11/29/2011 FLORIDA BY CAR

WEDNESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 57 NM

DOCKED AT: THUNDERBOLT MARINA AT ICW #583 JUST OUTSIDE SAVANNAH     ($1.99 /FT W/P OVERALL)

SUNRISE AT DATAW ISLAND: 7:05 AM

SUNSET AT THUNDERBOLT MARINA: 5:20 PM

HIGH: 58

LOW: 34

Our early morning start brought had us passing beautiful Beaufort (pronounced like beautiful) by 9:30 then the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Paris Island in Port Royal. This installation is the training center for enlisted male recruits east of the Mississippi and female recruits from all over the US.

BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORT, SC

PARIS ISLAND MARINE RECRUIT DEPOT

Our path brought us past Hilton Head Island and then the charming Daufuskie Island, immortalized in Jimmy Buffett’s song “The Prince of Tides” and Pat Conroy’s book The Water is Wide.

HAIG POINT ON DAUFUSKI ISLAND

This working convoy consisted of a large, white tow pulling a big barge attached to a smaller barge then feet and feet of pipe and ending with a smaller tug.

THAT'S A LOT OF EQUIPMENT TO MOVE THE FLOATING PIPE

Soon we had passed from the South Carolina Low Country into Georgia’s Low Country. While South Carolina is known as the Palmetto state, Georgia is the Peach State and home to the historic Savannah. Quest quivered as we passed the channel that would lead us to the downtown area but Dan managed to steer her on to Thunderbolt Marina.

Image via Wikipedia

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FLAG

Image via Wikipedia

AND THE GEORGIA STATE FLAG










Quest was soon secured and hooked to all services. While Dan gave her a quick wash I paid our bill at the marina and picked up our Enterprise Rental car. Since Dan had to research a prospective job in Orlando, FL tomorrow we decided to make the drive this evening. It was a good call as the drive went smoothly with little traffic and we were in Orlando in plenty of time for a good night’s sleep.

11/28/2011 WAVING TO CHARLESTON AND ON TO ST. JOHNS YACHT HARBOR ON THE STONO RIVER

MONDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 50 NM

DOCKED AT: ST JOHNS YACHT HARBOR MILE MARKER 472.5 ($1.50 /FT W/P OVERALL WITH BOATUS DISCOUNT)

SUNRISE AT THE SANTEE RIVER, NC: 7:00 AM

SUNSET AT ST JOHNS YACHT HARBOR ON STONO RIVER: 5:00 PM

HIGH: 75

LOW: 45

After our night of interrupted sleep we were pulling up anchor by 7:00 and enjoying the morning skies and balmy temperatures. By 8:30 it was already 67 and rising.

THE MORNING SKIES AS WE LEAVE OUR SOUTH SANTEE RIVER ANCHORAGE

Following the ICW through connecting rivers, cut canals, expansive bays and ocean inlets offers up a wide variety of experiences for us boaters. Not only are the waterways varied but the scenery along the way spans from derelict vessels to working dredges, from expansive marshes to expensive developments and an array of abundant wildlife on top of all that. Just think, all of it ours to marvel at and appreciate. How lucky are we?

HARD TIMES HERE

THESE WORKERS ARE DRIVING PILINGS FOR THIS DOCK

A GRANDIOSE WATERFRONT HOME

GEESE AND CORMORANTS SCATTER AS QUEST APPROACHES

Since the traveling was going so well we just scooted by our original destination, Isle of Palm, and waved as we passed by Charleston. We were making great time and the conditions were good. We happily sailed Wappoo Creek then came almost to a screeching halt entering the narrow Elliott Cut. Holy cow! Quest’s engines were churning out the RPMs that should have pushed us along at 10 knots but we were barely making 4.5 knots in the forceful ebbing tide. One sailboat trying to enter the cut before us had to throw in the towel and wait for the currents to moderate some.

THRIVING CHARLESTON HARBOR

ENTERING THE NARROW, SWIFTLY EBBING ELLIOTT CUT

At the junction of Elliott Cut and the Steno River I found my house. There were rivers on two sides, massive oak trees that offered shading from summer sun, an inviting porch encircling the hose, rocking chairs, dormers peeking out from the roof and lovely craftsman style pillars. I love it!

THIS COULD BE IT!!!

Once on the Steno River we headed for St. Johns Marina to fuel up and, once again, seek shelter from the approaching storm. While fighting the swift current and maneuvering tight quarters in the approach to the fuel dock, the lack of sufficient power in the starboard engine and a peculiar slapping sound alerted us to the fact that we had wrapped something around our shaft. Always something! We now have a diver scheduled to remove the obstruction tomorrow morning.

While fueling, Flint on “Grace Full” introduced himself and reminded us that we had all been at the Eastern Shore Marina in Mobile Bay last November. He and Leslie later joined us on Quest for cocktails and lots of good stories while the rain storm settled upon us.

St. Johns Marina is one of those places that makes you really appreciate your BoatUS membership. The fuel was decently priced to begin with but discounted .05/gal for BoatUS and another .05 if you purchased over 300 gallons. No problem! They also discounted the dockage by 20% with your membership. Nice deal!