Things That Go Bump in the Night and Painting Amy's Toes

May 31 - June 6, 2006

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - Town Anchorage, Fernandina Beach, Florida
By Tom

NOAA strike again. The east-southeast wind did not show up. Instead we got ten to fifteen out of the north.

Resigned to staying put another day, Amy and I re-launched the dinghy and went for a walk through the town. It's a nice little town with lots of old (for the U.S.) architecture. It seems a little touristy, but not in that bad way.

In other news, I got an email from a long time reader who forwarded me an oil painting his wife did based on one of the pictures we took during our travels. The picture in question (shown at right) had something to do with "Amy's feet in Paradise". I think the oil painting (shown below) is a pretty good likeness. Nice job guys.

Milo says he'd recognize Amy's stubby little toes anywhere.

Later, back on board, we lifted the dinghy into it's davits again. NOAA extra super promises we can leave tomorrow. At this rate, we may not ever make it home.

Thursday, June 01, 2006 - Underway, Ocean, Ocean
By Tom

Miracle of miracles, NOAA called it right and we are now 30 miles offshore heading north. It's a fairly rough ride in 4 foot swells with 3 foot chop, but at least we are sailing. ETA to Charleston 1 pm tomorrow

Friday, June 02, 2006 - Beaufort Harbour, Beaufort, SC
By Tom

Last night NOAA said there were storms coming, so we ducked into Beaufort, SC this morning. It was dark with no moon and we were trying to follow the lighted buoys in to safety when BONG, the missing buoy bounced off the side of the boat.

No damage was done other than a few scratches on the side of the boat. It really kind of pisses me off because this inlet is supposed to be a class A inlet and as such it is supposed to be maintained. It also really pisses me off that there is a coast guard station less then 3 miles away. And finally I am totally pissed off because where are my tax dollars going if we can't keep a fucking light bulb lit!

Ok, I'm pretty much done ranting. We got the hook down off of town around 9 am and promptly went to bed. Later, around 3 pm or so, we assembled the dinghy and went into town for pizza. Don off of Anam Cara had recommended this place to us when we were in the Bahamas.

The pizza was very good and we stuffed ourselves. By the way, Don and Sandi elected to keep going to Charleston last night, so we are now friendless. Maybe we'll meet up with them further north.

Back on the mother ship, we lasted almost til 8 pm before going back to bed. Offshore sailing really takes it out of us

Saturday, June 03, 2006 - Ashley River, Charleston, SC
By Tom

We motored up the ditch today all the way to Charleston. We had the current with us for most of the day, so we took full advantage and covered a whopping 60 miles. For a boat that only motors at 6 knots, that a lot.

We passed two Coast Guard boats on the way here. Is it just me or does it seem a little awkward that the Coasties are riding around in a rigid inflatable with two sixty caliber machine guns? I mean do you really want to get in a gunfight in a blow up boat? Maybe they should trade in their machine guns for a water balloon launcher. Asses. Go fix a light or something, we're paying you.

Anyhow, we anchored just south of the Wapoo Creek bridge and dinghied in to the Crab Claw bar and restaurant. We had a few beers and some mozzarella sticks before heading back to the boat. There were two table of very drunk and very loud people at the bar. Several people complained to the manager and she yelled at the drunks, but to no avail.

She did however cut our bill in half since we were in close proximity to the obnoxious people. It's amazing how tolerant we can be when there is free beer involved.

Back on board, we decided to opt out of dinner and instead I had a few "M&Ms". Tomorrow we continue northward.

Sunday, June 04, 2006 - Awendaw Creek, McClendville, SC
By Tom

We awoke around 7 am and we were under the Wappoo Creek bridge shortly there after. We thought about stopping in Charleston, but we couldn't find the Anam Cara's and since we spent a month here last year, we decided to press on.

We motored in one hour shifts up the ditch, finally coming to rest in Awendaw Creek, just north of McClellandville. We shared the anchorage with one small power boat, but other than that it was pretty quiet.

We were both tired after a long day of motoring and so we turned in early after a dinner of grilled steak and modest side salad. I did get online long enough to download my email and I heard from Don and Sandi, who are in Georgetown waiting for us. Tomorrow we should catch up with them.

Monday, June 05, 2006 - Georgetown, Georgetown, SC
By Tom

We left around 6 am this morning in order to take advantage of a favorable tide. I drove until 9 AM and then Amy woke up and we shifted back into 1 hour shifts.

We had an uneventful motor up the ICW with only occasional visits from passing dolphins and ugly power boats. We arrived in the harbour at Georgetown around 2 pm and anchored in 5 feet of water just ahead of Anam Cara.

In the evening, Don and Sandy came over and we caught up on where we have each been. They went home around 7 pm and after a dinner of Johnsonville Brauts, Amy went to bed and Milo and I watched movies until 1 am.

Tomorrow we are going in to the coffee shop with Don and Sandy for internet access before heading out to the local Walmart for supplies. Not much else to report

Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - Georgetown, Georgetown, SC
By Tom

We awoke to another beautiful day. Last night it got down to 59 degrees! Hard to believe its summer time in the south.

We met Don and Sandy at the coffee shop around 9 am. By 10:30 we were done with internet access and our individual caffeine fixes. Amy and I went to the local vet to inquire about Mila and some recent health issues she seems to have developed.

Since most of you don't own ferrets, allow me to explain. Contrary to what every pubescent human male said, female ferrets are the only mammal that will actually die if they do not have sex when they are in heat.

Because of this, all ferrets are fixed within the first few days of they're life unless they are specifically to be used to breed. Mila was not to be of the breeding variety, so you can imagine our surprise when she began to show outward signs of a sexually frustrated quadruped.

Her only possible mate, Milo, is also fixed and as such he expresses no interest in Mila's advances. This in turn seems to further frustrate the hapless ferret. Thus the need to consult a professional.

The doctors here sucked ass and now we have a car rented for tomorrow to drive the ferrets up to Muerells Inlet and a vet who is suppose to know what a ferret is.

After the vet consult, Amy went with Don and Sandy to Walmart in a car they borrowed from a possible self described Egyptian terrorist who happens to work at the coffee shop. Don't ask.

While they were shopping, I hung out on the boat with the ferrets and watched movies. Amy returned a few hours later and we spent the rest of the evening watching movies before turning in around 8:30