Charleston

     Here we are in Charleston again. This is a nice place to be. The anchorage isn't too great but there's access to shore and the town is just a short bike ride away. Lots of shops and restaurants and it's really a pretty town. It's also a spot Carol can fly out of for work. We've been here more than a week with nearly two more to go. Eating our way through some of the restaurants, cupcake shops, donut shops and more!

     We left Great Bridge more than two weeks ago and skipped by Coinjock. We anchored just outside Broad Creek off North River a little short of Albemarle Sound after just squeaking under the Pungo Ferry fixed bridge. Water levels were very high due to the wind direction for the last 3 or 4 days. Closest clearance since we've been going up and down the ICW (all three trips). The fixed bridge near Great Bridge was pretty close, too.

     Crossing Albemarle Sound wasn't too bad because it was fairly early in the day. Able to sail, well motorsail, part way. It got a little choppy on the south side but not as bad as it can get. We ended up at Belhaven but didn't go ashore. It was pretty late after a 10 hour day. The next day we were in Adams Creek again. Our usual spot. Strange to say we have a usual spot in only our second year.

     From Adams Creek we went by Beaufort (Bo-fert) and went all the way to Mile Hammock, a USMC basin. There's been some dredging before this spot and where we went aground earlier this year was deeper this time. YAY!!!! We also had a number of Harrier passes as they do their practice STOL, short takeoff and landings, very close to the ICW. Very neat, and loud. There were also a number of nearby explosions. Marines playing with their toys.

     Our next stop was Wrightsville Beach. It would have been a short day but our total bridge waiting time was more than 1 3/4 hours. Yuck. Boring. Then we went to Calabash Creek right near the NC - SC border. Another repeat anchorage as was Cow House Creek the next night.

     Our next stop was a new one to us, Dewee's Creek. It's just a few miles from Charleston but a 10 hour, 71 mile day is long enough. It's also very windy and the next passage to Charleston was rough also, with a foggy crossing of Charleston Harbor. Not a fun day but it was only 3 hours long.

     As I write this I'm at the City Marina. Just for one night so we could have our new refrigerator delivered. Hopefully Carol has learned how not to put a hole in this one.

     Another expensive mistake to add to the list we've both created.