Sunday, May 5, 2013 – Myrtle Beach Yacht Club (Also Cinco de Mayo for all you Cinco de Mayo party-goers out there):

            Yes, we are still here as opposed to going through the “trouble areas” on our way north as we had thoughts of doing yesterday.

            It must have been the Derby party we attended that made us come to our senses or perhaps the wine that we imbibed along with cheering on the horses or maybe the loud music the band played until 11:00 at night that kept us from getting a full eight hours restful sleep so we would be able to tackle the shallow, shoaling areas where I would have to hold my breath as we attempted to cross them.

            The Derby party was fun to attend although our only bit of participating was to clap for the best hat contest.  I didn’t feel right about entering the contest as the restaurant had given me my hat!  As it was rather on the chilly side, the festivities were all held inside so the indoor dining room was packed.  They had lots of TVs on the walls so everyone had a good view of the race, and since they offered some friendly “betting” everyone was cheering on their favorite horse.  Actually, it was so loud Bob and I couldn’t hear each other talk, which maybe after eight months on a boat might have been a good thing!  (Just kidding!)

A few of the party-goers

Me with my hat - but I don't think it improves my appearance!

                  So after our dinner we listened to the band (a guy playing a guitar) for a couple of songs and then headed back to the boat.  I think things heated up after awhile because the music got louder as the night wore on, and the people got (if this is possible) more boisterous.

            I think we were really sort of tired – we had had a couple of really long days and in some really nasty weather, and Bob said that he would see how he felt about leaving in the morning.  We would have had to leave at 6:30 a.m. to have the tides in our favor at the troubling inlets, and that is very, very early.  Also when the boat next to you says he isn’t planning on leaving because of the tides and the wind that gives you some reasonable excuse to hang around for another day.

            The weather today called for rain with SE winds 15 – 20 with gusts of 30 so after listening to rain in the middle of the night, we decided to sleep in.   And in a fit of complete depression about the weather, I made pancakes for breakfast much to Bob’s utter joy and delight.

            I guess Missy Mouser must have thought we were going to start up the engines and move along because she headed for the covers right after her breakfast, and we didn’t hear or see a peep out of her the whole day until 4:30 p.m.  Then she decided to honor us with her presence and demand a meal.

            The weather forecast for tomorrow is – get this – 100% rain, but the winds are supposed to be 15 – 20 knots out of the SE which is relatively acceptable for going up the Cape Fear River (only the wind direction – not the velocity!).  In addition the tides will be a “little” better at the inlets.  So Bob says we have to leave here tomorrow by 7:00 a.m.  Yikes!  Oh well, if we make it through tomorrow, we’ll be a little closer to home!  Today, we had a little rain, but then the sun came out for a few minutes just enough to tease us until the winds started howling again!!  I am not kidding!

            We have friends who are north and south of us right now, and none of them are having any better weather!  We’ve all been out in rough weather plenty of times, but I am hearing new stories from some of our friends about being a little on the nervous side as they have tackled driving through some of this stuff.  I can only tell everyone not to go into Winyah Bay under the conditions we went through the other day!  You won’t be happy!

            There is a Cinco de Mayo party up at the restaurant tonight, but I think we will pass and eat leftover spaghetti in preparation for an early start tomorrow!  Wish us luck!