Sentinel (definition: a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch)

The word for our latest adventure is "Sentinel"

Columbus Day week-end we made plans to find a new spot to anchor for a long relaxing week-end, knowing that our sunny warm days were coming to an end soon.  We had heard folks talked about "Price Creek" so we looked it up on active captain and made that our destination.  That Saturday we prepped the boat with wonderful food to cook, plenty of beverages to drink and anything else we could think of to make our week-end complete. 

There was not much wind in the harbor so we motored all the way to the entrance of the ICW

 There is always seems to be a lot to look at once you enter the ICW.

 

 



Then under the Ben Sawyer Bridge

 

I can't remember what the name of a boat that passed us but I swear it looked like a floating condominium it was so big, the picture does not do it justice.
 

 

It only took us a few hours and we were at our destination, Price Creek.  It was a great location we were only minutes from Bull Island and Capers Island by dinghy (good thing we brought plus 1 with us)  So we went through the drill, dropped anchor, got "plus1" prepped and put the engine on her.

 

 

A great start to a long week-end.  The sun was setting a bit so be fixed our signature rum drinks and had a few snacks while we enjoyed the sunset

 

 

Then fixed a little dinner and took the best picture of the day!

 

 

Morning came with no problems during the night we got up to checked the anchor a few times but it was holding well.

 

Walter and I had talked about bring fishing poles once we got our fishing licences. We are now legal so Walter rigged two poles to bring on this trip.  We were not sure what, if anything we would catch, but thought it would be great to give it a try.  Presto, we each caught a fish, to small to keep but very exciting to catch.

 

 

 

We both could not wait to go dinghy over to Bull Island, we read that it is the biggest uninhabited island on the East Coast, hard to believe.  What fun, I found the best seashells I have ever seen and also found my first whole sand dollar

 

After a few hours we took the dingy to the other side of the inlet to Capers Island.  Not as many shells, it  was clear that the tides really influences the two beaches in different ways

 

 

We had enough adventuring for the day and wanted to head back to the boat before sunset.  I was also making dinner in the pressure cooker that night and needed enough time for prep and cooking.

 

On our way back to the boat we came around a small bend in the creek before we got to the boat when we noticed that it had moved (a lot) to the other side of the creek but not off enough to make us panic that the anchor had dragged (we had a lot of line out, the water was fairly deep) so we boarded, unpacked our gear, poured our famous rum drink and decided to play a friendly game of scrabble.  It had been some time since Walter had played scrabble so I was reading a few of the instructions to get him up to speed again.  While reading I looked up and we suddenly were on the completely other side of the creek.  Walter's head snapped up so fast to look after I made the observation about how we moved. 

 

Walter jumped to his feet to check the anchor and in a fleeting moment the anchor line was under the boat not just under the boat, under so tight that he feared that it had wrapped around the keel and we were dragging.  So we went into controlled panic mode that is if there is such a thing. 

 

Trying to recall all that happened is a little blurred, but I think I can remember all the highlights. As we were drifting into the weeds, Walter jumped in the dinghy asking me to get him the spare anchor out of the locker. Of course it was like wrestling a octopus trying to get it out without break something on me or the boat.  I got it to Walter as quickly as I could.  His plan was to drop and set the back up anchor in hopes that it would stop the boat from drifting any further so we could figure out for sure what happened and also from spending the night in the weeds while waiting for towboat US.

 

Still things are a blurr but in a hours time, somehow we figured out where the anchor really was.  Walter was able to get a tiny bit of slack in the anchor line allowing me to untie the line from the boat pull the end underneath the hull of the boat and get it completely clear of the keel.  Walter gave me back the loose end, I tied it off and started to bring the line and anchor in with the windless until it was all back on board.  Mind you were are still anchored with the spare anchor but still to close to the weeds and shallow water for any sort of comfort.  By this time Walter was getting really skilled at using the dinghy as a tug and was able to maneuver us out of the weeds so I could start the engine and put the boat into gear and move to a safer place.

 

We got Walter back on board and tied up the dinghy so he could  move the boat just a bit off from where we originally anchored.  Success, we were safely anchored just before it got dark out.  While Walter cleaned up the deck of the boat from our hour of curious I started preparing the dinner I mentioned earlier and poured a nice glass of wine.

 

 

Dinner was great, I did pork carnitas in the pressure cooker with tortillas, fresh cut cilantro and a touch of lime juice.  A few more glasses of wine while Walter and talked and laughed about our mishap and realized that the tide change was pretty quick and strong in the creek.  We decided that we were really fortunate that it did not happen in the middle of the night, especially as the night was turning out to be a bit overcast.

