Century Club: Mick Meckler

Leg 22A - Jekyll Harbor to Plum Orchard

We finished up visiting sights at Jekyll Island and decided to depart one day early. Also, a storm is predicted for this weekend and we wanted to get in good hiking weather when we could. So, because high tide was after noon we took our time getting ready to go. With a final pump out we were on our way out of Jekyll River. It was a simple departure and soon we were out in St Andrew Sound, out almost into the ocean, and then turned back inland to Cumberland River. It looks like we went out of our way until you realize the area has many shoals. So, no drama as we entered Cumberland River and followed it all the way to Brickhill River (southern entrance). Once there, we turned up the river and went about ½ mile to drop the anchor. The winds were strong, as was the current, but we snagged the bottom first try, deployed Bobbie, and backed down on the anchor to set it firmly as strong winds are predicted for tonight and tomorrow. With that done we started talking about our procedures to deploy the dinghy. It had been a while so we made sure we both understood what we needed to do as it was still quite windy. All went well and soon I was rowing myself to the dinghy docks to check out the sights. There is a historic house we want to tour tomorrow so I got the hours as well as the envelop to collect our entrance fee. I met a bunch of folks who were out hiking for the week on the island. They enjoyed the tour and pointed out some areas for us to hike tomorrow. I returned to the boat and after securing the dinghy we sat back for cocktails and appetizers. A dinghy with boaters from the catamaran north of us stopped by to say hi as they were on their way to get a closer look at the grazing wild horses. Sue identified 3 new birds today -  Wood Storks, Forester Terns, and Night Herons – her bird book is very handy for sure. Dinner was left overs with grilled hot dogs for me and salmon for Sue. Temperatures outside right now are in the high 60’s and in the low 70’s indoors so it is very comfortable. Tomorrow we will pack lunch and row into the dinghy dock to tour the house and hike looking for more wildlife – especially armadillos. So, boaters midnight soon.

Tomorrow we will be at anchor but plan to head to the southern part of the Island Thursday. Here is the original plan for leg 22 though.

Leg 22A Exploring  Plum Orchard on Cumberland Island

It was a calm night after a successful day of travel and anchoring. The sun was hiding a bit in the early morning as we had a simple breakfast. It was finally warming up with temperatures in the low 70’s already. We readied the dinghy for departure and got underway much too early but I was anxious not to be late for the 11 am showing of the Carnegie House – named Plum Orchard (the guide said there was no orchard but the area was called that before the house was built so they called it that anyway). So, we were there at 10:15 and walked around the quiet property until the showing. The tour was quite splendid as we were the only people and I could ask the silly questions I ask. This house was a honeymoon cottage gift to George and Margret Carnegie one of the children of the wife and husband (Lucy and Thomas Carnegie) of the brother of Andrew Carnegie and passed down through time. At one point Lucy owned about 90% of the island. She gave a house to each of her children but not the land so they could never sell it. Eventually as time wore on decendents were allowed to sell and started selling to pay for upkeep. Then in the early 70’s many of them got together and decided to donate their property to the National Park Service who now owns the entire island and runs it as a national park. It cost a whopping 10$ per person for a 7 day pass. There are a lot of nature things to do – quite a wonderful place. After the almost 90 minute tour we sat under a 200 year old live oak on a picnic table and had lunch. We watched as a small herd of horses grazed across the way towards the river. Then we took an inspiring walk in a canopy of moss draped live oak, long needle pine, and palm trees.  Quietly walking Sue spotted our first armadillo. I tired to get a picture but alas, he was too far away. Maybe tomorrow. Then we rowed back to The Office in the dinghy cubicle to relax in the warm 78 degree sun with a gentle breeze blowing. Dinner tonight will be grilled filets, egg noodles, green beans, and a salad. 

Tomorrow we will get up early to head down to the southern part of the island and visit Dungeness, the main house for Lucy and Thomas. We were told we should be able to see many more wild horses, armadillos, deer, turkey vultures and humans.

