Nov 26th, 2011 Two Way Fish Camp

Captains Log:  Long day at the helm.  The Intracoastal in Georgia is one big marsh.  Nothing really to see, and marinas are few and far between.  Melissa and I decided to get up before dawn and head out at first light

to make it to a marina called Two Way Fish Camp.  It is inexpensive and better yet, lowest price for fuel on the trip so I had to fill up.

At 4:30 this morning I was awakened by a barge going right by the dock we were tied to as it headed down the ICW.  Could not really get back to sleep as I was excited to take on the challenges of the day.

Three hours after we ventured out, we caught the barge and past him.

We had to negotiate a channel called Hell's Gate.  Very Narrow with lots of shoaling.  We also passed 5 sailboats and a fishing boat that seemed too large for such shallow waters.

Passed three sailboats at once.

Missy was very instrumental in navigating today.  She really has taken the bull by the horns and immersed herself in understanding nautical charts and tracking where we are at all times.  I am so grateful to be sharing this experience with her. It has brought our relationship to a higher level than ever.

We arrived at Two Way Fish Camp ahead of schedule and are relieved to spend a relaxing evening together.

First Mate's Log

Today Schmom's photo montage is dedicated to some of the unique boats and other floating craft we have seen along our journey....enjoy!

Lil' Tug

Barge type thingy

Not sure what this one is or does?

redneck boat :)

the basic working boat

this boat had a bad day :(

Pimpin' boatage

really?

spy boat

Black Friday (not really) ~ November 25th

Shiver Me Timbers and all that good stuff ~
Today was an easy 33 mile venture from Hilton Head SC to Savannah GA, as we are spending the evening at Isle of Hope Marina due to the severe high and low tide issues at this point of the ICW.

There is an 11' variance between high and low tide, and unfortunately 10 miles ahead as we enter "Hell's Gate" (appropriately named) we will encounter the shallowest waters along the ICW and the only way to avoid grounding the boat is to approach at high tide....around 9:30 tomorrow morning.

We expect a long day Saturday....going to a marina called Two Way Fish Camp ~ lots of current, could be tricky, the name alone makes me wonder ? keep us in your thoughts and prayers :)






It was a spectacular day on the water with calm winds and blue skies.

As promised I am focusing today's photo montage on the fine feathered friends that have greeted us along the way.....

All the peeps (get it?)

Alfred Hitchcock eat your heart out.....

Enjoying a swim

Chillin' on the beach



an eagle enjoying a fish taco

dating....pelican style

and for Steve....more turtles :)

Thanksgiving Day - Nov 24th, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!

We had a relaxing day today as we took the day off from cruising. We really had been staying to task ever since we left Minnesota on the 12th so we felt we deserved a little time off. 
We really enjoyed being able to skype with the kids this morning.  They all looked well and happy which made Schmom very happy.  She did shed a tear or two missing her kids today.

It started out very windy but settled down progressively.  We observed our first sailboat with sails up today.  People ask me often why we did not get a sailboat and for the type of voyage we are on a sail boat is not as practical as a trawler.  We have much more room per foot of boat and have better motoring ability.  We are very happy with Aye Sea No Snow. 

I did take care of a couple of simple repairs as Missy did some laundry on board and cleaning.  We were surprised to see a dredging operation moving equipment downstream on Thanksgiving.  It was quite an operation with a big tug pulling the dredge and equipment and three smaller tugs guiding the "train" through the channel.

We caught a cab around 3PM to Starbucks, then caught "Tower Heist", then went to the Hilton Head Diner for Thanksgiving dinner.  Missy had turkey and I had vegetable lasagna.  The food was good and a fun atmosphere.

We are off to Isle of Hope first thing in the morning.  Georgia is going to be a challenge with lots of shallow water to contend with (another reason to have a trawler as sailboats have deeper drafts).

Day 5 - November 23rd, 2011

The Intracoastal Waterway is not for wimps!!  We were well tied in a slip at Edisto Beach Marina for a thunderstorm that rolled in late.  Lines held but we did get a little leak from the hatch over our bed.  It made for a rough night for Melissa.  When I got up to check lines in the middle of the night I heard a mammal very close to the boat venting through a blow hole.  It was such a deep resonating sound my first thought it must be a whale but reason tells me it was a dolphin.  I scrambled for my search light but of course it was off in the distance by then.

Very strong current as we left in the morning but we did not want to get stuck in Edisto. I was all bundled up in my new foul weather gear since it was still raining.  The water proof socks that Rachael gave me last Christmas came in very handy to keep my toes warm and toasty (thanks Rae, you always pick out the perfect gifts!!).  Missy really did a great job with the lines so I could get the boat out of the slip.  A Captain is no better than his/her crew and my wife is really taking on all of these new tasks with a passion.

