Trip Diary for May, 2006

Beaufort and vicinity; May 1-7: Monday morning we drove to Savannah to show Ken and Carolyn that beautiful city.  In addition to the ever popular bus tour, we also took the 2 PM Savannah River Queen 1 hr. river ride, viewing both the city and busy commercial river traffic. A leisurely start Tuesday allowed us to drive to Hunting and Fripp Islands before having excellent lunches at the Frogmore, SC Shrimp Shack. A brief stop at Publix provided supplies for a fine grilled pork chop dinner aboard.  We departed Wednesday AM for a driving tour of Hilton Head and for shopping, returning in time for dinner at the Steamer's on Lady's Island.  Thursday was spent in Charleston, strolling Market Street and enjoying a horse carriage tour. Following the advice of a local tour stand salesperson, we enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Griffon. Larry and Lola worked on the boat Friday while Ken and Carolyn enjoyed a Beaufort bus tour and then drove to Parris Island Marine Museum; today's meals were all light and aboard.  Saturday was the 7th annual "Taste of Beaufort" day; we enjoyed strolling through downtown stores and sampling foods at the many restaurant booths lining Bay Street.  This fare sufficed for both lunch and dinner.  In the evening we made a last-minute run to Wal-Mart, stopping of course at the next-door Bruster's, while the Spillman's van was still available.  While Larry and Lola attended church Sunday, Spillman's packed for their trip back to KS.  They left just after 11 AM.  We spent the afternoon preparing the Lola Marie for departure following her month's berthing at the Downtown Marina in Beaufort.

Charleston; May 8-11: We cast-off on a 66-degree, misty, overcast Monday at 7:00 AM for the 67 mi. trip to the huge, first-class Charleston City Marina; a day to appreciate the pilothouse's indoor driving.  At least three other AGLCA boats were making the same trip today.  For the first 25 miles we were escorted by dozens of laughing seagulls catching fish in our boat's wake. Our 3:40 PM arrival permitted a leisurely dinner at the on-site restaurant.  For Lola's birthday Tuesday we took the marina's courtesy shuttle to a late lunch-early dinner.  After finding the recommended Hank's did not open until 5, we went to Bubba Gump's; good movie memorabilia, but not great food.  To compensate for the meal, we found the nearby Kilwin's for Turtle Sundaes!  It was cloudy and cool almost all day, but the clouds parted enough for a great sunset. Upon returning from the Wednesday 11 AM West Marine shuttle run, Lola twisted her ankle exiting the shuttle.  Thus, we spent the afternoon aboard with ice packs.  Thursday we rented a car to complete assorted shopping and to have it tomorrow's trip to the airport.

Memphis, TN; May 12-22: Friday's flight to Memphis for granddaughter Samantha's HS baccalaureate and graduation on May 14 and 20 respectively left at 7 AM, requiring a 4:30 AM departure from the boat.  The flight was on time and uneventful.  An evening trip to Tunica's Horseshoe Casino completed a very long day. Saturday was spent shopping.  Sunday's baccalaureate service at 1:30 PM in the huge (2,500 seat) Bellevue Baptist Church in Germantown.  Monday provided a chance to X-ray Lola's still painful foot; it had a broken tibula!  With that bit of new knowledge, Tuesday was a day for recuperation.  Taking advantage Wednesday of the car Glen had generously provided, we visited an orthopedist who prescribed a Velcro boot for Lola's broken foot.  With the ability to walk improved, we continued to Tunica to take our minds off the matter. Thursday, Lola shopped while Larry began installing wireless networking for Judy and updating her computer that had not been used for 18 mo.  Since their broadband ISP was Time-Warner, this also required the better part of Friday.  Family began arriving today for the big event: Larry's sister Sharon and husband George who brought their mother, daughter Sandy and Klaus plus their son Nick and his wife Jamie.  Saturday, graduation day at last!  Larry's brother David and his wife Darlene from Macon, IL arrived via Tunica.  Judy had a delightful lunch and reception for the graduate, who easily managed to get ready in time for the 6 PM service.  Sunday, visitors who remained went to see the Peabody ducks walk from the fountain to their elevator  and enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Texas de Brazil, followed by a brief stroll down Beale Street. Monday, Judy and Samantha took us to the airport a couple of hours before our pleasant 1:35 PM flight back to Charleston.  The evening was devoted to unpacking and unwinding from an intense, delightful Memphis visit.