Leg 22B Move to the southern part of the island

Another calm night and we awoke to nice temperatures again. We had a calm breakfast as we needed to wait for the tide to start coming back in before we headed out for our short trip to the southern part of the island. This meant we had to come close to the Navy Sub base where we had a nice coast guard escort to be sure we didn’t try anything funny. We headed into the river and past the first park dock landing and then past the second. I wanted to see what the third one looked like but it turned out to be a private dock. So, we headed into the current, found the perfect spot, and dropped the anchor. At first it didn’t stick but we persisted and got a good dig into the bottom – which this time is supposed to be sand. We cleaned up from that exercise and had some lunch before deploying the engine onto the dinghy. We reviewed our procedures a few times since it had been a while since we did this. But, all came back quickly and the engine was on the dinghy ready to go. We got our lift jackets, water bottles and snacks, and hiking shoes and jumped into the dinghy (well, not jump). Before we cast off the lines I wanted to get the engine going as it hadn’t run since the fall. I told Sue to be prepared for a lot of cursing, just in case. Well, to my amazement, it started on the 3rd pull and we cast off the lines and headed to the National Park Service docks. We had a successful docking there and tied Cubical up tightly and walked to the rangers office. We got some guidance on where to go and headed off towards the beach. The trails are very nice, easy to walk, and nicely marked. We made it to the beach, removed our shoes, and strolled down to the gentle waves rolling ashore. While the water wasn’t warm, it certainly wasn’t horribly cold either. Then we walked back up to some dry sand, sat down and had a nice mid afternoon snack and water. Sue then went off to look for shells and I studied the inside of my eyelids enjoying the warm sun upon my face. After a bit we headed back to the landing and on the way saw another armadillo, this time we got some good pictures and a nice video clip. Then back to the dinghy for a ride to check out the other dock before heading back to the office. Dinner was grilled port, rice and squash in tomato sauce. With all the fresh air and hiking about boaters midnight will be very soon.

Tomorrow we will dinghy down to the other dock and check out the sights there.

Leg 22B Explore the southern part of the island

After a full breakfast of bacon and eggs Sue made our picnic lunch and we jumped into the dinghy for a short trip to the Dungeness dock.  These are the docks to the southern part of the park with lots to see. We tied the dinghy and went ashore for today’s adventure. After visiting the old ice house, now a museum, and the captains lodge, we headed off on the trail to visit the ruins of the second mansion on the site – Dungeness. There is an interesting history of the island starting with the European founder, James Oglethorpe, until the time Lucy Carnegie bought most of the island. Check out the National Parks site to learn more. After walking around the mansion site and many of its outbuildings (one that housed a squash court, swimming pool, and other athletic facilities), we headed out to visit the family grave plot before taking the long walk through the marsh lands and finally onto the beach. We once again waded in the refreshingly cool water and sat on the warm sand soaking in the bright sun before hiking back through the beautiful live oak trees. This is touted as the largest live oak forest in the US and is certainly breathtaking at every turn along the way. We sat eating lunch at a picnic table when two wild horses walked up to check us out. Seeing as we were stingy and not going to share our lunch with them they trotted away. We also saw multiple armadillos through out the day and I actually walked to within 2 feet of one while he was snorting through the grass looking for bugs. And we finally were treated to a rafter of wild turkeys. And, yes, we did run into the obnoxious animal called humankind. Boy are they a noisy bunch, running and screaming splashing and jumping in the water. We stayed our distance as one never knows what will happen with them. We were quite tired after our 3 mile hike out and back but thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Once back to the docks we waited until the ferry departed taking the masses with them and leaving us to a tranquil site once again. It was a quick dinghy ride back to The Office. We cleaned up a bit and had drinks and appetizers to chill in the late evening sun and finally descended below after a peaceful sunset. Dinner was grilled shrimp, southern style spinach, and rice. Then, we cleaned up the dishes, listened to music for a bit and, of course, boaters midnight. Cumberland Island is well worth the trip.

