Wednesday June 29, 2011

80°40.475 W

32°25.786 N

Downtown Marina

Beaufort, South Carolina



Leaving Skull Creek Marina




One of many homes along the way

With storms predicted we cruised a short 20 miles to Beaufort. The skies were cloudy but the water was flat and comfortable for our quick cruise. Three hours after we were safely moored in port one heck of a storm roared through the harbor dumping a huge amount of rain some of which got into the fly bridge. I screwed up and left the two sides open while we were in a restaurant a few blocks away. It looks like tomorrow we will get everything dried out during the day light hours.

Port Royal Sound



Marine Base on Paris Island



The repair facility that repaired the outboard is shipping a new carburetor and fuel pump to me at the marina in Beaufort. Fed-X said I should have it in my hands by 3 pm tomorrow! I’ll install the replacement parts and hopefully the motor will run! Stay tuned for the out board motor saga!



Downtown Beaufort, SC







Beaufort Riverwak




Beaufort Riverwalk





Beaufort Riverwalk



Tuesday June 28, 2011

80°44.826 W

32°14.728 N

Skull Creek Marina

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina



Leaving Isle of Hope Marina




Shrimp fishing boats



Today we had a delightful 4 hour cruise to Hilton Head Island. The weather man said thunder storms but we experienced none. The wind did kick up as we entered port but that seams to be the norm.



Famous Hilton Head Lighthouse



I decided to test run the repaired outboard motor in the harbor at Skull Creek Marina. It started and ran for 30 seconds then quit. The repair shop where it was fixed is working out a plan to get it running. Stay tuned --- this is going to be good!

Scences along the way



Tomorrow we will move on to Beaufort, SC! Our plan is to spend two nights in port. The city of Beaufort is another southern city filled with history that this country was built on.



Skull Creek





Along the way





Moor $tuff in the harbor



View of Skull Creek Harbor

Monday June 27, 2011

81°03.35 W

31°58.78 N

Isle of Hope Marina

Savannah, Georgia



Somewhere over the rainbow



Today we got a lot done. We shipped a 65 pound box of charts, clothing and stuff back to Illinois! An hour and a half at the laundry then back to the marina.



The New Savannah Bridge



During the day the outboard motor was demonstrated to be fixed then delivered to the boat.



Barb and I checked out the car at 5 pm and drove to the city to drive across the bridge to South Carolina. The view of the city is spectacular from the top of the bridge! From there we drove to the Pirates House for a quick snack and glass of wine before finding a Wal-Mart for food and general supplies.

Tomorrow we will leave Savannah and cruise to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Hilton Head will be a one night stop before moving on to Beaufort, S.C. Wednesday.

Below are some pictures of the homes we have seen in Savannah.

 

 

Sunday June 26, 2011

81°03.35 W

31°58.78 N

Isle of Hope Marina

Savannah, Georgia

Barb read yesterday’s blog regarding the bigger boat. She said I missed my chance a few years back at the beginning of this adventure. So much for the power of suggestion!



Huen - Barb - Skip



Yesterday Barb did a major house cleaning and I did as little as possible. The marina said the repair to our outboard motor would be done tomorrow! I’ll be pleased if it is.



Huen lead the pack to Love’s Seafood, a new restaurant for us but one he has gone to for over 30 years. The Georgia white shrimp were some of the best I have ever eaten. If you’re visiting Savannah, I would highly recommend the restaurant.

Saturday June 25, 2011

81°03.35 W

31°58.78 N

Isle of Hope Marina

Savannah, Georgia

We had another low key day today. Other than cleaning the port side of the hull no other work was done! We did spend time looking at charts planning the next few weeks of cruising north to South Carolina! Our goal is to be in Charleston for the 4^th of July with stops at Hilton Head, Beaufort and possibly one night on the hook while getting there.

Carl, Ricki and two of their Grandchildren returned to their boat around 5 pm today. Once they were moved in the six of us went to dinner at the local Outback restaurant. It’s good to have them back.

Having guests for extended periods of time is reason enough to consider a larger boat! Now that I have written this ---- I’ll wait for Barb’s response! Actually this is a perfect size boat for the two of us even thou I would like 5 or 6 feet additional in length. We all know that’s not going to happen ---but it’s a good thought!

Friday June 24, 2011

81°03.35 W

31°58.78 N

Isle of Hope Marina

Savannah, Georgia

The weather cooled down due to the wind and rain during the night! Eighty degrees is much better than 100 degrees!

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
(Founder of the Girl Scouts)

 

Huen and Cricket picked up Barb and I then drove us to the trolley depot in Savannah. Huen delivered the three of us then took his truck in for service.



Johnny Mercer
(wrote "Moon River")



"US"



Barb, Cricket and I took the city trolley tour then walked the riverfront before finding a restaurant for lunch. After lunch with map in hand we walked to locations we had discovered during the trolley tour for an up close look! In addition to a museum we visited a historical cemetery that has been closed to burials for over 100 years! This beautiful City is so filled with history that happened in the 1700s it’s hard to comprehend all of it!

 

The Lady & Sons Restaurant
(Paula Dean)

 

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City Market



Savannah is one city that was not destroyed during the Civil War. With all of there buildings in tact we enjoyed the beautiful restored homes in surroundings as it was 150 plus years ago! Many of the streets are brick, lined with 200 year old oak trees. The river front is paved with ballast stones from the old ships that came to Savannah to transport cotton to Europe. As the cotton was loaded on the ships the ballast stones were removed to compensate for the weight of the cotton.

   

 

Colonial Park Cemetery

 

Colonial Park Cemetery



Cathedral of St. John the Baptist



 

 



HALF TAXI - HALF POLICE CAR



Thursday June 23, 2011

81°03.35 W

31°58.78 N

Isle of Hope Marina

Savannah, Georgia



Fort Pulaski



Today Barb and I were tourists. We drove to Huen’s boat and picked up Cricket then off to Fort Pulaski. The fort was constructed by the US Government before the Civil War. When Georgia succeeded from the Union they captured the fort using limited force and made it a formidable fort defending access to one of their major ports, Savannah. The Union forces regained control during a major battle and retained control for the remainder of the war. It’s been a national monument fully restored since the early 1900s.



Fort Pulaski



Fort Pulaski



From there we visited Tybee Island and its lighthouse. A quick stop for a late lunch and a cold beer before Barb drove us back to “Lucky One” to drop off Cricket. We had the car checked out until 5 pm so we needed to get back to the marina.



Fort Pulaski



Tybee Island Pier



Barb and I no sooner boarded our boat when we were hit with a major storm! Two fronts hit the harbor with power failures. There was no damage but there were times we thought there would be! I checked Carl’s boat after the storm passed and reset the tripped breakers plus added an additional line just in case.





Tybee Lighthouse



Tomorrow weather permitting we will visit the city of Savannah!



Tybee Lighthouse





Fort Screven Museum

Wednesday June 22, 2011

81°03.35 W

31°58.78 N

Isle of Hope Marina

Savannah, Georgia

The hot weather continues to make life uncomfortable. The AC unit hasn’t stopped running since we got here. Since it uses the water in the river to cool the boat, the lowest temperature we can get to during the day is in the low 80s.



Riverfront street



Barb and I drove into Savannah and walked the river front. The city is full of charm and tourists! We weren’t there more than a couple of hours when the smoke rolled in and hid most of the charm we were enjoying. When visibility dropped to less than a mile we decided to return to the marina. If the smoke is gone in the morning we will return to the city tomorrow.



City Hall in background



Bridge to South Carolina





City Hall Dome



Leaving the Savannah Harbor



Waterfront









At the waterfront!