Sat. July 14, 2012--Dewees Creek, SC to Charleston, SC

Pulling up anchor from the shell bottom in Dewees Creek should have been an easy  cruising maneuver, moving Aurora forward at 10 rpms a hundred feet until the electric windlass pulls in all the anchor chain, dropping it into the well at the bow, and then the anchor comes up last and rests on the bow pulpit.  Remember from yesterday, we’re trying to get to the bridge opening this morning by 6:30, so we’re up, using our “bring up the anchor routine” at 5:15, and it is not wanting to come loose.  We pull forward several times, changing speed and direction, swinging around as the current moves us where it wants.  Finally Dennis yells back something we don’t normally do, “Put it in reverse!” Which I did immediately, and finally the anchor breaks loose and comes up.  As it comes into Dennis’ view he yelled again, “There’s another anchor attached, and a rode wrapped around our chain.”  The extra anchor proved to be old, encrusted with barnacles, and not worth keeping.  It just proves there are no routine maneuvers when you’re cruising, and you just never know what you’ll encounter to test your patience and skills.  We did make it to the bridge opening, and into Charleston City Dock by 7:30a.m. 

Charleston was buzzing with tourists, and we joined them at the City Market, then wandered the historic district until we found the Saturday Farmer’s Market.  It was packed with local vendors of all sorts, selling fruits and vegetables, art, jewelry, and food.  We especially enjoyed the fresh South Carolina peaches, tried a Vietnamese Taco and rehydrated with some fresh-squeezed lemonade.  In the shade of the park there was a local guitarist playing Jimmy Buffet and Barry Manilou.  Dennis inquired if he knew any Stan Rogers and even though he didn’t, we enjoyed his repertoire from our era.      

There was a big fishing tournament, and the docks were busy in the afternoon with guys brining in their catch.  They couldn’t have all been winners, but the boat closest to us seemed to be celebrating like they were until 4:00a.m in the morning.  Guess it’s a fishing thing!

The Intracosatal Waterway Chartbook:  Identical maps as the large paper charts, except in a smaller flip chart version of the Intracoastal Waterway and inlets from the Atlantic.  These charts give names of all ICW bridges, their schedules, and which radio channel to hail the tenders, which varies from state to state.  They also give statute miles beginning with Mile 0 in Norfolk to 1095 in Key Biscayne.