Leg 22B - Relaxing in Cumberland Island

It was another calm night at anchorage pivoting on our anchor chain with the changing of the tides. I made pancakes and sausage for breakfast to prepare us for a relaxing day doing boat chores before lunch. Then after lunch we took an 8 mile dinghy ride around the sound exploring areas not accessible by foot. Then we recovered the engine and the dinghy, preparing us for our travels tomorrow. The rest of the afternoon was just enjoying the sun and cool breezes listening to Spotify. Really, we didn’t do much of anything. And that is a good thing. Dinner is grilled salmon, spinach (leftovers) and egg noodles. Pudding for desert! While Cumberland Island is absolutely wonderful and anchoring out has been extremely enjoyable, it will be good to be on the go again tomorrow. But, an entire day devoted to relaxing is just super.

Tomorrow we head south to Fernandina Beach after a relaxing breakfast since we don’t have far to go.

Days: 5     Days to date: 15

Miles 27.1     Miles to date: 245.5

Leg 12 - Cooper River Marina to Steamboat Creek. 

Ok, finally underway on our phase II journey of the ICW. Up around 7 for a quick breakfast and then final preparations in the cockpit etc. Headphones donned, we pulled out of the slip and then backed right into the day dock where the pump out apparatus is located. The guys from the marina helped empty the tanks and then we were on our way. It was a gentle departure in an incoming tide. There was little to no wind with temperatures in the high 40’s low 50’s on a cloudy gray day. We were taking our time as I was retrieving and stowing the fenders when I realized the bridge only opens on the ½ hour and not on demand. So, we went full throttle and made it just in time. Actually there was a barge coming north and we let him go first which gave us additional time to arrive before they had to close the bridge. Finally through the bridge, we quickly came upon the next challenge – Elliot’s Cut – a narrow area with rocks on the banks. It is recommended to radio your arrival in case there are boats coming from the opposite direction. We did that and met no one. So, we sat back and enjoyed the beauty of the Low Country of South Carolina. We saw many dolphins and Great Egrets, Brown Pelicans, and some Osprey. We were making great time as we were going with the current so I slowed the engine.  As we came upon the planned anchorage we decided it wasn’t a good place so we opted to one of the alternatives  – Steamboat Creek. Sue took us down to the bottom near the dinghy dock and we dropped the hook in 24 feet (high tide at the time). Travel time for the day was about 5:35 as we traveled 32.2 nautical miles. It was a great first day. Dinner is planned to be prosciutto and chicken tortellini along with a fresh salad. Early to bed as temperatures are to go into the low 40’s.

Tomorrow we get up early and head to the mooring field outside of Beaufort SC. Then the next day we will have a short ride to the marina and then enjoy the town for the afternoon and evening. We need to get to the bridge no later than 3PM as they stop opening for rush hour traffic. If we don’t get there by then we have to wait until 6 PM.

Leg 13 - Beaufort Mooring Field

We were up to a very cold morning at 6 to get our day started. I got the coffee percolating as well as fired up buddy – our propane indoor heater to get the temps into the mid 50’s. After breakfast Sue started making lunch (sandwiches and snacks) as I prepared the anchor retrieval process – pulling in the chain to gather the bridle and the anchor trip line. Finally, with the anchor retrieved and cleaned we headed out of Steamboat Creek. This was an exceptional stop and so much better than my original plan. Since we left before low tide there were many areas I was concerned about. We did manage to get through them all with the lowest water level of about 6’ so I relaxed a bit. I was much more comfortable yesterday when we left after low tide and all the places with shallow water warnings we hit in a rising tide mid tide or at high tide. But, even though we were lucky most of the time I decided not to chance it going through the Ashepoo Coosaw cut off. These are two cut offs with reported 4’ of water at MLLW. So we instead took a left turn and headed south out of Fenwick Cut (which had 12’ of water the entire way trough). While it was further to travel we could go faster and not stress over water levels. While heading up the Coosaw River the wind picked up a bit and I deployed the Genoa – for at least 2 hours. That was great as it helped us go a little faster. It gave us the opportunity to possibly make the 1 pm opening of the Lady’s Island bridge so we scurried as fast as we could and arrived just in time. Once past the bridge Sue took the wheel and drove to the mooring field where we were picking up the mooring ball. It took 2 tries as I was unable to snag the painter line on the first attempt. We tried another ball and snagged it first try and then I slipped my line through and tied up. Sue did a great job driving against 3 knots of current and 10 knots of wind. We cleaned up after the day’s travels and then relaxed. I had a celebratory beer warming in the sun drenched cockpit (someone said I was snoring) while Sue read down below. Dinner tonight will be grilled chicken (Sue) and hamburger (me) along with seasoned green beans and stroganoff noodles. Oh, and don’t forget Klondike bars for desert. I suspect early to bed as it was a long day. Also, while it is a bit warmer than yesterday, the temperatures are supposed to get into the 40’ again tonight.  Numbers for today are – Miles traveled 40.2 in 6 hours and 33 minutes.

