January 19th - Day 6 - Hilton Head to Savannah

We left Hilton Head in the morning swinging by to take a picture of the iconic light house and planning on stopping to play golf on the way back.

We were enjoying the first wind free day in three days and lazily cruising down the ICW when we left South Carolina and entered Georgia at about 11 am. 

We passed by the cut off for the City of Savannah and continued on the Wilmington River.  This area is some of the most beautiful that we had seen since leaving Charleston.  At about 1 pm we were passing through the Savannah Bend of the ICW when the starboard engine quit.  Lucky for us we were right next to the Thunderbolt Marina when this happened and pulled in on the port engine and tied up.  Long story short we traveled seven more miles down the ICW to the Isle of Hope Marina where we docked the CU Later for the weekend until a mechanic could look at the boat on Monday.  So now that we are way too familiar with the term dead in the water we will see what we learn on Monday from our second "new best friend". 

January 18th - Day 5 - Hilton Head

We left Seabrook/Kiawah and made our way back up the North Edisto river to the ICW and then turned left and headed for Hilton Head.  We refueled in Beaufort, SC which has a beautiful water front park right on the Beaufort River.

We left Beaufort traveled down the Beaufort River past Paris Island (Marine training center) and on into the Port Royal Sound which is part of the ICW and made it to the Skull Creek Marina which is the first marina on Hilton Head on the north end of the island just as the sun was setting.

January 17 - Day 4 - On to Seabrook Island/Kiawah

Chris came back first thing in the morning and finished up the boat.  We left Isle of Palms at around 10:30 am and headed to Charleston.

Charleston Harbor

We passed by Fort Sumter which is at the mouth of Charleston Harbor....

Ft. Sumter

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC

and on around the tip of Charleston on our way to Seabrook Island/Kiawah.

About 90 minutes out from our final destination for the day, the Bohicket Creek Marina,we ran into our first rain storm.  We're sure that for experienced ICW cruisers this was a pretty mild storm but for us a rain storm and 24 mph winds as we were going down the North Edisto river and then up Bohicket Creek was quite an experience.  But we made it to the Marina and docked the boat in time for the sunset followed by drinks and some great food at Fischer's Sports Pub and Grill.  We did learn that sleeping on the boat in a storm which continued through the night can take some getting used to as the waves slapping against the side of the boat can sound a lot like someone walking on the deck.  Which is somewhat unnerving the first time you hear it!

January 16th - Day 3 - Fixing the boat

Chris, our newest best friend, from Pierside arrives to fix the boat.

Chris determines that we had two problems.  A hose clamp had broken on a rubber tube on the port (left) engine exhaust tubing and a hole had developed in the rubber tubing on the starboard (right) engine exhaust tubing!  This all happened without either of the engines overheating at any time.  Ah, the joys of boat ownership.....As he needed some parts that he wouldn't have until Thursday morning and left around 3:00 pm we headed out to the beach at the Isle of Palms which was about three blocks away.

The CU Later at the Isle of Palms marina.

The beach and Atlantic Ocean at Isle of Palms.

Advertising for the Delvin Hughley Football Camp on the Isle of Palms!  Unseasonable warm which we were enjoying!

We then walked about two miles down the beach, stopped at a fish store and bought some great, fresh salmon and then headed out to the beach for a gin and tonic (we smartly brought our picnic back pack with us) and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  We then walked back to the CU Later got out the BBQ grill and enjoyed the salmon and another night at the Isle of Palms.

Surfer in January

 

January 15th - Day 2 on the ICW

On day two we headed south with the intention of getting to Charleston.  North of Charleston we came up on an old Ferry crossing that was still operational.

As we approached the crossing we spotted this guy with his dogs who had just come in from duck hunting.  As we passed we asked how he had done and he replied with a thumbs down and a statement about a lot of quiet time with his dogs.

His boat was quite and elaborate duck blind.  You can't really see it clearly on this picture put on the stern of his boat is a canvas cover that slides up and over the boat to completely conceal him and his dogs.

A view of the Intracostal Waterway late in the afternoon.  Quite a bit wider than the picture from day one!  The post you can barely see near the top right of the picture is the day marker than defines where the ICW is and what you aim the boat for.

About an hour north of Charleston, we ran into our first mechanical problem!!  The boat has two motors (454 cubic inch Mercury inboard engines) and the port (left) engine started to make noise.  So we shut it down and traveled at half speed (~5 mph) to the nearest marina, the Isle of Palms, just north of Charleston.  We docked and with the assistance of the marina staff contacted Pierside Marine mechanics and arranged for them to send out a mechanic in the morning.  In spite of the problems, we had a great dinner at the Morgan Creek Grill which is right next to the marina where the boat is.

January 14th - Day 1 on the CU Later!

