3.17.08

another nice sailboat....I could live there... either one.

Had a good nights sleep...but had to vacuum the gnats off the ceiling before bed...opened the doors to put the dogs on the "back lawn" (large square of grass from home) and they came in a swarm...the guide said "buggy" they were right.

I put some Chili in the slow cooker...that way I wont have to do much when we get to the anchorage...but eat and wash a few dishes.

StM 510 The S Edisto River...choppy....Dahoo River very choppy....Wadmalaw River....very choppy....

We are anchored in Elliott Cut....Charleston SC.

StM 480 Stono River....many very expensive homes with long long docks...and the wind is getting a bit of a bite to it.....perhaps we're heading in the wrong direction? The whole trip today was windy and choppy....maybe tomorrow will be nicer...

3.16.08

We slept in after watching the big light show last night...sometimes the lightening was so bright you couldnt look at it..

It was almost 9:30 before we hauled up the anchor and started out...We had taken down all the fenders, the bimini, and anything that could cause damage or blow away was tied down...I had everyone's life jacket ready..just in case...so all had to be put in its place.

It is still very windy. The Calibogue sound is very choppy....we need 2 windshield wipers...so I can see too. We fueled at Hilton Head Harbor...$3.68 a gal for gas...The water is SC is much prettier...a pale icy lime green...dolphins again.

StM 550

Halfway across Port Royal sound...in lumpy confused seas...6 power boats passed us....then they really were confused...Their waves really rocked us...

We had supper while cruising...hashbrowns, fish and green beans...entered Coosaw River at 4pm.

When one of these go by ...you know it.

There are some nice boats out here

3.15.08

We were up an cruising at 8am. What a beautiful day.

We decided to head up Turner Creek to visit Rick and Tammy Campbell...and see their new Catalina 350....even with short notice they met us at the dock and spent some time showing us the boat....all this after a big day celebrating St Patty's day yesterday......there are 4 marinas in a very short distance. The 4th one isnt a public marina but there is an anchorage nearby and a Publix right behind the dock....very nice people there.

Theirs is the second from the second from L

After our visit we took Turner Creek N back to the ICW...nice ride winding ride.

We anchored in Bull Creek at 4pm... a sailboat came in a few minutes later. Severe thunderstorms are predicted. I didnt realize until I saw this photo that they had set 2 anchors. Late in the afternoon the high winds started hitting us...we were in an un protected anchorage....marsh grass on one side but a few trees on the other....open water both directions and you have to anchor in the middle of the creek to allow for the tide lowering the water level...You dont want to be sitting on a bank in the morning......the anchor held...the storm passed over and we were OK....we put the TV on for local weather and saw there were a line of bad storms headed our way ..with tornado warnings and hail....at first it looked like they were passing to the N but then they changed and headed toward us....VERY windy and huge waves....Lingerawhile rode them easily....didnt see any funnel clouds but heard there had been several reported....but we did get hail!!!!! and rain so hard we couldnt see the other boat for awhile...again it passed and we were fine...Our first big storm...not the biggest but big enough for us...there was another on the way but I guess we slept thru it..so it could have missed us....there were times we didnt realize how bad it was unless we looked out at the water....that's how well the boat was riding.

3.`4.08

We had a good night at anchor...the Lingerawhile rides the swells and waves well. Water rushing under the bow makes a bit of noise but it doesnt bother us...a good way of knowing the anchor is still holding...when it gets quiet I get up to see if we are drifting away...

There is a hazy overcast but the warmth of the sun does get thru.

We started across St Catherines Sound around 1:30pm. it was quite lumpy, with a cross wind about 1 1/2 hrs before high tide. It seems strange to look out from our little boat and see the ocean...Jim is really working at steering as the swells and waves try to push us around.....but still not a bad ride...steep chop with white caps.

As we headed up Bear River we had a bit of current in our favor and a tailwind....decided to continue on and get thru Hell's Gate at high tide...no problem...it was a good choice.

Sappello Sound was another nice ride with no wind....we got a lot of cheers from a trawler towing 2 boats. Everyone was on deck yelling and waving...Jim thinks they were saying "yahhh Loopers!!"... Anchored in Moon River near StM 595

3.13.08

We anchored in Floyd Creek so decided to follow it back to the ICW. At "GA21", the entrance to the Satilla River, we nosed up to the bank to walk the dogs. It looked like mounds of shells..somtimes 3 or 4' deep. We've seen several dolphins but none stayed up long enough to photograph.

We fueled at Jekyll Harbor Marina...paid #3.56 a gal for gas.

The trip across St Simons Sound was very flat and smooth. Buttermilk Sound was a bit roughter with the wind picking up.

Anchoring on Back River near Queens Island. Beautiful sunset.