Tomorrow we will sleep in a bit, have a nice warm breakfast of eggs and bacon and motor to the marina where we will pull into a slip and have lunch with an old colleague and then explore Beaufort.

Leg 14 - Beaufort Safe Harbor Marina

It was quite chilly when we awoke this morning so I opened the curtains to allow the sun to warm up the cabin. I then started the coffee and our buddy heater as I started breakfast of bacon and eggs. Afterwards the marina contacted me saying they were ready when we were so I quickly readied the cockpit and checked on the mooring. I released both lines and we were floating freely in the current away from the ball as I walked back to engage the engine and head to the marina. After a soft docking we tied up and settled up with the marina. Then we cleaned up and readied ourselves for Barb and Mike – friends of ours from back home, many years ago – who moved down to this area. We had a lovely lunch as we caught up from the many years apart and then afterwards they drove us to their beautiful golf neighborhood and fabulous home. Late afternoon the returned us to the center of Beaufort where we arranged for a buggy tour of the historic town of Beaufort. It was extremely interesting to see the old homes along with the many stories he had to tell. Finally we had dinner at a local tavern – which was absolutely delicious and then headed back to The Office. Now we need to rest up in our warm boat as we plan for our anchorage tomorrow in Bull Creek. It should be a shorter trip and we will be able to meander slowly across the Port Royal River. Numbers for today - .5 miles and 12 minutes.

Leg 15 - Bull Creek Anchorage

We took our time getting ready for departure enjoying the quiet town of Beaufort. Finally I topped off the center water tank and Josh from the marina emptied our holding tanks. Once complete we pulled away and slowly headed down the  Beaufort River. We passed Parris Island and then into the Port Royal Bay where I decided to raise the sails. The winds were from the SSE about 9-10 knots so we sailed up the river on a beam / broad reach until we arrived at Skull Creek / Hilton Head Island. I dropped the sails and we slowly meandered through grand homes to the port and lush marsh to starboard. The water was plenty deep, as long as you don’t stray from the line – which, if you are looking at all the sights is easy to do. We passed the marina we will be staying at tomorrow and headed to Bull Creek. I prepared the anchor as Sue steered us to the spot I marked on the chart. I adjusted the anchor trip line so that the float (bobby) would highlight the position of the anchor. I deployed the anchor and tossed bobby. The anchor felt like it caught so I paid out 120’ of chain. When I looked up, bobby was floating horizontally as opposed to vertically. Well, after going through the many scenarios as to the cause of bobby floating on its side we looked up and it had floated across the creek, almost into the marsh grasses, and that’s when we figured out it had come untied from the line. So, we raised the anchor and motored to within 10’ of the marsh risking running aground, to save a $30 float. Kind of silly but it was successful as Sue reached out with the boat hook and grabbed the float. I retied the float – this time correctly, and we anchored all over again. Other than that excitement, it was a relaxing motor / sail in sometimes sunny weather. Dinner tonight is grilled pork chops, brown rice and zucchini in Italian style tomato sauce. Cookies for desert. Temps should only do down to the low 50’s tonight so we are looking for a pleasant evening on the hook. Oh, the numbers, 25.8 miles and 4 hours 32 minutes.

Tomorrow we back track to the marina, Palmetto Bay Marina. 

