From North Carolina to Georgia – Learning and being Wowed as We Go

Leaving North Carolina, we knew that the next two states, South Carolina and Georgia, were going to offer unique experiences, but also very shallow waterways and, yes, lots of bridges. 

So, lots of planning. 

And I do mean lots!  Somehow, we have to find a route for the day that meets the following requirements:

• We get to very shallow areas at the highest tide available
• We go under fixed 65 foot bridges at the lowest tide possible
• We time bridges that open at fixed times.  The worst are those that only open once an hour.
• We navigate narrow sections with the current and not against it
• We do all of this with the waning daylight hours (currently that is 6.5 hours we are willing to be moving)
• Oh and we, being dog owners, need to also make sure that where ever we land at the end of the day, there is a dock or beach that we can take Ocean to do her business. 

This is my new job!  I am the navigator on Wild Horses so, yeesh, this is my daily dose of work.  I love it though.  It is a bunch of puzzle pieces that I somehow put together into our journey for the day.
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And, it is working.  So far, the score board is: 0 bridges touched with our mast, 0 times gone aground, 0 times Ocean has had to cross her legs because we couldn’t get her to shore. 😊

Passing through one of the many swing bridges

Mike at the helm

Victoria planning the next day's journey while underway

A day of planning!

Anchoring in the ICW

But it isn’t just a slog of a journey.  No, we have just about completed South Carolina and we have seen some truly wonderful places and sights as we motor down the ICW.  Dolphins continue to be a real treat and, gosh, when they get really close alongside our hull…well, that is magic.  We also see lots of bald eagles and pelicans and incredible terrain and vistas.
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Having a dog, especially one that isn’t quite yet trained to do her business on deck, we need to go ashore.  And this is where the beauty of some of our anchorages really gets uncovered.  In towns, we get to see a bit of the local flare.  Feral cats along the Waccamaw River, a beach made entirely of oyster shells, large plantation oak trees with Spanish moss hanging from them, and beautiful country homes.  And always, I mean al-ways, people chatting with us about Ocean.  We meet so many people who want to pet her, tell us about their dog or just give us a wave and say “that is one beautiful pup y’all have”.  Incredible.

Horses along the ICW - this one is for you Chloe!

Fresh seafood is a staple these days!

Beautiful walkways in Georgetown SC

Downtown Georgetown SC

Mike and Ocean walking along the oyster beach

A closer look at the beach made of oyster shells

So many oak tress dripping with spanish moss

Whoops! High tide removed our easy dock walkway. We had to beach the dinghy instead!

​Most days are amazing but not all days are easy.  Boat issues that spring up out of nowhere are our biggest stressor.  Not only do we have to manage “the moment” i.e. getting the boat to a safe place where a proper assessment of the issue and cause can be done, but we actually need to solve the issue. Boat mechanics are not readily available so most fixes fall on us (i.e. Mike).  Some issues are a constant worry (like our bow thruster or our alternator misalignment) but others pop up, are resolved and we move on (like our starboard helm suddenly becoming non-functional).  We don’t have any specific expertise in this stuff but, man, Mike will be able to teach a master class when we complete this journey!  He is a great problem solver and that skill has been key in keeping us going.  He uses a unique blend of mechanical ingenuity, common sense, stubbornness and ego (will not be defeated) to somehow put us back in the forward position.  Honestly, most days I am in awe.

Mike trying to solve our starboard helm malfunction

The issue? The lock key had wiggled itself loose and fallen out.

​So, yes, this journey so far has been a challenge but the rewards come daily.  We are looking forward to getting to Georgia with its very shallow sections.  Many sailors choose to go out into the Atlantic rather than deal with Georgia.  Not us.  Next week we will have Georgia on our minds 😊.

Christmas trees arriving in Beaufort SC

Christmas trees for sale in Beaufort!

Some Georgetown humour!