The day started a lot nicer this morning, no rain and the forecast looked like the sun was going to shine. We left Myrtle Beach at 7:00 am after the sun started to rise, we wanted to be able to see the markers this morning.
We found out that yesterday the area we were traveling threw had 12" of rain in 24 hours. It was the second highest rain fall in a 24 hour period since hurricane Floyd. So we were really happy that the sun was coming out so we could dry out a little.
Traveling down the ICW in South Carolina was nice and challenging on our way to Hilton Head. We had many dolphins swimming along side the boat, we saw many beautiful houses and many fixer uppers. We had to wait on a couple more swing bridges, but the bridge masters got us right threw.
Captain Bly was at the helm most of the morning. I must have given him a little to much OJ this morning, because all of a sudden he wanted to challenge the boat. He wanted to see if he could get it to 40 mph with the ocean current behind us. We were in an open area, and off we went. He got it to 39 mph, but that was all we could do.
Mike also got kudos from the captain, even though he was a slow poke yesterday, the gas mileage he got was incredible. We fueled up just north of Charlotte at Isle of Palms Marina and took 247 gallons at $2.949, but we got a 5% volume discount. I had called around to about 7 different marina's and it seemed that this one was the best. Of course the captain wasn't thrilled, because I had made a chart mistake yesterday and we went right past the place labeled "cheap fuel" on his chart. It was right at the point were the two chart pages overlap, and also right at a swing bridge. I admitted my mistake and told him I would buy him dinner! After fueling, Bob asked if I could calculate the mpg from yesterday till noon today, Mike averaged .92 mpg...very nice!
At 12:30 Bob went below to see his show and Mike took the helm again. Soon we felt like we were on a road course at Watkins Glen, we had zig zag turns and had to constantly slow down for houses along the ICW that had boats in the water.
We were on track to make it to Hilton Head and started to recognize area's that we had seen when we had visited Mike's Dad in Hilton Head over the past few years. We went across the Edisto River were it looked like the place we had gone crabbing with chicken necks and crab nets. Around 4:00 we were passing Paris Island and soon we could see Hudson's Restaurant, a favorite place for dinner. We arrived at Harbor Town Yacht Basin at 5:30. This is the place that has the red and white striped lighthouse that is on everything you see or buy from Hilton Head. We had dinner at the Crab Shack, it was awesome!
We were able to see a beautiful sunset, and all are hoping that the saying is true, "red sky at night sailors delight". We have heard about the storm brewing at the tip of Florida and hoping it doesn't effect our travel to bad. Bob had wanted to go out in the ocean today and make it to Daytona, but they are expecting 3-5' today building to 5-7' tonight. We will stay on the ICW for at least another day and most likely the rest of the way. Because of this, we haven't booked our air fair yet, we will see how far we get today and book it tonight. We are still hoping we can fly home Saturday, we are having an amazing thime, but we both miss Shadow and would love to wake up in our bed on Sunday morning!
Enjoy the pictures, these are from our photographer Rick.
6 comments:
Looks like you guys may have some more wet weather over the next day or so. Hopefully there won't be much wind. It looks like most of the weather will pass over you by early tomorrow, since you are headed South and the weather is headed North. Glad you made it to Hilton Head and dined at the Crab Shack.
Mike needs to be commended for the great mpg, 39 knots yesterday, Wow... mpg really went down, I bet, Capt. Bob's CC is Smoking now.
Thanks for all the entertainment on this trip and the great description up the ICW.
PS> Mike great photos, please do a scrapbook at the end of the trip, so your "fans" will have something to view!!
Have Fun and a wishing you a calm day!
Capt. Frank
Whoa!!!! Looks like another rainy day for you guys. Maybe better tomorrow,
Dad
Kim & Mike, great pictures. I am keeping a log on your restaurant reviews. Hope your weather stays fair.
Bob
I tried sending a post earlier but don't see it, so will try again. Forgive me if they duplicate!
I'm grateful you're not in Wilmington (NC) now; they're getting 1 inch an hour and the heavy stuff is still coming up from the south, and that's on top of the 12 inches they got on Sunday when you passed thru. We're supposed to get hammered tomorrow, and it's been raining steady since yesterday here in Central NC. Good that you're headed south, and this system is going north. (It's not even Tropical depression #16, aka Nicole, which is still down in Miami)
Thanks for taking the time after your long days to post the photos, they tell the story in another view! Rick will be worthless when he gets home; he'll be playing with photo-shop until Christmas :o).
Thanks, too, for keeping him busy, fed, and smiling. Hope his kayak won't be too boring after this.
You guys enjoy the rest of your adventure, keep your sea legs steady, and stay safe.
Really great pics, now we have faces to go with the names. Hope you guys have a good day today.
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