Leg 16 - Palmetto Bay Marina Hilton Head

Even with strong currents and vast tide differentials it was a very calm night on the hook in Bull Creek. I was up as the sun peeked into the windows past the drawn curtains. I quietly (well, as quiet as I can be) moved to the saloon to open all the curtains to help warm up the area as I made the coffee. Of course I fired up Buddy, our propane heater, and soon it was habitable. We had a leisurely breakfast and were underway by 10:30. The anchor was caked with mud and shells and took a while to clean but eventually we turned around and slowly headed to the marina. We motored slowly as we didn’t want to get to the marina too soon. In season, check in time is 1:00 but since they aren’t busy they let us come early. We pulled alongside the pier starboard side to at the fuel dock to top off the fuel tank and then moved forward to our slip for the weekend. We plugged in and turned the heat on, cleaned up and got ready to explore the island. But first we stopped by a nearby restaurant for another breakfast / brunch. Afterwards friends we met on the trip down last fall, Pete and Denise, drove over and picked us up for a tour of the island, their boat, and just great conversation. They are keeping their boat here for the winter and are quite versed in the local areas. We took a walk on the beautiful expansive beach in the center of the town and then walked through their marina – hopefully I will stay there on the way back north. Then after touring their Monk 36 trawler (and getting jealous of their room and amenities) and enjoying sharing stories we headed out to dinner in the area around their marina. The food was great, atmosphere on the heated ‘outdoor space’ superb, and continued conversation very enjoyable. Then they drove us back to our marina and we turned in for the night.

Today, Sunday, they have offered to come over and help us top off fresh items and anything we need at a store. Which, is very nice as without a car, the task is more challenging.

Tomorrow we need to get an early start to take advantage of high tide in the many areas of shallow water warnings. The weather is also turning cold for a day or two and this stretch we are anchoring out for 5 nights straight.

Trip 1 is complete. 5 Days     5 days to date. 104 miles    104 miles to date

11/08/2021 Monday Leg 7 - Beaufort to Harbor Village Marina in Hampstead NC

The weather is getting better, so it will be an early 6:30 departure to get to our next location before sunset – 66 nautical miles. We will now once again experience the lunar tides as well as the varied current from the inlets. Naturally, this creates unmarked shoals. This should prove to be a bit more challenging than what we have been through so far. The winds have died down considerably but still are in the low teens with gusting to the upper 20’s. Of course it probably will gust to 30+ when trying to leave the narrow slip and the shifting channel out of here. Here is our planned route to Harbor Village Marina.

Today’s adventure started early, with a 6:05 departure. Wind was from the NW which made for a somewhat easy departure out of the slip and then out of the marina. We motored about in a circle waiting for Marty to get underway – around 6:20. It was quite chilly, in the high 40’s and the wind was blowing 15-20 knots so we were bundled up with many layers. But, the sun was coming out and that made all the difference. We motored out of Beaufort and into Morehead City and down the ICW. All was progressing nicely as Sue was admiring the many homes along the waterfront and, even more importantly, seeing more animals and birds. We saw quite a few dolphin and even some deer in the wilderness. About half way, Marty heard something about the Onslow Swing bridge on the VHF radio. Apparently, it was closed as they were trying to repair it. It had a tentative repair time of 3 PM. That would put us late into the next marina (as well as everyone else going down) so I called and explained what was going on. We all decided to anchor in the ICW above the bridge awaiting the repairs. Not a problem. Well, it was for me. I went up to prepare the anchor and for some reason the windlass decided not to work anymore. I removed the chain from the windlass and deployed the anchor manually. Then I tied it off with the snubber line to the cleat. Not too much work. We then relaxed a bit and had lunch in the warm sun of the cockpit. The bridge radioed to everyone that they got it fixed early so we were to weigh anchor and get moving. That was the hard part – ugh, why did I purchase the extra heavy anchor? I finally manually retrieved the anchor and Sue quickly accelerated to get through the bridge opening. Since we will be staying in marinas the rest of the trip, this won’t be an issue. Well, the rest of the day went well. We learned to navigate the different currents at the inlets, some very strong, and stay in the ICW channel. We got to the marina by 5:00 and docked successfully in very nice floating docks. Then we had drinks and appetizers on Marty’s boat and then went back to our boat for dinner. Early to bed as we are tired after a 10 hour motoring day with added anchoring challenges. Tuesday should only be between 6 and 7 hours, so that is good.

