Where did the last week go?

 Hi All!

We have had a great past week, filled with good weather, good boating and good friends.  We are currently in Georgetown, SC and have catching up to do in regard to this blog.

Last week while we were in Beaufort, SC, we were able to spend time with our friends from Michigan and also blessed to meet new friends.  We have learned the South Carolina Beaufort is pronounced "Bew'-fort" in contrast to the North Carolina Beaufort which is pronounced "Boe'-fort".

Before I get too far, we found a solution for the hole left in the dash after the marine radio was relocated.  We had a fun sign that we had been struggling to find a home for.  We think it's found its home, at least for awhile.  Installed with two-way tape giving us the flexibility to make a change later.

Problem:  hole in the dash

Solution: two-way tape and a sign

Another project we addressed while in Beaufort was clean up on the radar arch up on the bridge.  As background, there was huge non-functioning 2005 vintage TV antenna dome that needed to be removed along with two non-functioning lights of the same vintage and also our anchor lightbulbs were needing to be replaced with LED ones that draw less power.  While accomplishing removal of all these items, we discovered the bugs in South Carolina are NOT the same as in Florida.  In Florida we had "no-see-ums" and Thermacell worked wonders.  Well, Thermacell does not work on the little flying critters in South Carolina.   New friends from Coastal Fogg (a Mainship Trawler) saw us swatting away and suggested No Natz.  It works amazingly well and comes in spray and candle.  So if you are ever in this area of the country, you have to pick some up.

No Natz recommended by new friends on Coastal Fogg.  Thank you!!!!

In an earlier post, it was mentioned that seating since starting the trip has also been a challenge.  A trip to the local Wal-Mart in Beaufort via eBike and eScooter solved the problem.  Bert now has a set of bed-risers for his directors chair and has good visibility when driving from the inside helm.  Hilary now has a back rest that will work both when sitting on the table inside and also when sitting up on the bridge.  Best of all, the seat was 50% off in the clearance aisle of Wal-Mart!  We looked like something with a new seat strapped down to Hilary's bike rack for the ride home along with all our other purchases.

Successful trip home from Wal-Mart with new seat and double backpacks.
Bert also had his backpack stuffed to maximum capacity.

7.25" bed risers under the legs of the directors chair provides for good visibility for our Captain.
Bert no longer has to drive standing up all day. 

While un-conventional, Hilary now has a seat with a back for days spent navigating from the lower, inside helm.  The former home-office turned into navigation command center by day and is still the dinner table after hours.

We were able to take one day and drive up to Charleston with our MI friends.  On the way up we saw three F35s fly right over us.  Very cool and very hard to get a picture of from the backseat of the car.

F35

In Charleston, the four of us did a horse drawn carriage tour of the city, walked the City Market and had lunch at Henry's, established in 1932, and is Charleston's oldest restaurant and the oldest restaurant in all of South Carolina per the tax records.  Of course a bowl of She Crab Soup was the only choice as it was created in Charleston. Delicious!  For those not familiar, She Crab Soup is a seafood chowder named after the female crabs that provide the roe which provide the distinctive orange color.

Carriage ride in Charleston

The Charleston Place Hotel

We had a long travel day from Beaufort to Charleston on Friday (60 nautical miles) with tide and current working against us.  We had secured overnight dockage on the fuel dock at the Maritime Center and could not arrive before 5:00pm but needed to arrive before 6:00pm.  Most of their docks were destroyed in hurricane Helene so they have very little transient slips and only the fuel dock was left.  We left Beaufort at 8:48am and arrived at 5:55pm.  Go us!  Our captain is amazing.  Crazy strong current upon dockage on Friday night and an audience as the boat that takes a Friday night cruise around Charleston Harbor was starting to load passengers right next to us.  The very active shipping channel for Charleston Harbor calmed down as nightfall came so we had a good night's sleep.

Dockage way out at the end on the fuel dock at the Maritime Center in Charleston. 
Note the USS Yorktown in the background across the shipping channel.

 

Sunrise close up of the deck of the USS Yorktown

We had to be off the fuel dock at the Maritime Center before 8:00 am.  We departed at 7:56am for another long travel day to Georgetown, SC.  Much of the 56.4 nautical miles were through man made cuts and not near as windy as the prior day.  Current/tide worked against us again for much of the day and arrived for a two day stay just after 4pm.  

56.4 NM route traveled 03-29-2025

Vessel hailing from Charleston that we passed

Still not quite used to the massive 8-9' tides in this area.  
Note the boat is sitting in the mud at low tide.  In six hours, it will be up over 8'!

A barge we needed to pass in a narrow point in the channel at low tide.  
All navigated successfully.

This morning (Sunday) is gloomy and rainy which is why we are staying put today.  This afternoon we hope to get out and about to the grocery and see a bit of downtown Georgetown before departing again tomorrow.  There is some weather predicted for later in the day tomorrow and we plan to start early for another long day as the marina in North Carolina we'll be at Monday night closes at 4pm so we'd like to arrive before they close and the rain starts.