welcome me home. There is nothing in the world that can take the place of FAMILY and FRIENDS.

This is a poster that Kim made and Allen is holding. I managed to cut the top of his head off in this picture. Sorry about that.

Well, this is the last entry for this fantastic journey that I was fortunate enough to take. Thanks to my family for their understanding and support in my desire to make the Loop. Thanks to David Evans and Buzz Hanson, both previously completing the loop, who provided much information, charts, equipment and support. As corny as it may sound, I am very thankful for the PELICAN, that safely and comfortably, made this trip such a great pleasure.

God bless you and this great nation we live in. Remember, only you can live your dream. Don't let it pass you buy.

Carl

We spent Wednesday night hanging on the hook (anchored) in Mile Hammock Bay which is just north of New River. This is actually part of Camp Lejune Marine Base. There were 8 or 10 boats anchored in this area. Less than a 1/4 mile away the Osprey were doing touch and go landing. It was very interesting to watch. This type thing makes you proud to be an American.

Thursday, the 3rd we started north. Passing through Swansboro and up Bogue Sound.

We stopped and spent the night at Morehead City Yacht Basin. We walked down the Morehead City waterfront and the docks, looking at boats. For those of you that know me, I'm sure you are surprised that I'd be interested in looking at boats. I have to say there were more sports fishing boats in this immediate area than any other place I've visited.

The picture above is the bridge to Beaufort and the storage facilities at the Morehead City Port Authority. It is Friday and we are heading to Oriental. Can you tell I'm beginning to drag my feet about getting home. The trip is beginning to become a little bitter/sweet. I want to see my family and friends but I don't want this trip to end.

As indicated earlier, Harold Honbarrier joined me in Myrtle Beach. We traveled to South Port, Tuesday the 1st of June. Below is a beautiful boat that was at the marina.

The marina has been rebuilt since I last visited. We meet Jo Tilman, an interior designer that I use to work with and a friend, for dinner and a quick visit to the grocery store.

We left South Port and entered the Cape Fear River, heading north toward New Bern, NC.

Laura Lee and John Honbarrier, my daughter and son-in-law joined me in Charleston. Ken left in Charleston. We left Charleston Saturday morning. The picture below is a home along the ICW.

Below is typical ICW/ Low Country S.C. My pictures are out of sink. The pictures below are of the Waccamaw River between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach.

The picture above is a one car ferry crossing the ICW.

This is an example of the ICW between Charleston and Georgetown. It is miles and miles of open area with the ICW weaving through it. This is a very rural area and pretty to me.

I took this picture to show that all large estates are not in southern Florida. This is a beautiful and LARGE home along the ICW in S.C.

Laura Lee and John left me in north Myrtle Beach. Actually we were in Little River S.C. Harold Honbarrier, Ron's brother, joined me and will stay with me until I get home around the 5th. of June. We will leave Tuesday morning.

This is a picture of the bridge in Savannah, Ga. It is similar to several other constructions I've seen along the way. The cables hold this bridge up.

While going through the ICW toward Charleston we rounded a part of the ICW and there was a boat yard with this small ship being repaired. The following tug was being repaired also. This scene was totally out of character for what we had been seeing along the Ga. and S.C. waterway.

This is Ashley Marina in Charleston S.C. I saw more boats here than any place else along the entire trip. There is the Charleston Marina, Charleston Yacht Club and the Ashley Marina all located side by side. LOTS OF BOATS.

I think this bridge goes over to Folly Beach.

This is a picture of the Charleston waterfront as we were entering the Ashley River from the Cooper River.

We are in Beaufort S.C. and it is Wednesday night. I loaded my pictures wrong so they are not in the correct sequence. The picture above is the Marine Basic Training Base location on Paris Island. This place has a lot of history for the Marine Corp.

This and the nest couple of pictures are old homes in Beaufort, S.C. This really is a very nice town to walk around and soak up the history of the area. The house above is made of concrete squares.

This is a 28 foot 1917 Grandy Boatworks, wooden boat, that was tied up at the marina. It reminds me of a boat that Buzz Hansen use to have. It was very nicely redone.

We left Hinkley Yacht Service Marina Tuesday morning and went into Calibogue Sound. The shrimp boat, below, was behind us and then passed us. This is a beautiful example of the water life that people is this area live. Check out the American Flag on the bow. I am truly glad to be an American. What a great place to live and travel around.

This is the entrance to one of the several entrances to Hilton Head S.C. We went up Broad Creek to Shelton Cove Marina.

Shelton Cove Marina is at the head of Broad Creek and very protected. There is a 6 to 7 foot tide, which is common in this part of the country. Below is a sculpture of King Neptune. that was located near the Pelican.

Ken Wooten's son, Justin, is working in Hilton Head this summer as an intern, and he met us for dinner Tuesday night. We had a delicous meal at a local restaurant and some great quality time together.

Ken and I will leave Beaufort, S.C. Thursday morning early and make a 10 hour run to Charleston. We will take Friday as a catch-up day and my daughter, Laura Lee and her husband John will meet us Saturday morning. Ken will go back to New Bern and Laura Lee and John will go with me to Myrtle Beach.

This is a great part of the Loop but I'm beginning to get a little melancholy about it ending. I should be back in New Bern, completing the LOOP, around June the 5th. As I've said many times, it has been a great experience up to this point.

Later,

Carl

Ken Wooten joined me in Fernandina Beach. We departed on Saturday and immediately entered Cumberland Sound which means we are leaving Florida and entering Georgia.

The picture above is a submarine station that is located in Cumberland Sound. It is quite an operation.

We stopped in Jekyll Island, Ga. Saturday afternoon and took a bike ride around the island. The picture above and several following are of Jekyll Island.

Below is the Marina office. There was a restaurant off to the left and they had a delicious dinner. We go a low country boil. Shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cobb, smoked sausage. Needless to say, I ATE WAY TOO MUCH. Boy was it good.

Today, Sunday, we are traveling through typical Georgia waterways. However the house below is located on an island, which was quite unusual to see. The Georgia waterway has very winding routes that, at low tide, are very thin. (shallow). Numerous times today the depth sounder was reading 2.6 ft. That means we actually had 4' water to float in. The Pelican draws 3'6". Not much room for error.

This is the typical scenery in the Georgia ICW. The next picture is where we are anchored tonight. We are in New Teakettle Creek. The tide has risen over 7 ft. since we have been here.

We also have been invaded by "Green Heads", a biting fly, that are very annoying. Hopefully the wind will pick up and blow them away.

Well, I need to prepare dinner, so I'm signing off for today.

Later,

Carl