 

We were exhausted so we got ready for bed and set an alarm for the tide change so we could get up and check the anchor.  We were a little traumatized and did not want a repeat of what happened earlier.

 

I was so tired but a good night sleep was not happening for me.  I think Walter did just fine, at least that is what I figured by the snoring. 

 

The alarm went off, we both sprang to our feet and were on deck before you knew it.  Walter immediately went to check the anchor and would you BELIEVE IT!  In what seemed like a split second the boat moved and the anchor line was back under the boat and we were heading for the weeds and shallow water, again.  My fear came true, it was the middle of the night and a cloudy night at that.  We pretty much repeated the same routine, spare anchor, dinghy, colorful language and now flash lights.   Not sure how long it took to get the anchor line untangled and the anchor reset but it sure felt like forever.

 

No more sleep for us, we decided that we needed to take turns checking on the anchor the rest of the night at least until the sun came up.  Neither one of us wanted to go through that a third time.  The sun could not rise quick enough, finally I could see my hand in front of my face, there was a light at the end of the tunnel or should I say creek.  We were in a huge need of caffeine so I put on a pot of coffee while Walter prepped for our departure.

 

The trip back to the marina was a bit of a let down we were exhausted and cranky.  We had started the week-end out so nicely and we were really enjoying ourselves.

 

Sentinel (definition: a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch)

 

Walter and I were the soldier or guard for a night but I can guarantee that we will never leave the marina with out a proper sentinel for our anchor.  PROMISE!

 

 

 

 

Saturday October 5

With summer coming to an end soon it seems like we need to take advantage of any good weather that comes our way and enjoy the water and sunshine.  We made plans to take the boat out Saturday, the conditions all looked great, clear sky's, mild winds (yes mild winds, I know you need good winds for a sail boat but  am a  bit of a wimp when it gets to windy).  It even seemed like a perfect day to go past the jetties and do a little open water sailing. 

We took off with a outgoing tide that moved us along very nicely, before we knew it, the shoreline was behind us.  Walter set a great course and never had to move the sails, 4Ever & A Day was steady and smooth. The only time we moved from our perfect perch was to get something to drink or apply more sunscreen. LIFE IS GOOD!

I would share pictures of our perfect day but all you would see is our ear to ear grins.

Over Night On Clouter Creek

This month we anchored over night on Clouter Creek so we could enjoy a luau land side with the Charleston Cruising Club.  Besides sailing around the harbor this is one of the closest destinations we have gone to.  Unfortunately we had to motor there just no room or depth for a good sail, but that is ok as Walter says "any day on the water is a good day."

Because the cruise was so short we headed out about noon, were anchored about an hour later, put up our new multi chamber wind sock and then enjoyed a drink.

 

 

 



There seems to be a pattern with boaters no matter if it is motoring or sailing "drinking" not just drinking, but drinking rum.  So in that spirit I created a rum drink that Walter has since named the "sloppy housewife."   This drink is made with Goslings rum, 100% passion fruit juice, 7-up with a orange and lime wedge (squeezed)  all I can say is "yum." 

During this relaxing time we also raised a new flag with the boats name on it (for the first time) that I had made a few months ago.  Kind of felt like we were special.

 

 

It was time to get ready to go to the luau land side, so we put on our Hawaiian party clothes and headed ashore for a great time.  We ate some terrific food all while being serenaded by Elvis Presley's "Blue Hawaii" tunes. 

 

Everyone called it an evening and head back to there boats. 

 

This was the first outing that Walter and I have been on since he updated our battery system.  He put in two new 2  Deep Cell Grp 31  (for the house bank) and a small 21 lb AGM (emergency starter battery)  we were feeling very comfortable about the refrigerator running, using cabin lights and listen to the stereo.  Even when it came to bed time we had a 12 volt fan to help keep us comfortable during the night, unfortunately the new wind sock did not provide much comfort, we had not wind which made for a very warm night. 

 

Off to bed we go, we were still a little warm but grateful for this fan, the fan made it tolerable.  So many times when sleeping on the boat I loose all sense of time, Walter woke up with a big "uh-oh" I looked at him and tried to figure out if I was supposed to panic or be calm.  It was only an hour after we went to bed when he noticed that the fan had stopped working (it got hot).  That is a big "uh-oh" is there a problem with the batteries, did we abuse all the juice they had to give us, were we dead in the water?

 

We got up to try and figure out what was going on.  First thing Walter did was start the engine, it started like a champ.  Next, off to check the batteries and see if they were the problem.  After a lot of voltage checking, confusion and head scratching Walter realized that he had labeled the batteries wrong during the install and the whole time we were running everything off of the AGM battery (might I add awesome little battery).  He then flipped the switch to the house battery bank and all was good, even our little fan was running great and we were able to go back to bed.