Charleston; May 23-25: Tuesday we took advantage of the remaining hours on the airport car rental to complete shopping for boating charts, etc. for the next stage of the trip up to Chesapeake Bay.  Wednesday AM was spent at the boat getting everything back in order; the master stateroom air conditioner has started freezing after 30-60 min. of operation, but we were unable to find an available repair person.  The courtesy van took us to Hyman's Seafood for fabulous flounder and shrimp dinners.  Thursday AM we laundered, made reservations at the next marina and charted the course thereto.  We then had a late lunch/early dinner at Sticky Fingers followed by a final visit to Kilwin's.

Georgetown, SC; May 26-27: We castoff at 6:35 AM Friday, trying to make Georgetown Landings Marina by 3 PM to meet an air conditioner repairman.  A 10 AM call removed that urgency when he rescheduled for Saturday.  Much of the 67 mi. trip was through dug channels bypassing shallow, meandering creeks.  As we moved NE, the seeming endless miles of GA and SC marsh grass gradually gave way to trees and nice homes along the ICW. The waterway was exceptionally busy today and, to our delight, all boaters were polite about slowing to pass.  Dolphins were also unusually numerous and we were able to get our first reasonably good picture of one (No, the water wasn't unlevel; in his haste to catch the dolphin, Larry didn't level the camera).  SSE winds were 20-25 most of the day and increased as night fell with gusts in excess of 40 and thunderstorms throughout the vicinity!  This marina is vulnerable to S winds and we bounced all night; roughest night since the Dunedin experience.  As promised, Brian Mosley came at 9:30 AM Saturday to recharge the stateroom AC unit.  We then called a cab to visit the historic downtown.  They've done a beautiful job of developing a river walk (note the large paper mill in the background).  The prosperous town center has several neat shops, but the temperature reached 90 and the humidity wasn't far behind, so we returned to the boat about 3:30 PM to rest while it cooled.  Later, Larry got out the pressure washer to remove major growths that had built up along the waterline and then grilled steak for a relaxed evening aboard.

Little River, SC; May 28-31: We left Sunday, the anniversary of our departure on this adventure, at 8:20 AM, going NE on the Waccamaw River for the first 30 mi.  This was some of the prettiest waters we've seen in SC with meandering tree-lined banks and a nesting Osprey on every daymark pole.  Since it was Memorial weekend, boat traffic was intense, especially after we left the Waccamaw and entered the narrower 25 mi. dug stretch of ICW known as the Pine Island Cut.  As we approached the Myrtle Beach area about 3 PM, "intense" became "incredible", the worst we've experienced.  Friday's polite passing was NOT replicated.  These conditions combined with strong tidal currents to make the 10-min. waits at the two low swing bridges near the very nice Crickett Cove Marina where we had reservations, 3 mi. below the SC/NC state line, especially challenging.  Wayne and Judy Skaggs, long-time friends and professional NC State colleagues since their Purdue graduate school days, came over from nearby Sunset Beach, NC around 6 PM.  After briefly visiting, we rode to Crabby Oddwaters in Sunset Beach for great seafood dinners and then to their beautiful new vacation home on Sea Plantation Golf Resort for dessert. Monday morning was devoted to mundane housekeeping tasks: laundry and finishing the power wash-off of growths from the Lola Marie's waterline.  Wayne and Judy picked us up at 3 PM for a drive around the area and dinner at their home.  We picked up a rental car Tuesday morning to replenish the onboard food, get Lola nails reworked and start arranging a follow-up exam of Lola's foot.  Returning, we had an onboard chicken dinner.  Wednesday Lola went to the nearby urgent care center; while it required a 3-hr. wait, the report was good: the broken bone was still aligned and healing.  After returning the car, we stopped at the marina's Gill and Grill for a late lunch and great view of the marina and ICW. We grilled steak for an onboard dinner.

Water miles traveled this month: only 196 (total 4707).

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