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Loads of wild country, marsh grass, palmetto trees (palm?), wide tidal rivers with currents either against or with us. Fortunately the paddle wheel (speed transducer) freed itself and we can easily see the difference between speed over ground (GPS) and what the paddle wheel is seeing for speed. We've had many anchoring adventures, including consideration of tides of 4-7 feet (depth of water, plus tide increase, if any, then the distance from the water to the yoke (cleats), times 7, for normal scope. Thus, if the water is 15 feet deep, plus a 6 foot tide, and if the bow roller or cleat is 5 feet off the water, you need 182 feet of anchor rode for normal anchoring. Often we can get away with less as we use all chain and the oversize anchor.
We spent a couple super days in Myrtle Beach with friends of Kathleen's, both school teachers from central New York. We toured Brookgreen Gardens, which is part of the Huntington Estate, specializing in history of the old south, slavery-produced rice fields, and sculptures, many of which were done my Mrs. Huntington herself. The Huntington Estate also includes a section of seacoast, unspoiled by buildings, commercial enterprises, etc. Glad to see the shore area as it was hundreds of years ago! We have never seen anything like this! Brookgreen Gardens is also having a celebration of 1,000 candles in the next week or so, which features candles in trees, floating in various ponds, and the likes. Super thanks to the ladies in Myrtle Beach!
Spent a few hours in Charleston, SC, yesterday December 5th, primarily to mail some letters. When we went to lift the anchor the bottom didn't want to give it up! We pulled from several directions and just couldn't get it to move. Finally, we let out more chain and went back in a different direction and pulled from there. Eventually we got it off the bottom. Sure would hate to have to cut the chain and lose an anchor. In the tropics we could dive and see what's holding it, however, with the mud most places on the east coast, it'd be difficult without SCUBA equipment.
Last evening we came past a sailboat, with all sails up, lying on its side. Apparently they had cut too close to a red buoy (it was a confusing set of day marks), and ran aground. Their only choice was to wait for high tide (10 PM) and hope they had water enough then to float it. We work really hard at watching the charts, both paper charts and the GPS chartplotter. Kathleen usually watches the chartbooks, while Roland uses the GPS. This morning we were worried about low water and the possibility of being aground, so we lifted the anchor at 5:30 AM, and left the river we were in and headed back to the ICW (which was following another river). It's more than a little scary following only a "breadcrumb trail," which the GPS chartplotter leaves as you enter an anchorage, and not being able to even see the shore. With a strong current the boat turns either too fast or not fast enough and you make some prettty strange zig zags! Honestly, it's like using the artificial horizon and altimeter, etc., in an instrument-rated aircraft, operating in fog. This is what apparently happened to JFK, Jr., who crashed his plane when he didn't trust the equipment. Fortunately we made it out and daylight came none too soon. By the way, last evening it rained hard, but this morning the temperature had dropped about 20 degrees, making it somewhere in the high thirties. Glad we brought many layers of heavier clothing, including some skiwear.
Today, December 6th (one day before Pearl Harbor Day, let us never forget!), we are stopped in Beaufort, SC, a nice little town, mostly untouched by the Civil War, as regards housing (most of it is intact as there was little burning here compared to most southern cities of the time). We both enjoy learning more about our country's history as we travel. Yeah, we're headed for the Bahamas, and hopefully, the Caribbean, but never forget it is indeed the journey, not the destination, thus we try to savor each day for its pleasures or trials and tribulations.
Our next stop will likely be in Savannah, GA, which is 7 miles up the Savannah River. Here again is history, good food, and places Kathleen's not been. Hopefully we can spend a couple days just touring.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all, just in case we don't get back on here between now and then! We look forward to hearing from any and all of you.
Finally! Florida! Hey, it's still cold and we require layers of clothing to keep warm. St. Augustine was a great stop. Completed our Christmas shopping, toured the town viewing historic buildings, sampled the local cuisine, etc.
We stopped in Palm Coast to visit with Bob Carson, a gentleman we met a couple years ago at the Small Boat Harbor, in Buffalo. Bob treated us to a quick tour of the area, showed us his nice home, and even bought lunch over at the Pier in Flagler Beach. Palm Coast is a nice area, growing yes, but they still consider the environment and keep many areas of natural growth.
We're currently in Daytona Beach, updating this site, hitting the farmer's market, walking around, etc. Last evening we had to motor for about an hour after dark as the anchorage we were at was too close to the daymark, and too shallow for our liking. This morning we went through three bridges, two of which were bascule bridges, then we anchored off the channel. The bridge operator got on the radio and thankfully provided directions on how to avoid the shallow areas and reach the excellent anchorage.
Dolphins everywhere, egrets, wood ibis, egrets, etc., etc., too much to take it all in! That's it for now, and again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone.
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