The slowly turned nicer as we traveled the ICW toward Hilton Head Island.  After a slow wake free run though Beaufort we started to get into more open water.  The wind had been blowing all day but was not a problem in the narrow channels.  Well wind does it's thing in a big body of water and all of a sudden our leisurely voyage turned into the "Perfect Storm", at least according to Melissa.  We were rocking and rolling a bit but Missy was not prepared for it and she needed to go below where the effects are not as dramatic.

After 90 minutes of getting pounded around we made back into a channel and all was perfect again.  When we got to the Marina, the dock master had me pull up to the fuel dock in the channel.  With the wind and the tidal current it was another major production to get the boat docked without A) grounding, B) smashing the dock, or C) getting my crew hurt.  Very stressful.  After the third attempt we managed to get a stern line to the dock hand just as one of my motors stalled!  Whew, lucky break.

Then it was back to bliss again with a peaceful sunset and a very nice dinner at the Marina restaurant.  We are going to take a day off and relax on Thanksgiving while we explore Hilton Head Island. 

We really miss the kids and our friends but this really is an adventure of a lifetime and we are having a blast despite the moments of high drama.  Best wishes to all on Thanksgiving.

Day 4 - Nov 22nd, 2011

My helm chair was really busted.  Last night we called West Marine in Charleston and they had a new one in stock.  We arranged to stop at Charleston City Marina, take a cab to West Marine and back to get a new chair.  I was very excited as I have had a stiff neck the last two days and I hope a new chair will improve things. 

We both got up early and left the Isle of Palms Marina dock by 0730.  It was beautiful.

Motored across the Charleston harbor with no problems as an ocean going vessel had just crossed and there was no other large vessels moving.

 Stopped at the City Marina, got an expensive cab, went to West Marine, visited the grocery store, then found a cheaper cab back to the marina.  Another great day!

The U S Coast Guard did track us for a mile or so. 

Lots of narrow channels and shallow water to deal with and only two sailboats.  Pretty windy but a super day. 

We headed to Edisto S. C. for the night.  Smooth motoring pretty much all day but a strong tidal current when we came into the marina.  No one came out to help even after I hailed them on the radio but got no response. 

I really struggled to get the boat into the slip without crashing into the dock.  I tried to back in four or five times because the slip was shorter than our boat and the exit is toward the rear.  Finally I gave up on that and tried to head in.  I did manage to finally get into the slip without too much banging but still frustrated that I don't really know how to deal with a strong current that is running at an angle to where I am trying to go.

Nice little marina.  The dock lady did come down after we had squeezed in and offered to help.  Then we went to the marina restaurant.....not impressed other than the crab bisque.

Big storm predicted for tonight which is way we did not risk anchoring out somewhere.  We hope it moves through first thing so we can head for Hilton Head.  It would be fun to spend Thanksgiving there and we hope to skype to the kids at some point in the evening.

Please post comments so we know people are reading this.  And don't forget to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the blog to get the spot locator link to you can see where we are.  Just copy the link and then past it in your web browser.

Day 3 - November 21st, 2011

Headed out from Georgetown after a nice warm shower in very clean facilities.  A little cloudy to start but a nice day.

We were expecting to see a lot of boats heading south down the ICW but were disappointed the first two days.  Today traffic picked up.    

This boat was anchored for the night just off the ICW.

We passed three or four sailboats and were passed by one cruiser.  One of the sailors had his best friend with him:

For the first day we did not go under a bridge.  We did come across a cable drawn ferry that was interesting.

Finished the night in Isle of Palms Marina just outside Charleston.  Missy and I enjoyed our first dinner on the sundeck (sardines and pizza).

ICW Day 2 ~ November 20, 2011

Yo-ho-ho friends ~

Sorry for the delayed reporting, there were some technical difficulties with the blog, but all is well.
Sunday was a very peaceful day on the ICW. We left Myrtle Beach early in the AM and spent the night in Georgetown, which is pretty much a ghost town on Sunday nights.

Some of our discoveries along the way yesterday were ~

Schmom can steer the boat!

but Capt Bill does a better job (so far)

birds will make nests anywhere they see fit

turtles like to sun themselves on logs

Swing bridges are fun...and very helpful

lots of beauty

the view from the bridge

some boats are even named after girlfriends - Miss Kayla :)

two turtles on a date

Gondolas take golfers across to play their rounds of golf (how classy is that?!)

Today we are off to Charleston, SC

Capt and Crew (guess which is which)