If you now have The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” stuck in your head, you’re welcome – I do too.
We needed to leave Charleston Harbor Marina at slack tide – the currents run hard, and our slip was in an awkward spot to get out of with the fuel dock just behind us. We got conflicting information on exactly when slack was, and we ended up making a hasty departure when we realized it was “right now”. We had a 10-15kt breeze gusting into the 20s, and to make things more interesting, a catamaran was heading into the fuel dock as we were about to depart. Fortunately the dockmaster asked them to wait – I have no idea how we would have gotten out otherwise. With just a couple feet to spare, Chris backed out of the slip, backed along the fairway and got us turned out of the marina like a pro, and we were both glad to leave that stress behind us.
Our only bridge opening for the day was the Wappoo Creek bridge just after the James Island bridge, and since it was a weekend, we didn’t have to wait for an opening. The Wappoo Creek into the Stono River is lined with pretty houses and big, old Spanish moss-covered live oaks, and I remembered it as one of my favorite spots from our previous trip. There was a lot of current in the creek, but fortunately it was with us rather than against.
The trip was relatively easy until we got to the Dawho River, where our charts were just not accurate. Fortunately, I have Aqua Maps downloaded on my phone with the Bob423 tracks integrated, and that turned out to be a lifesaver. It was a good reminder to check your charts, but trust your eyes. It was nearly dead low as we passed through North Creek on the other side of the Dawho Bridge, and at points we saw depths as low as 5.9′. We let a catamaran go ahead of us just before the bridge since they were faster, and a couple times they radioed back to let us know about thin water on their track. We followed Bob’s track and made it through without bumping, but it was a tense passage.
We anchored in the South Edisto River before Fenwick Cut even though we still had a couple hours of daylight left. The spot we picked was well outside the channel in 7′ at low tide, and we were surrounded by marsh and unspoiled forest. A couple dolphins swam by, and Jack joined us on deck to sniff his new surroundings. We could see a few houses in the distance, but after the boat behind us passed, we saw no one else until just before sunset. I was worried they’d come anchor with us and was glad when they decided to anchor back where we spotted them – I was looking forward to a night at anchor completely alone.
I really do love anchoring out and the peace and quiet it affords (especially on a calm night). We watched the sun set and retreated below to keep what heat we could, poking our heads up for a few minutes later on to enjoy the near-full moon dancing on the water. After all the wake and busyness of Charleston, a low-key night on anchor was just what I needed.
2 replies on “500 (statute) Miles”
I’m enjoying your posts so much, that I get mad at you when they are late. I’m reliving memories of our trip down the coast with every exciting post. Keep them coming. You and Chris are living the dream. Be well my friends
Thank you, Mike! I’m trying to keep up, I promise! I’m working on a couple more this week. I loved our trip so much, and it was a big inspiration for this go-round.