11/09/2021 Tuesday Leg 8 - Harbour Village Marina to Southport Marina in Southport NC

Tuesday we are headed to Southport Marina in Southport which is about 42 miles meaning it should be between 6 and 7 hours. We expect similar challenges along the way that we experienced on Monday as we are continuing down a similar path.

Today, Tuesday, was a very pleasant day. I was up early to make coffee and get a quick breakfast so that we could get underway by 8 am. Departure was easy, as I pulled out of the slip and back into the ICW. The sun was warm and the air still a bit brisk so we wore multiple layers. These would be shed once the day wore on. We were enjoying the nature as well as the vast array of architecture displayed in the houses on the water banks. We arrived at the first bridge and requested the opening which was on the ½ hour. All went well and we passed through. The next bridge was 5 miles away but only opened on the hour. At first we tried to get there, but quickly realized that it was not worth the effort so we just slowed down and enjoyed the pretty environment. We were becoming quite used to the many changes of the currents as we motored past the openings to the ocean. One minute you are running with the tide zooming along at 8 knots and the next you are chugging along against the current at 5 knots. We hit a strong current as we were entering the Cape Fear River. We finally made it to our marina and docked on the outside. Tomorrow we will just peel away from the dock and keep on going. After cleaning up, we headed to dinner in the marina’s Josephs Italian Bistro and then back to The Office for some light reading and boater’s midnight.

11/10/2021 Wednesday Leg 9 - Southport Marina to Grande Dunes

Wednesday is a continuation of the same as we travel from Southport Marina to Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach SC 43 miles 6 hours 36 minutes.

Well, Wednesdays trip was just great. We left a little past sunrise in cool air and calm waters. The current hadn’t picked up as much as we anticipated so it was an easy departure. We got back into the groove of staying in the middle of the waterway and/or following  the Bob423 line. This is from a sailor who has made the trip for over multiple years and he shares his track information. We find it comforting to know that we have this to follow along. It has been very accurate so far and only a few places have shoaled up to change our course – and those areas have buoys to direct you. There have been very few issues with water level due to the passing storms and king tide. We have had some challenges with the current though. At each inlet to the ocean you are generally fighting the current and then it gets squirrely in the area that meets with the inlet and then you have strong currents to push you along. One minute you are running high RPMs and just barely moving and the next you have low RPMs and are flying along. The current is so strong sometimes it would push you sideways. But, other than those, it was a simple day. We had 2 swing bridges today but both opened on demand so timing wasn’t an issue. Sue identified a new bird and was enjoying her new bird book to verify. We also saw turtles sunning on logs on the side of the waterway. No dolphins today but we did enjoy the various fowl life on the shorelines. We finally arrived at the Myrtle beach area and noticed the different sights and sounds on the ICW versus the I-95 road trip to our yearly vacation spot in North Litchfield, SC. It was 74 degrees so Sue suggested that I wash the boat – so I did. We then had appetizers with Marty and Stephanie followed by a dinner of reheated left overs.

11/11/2021 Thursday Leg 10 - Grande Dunes Marina to Georgetown, SC

Thursday should be a great day as we will be meeting up with the Waccamaw River and motoring past many of the areas we visited during our annual summer trip to North Litchfield Beach. We are both excited to get up early and head to Georgetown SC.  40.6 miles 8 hours

