LIFE IS GOOD. WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD & HE HAS BLESSED US BEYOND ANYTHING WE COULD EVER EXPECT.

4/9 – 4/15/2014:   Two things to note: First:  I am from Florida so I have lived with flying bugs all my life but nothing like we have seen in GA and SC. We are so glad we have an enclosed pilot house with screens on the windows. Smart move. Second: Low tide in GA & SC in some cases means very little water. Beware of traveling on low tide.

4/14/14: It was a good day to cruise but the weather forecast called for afternoon high winds with gust to 25K-30K. So we docked at the Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, S.C.The Harborwalk Marina is about a block from the historical downtown section. Easy walk to shops and restaurants. Four other Looper boats came so we got to visit and meet more Loopers.

Floating dock at Harbortown Marina, Georgetown, S.C.

4/13/14: After 50NM the anchorages we had picked just didn’t look that good. So we docked at Leland Fuel Dock in  McClellanville, S.C  . We found nice floating docks and southern hospitality. The Dockmaster gave us a ride to the restaurant (only one in town). As we were walking back a couple came by on a golf cart & offered us a ride back to the marina.

Dockmaster Station

Downtown  McClellanville, S.C

4/12/14: We forged ahead on the ICW covering 65NM. We anchored at a known anchorage called Church Creek. Calm night with 5 other boats around us.

As they say the ICW gives and it takes. In a single days travel you will catch the current & tide in your favor, then it will turn on you.  The low tides in George and South Carolina are something to be aware of and travel plans must be made accordingly.

High Tide - Looks like a wide river but not true.

Low Tide - BEWARE

 4/11/14:  We got a late afternoon start from the marina so we only went 19 NM to an anchorage north of Hilton Head.

Sunrise on Anchor North of Hilton Head

4/10/14: After our peaceful night on anchor we pulled up anchor & headed out. Only to discover one of our propeller shifts wasn’t working. WHAT!!! I have said it once & will continue to say it… Boats, you go to sleep everything working fine, you wake up something is broken! Thanking God we were insight of the Thunderbolt Marina & our friend Kaye & Al were there. We managed to get into the marina on an outside dock (thanking God again for that) to assess the situation.

After sending a diver into the water we discovered we had snagged a crab pot. The entire thing was attached to our shaft. Apparently when we backed up on anchor to set the anchor it wrapped itself around our shaft.  The diver was able to get the pot off and Thunderbolt Marina staff checked out our shafts. No major issues.

We spent the night at Thunderbolt Marina which gave us the chance to visit with Kaye & Al. The perk, every morning Thunderbolt Marina delivers ½ dozen Krispy Kreme donuts to your boat. Ours were still hot when we got them. Yum.

Thunderbolt Marina, Thunderbolt, GA

4/9/14: After leaving Darien, Ga we continued north on the ICW. We traveled 49 NM (nautical miles) and anchored near the Thunderbolt Marina in Thunderbold, Ga. Our friends Kaye & Al, Knot Home pulled into the marina. It was a quiet and peaceful night.

Thunderbolt Anchorage Sunset