ANCHORED IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

MAY 5, 2016

IT'S PERFECT

It's Perfect is anchored in the Ashley River across from the Charleston City Marina.  This is where we spent the last 3 months of 2012 before heading south to the islands.  We are at anchor in the Ashley River waiting for a weather window to move north to Beaufort, North Carolina.

SPRING IN CHARLESTON

ST PHILLIP'S CHURCH

After anchoring the bikes were soon in the dinghy and we were off to see the sights.  We wound our way through the brick streets of the Historic District and past downtown.  The streets here are narrow but the traffic is very tolerant about having bikes on the road.  The students of the College of Charleston are always biking through the city going to classes.  Along the streets you see bikes attached to bike racks, telephone poles and parking meters, we fit right in.  After two stops we made our way to the Charleston City Market for ice cream and a walk thru the shops our return to the dinghy took us along the water and thru Battery Park.

BOB THE WATER MAKER

On our second trip into the dock it was laundry, groceries and parts.  First stop was the hardware store where we always need some small part or piece for the boat.  On our way to the dock, the fuel hose on the dinghy decided it done enough and while anchoring the key to the engine broke off, just two of the most recent additions to the LIST.  We have spent the week on boat projects, still trying to get It's Perfect back in order after leaving her on the hard.  The dinghy work is done, reefing lines installed, inside of the hardtop cleaned and polished.  There is still work to do on one of the generators.  We hope to have that finished before departure.  It has been awhile since BOB our water maker has been on the job and it takes both generators to make water.

The anchorage is full of boats waiting out the weather.  Tuesday night a huge cell of storms blew through and Rod watched warm and dry from the cockpit.  Our new Rocna anchor and 250 feet of chain served us well.  It's perfect held solid as the lightning flashed, rain poured and the wind blew in the 30's.  Every time a storm hits we are grateful we made the decision to spend the extra money on the hard top.  The cockpit is our main living area and has made living aboard in any weather much more comfortable.

One more trip into town for provisions and we hope to be moving.  Our trip will take us out into the Atlantic.  It is 220 miles to Beaufort, anchor to anchor, about 40 hours.  The weather is suppose to break on Sunday and the wind turn from the west.  Our hope is to leave before sunup Sunday morning and arrive at anchor late on Monday.  It should be a great sail.