South Carolina

We are now in South Carolina. I left Georgia on my own after the windlass replacement was complete. Had to wait an extra week because they ordered/sent the wrong one. While we were there we also had them weld a pole onto our stern arch so we could attach our new wind generator.

Leaving Thunderbolt was fine except it was very shallow in two spots. I got stuck in the middle of the channel a couple of miles before Causton Bluff Bridge. Three minutes aground but it was soft and the tide was rising. Approaching the bascule bridge I touched a couple more times but did not get stuck. A couple of miles later I was passed by a very large powerboat that sped up after I slowed to let him pass. Idiot! He threw a huge wake a nearly killed a nearby canoeist.

Crossing the Savannah River brought me to South Carolina. The air was suddenly like perfume. No, really. I couldn't figure out what it was. I assumed it was the brush along the backs of the ICW. After a few miles the scent went away as the shore was back to the normal marsh/grass.

When I tied up to a marina at Hilton Head I smelled the perfume again. Turns out it was a flowering bush that it plentiful in the area. Cut off some and put in in a vase in the main cabin.

Carol returned from working and together we headed to Beaufort, SC. This is the Beaufort that is pronounced Byou-fert. The Beaufort in NORTH Carolina is pronounced Bo-fort.

We spent the day in town and then went to anchor in nearby Factory Creek, Lady's Island. Nice spot. Boat launch dock nearby as well as grocery, hardware and other stores. Homeowners along the shore were friendly, too. The marina had friendly staff that offered us the code for the showers for free. They also had unfriendly staff that told us the fee was $10 per use. Needless to say, we stopped going after one use.

Carol is working in NYC and visiting Heather and then will spend a weekend in Wallingford checking out the house. On her return we will spend a month pushing home and should be in Conn. by mid May.

See you then!

Maybe

Aground (again) and more

We continued our cruise up the Frederica River to get back to the ICW. Pretty. It used to be a section of the ICW sometime in the past. Pretty deep also. As we got to the intersection with the ICW 'someone' said, "Go to the port side." Then: crunch, crunch, crunch, shudder. We are stopped. 'Someone' says, "Maybe not to port."

Stuck good.

We waited for Tow-Boat/US for an hour but we got off the shoal ourselves and continued on. Can't wait until we see the bottom of the boat.

Our next stopped was Walburg Creek. Another shortcut off the ICW that is shallow at the entrance but deep inside. It's a wide area for anchoring but has shallow enough spots. There is a forest of dead trees nearby but we didn't go to see them. There are also tons of gnats. Georgia gnats are pretty awful. The birds, however, are varied and interesting. Beautiful songs. There was also a large animal making deep, loud sounds ashore. I thought it sounded like a moose or panther but in the morning I decided it sounded more like a donkey or mule. Our exit from this creek was uneventful. Crossing the sounds of Georgia exposes you to the ocean but conditions were mostly benign.

Our next stop was Taylor Creek in the suburbs of Savannah. When we went to anchor, the windlass would not let the anchor and chain lower. Oh, crap. After a struggle we decided to go to a nearby marina. Simple and basic. The manager's name was Bubba. I think I heard a couple of banjos playing in the background. You cannot make this up.

It did have some stores, restaurants and fuel nearby so it wasn't a bad spot. Two nights. A mechanic came by but couldn't even attempt to make a repair or diagnosis. He recommended going to Thunderbolt Marina. It's a mile or so closer to Savannah in, wait for it... Thunderbolt, GA.

They were able to make a diagnosis on our windlass and give us some options. Verdict? More than $3000 to replace. Ouch. So... stuck here a while. No anchor equals no cruising.

I was able to negotiate the docking fee down 80 cents per foot per day but again, they are getting more than $3K plus $44 a day plus any other repairs or upgrades we have them do. The price does include the USA Today and half a dozen Krispy-Kreme donuts every day. What a bargain.

After the first day we started giving back the donuts.

Geogia on my mind

We crossed into Georgia today. The last two days were pretty breezy but today was rougher due to more open areas. Fewer trees in Georgia. But to make up for it there are lot more flies.We had some trouble finding a calm spot to anchor. Found some trees well up the Frederica River.

We saw some of the wild horses that are on Cumberland Island. They are beautiful.

Last night was a noisy one on a mooring in Fernandia Beach. It was windy and the current kept us banging into the mooring

We spent two nights before that in St Augustine again. Dinner ashore and watching women's BB. What could be better?

There is not much water in the Georgia ICW but the tides are 6-8 feet. This means we are likely to get through, We leave tomorrow (25th) at low water so we'll see.


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19 March

Carol is back on the boat after an 'emergency' trip to Las Vegas. Emergency? Fancy restaurants? Gambling? This is work?