After a weekend of provisioning the boat (clothing, golf clubs, coffee, grog - lots of grog, food and charts), a few last minute items (getting a splice on the new anchor rope), we christened the CU Later at 11:00 am.

 

Leaving our home port, the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club and on the Intracostal WaterWay!

Passing by Arrowhead Golf Course in Myrtle Beach where we have played with some of our Boulder friends.













Captain Phyllis and a view of the Intracostal Waterway.  It is quite narrow here in the Myrtle Beach area.

Wacca Weche Marina, our first stop for the night.  A really great marina with a great restaurant right next to the water.

Sunset on the first night for the CU Later.

January 11th - Jacksonville to North Myrtle Beach

We left Jacksonville heading north on I-95 and took a detour on Highway 17 to see Jekyl Island and St. Simons Island, GA.  Jekyl is a private island so we couldn't get there and decided to head over to St. Simons.

 Bridge from Jekyl Island to Brunswick, GA.

St. Simons Island is another great place.  This picture is of their park and pier at the end of the downtown area (which would be a great place for a small beer pub!)

And this is the beach at St. Simons.

After leaving St. Simons, we headed back to I-95 and straight to our place in North Myrtle Beach. Home Sweet South Carolina Home!

January 10th - Pensacola Beach to Jacksonville

We started off the day driving out of Pensacola Beach on Beach Boulevard right along the gulf coast.  We drove through the Gulf Islands National Sea Shore in the fog (beautiful!) on to to Navarre Beach, a tiny, tiny community built literally on the sand.  No grass anywhere. We think the highest point in Navarre Beach is 12" above sea level.

We then drove on towards Destin (much bigger city than we thought it was) and Ft Walton on Highway 98.  We turned off on highway 30A to get back to the gulf and drove through a beautiful set of small, well to do gulf side communities, Watercolor, Seaside and Rosemary Beach.

Seaside has a great community center with about 8 to 10 food "trucks" housed in old Airstream trailers.  A great place for lunch and just a block of so from the beach.  From what we could see Seaside looked like a great little beach community.

We then drove through Panama City Beach and Panama City (to be avoided next time if possible) and on toward Apalachicola, Apalachicola Bay and St. George Island.

The causeway/bride to St. George Island.

"Downtown" St. George Island.

Sunset from St. George Island. 

We then headed back to the mainland and on to Tallahassee for dinner at what was rated on Trip Advisor.com as the third best place to eat in Tallahassee, a greasy spoon hamburger place called Monk's.  It didn't disappoint!  

The cooks at Monk's.







We then drove on to Jacksonville and collapsed at our home away from home, the Holiday Inn Express for the night.

January 9th - Baton Rouge to Pensacola Beach

The weather today was better but still wet.  The signs of Katrina's damage are still evident in the less prosperous areas of the South, although rebuilding is still taking place.  Both of us were struck by the prevalence of roadside trash in Louisiana.  Foam drink cups and sometimes whole bags of trash were common sights along the road.  This part of the South might also be the last bastion of true poverty.  Some of the houses and/or trailers seemed to be barely holding together and as we drove through, many were going under water due to the torrential rains. The rain just had no where to go.

We were both amazed by the endless fields of sugar cane and rice paddies.  They went on for as far as the eye could see.  And then there was the industry along the water.  So many chemical plants.  This is where the fuel comes from and it sure isn't any cheaper here.  A strange mix of industry, agriculture, and then beach resorts and casino hotels. The coastal communities are really pretty cool.


This oak tree is from 1487 and withstood the wind and rains of Katrina.  Legend has it that those who stand under it together will be friends for life.  Thus the name!

We had a terrific lunch at Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi, Mississippi right across from the gulf.  The food was scrumptious and the setting took you back in time.  During Katrina, the water got above the fireplace mantle on the main floor.  So glad this place survived.

We photographed this place because it is called "The Redding House"  (my maiden name). You don't often find our last name spelled this way.  It is usually spelled Reading, so I wanted a picture of the house.










We also stopped at Kessler Air Force Base where Chuck's brother Jim was stationed for awhile when he was in the Air Force in the 70s. Here's to you, Jim!












Downtown Mobile was pretty slick.  Bridges and tunnels can transport you over Mobile Bay.  We arrived in the downtown area just in time to hear these beautiful bells pealing out Christmas Carols.  The sound was coming from a cathedral close by.  Beautiful!  For a small city, the skyline wasn't too bad either.







This photo is for Charlie Kegley.  This car reminded us of your adventures on the par three golf course at home.  Charlie's car would look like this if he lived in Louisiana.









We ended the day in Pensacola Beach, Florida.  A drink and yummy clams and grouper bites at Peg Leg Pete's and we were ready for bed.