Nov 6 Well I guess this will the last blog for this trip. I have traveled a lot in my life and this was the longest both in time and distance covered. I would like to say it was the hardest but that would be lie it really was quite easy. No tents to set up, no sleeping on the ground, no packing and unpacking, no cooking on open fires. There was always fresh water available, (I did miss ice but we had to give up some stuff), toilets were always available, electricity was always available when needed, lights were only a switch so it was comfortable trip. But I did find slightly more stressful than other trips. I guess the reason was I never really trusted the engine, routing or other drivers I saw on the way. In the other trips I felt like I had more control of my fate on this trip I had to watch the weather more and be more alert to the conditions around me. I always felt I find myself somewhere I could not get out of. Tow...
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Nov 1 A short trip to have the wasted pumped out and back but no mileage. We were up late as it was all scheduled as a cleaning day and packing. So we have eaten most choices for breakfast so today we just had cereal. Then the waste pump out that was bust due to broken stations. Back to the dock. At the dock we started cleaning. -Shook out the rugs -Oiled all the teak -washed the floors -cleaned the bathroom -emptied the closets and washed them -Put away equipment that I used -packed my personal tools for home Then had the boat salesman in and discussed the trip with him and the cost of storage. Turns out it will be about 550 per month or 450 her with added cost. In the end dry storage might be cheaper but what if we sell. Now he agreed that the boat might be worth $110,000 but that is tough price point and makes searches hard. He feels $1 less than 100,000 would be a good price. we agreed so now the boat is be...
Oct 31 North Myrtle Beach to Carolina Beach NC. 55 miles We were moving fast this morning both because we knew it was to be a long day and because it was to last day of the trip. The sky was clear and the we were off before 8 with the sun in our eyes. Starting out the tide was inner favor then against us and then for us and this cycle repeated as we past entrances and exits to the ocean. Still we great time arriving in the slip at 3:15. We gave each other a quick hug and headed out on bikes to schedule the upkeep of the boat. Visited with the people there and they remembered us and gave us a quote on the cost of dry storage for the boat dry in a rack. Then back to boat where it has started to rain and sunset. Seems when ever I complete a long vacation that I like it rains or turn cold or both. Maybe God is trying tell me he will miss me while out in the world appreciating his work. I am still processing that fact that...
Oct 30 Georgetown to Myrtle Beach SC 55 miles We had finsihed breakfast when Dianne found her Tablet and our backup maps were not available as the plug had been be pulled by accident. I recharged on the I-Pad but her tablet came back on so it was not needed. However we still were off by 8:15. The drive was interesting as it was new scenery with mangrove swamps and trees rather than than just the swamp grass we had been seeing the last couple of days. The wind was calm with some showers but the current was in our face for what seemed like the whole day. However we still finished at 3:30. Dianne wanted to see the Beach so we walked over to it and along it for for about 1.5 hours. We are cleaning out our food supplies so decided to have steak tonight and was a great meal. The south bound boat continued in mass today as there were 18 in total. I would estimate about 6 were very polite in managing wake and sharing the wate...
Oct 29 Charleston SC to Georgetown SC 65 miles It was another long day. We tried and had plans for a shorter day but life happens and the marinas closer in were full so the only one was much further out. We took it and have used 28 gallons of diesel from the last fill when we arrived. We filled again and that is good thing except the cost of staying is going up all the time. The day just like yesterday was tough tide coming and going and times of arrival here varying from 7:30 to 3:30 but in the end it settled into 4:30. As we started before 8 it was a very long day. However the anchor came up easy and only had to get up 3 times to check drift last nigh I guess I should not complain too much. On our count we will finish either Monday night or Tuesday morning depending on speed and tides and will power. I have therefore rented a U-Haul truck as they have one way rentals for a Wednesday morning pickup meaning we be home...
Oct 28 Beaufort to North Charleston Anchorage 65 miles As noted above a very long day. We got off to a great start again being out before the official start of the day. With favorable tides the GPS said we could make Charleston byco 4:30 I was sure this would not happen alas I was right. The tides shifted against quickly and we had arrive times as late as 8 PM. Our goal was Downtown marina but there was no way. We chose to stop just 7 miles short in an anchorage in North Charleston at 5:30. After dropping anchor we have faced all directions but due south. The tide and wind are shifting the boat around a lot. One anchor alarm has already gone off though I have not been able to see a noticeable shift in the anchor. I have therefore concluded that the alarm is just the shifting on the radius of the anchor. The main GPS seems to agree with this conclusion although it is showing a lot of swing. The winds are strong and the...
Oct 27 Savannah to Beaufort SC 55 miles Ok up before sun and this is becoming a habit. Out by 7:45 as we knew it was to be a long day. The ride was quiet. Saw a of dolphins as we left Georgia and entered the last state of South Carolina. Sailed on the back side of Hilton head and saw two or three tour boats. it is getting cooler now and the south bounders are growing saw 25 cruisers headed that way. Again today most of them were polite and slowed as they passed or left a lot of space. One or two did not yield any water and therefore drove us off the channel but I come to expect that from those guy and drive to have an escape plan. Our arrival at Beaufort was not as pretty or neat as I would have liked it to be. I did a good job getting the boat up to the dock and Dianne got off well. But then she tied the back to the dock and by the time I got out the bow was caught in the current and the boat was spinni...