We awoke early for a 7:00 AM departure. The weather was brisk with the temperature in the high 50’s. So we layered up and I sprung off of my stern line to get off the wall and then headed out into the ICW. A sailor friend told me that what we were seeing in this section of the ICW was to be the best along the entire ICW. We were greeted with fall colored bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. Of course the herons were dotted along the coastline and the pelicans greeted us when we arrived in the Winyah Bay. We saw turtles again sunbathing on logs and interesting scenery along the way. This area is special to us as we vacationed on the beach side for many years. We had previously taken a Waccamaw River cruise and learned about the history of the rice and Indigo plantations. We motored past Brookgreen Gardens from which we gazed at the river many years before. We passed many places which could be a very nice anchorage – something to plan for as we return. As the day wore on, we removed layers until we arrived in Georgetown where the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees. When we arrived in Georgetown we were able to walk one block into town and experience their Veteran’s Day Parade. After that we walked around the town and came back to the boat for a nap and then out to dinner. Georgetown is a town that seems to be coming back to life as there were many more restaurants and shops than we remembered. Dinner was at our favorite restaurant, River Room. This was a good-by dinner with Marty and Stephanie as we would separate tomorrow. They needed to get to Charleston earlier. The second day in Georgetown we relaxed on board, I vacuumed and cleaned the inside as Sue used the marina’s laundry facilities. We found an authentic southern restaurant downtown, Soco Grille, walked around a bit, and then called it a day.

11/13/2021 Saturday Leg 11 - Georgetown, SC to Charleston

Georgetown to Charleston is going to prove to be very interesting. There is a strip where we need to pay very close attention to the timing as we must be there at mid-tide or higher. So, as our first time on our own, we get navigate a difficult stretch of the ICW. This picture shows us going out into the ocean to avoid the shallow areas. We might do that or just chance it. You will find out Saturday night or Sunday. Monday starts our dock assignment in the Cooper River Marina.

Saturday morning, in Georgetown, we awoke very early to get underway by 6:30 – right at sunrise. I calculated we needed to maintain an average speed of 6.5 knots to get to the marina before they close. Unfortunately this put us at the location along the way that had the most warnings about shallow water. It was a brisk morning with steam rising from the water as the sun introduced itself to the world. We motored out towards the ocean on the Winyah River until we reached the cut off for the ICW at the Estherville Minim Creek Canal. There was a trawler in front of us that I called to and asked their draft. Since it was greater than ours we agreed that I could follow. Close enough that I could be in their path but not so close that if they went aground I couldn’t back down. We were making great time initially since the current was with us and we were moving along at over 8 knots. An interesting aspect of traveling on the ICW is that the current changes depending on the tide and which side of an inlet you are on. Once you cross an inlet, the current changes. So, it isn’t possible to count on the current pushing you for the entire tidal period. But, we caught enough that we maintained a great average speed. Of course at each inlet one must slow down as this is where shoaling occurs. We arrived at Jeremy Creek at McClellanville where the dreaded low spots were. We slowed, waiting for an impending grounding, but the water depth never went below 8 feet. Once past, we motored along, slowing for the areas noted in the book, but by now the tide was returning and my blood pressure was lowering.  About two hours out from the Ben Sawyer Swing bridge I called our lead boat and did a slow pass, so we could speed up to make the bridge opening. Once past the bridge, we popped out into the Charleston bay and motored with the current towards our marina. We arrived around 3 pm, turned around and docked stern to. We tide up securely, plugged in, and then had a final rum celebratory shot. This part of the journey was complete.

If you zoom in on the chart section you will see that the journey from Georgetown to Charleston meandered through the low country of South Carolina. For most of the ride we were in Francis Marion National Forest – he is also known as the Swamp Fox. Anyway, it was full of beautiful marshlands and wildlife. Then returned to civilization at Isle of Palms where we were greeted with fancy beach homes, and too many people and power boats. In hindsight, I would do this leg in two days, either anchoring out in one of the picturesque anchorages or docking at a marina in Jeremy Creek.

Well, this part of the trip is complete. We are spending the next few days cleaning things up and getting the boat ready for our absence as we return to PA. Early next year we will continue out journey south, at a much slower pace, into Florida before returning home to Parkside.

