South Carolina

A typical open swing bridge on the ICW. Sometimes you have to time your approach, as they open at specific times.

An anchorage on Thoroughfare Creek of the Wacamaw River, SC. Upriver from Cape Fear.

Palmento "palm" trees starting to be more present the further south we go. Typical "low country" scenery.

Charleston Harbour Marina, across the Ashley River from Charleston.

Patriot Point Naval museum, some 2nd world war ships including the carrier "Yorktown", a destroyer and a submarine. The carrier had a lot of vintage aircraft ranging from the 2nd war to about 10 years ago.

We toured Fort Sumter, were the first shots in the American Civil War were fired.

Fort Sumter National Monument at the entrance to Charleston Harbour

Downtown Charleston

Old Southern House in Beaufort SC

Garden and trees in Beaufort SC

The sun was warming us up ,the wind was chilly, and the tides strong getting into Southport from the Cape Fear River. We saw a small part of Southport –dinged over to the area of Dutchman’s Park from our lovely anchorage. It was there that we talked to Art and Kate Hesse  of Patriot, from NJ, but making their home in this area  now and on their way to Florida. Crossing the border from NC to SC was not met with a ‘Welcome’ sign of any kind, but we took a few photos and noted that there was less development and more trees, it was a Saturday so lots of folks were fishing, and some did not abide by the ‘No Wake” rule.

 

 “The Strand” at Little River is a boating and vacation area, lots of marinas, seafood restaurants-this area continues to Myrtle beach and Georgetown. We took a marina do laundry and have showers, the port is also a yacht club  so we have dinner and take in the Sat night entertainment.

 

Next day we passed  the Anna and Victoria, they were going into a Marina and we were pushing on. The fancy homes are thinning out, but every now and then an upscale boating or golfing housing  development shows up- also on this stretch are fishing and hunting ‘camps’, and house boats.  This area was once all rice plantations. We anchored in the ‘boonies’, a lovely spot with one other boat, called home, and touched base with Uncle Arch and Aunt Anne (The Accidental RVers) who got to Charleston, SC  before us, so we will see them in FL.

 

Survived “the Rock Pile” ! The next day-not much traffic with us (some big cabin cruisers passing us at Georgetown), very low water at MacClellanville, and a lonely anchorage with an occasional fishing boat (this seems to be an oyster harvesting area.) There is a protected forest here as well as  a national wildlife refuge -Awendaw, SC is the nearest spot on the map.

 

By the Time We Got to 30 miles from  Charleston:

We were out of fresh produce, bread, rum, and in need of the company of others. Gerry is ¾ through Das Boot and Debbie finished reading all her books, so has opened Kindle to the downloads from the Slave South reading list from Coursera. With all this mind we started an e-mail group of other boaters, and did some planning.

  Luckily, we had great neighbours here at the dock- Gerry was able to get a drive to fill the propane tanks. The Marina at Patriot’s Point offers Water Taxis and Trolley service all day, as well as showers, laundry, and a great restaurant: ’The Fish House’. We went to the historic downtown area, bought some groceries,  and found a hardware store that had some things on our list and that  also offered free books ! After storing our stash, Gerry went on a tour of the “Yorkville’ and Debbie went back over the river to The Market. Sundowners with our new friends (the Russell cousins) at the dock was fun- they have roots in Tennessee (40 miles from Dolly Parton’s family place ) and they are very interested in Civil War history. Next day we toured Fort Sumter and went back downtown –great city! Great crab-cakes! Warm Sun! Leaving Charleston in great shape: clean boat ,clean clothes, H20 top-up, pump-out, fridge full! 

Back on the ICW, it a cold day. Rivers traveled :Ashley, Stono, Wadmalaw, North Ediston, Dawho, South Ediston. Caught up with First Love, and anchored in the same spot they did along with 9 others-good to have south- bound  company again! Celebrated one month on water with a nice meal and some wine. The next day was even colder going through the Ashepow, and Coosaw  (Coosaw was wide enough to sail) to the Beaufort River. Had a bit of a competition with a boat from Charlottown, PEI Be Faithful 2. Went out for supper with Gil and Sharleen from First Love.


Nov 8/14              Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, Little River, SC  (345 ICW)

Nov 9/14              Anchorage, Thoroughfare Creek, Waccommaw River (388 ICW)                                   ICW

Nov 10/14            Anchorage, Awendaw Creek,  (436 ICW)

Nov 11-13/14       Charleston City Resort and Marina, Patriot’s Point,    (464 ICW)                                                                  Charleston, SC (Mile 464)

Nov 14/14            Anchorage, South Edisto River, SC (Mile 509 ICW)

Nov 15/14            Beaufort Municipal Marina, Beaufort, SC  (545 ICW)