From Hilton Head to Kilkenny part 2 Savannah

Last bridge for 167 miles!!! Freedom!!!

It says in the ICW guide that after Savannah this is the most dangerous and difficult area of the ICW because of intense shoaling  and really confusing windy rivers converging so it is difficult to know where to go. There are 4 huge sounds that go out to the ocean- some get really choppy. Thank heavens for the plotter with the magenta line! Steve is doing really great. I think he actually memorizes the guidebook! The area we are going through now is outside of Savannah Georgia. Huge homes!

Gone with the Wind??? Where's Scarlett??

How did this guy score being the only one on the gigantic marsh-Ted Turner maybe?

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From Hilton Head to Kilkenny mm #559-613

We left early today, about 6:30. The sunrise is beautiful.We are putting in a long day today- we will be stopping at Kilkenny Harbor.

Capt Steve at sunrise

Fisherman getting the jump on his buddies

One of many yacht harbors along the Hilton Head/Savannah area

Board meeting of the realtors discussing the price of the dock

Dense Fog, Ghost Ships and Calm Ocean to Hilton Head Island!!

FINALLY leaving Charleston!!! (ICW Mile # 468)

There was a heavy fog this morning (of course the morning we are heading into the ocean!!!!!- it hasn't been foggy the whole time we have been here!) it started lifting about 10, so we headed out to the mouth...it was still a little foggy and Steve was thinking about turning back! I was right- we are NEVER getting out of Charleston!! Steve was waiting for about 15 minutes and the fog had lifted enough that he felt comfortable and we were outside!!! After we were out a few miles I went down stairs to use the ladies room. When I got back up a few minutes later I noticed the boat was really rocking- Steve said "SIT DOWN" and I didn't realize what happened until Steve was talking later to Don or Shanie and told him about almost running into the Ghost Pirate boat!!! The fog had all of a sudden engulfed the boat after I headed downstairs and visibility was almost nil all the way to the water. Even though we hadn't seen another boat for the past hour (and only about 2 for the next 6 hours) apparently there was one right in front of us! Steve could see something about 50' up and couldn't figure out what it was-it ended up it was a huge mast of one of those Pirate type ships like the ones they have in the San Diego harbor!!! It had about 30 people on it and was coming straight for us!!! I couldn't believe I wasn't up there to get a picture!! I miss all the good stuff!!! Steve steared out of the way and missed them. He's doing such a great job!! The ocean was really pretty calm all the way to Hilton Head (mile# 559)

fog

one of the beautiful homes on Hilton Head Island

South Carolinas State Tree

The lighthouse at Hilton Head was made to resemble the one in Palermo Italy- this is for you Shanie!!!

We ended up pulling in to the harbor towards Hilton Head after about 7 hours on a very calm sea. the fog lifted about an hour after the ghost ship.

People actually walking on the beach in shorts!! It has been a freezing winter!!!

Never leaving Charleston!!!

After a sleepless night, Steve decided to rent a truck from Uhaul and get some kayaks- even though we have a raft on the boat is about 38 years old and if we were three miles out in the ocean he didn't think we would want to swim it, but kayaking we would have a better chance!

After two days at the marina, we did laundry, got the kayaks and (and a pontoon boat for Don!) are ready for the ocean!!!! (I was wondering if we were ever going to leave Charleston Harbor!) We are scheduled to meet Don and Jenny and Don's brother in Islamorada in the Florida Keys on the 2nd of April!

Decorating-FUN!!

The best part for me is always decorating- and that means shopping!!!!! I decided to do navy blue and bright yellow Nautica colors for our room and beachy colors of coral, aqua and azure blue, and pale yellow. Too fun!!!!

Ocean!

Steve wanted to test the ocean today- it was pretty exciting!!! We just went out a bit to see how she handled. We have heard that the ICW in Georgia was very shallow, so wanted to see how the open ocean would be. He decided it would be better to spend the night in the City Marina and shove off in the morning.

Wave crashing over the bow!

Made it back to Charleston Harbor!!!

When we first flew in our original plan was to launch in a day or two....so much for plans!!! After additional repairs and oil delays, we finally left the boatyard on Friday and headed into Charleston Harbor. Charleston is really an interesting old town. Lots of old churches (I was told there is a building restriction that no building can be as high a surrounding church steeple- don't know it that is true or not!!!!!!!) and historic buildings. The food is really good and really southern- biscuits and gravy, (almost as good as Miss Jenny's) grits with cheese and bacon, alligator (cute name of a restaurant- "Tailgator") seafood and crab, (we split an omelette that was soft sh) ell crab, shrimp and fried oysters with fiery cheese- after I picked out the oyster it was great!!and of course fabulous barbeque. So much for my plans to lose weight!!

Fort Sumter 

Carolina beaches 

Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge

Downtown Charleston

We are going with the tide pushing us out and have made it back into the Charleston City marina- in less than an hour! On the way from the Marina to the boatyard it was over two hours. Tides matter!

Homes on the water- marshland