November 2, 2011 Wednesday Thunderbolt to Wahoo River Anchorage

It is always exciting to see the dolphins so close!  Just before leaving the dock at Bahia Bleu there were two sets of dolphins next to the boat!  We have seen bald eagles, alligators, dolphins, cormorants, pelicans, and sea gulls.I have no pics of the dolphins since it takes a full second for a digital camera to focus and shoot.  Dolphins asre out of the water only a half second!

On the way to our Wahoo River anchorage we passed through the following rivers, creeks and sounds:
Wilmington River, Skidaway River, Burnpot Island, Isle of Hope,Pigeon Island,Moon River, Burnside River, Vernon River, Hell Gate, Ogeechee River, Bear River, St. Catherine's Sound,Johnson Creek and Wahoo River.I think of rivers like back home.  You know, they run for miles.  Down here the river might only connect two other rivers and be a mere two miles in length!  It would be interesting to find out how they got their names.

We stopped at the Isle of Hope Marina to get diesel a pump out.  That worked fine but their diesel pump had an electrical problem and they couldn't figure out how to get it to authorize and then pressurize!  They were so concerned about our wait and not being able to deliver diesel they gave us the pump out for free!  Both dock-hands Andrew and Jeremy were perfect gentlemen.

Today was a 48 mile day!  It's nice not to be rushed and be on the water during all of the daylight hours!  We are anxious to get to Melbourne, FL but we are having fun visiting relatives and friends along the way.

Captain Sid

October 31, 2011 Monday Brickyard Creek to Savannah, GA

Nordic Tug from Holland

Bonnie and Dawn

We were in a small parade of ships heading south on the ICW.  We followed a small catamaran and a 38- 40' Catalina.  We were in some chop but for most of the day we were able to sail and motor!  We just made the last opening the of Causon Bluff Bridge in Thunderbolt, GA just outside Savannah.  It closes from 4:30-6:00pm daily to accommodate rush hour traffic.

Dinner at Tubby's, Thunderbolt, GA

Dawn our niece lives just three blocks from the Bahia Bleu Marina where we were planning to stay for two nights.  We made plans to have dinner tomorrow.

We rode our bikes to get groceries and the Krispy Creme doughnut store was nearby.  The apple cinnamon
tasted as good as it looked.  Our bike ride to the "Piggly Wiggly" for groceries was a test of our ability to negotiate the busy roads in the area!  The exercise was welcome and I look forward to being in one spot for a length of time in order to ride on a  daily basis.

Exercise at last!

We managed to get the laundry done and it's always socially acceptable especially in a confined space like the boat to wear fresh clothes!

Dinner with Dawn was a good time to catch up on her latest accomplishments.  We had fun reminiscing about Shannon's wedding and reception!

The Marabele V is at the next marina down from us.  It is over 200 feet long and is supposed to have a mast over 300 feet tall!  The mast is so tall it has a red beacon on top to warn low flying planes!  No joke.  I am going to google it and get more info.  It was built for the founder of AVIS car rental.



The weather has been warm and I'm happy to be out of the cold!

Captain Sid

October 30, 2011 Sunday Charleston to Beaufort, SC

The Brickyard Creek was an interesting anchorage.  The current was about two knots and that's pretty strong when you consider Fiu weighs about 20,000 pounds and the anchor is 45 pounds with 5/16". chain links as anchor line.  The bottom was soft enough to have the anchor buried deep so that there was no anchor dragging!  I never sleep well in anchorages like this but on the other hand we haven't had anchor issues of any consequence. 

Anchor chain marked every 10' with orange paint

We needed to weigh anchor and it was near low tide with a strong current still present.  The channel was as fraction of the width it was when we anchored the night before!  First mate Bonnie managed to steer Fiu away from the shallows to mid channel.  The windlass is still working fine and in these situations it's important the anchor comes up quickly!

Captain Sid

October 29, 2011 Saturday Charleston, SC

Nav Station

Radar, VHF radio,chartplotter, depth,speed and wind speed gauges, battery monitor asre some of the electronics you see here.  All are used daily!

The pic below is of the service panel next to the nav station.  On the left is is shore power or the Honda generator power monitor showing 120 volts being supplied to the service panel.  The middle panel are the switches for the lights, bilge pump and macerator.  The right panel are all the electronics used to run Fiu like GPS.

Service panel

Elliot Cut joins the Stono River where our marina, St Johns Yacht Harbor is located, with the Wapoo Creek.  Once you leave Charleston harbor you exit under a 65' fixed bridge and enter the Wapoo Creek which has a bascule bridge to pass through before reaching Elliot Cut.  The difference in elevation and the abnormally high and low tides were  the cause of potential disaster!  Elliot Cut had such a current it was nearly impossible to pass through this quarter mile channel.  If ever I have this to do again I will anchor in Charleston harbor and wait for high tide.  I will explain this story when I see you!

Sunrise in Beaufort, SC

This pic is sunrise leaving the Brickyard Creek just north of Beaufort, SC.

GPS by Garmin

Karen was most helpful and we were able to get propane, groceries, my monthly blood work and have a dinner out at The Grille near her home.  Fresh seafood has been on my list of dinners since we left home!  James Island where she lives is a busy place on the highways but quiet neighborhoods are everywhere.

Mega yacht passing with huge wakes

Captain Sid

October 28, 2011 Friday S Santee River to Charleston, SC

To pull up anchor is not always that easy!  We managed to do everything right in the current of the S Santee River anchorage.  Anchoring in the rivers is a little complicated since you have to remember that in this area close to the Atlantic there are strong tides.  The tides mean you will reverse directions at least twice while anchored overnight!  That means swing room, enough scope and current need to be carefully considered before dropping the hook!

As we left the river and turned into the ICW on the left or port side of the ICW a short ways south was a creek named Alligator Creek.  Well, we now know how it might have received its name.  You got it!  There was a 5-7 foot alligator swimming next to our boat.  It looked like drift wood but as we got closer it was easy to see the head and especially the eyes above the water!  Wow!  That was our first and only alligator siting so far. As you view this pic the head is visible in the middle.  The grass floating is not the alligator!  Enlarge the pic and you will see the eyes!  We made a good run today and ended at St Johns Yacht Harbor in Charleston, SC.  More to come about our visit there!
Captain Sid

October 27, 2011 Thursday Osprey Marina to S Santee River Anchorage

First Mate Bonnie

Pat and Walt, our buddy boat friends left Waves of Grace and headed home for a month.  While we are glad for them to be able get home and take care of things there, we will miss them and will travel to Melbourne, FL on our own!

Fire Tower from yesteryear

This part of the ICW is rather desoate.  Lots of trees and a wide river to float but not much boat traffic or houses. 









We are asbout five miles inland and that helps Osprey to be a great "hurricane hole!"  This is mile 373 of the ICW.  That is mileage recorded from Portsmouth, VA as the starting point.

S Santee River Anchorage

I am hoping the Google Earth will show our location.  I am not receiving any comments so I think it's my settings.  I will attempt to fix that but keep trying!

S Santee River Anchorage

Captain Sid

October 26, 2011 Wednesday Osprey Marina

It was a good time seeing Tom and Marie.  We had fun shopping at the local stores in Murrel's Inlet, SC.

Since it's a beach and boating area there were lots of choices of restaurants for lunch and stores to browse!

The beach was inviting but it's a little too cold to be a good beach day!

Osprey Marina probably will be the spot we leave FIU for the summer months next year.  That way she is more than half way to the Keys next Fall!

Tomorrow we are off to South Santee River anchorage on our way to Savannah, GA where our niece, Dawn lives.

Captain Sid