PREPAIRING TO MOVE NORTH UP THE ICW

MAY 13, 2016

SUNSET IN CHARLESTON

RED AT WORK

Getting ready to leave Charleston was a 3 day affair.  First we had to decide what to do about our Honda generators.  After 4 years of faithful service they finally gave up.  They traveled over 10,000 miles across oceans in good weather, bad weather, high seas and tropical storms.  They even survived lightening strikes on the aft deck of It's Perfect. They always started with one pull and provided us with fresh water, air conditioning and hot water.  They have been replaced with  Red our new Honda EU2000i. We are heading north for the summer and do not expect to need air conditioning often, one generator should handle our needs for now.  The cruising kitty will have a chance to catch up before replacing the other.  Life is once again good aboard It's Perfect.

VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT ON A RAINY DAY

Next it was a trip to Wal Mart to restock before heading north.  When we were in St Augustine, Ben Vickers hooked us up with Uber on line.  This service is new to us and it is quicker and less expensive than a taxi.  First you register with Uber online with a credit card number.  Then anytime you need a ride all you do is login and give them your pickup point and destination.  All the drivers are independent contractors, the closest available driver is contacted and you receive a notice on your phone of their arrival time.  The system matches your pickup point with the closest available driver.  We logged in and were picked up 4 min later.  The wait time is minimal, you do not pay the driver your card is charged at the destination point.  Works great!  $10 for a trip over the river bridge to the closest Wal Mart about 20 min.  The trip back with 2 carts of groceries was equally as easy.  We were back at the dock at City Marina where our dinghy waited.

SPRINGTIME IN CHARLESTON

The next two days were busy, we topped off our diesel, gas and water.  Then we made a trip to the bank and the ice cream parlor on the bikes.  After our return to the marina it was laundry time.  This laundry facility is one of the best we have come across, $1.75 to wash and $1.00 to dry.  Last but not least it was time to secure the bikes on deck and check the engine.  After an hour of cleaning and putting away below we are finally ready. 

VIEW FROM IT'S PERFECT

We have waited on weather long enough and the storms keep coming.  Saturday morning we will leave our anchorage in the Ashley River off Charleston and head north up the ICW.   Our next anchorage we will be just past George Town at Butler Island.  The next day we hope to reach the anchorage in the South River just past Beaufort.

BUILT IN 1763 THIS CHARLESTON SINGLE HOUSE

IS ENTERED BY A DOOR ONTO THE PIAZZA