En route, chugging along…
Day 4, Wednesday June 2
Ed and I departed the Fernandini town dock at 7:00 am.
This dock is all brand-new after Hugo destroyed it a few years back. It took a long time to rebuild, but they did a great job.
This town is a great stop; lots of great shops and a really great area.
A train actually travels right down the middle of Main Street, it’s really wild.
The huge port is right next door and we found out that the container ship that parks there only services Bermuda. When Covid hit, a cruise ship was docked there and every time the container ship returned, the cruise ship had to get off the dock and go out and drop anchor some where.
We decided to cruise on the inside on the ICW, it was a little thin through the back of Jekyll’s Island, but we picked our way and got through.
I couldn’t believe all of the alligators that we saw. One popped his head up right in front the bow of our boat, I steered away thinking it was a crab pot.
It was wild, never saw so many alligators on this journey. Can’t wait for my message about it.
When we travel this area, we have to go way out almost to touch the sea on a red buoy, and turn at that point and head back into the ICW.
A huge sailboat was following us and he decided to cut the most important buoy.
I asked Ed, “Where is he going?” And it’s really shallow with lots of shoaling, due to the currents and tides. It is constantly changing here; the tides are 10 feet. It’s wild and the currents can be as much as 8 knots.
Well, the guy in the sailboat hailed Ed asking him which way he navigates his vessel.
Ed replied, “My depth finder is my friend, as well as contours of the earth… also following the navigational rules.”
He came back with, “I just follow Bob.” We both started cracking up.
Ed replied, “Yes we know about Bob, but for insurance purposes if something was to happen I don’t think my insurance company would understand that one.”
Didn’t he want to learn how to navigate his boat?
We were going to anchor out and last minute I said, “Ed, let’s go to a marina.”
So we started to search, there are only a few in the Savannah area.
Finally, we asked Danny at Safe Harbor Bahia Bleu in Thunderbolt, GA, if we could dock at the fuel dock and be off the fuel dock at 6:00 am. No worries, no one was around when we docked. It was closed and we docked at 6:45 pm.
We went out to dinner and had a great evening, the town was alive and having fun. Slept like a rock.
Day 5, Thursday June 3
When I woke up, Ed was working on the port throttle and he was so frustrated over it.
I asked, “What is going on?” He explained he thought if he drained some of the antifreeze out along with the air, it would tighten up the port throttle.
We have three throttles on this boat, they’re three places that work together to steer the boat.
Well, what Ed thought was a quick fix turned into a little setback.
We are not leaving, and we need parts or a tech and information. We are on the marinas fuel dock and they have a business to run and we can’t move.
Omg, these are Hynautic throttles and you need a Hynautic technician to work on them, it’s a specialty part and it’s summer, boating season…
We have the manual on the boat and Ed was reading it and doing everything possible to repair the system, but we both couldn’t get the throttles to cooperate.
I decided to ring Hinkley over the bridge and see if I could maybe get someone to come look at this for Ed.
I spoke to Dustin, and he explained his only technician that specializes in this went on vacation. He won’t be back until next week. This is a very, very unique technician.
We have to get off the fuel dock and we have keep heading north. I explained our situation and I asked if he knew anyone.
I prayed and he came back with, “You can try ringing a man by the name of Michael Carter, at Williams Detroit, and use my name, it may get you somewhere.”
I asked him to send me prayers and he said “I feel your pain, and yes I will.”
Well, my angels were definitely on my side. I rang Michael and he actually took my call.
He said, “I am pulling off a Hynautic tech off a job and sending him down to you this afternoon.” I heard him actually say that while I was holding on the line.
Wow, it was amazing, Ed and the tech worked together to trouble shoot the problem. It was a part that broke and we needed to have it replaced in the engine room.
Michael was so kind to locate the part, order it, and overnight it to his business. Unfortunately the tech that was sent the first time was going on vacation.
I called again the next morning asking when the part should arrive etc. At about noon, he sent two techs down to install.
Well, Ed asked “Where is the lock-tight glue?”
Not at all prepared to do the job correctly. You know how Ed is such a detail man, prepare, prepare and get all your tools.
When 5:00pm arrived, they said they would install the part on Monday because they don’t work weekends.
I was so upset. I rang back Michael Carter and the business was closed.
Ed said, “Meg help me install this part. I can do this…”
He need coffee filters to filter the hydraulic fluid to reuse what he took out of the lines. We don’t have any coffee filters on the boat (we have an electric percolator).
Well, there was a 80 foot Viking docked in front of us, I ran over and asked if he had any coffee filters.
He was from Costa Rica and barely spoke English, but he understood what I needed and he gave me a bunch.
Ed worked diligently until the install was done. It was a long day, so we had cheese and crackers before dinner.
My phone rang at 8:00 at night. It was Michael Carter, he said, “I’m coming down to help your husband, I know how to turn a wrench and I apologize for the two techs that couldn’t finish the job.”
Wow! I handed the phone to Ed. That was so kind of him to care for us, ringing us back on a Friday night after hours.
Williams Detroit services all of USA and Mexico. We now have a great resource along with an amazing contact person.
It slowed us down, but we got off the fuel dock for the weekend of boating.
Anyone knows, it’s a boat…
Along with it’s always an adventure.
I met another friend, the guy from Costa Rica, named Fuji. He came up to our boat and gave us a huge bag of Costa Rican coffee from his home town. It was just so kind of him.
I asked him, “What does the 7 mean on your boat? He said, “My boss is 78 years old and he owns 7 Vikings, 80 ft, 70 ft, 60 ft,” and on.
I told him that I thought it was his number, because 7 is my number. He laughed.
The people that you meet along your journey makes every day so special.
Day 7, Saturday, June 5th
Went out on the Savannah River, it’s a long, long inlet. Huge containers rolling in. We are moving products again, thank god.
Ran offshore, it was great, saw sea turtles and lots of dolphins.
Pulled into the Charlston River inlet to drive the ICW to change it up.
Headed up the Jeremy Creek to McClellanville, SC, the Shrimping Capitol town. Fuel is cheap and the trees and homes are cool there. The frogs are so loud and so cool too.
Got to the fuel dock at 6:00. Pascal met us there, he’s a real character.
His brother is Rutledge IV. His dad is the mayor of this town and all the names are Rutledge or Leland.
We ate in the one restaurant they have and it was a real long wait.
You always have to experience the locals when you travel, that’s what makes life so interesting.
Going back to our boat, you couldn’t see. It was so dark out it was pitch black. And the frogs were so loud, it was wild.
It was a great day…
Day 8, Sunday June 6th
We ran the ICW up to St. James Plantation, in Southport, SC.
Saw lots of my friends along the way: dolphins, eagles, ospreys, alligators… and the trees are amazing- how they survive living in the salt water all along the ICW. There’s no light pollution and no power lines, you feel like you’re in another country. It’s so green and lush with moss and driftwood. Amazing.
Day 9, Monday June 7th
Traveled again in the ICW to Morehead City, NC. We had to run hard and fast to make the Onslow Bridge, and arrived 3 minutes before they opened.
Bridges only open on the hour and half or three quarters, if you miss the time of the opening, you sit in front of the bridge for a long wait.
You also have to let them know your intention, they will not open for you if you don’t.
I was psyched we got into Morehead City Marina, perfecto.
I love that town. They were preparing for their annual big marlin tournament.
Just a great spot. Walked the town and enjoyed the evening.
We are heading now to my other favorite spot, Coinjock, SC.
For now…
“Sea” you soon,
Meg