Bob and Gail's Next Adventure: Day Three – Swing Bridges and the Rock Pile

Current Position: 33° 39' 56" N 79° 4' 14" W

What a wonderful day! Last night was calm and quiet and we slept very well. I felt so much better even though it was a COLD 39 degrees when we woke up. Bob started the generator so it would warm up a bit for me (he gets up in the cold and showers – brrrr). The hot water is generated either from the engine running, or the generator. After a day of motoring down the waterway, the water is scalding but it cools down to lukewarm for Bob’s shower in the morning. When I took my shower, the generator had heated it back up to a nice, steamy heat but even after a QUICK shower (can’t use too much of our precious water), it was nearly scalding and I discovered our cold water does not work in the shower!! One more item for the fix-it list!!

Just before pulling up anchor

We pulled up the anchor at 8:30 – low tide – and headed back down the ICW – (do you remember what that stands for?) See notes below if you forgot J. Our new to us experience was a swing bridge. Bob called on the VHF radio – channel 9 – to the bridge operator:

Bob: “Little River Swing Bridge, Little River Swing Bridge, Little River Swing Bridge, this is Trawler ‘The Good Life’, ‘The Good Life’ southbound, requesting bridge opening.”

Bridge operator responded: “May we have your home port?”

Bob: “Olympia, WA”.

Bridge: “We will open when you get closer”.

Bob: “Roger, thanks.”

As we approached we could hear the bridge alarm and see the gate to stop traffic go down and then the bridge swung open and through we went!

Later we went through another one with the same procedure. I was so worried – and it was a breeze!

Our second little adventure was “The Rock Pile”. This is a stretch of the ICW that was carved out of rock and there are piles of rocks that you DON’T want to hit with your boat. Again, this worry wort was very fretful. I was picturing a wall of rock on both sides and piles of rocks jutting up around us. In reality, there are small rock ledges along the sides. Nothing scary (still wouldn’t want to get the boat close to them). It is recommended that you go through at low tide so you can see the rocks – which we did.

"The Rock Pile"

After that, I could breathe freely and enjoy the ride. Bob does most of the steering but I can take over when he goes below. It’s a big boat when you are up on the bridge.

The rest of today’s journey was very picturesque with big, medium and small houses along the route. Nearly all the homes have their own boat dock and many have pools.

I call these two "Waterway Upper Class"

These I have dubbed "Waterway Middle Class" - notice the slide on the boat dock :)

This is the "lower class" - still a lot of these have their own boat dock. We probably couldn't afford even one of these :). Love having our own "waterfront property" that moves with us!

We are anchored tonight in a quiet oxbow – the old course of the river before it cut a new path. There is only one other boat sharing it with us. The birds were so noisy settling down for the night. I sat outside on the deck for a while this afternoon reading and stitching. It was so sunny and warm. Won’t see many days this pretty at this time of year so I really enjoyed it.