Captain's Blog

  TRAVEL DAY 29 - Murrells Inlet to N. Myrtle Beach April 6, 2023 3.93 Hours/31.1 Miles     Our trip today was beautiful for the first couple of miles until it transformed into mostly a "ditch", straight and boring. Most of the entire shoreline here is lined with numerous new subdivisions with expensive upscale ICW frontage homes and condominiums. Turtles on a log     We followed behind Tug Bussle a beautiful 36' Kadey Krogen we had met briefly in Charleston as we were leaving and then again for a short conversation at Wacca Wache Marina. An AGLCA Facebook member snapped & posted pictures of us in lockstep on the ICW. Anyone with NEBO can see the boat and information. Tug Bussle Pau Hana on the ICW     The worst thing to happen in the last 700 miles was losing one of our new boat lines over the side a few minutes prior to docking. Not the end of the world, just a frustration and certainly no setback. Lost Boat Line     Barefoot Landing is...

  TRAVEL DAY 28 - Georgetown to Murrells Inlet April 5, 2023 2.42 Hours/20.3 Miles     We started the generator, brewed some coffee and eagerly consumed our fresh baked goods we had purchased the day before. With another relatively short run ahead of us we were able to take our time and get a later start. Once I did my engine room checks I noticed that the other fuel filter showed some restriction. Since I was running on the bottom portion of my fuel tank at this point, I was probably picking up more "junk" and sediment from the tank. I changed out the filter and switched to the other. Another Filter Change     We pulled the anchor to find both the chain and anchor covered in what is known as "Pluff Mud", a soft dark brown oozy mud that has a hint of Sulphur smell to it. Sounds delicious doesn't it?       Once under the Georgetown Bridge and into the Waccamaw River we were now transiting from saltwater to freshwater. Always good to get that f...

  TRAVEL DAY 27 - S. Santee River to Georgetown April 4, 2023 2.35 Hours/17.8 Miles     Pushing on yesterday a little longer made today's trip shorter and allowed us a little more time to enjoy the morning coffee and some breakfast. Just like camping, food always taste better on the boat no matter what it is. Georgetown, SC     As we turned into Winyah Bay another South Carolina inlet to the Atlantic, we could see Georgetown in the distance. Georgetown is another beautiful little waterfront town full of early American history, of southern agriculture, aquaculture and seaports. We had no idea that rice was such a huge crop in the early days of South Carolina and the plantations. The freshwater marshes provided the area the perfect setting and climate for the crop. South Carolina grew some 66 million pounds of rice by 1772.  Shrimpboats     We tied up at one of two free day docks on the waterfront. Docking time is unlimited but you cannot stay overn...

  TRAVEL DAY 26 - Charleston to S. Santee River April 3, 2023 6.73 Hours/49.8 Miles     We motored out of the Ashley River, past the Battery Wall and into Charleston Harbor. As we past the entrance to the harbor and cruised by Fort Sumter and the location of  "The Shot Heard Around the World" I couldn't help but wonder how many Civil War cannon balls and ship parts were buried in the mud of Charleston Harbor.  Fort Sumter     This is a busy seaport and we passed a monstrous freighter anchored in the harbor.  After we left this area, we knew there would be a whole lot of nothing surrounded by more beautiful sweetgrass and rush filled marshes. This meant we would make a long day of it as we aimed for Georgetown, SC and points north. Empty Freighter in Charleston Harbor     We intended to stop in McClellanville at a free day dock to stretch our legs before the night's anchorage but when we called they indicated the restaurant was closed so ...

  TRAVEL DAY 25 - Bennett Point to Charleston March 31, 2023 6.42 Hours/46 Miles     Our quiet anchorage was great and judging by the number of bugs flitting around the cockpit lights it's better to be inside than out.    Charleston Waterfront     The trip was pretty uneventful but we went through some pretty narrow cuts with very little water and we were thankful for our 3'4" draft and protected keel. At one point we came to a cut to see a dredge in the middle of the channel. The boat ahead of us called for instructions to pass. No answer on 16. We later found that although they should monitor 16 the preferred channel is 13. Low water and long docks     This particular dredge had an anchor out on either side of the creek secured with a steel cable. We watched the catamaran pass slowly and close to both the red channel marker and the steel cable. As we approached I called out the window to the dredge operator to ask for instructions on how to...