We had a last dinner with our old friends, Mike & Carol, and some new friends, Mike & Sandy. Then one last stop at the Saturday Fort Pierce Farmer's Market and we're underway, northbound. Sunny and warm. That's not news. It's been the weather for more than a month except for one or two days of scattered showers. We're hoping we do not get ahead of the nice weather as we head north into spring.

Next long stop will be in the Hilton Head area if all goes as planned. One or two shorter stops along the way, perhaps.

Good luck and congrats to Mike and Carol's son on his wedding day.

New composting head working as advertised so far. No odor. No hold tank or valves. Nothing to clog. Highly recommended.

Where did February go?

It's 27 Feb and we're anchored in the Palm Beach area again. Carol gets off the boat tomorrow to work again. I'll move the boat myself a little farther north. If it all works out.

Interesting trip getting to here. From Cape Coral to Marco Island we discovered an oil leak in the port engine. Got into Marco okay (nice anchorage) but recommended mechanics did not call us back in a timely manner and we moved on on one engine. We made it to Little Shark River in the Everglades on the west coast of very southern Florida. Talk about isolated! No cell service!!!! Beautiful!

From there we felt our way souther into very shallow water and banks of Florida Bay. We were able to motorsail part of the way the last two days but once we were in the Keys again that was all over.

We made our own anchorage near the entrance to Cowpens Cut. Somewhat close to the Cotten Key basin.

Then it was back to Dinner Key Marina at Coconut Grove, Miami. We had the mechanic we used in December come out, order parts and schedule a repair date. More $$$ spent. Then we went to a boat show and spent WAY more $$$.

We went over to No Name Harbor for two nights. This is at Baggs Park on Key Biscayne. Beautiful spot. A near perfect anchorage except it was a holiday weekend and crowded with noisy daytrippers.

We went back to Dinner Key and had the engine repair completed. Not outrageous... For boating.

On to Ft Lauderdale and Lake Sylvia. We like this spot and spent two nights with sightseeing by bikes.

Next port was Lake Boca Raton. A very highend place but a surprizingly nice anchorage with a park we could go to to walk to a Starbuck's to watch the UConn game on the laptop. The swimming here was stunning. Chrystal clear water. Much nicer the the Palm area.

As we get into March we really have to get started north :>((

Breaking Free

Finally!

Free of the canal at my aunt's Cape Coral home.

They have a wierd tide cycle here. When we arrived there were 4 high tides in a 24 hour cycle: 2 highs and 2 higher highs. Now there is only 1 high tide in a 24 hour cycle and of course it was at 2200. The water is also a good 18 inches to 2 feet lower than when we arrived. We have been stuck in the mud for days. It took us 4 hours and some towing to get free of the mud and head out to the bay. Well after dark before we anchored. When light comes we'll see if it was good spot.

At the moment it must be a good spot because we can't see any danger. If course, we can't see much of anything.

Another adventure.

You know how I feel about adventures.

Tomorrow we hope to start heading south towards home.

Okay, okay... Home is north but south comes first when you're on the west coast of Florida.

Cape Coral

We are now at my Aunt and Uncle's home in Cape Coral, FL. We sailed here on an overnight from Marathon. About a 24 hour passage, 125nm. During the night the breeze picked up and we had a good sail for the latter part of the passage.

We anchored off of Cape Coral and took the dinghy up the canal my aunt's home is on. Their neighbors were very happy to help out and let us come into the canal with the boat and tie up in front of all the houses and partially block the canal. We turned the boat around in a 50 foot spot and eventually tied up to a small sailboat and with lines to the walls.

We've been visiting with the family and touring the area by bike and car. We walk around the end of the canal from our boat to the back door of their home. Unfortunately we have been returning back to the boat after dinner or socializing when it is quite dark. On one of these return walks I didn't quite follow the dock walkway and found that gravity works quite well. I was swimming under water before I had any idea what was happening. Cold but not shocking. A couple of strokes and I was at the ladder and out of the water once Carol figured out how to lower the ladder. Damages: pride, ego. cell phone and slightly strained knee.

There is a possibility a few extra glasses of wine may have contributed to this adventure.

One of the cuter things seen here are the burrowing owls found in many neighborhoods. The nests must be marked to avoid disturbing them so it makes it easy to find them once you know what the markers look like. You can get quite close to them without upsetting them and they are very curious about people as long as you don't get much closer than 6 feet.

Carol goes off soon for a two-week swing through Texas, California and Minnesota. After that we start back down the west coast of Florida then up the east coast towards our homeport. Start is the key word. We'll slowly follow the warmth as it moves north. Some people in Conn are not sure that's ever going happen. Save some snow for us. Oh, never mind.