10/27/2021 Wednesday Parkside to Cornfield Harbor

We met with Marty and Stephanie (423 Beneteau Far Fetched) Tuesday evening to discuss departure. Since the wind was blowing from the northwest we agreed upon an early departure to get out before low tide. In the past, when the winds blow consistently from the North/Northwest, it blows the water out of the bay and we can be stuck in the mud. I awoke around 5:30 and started the coffee and checked the water depth. It read 5.5 and was continuing to drop as low tide was still not until 8 am. I am on the ground when it reads 5.3. I took the trash out and met Marty on the way back, who already had his engine running. I quickly returned to The Office and started getting ready for departure. Sue was down below finishing up her chores and I started the engine and removed the power cables and lines. I moved the boat a little forward so that I could rest against the port piling so I could remove the lines as we were taking them all with us. As I did that I felt myself pushing through the mud. But, since I have ‘plowed’ my way in and out before it was mostly just silt. I was resting against the piling and removed the lines and then returned to the cockpit to depart from the slip. Once again I was definitely pushing through the silt but as my stern passed the outside pilings I reached 6’ of water and was on my way. Sue arrived in the cockpit and we looked back to Marty’s boat awaiting his emergence from their slip. It wasn’t happening so we motored very slowly and called back. He recommended that we continue on slowly and he would catch up with us. We continued out to Middle Rive and then onto the bay, motor sailing as slow as we could. By around 10 he called and recommended that we just go ahead and they would catch up. By now we were heading well on our way down the bay on a starboard broad reach in 25 knot winds and moving along quite well. Around noon Marty called and said that when they finally got underway they would sail all night as the weather on Friday looked like strong winds and rain. Because of this we changed out destination from Solomons’ Island (as agreed the night before) to Cornfield Harbor off of the Potomac River so that we could be a little closer to Norfolk the next day. Sailing was great and we were moving along at speeds over 9 knots. By the end of the day we had traveled 87 miles and hit a maximum speed of 10.1 knots. We did get slowed down after we snagged, not one but two different crab pots. We arrived at Cornfield Harbor in the dark and there were other boats there already so we found a spot in between them and dropped the anchor. This was a perfect spot as it was protected from the north / northeasterly winds. Dinner was pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and green beans. We cleaned up, relaxed a bit, and then went to bed early as Thursday would be a long day as well.

10/28/2021 Thursday Cornfield Harbor to Waterside Marina, Norfolk VA

Up early again to get a head start on the weather and catch the outgoing tide as long as possible. The bad weather that was predicted for Thursday night and all day Friday meant we needed to get to somewhere safe. We had a quick breakfast and then raised the anchor, once again, in the pitch black. All went well due to our new headsets and improved communication. We slowly motored out of the anchorage and headed towards the bay. Once the sun started to greet us, I hauled out the jib. Then, we pulled out the main and raised the RPM to get speed while we had the tide. We were moving along steady at 9.5 knows for a few hours. I called the Navy base marina for a slip but they didn’t have anything available. Then I reached out to Waterside marina via Dockwa texting and they confirmed the early arrival. We arrived at Hampton Rhodes with plenty of time to get to the marina so we slowed down and enjoyed the sights going into Norfolk. Kevin and Amy greeted us at our marina with a home cooked meal and we caught up on events since we last were together. Two days down the bay for 166.5 miles in strong winds was not the anticipated start of the trip but we were here in Norfolk, awaiting the start down the Atlantic ICW. Basically, our marina is at mile zero, so we will be starting from this location on Sunday. Exhausted, we ended the evening early and fell into bed.

10/29/2021 Friday Norfolk VA

We awoke at a decent time and spent the morning cleaning from our dash down the bay. Kevin and Amy came over and we walked around Norfolk and had lunch in town at the down town Hilton. We went over to their house and relaxed in the afternoon and then went to dinner at The Porch in VA Beach. It was a lovely day.

10/30/2021 Saturday Norfolk VA

Again it was a relaxing morning before we met with Kevin and Amy to have brunch at The Hair of The Dog in Norfolk. Afterwards we toured the Nauticus Museum and the USS Wisconsin. Dinner was at their home and they returned us to The Office so we could prepare for our departure Sunday morning.