 

We ended up having a great night sleep.  Morning came, coffee was brewing and bagels were toasting.  We pulled up anchor about 9:00am and headed for home.  I took a few picture's along the way.

 

Another adventure for the books, that all in all went very well and we had a good time with only a little hiccup that was easy to over come, this time!

Off shore and over night we go

Off shore and over night we go,heigh ho, heigh ho off on another adventure we go.  The first week-end of every month the Charleston Cruising club plans a over night trip.  This month (August) it was to Steamboat Creek.  There were two routes that could be taken to reach the destination one was off shore and the other was down the ICW, you will never guess which one Walter wanted to take, that's right off shore. So in Walters attempt to make sure this was a good experience for the me (the newbie) he monitored the weather at least 3 times a day, everyday take make sure the conditions were the best possible.  The night before we would set sail the seas were looking very calm as well as the winds but the winds were coming from the wrong direction but by Saturday morning the winds had shifted just enough that we would be able to put both sails up, catch a little wind and motor sail to our destination.  There were a few other boats making the trip and taking the same route (safety in numbers) which really helped put me at ease.  Soooo, 8am we pull the lines, leave the marina and with a out going tide we motored through the Charleston Harbor, we reached the jetties in no time.  We passed the first marker, the second marker, the third marker and before you know it we are 5 miles off shore in open water.

All in all things were going pretty good.  We put the sails up and started to head south.  After a short time my stomach was starting to feel a little uneasy.  I suddenly turned mute not talking and trying to focus on not taking my uneasiness to the next level (chum). In Walters attempt to distract me from how I was feeling he became a great entertainer. We could see land the whole time as well as our companion boats in the distance. Morris Island light house.

We finally arrived at the inlet by Seabrook to start our way in shore up the Edisto River to Steamboat Creek.

I forgot to mention that "plus1" came with us on this trip but she came along as a passenger this time tied to the bow of the boat.

Approx. 7 hours after we left the marina we arrive at our destination.

 

We found a place to drop anchor, put "plus 1" in the water and relaxed before we joined up with the other cruisers for a well deserved cocktail hour.  Walter decided to get a head start on the cocktail hour, he earned it from putting on a mini cabaret show to keep me entertained and distracted.

We got cleaned up, made a small appetizer to bring with us, hoped in "plus 1" and headed for the host boat.  It turned out to be a very nice evening filled with the swapping of stories and great conversation not to mention bottomless amount of rum.  We finally said good night to all and headed back to our boat.  By this time we were ready for some real food the snacking was just not enough after a long day.  While I was prepping some meat for the grill Walter was getting the grill ready.  You know when you here a sound, that sounds faintly familiar "kerplunk" well for those of us that have accidentally drop something overboard know this sound. Yep, it was the gas nozzle to the grill that had fallen off and was no doubt sitting on the bottom of Streamboat Creek.  Our eyes got hugh and our stomachs got hungrier.  Plan B, turkey sandwiches.

After dinner we relaxed and watched the sunset and then off to bed

Bed, it was a warm night and the breeze had calmed down just a bit, lets just say there was no spooning that night.

In the morning we had coffee, breakfast and talked about our return trip, off shore or ICW.  My stomach was starting to return to normal but not quit there yet so we opted for ICW, besides we had never been on that part of the ICW and thought it was worth checking out for a future adventure. So we pulled anchor and went on our way.

The trip up the ICW turned out to be hot and long so Walter kicked back a fired up a cigar.

Before you know it we are at the Wappoo Bridge, our timing was perfect we were there 10 minutes before the hour so we radioed in and requested an opening.  We were glad that we were getting close to home but there was a little hiccup.  We heard the traffic stop and the gates close but the bridge was not opening, still waiting and nothing was happening not even a call from the bridge operator.  All of a sudden the traffic arms open back up and the cars are moving again.  The bridge operator calls us to let us know that she could not get the bridge to open and would have you call a electrician for help.  Note: this is Sunday afternoon, where do you get an electrician and how long would it take (a hour, 5 hours, tomorrow). Walter and I looked at each other in amazement and then tried to figure out what we were going to do.  Do we hang around with our fingers crossed or go look for a place to anchor and settle in for the night?  But what I was really wondering is if we had enough ice to make rum drinks if we had to wait until the next day.  We got another call from the bridge operator telling us that she was going to try to open the bridge manually, so we hung out close by waiting.  Then with out warning the traffic stopped and the bridge opened.  We put the engine into high gear and got through.  Once passed the bridge we could see off in the distance the Ravenal Bridge, it was like a beacon to follow home.

So under the James Island overpass, through the Charleston Harbor, up the Cooper River and we were home.  Another great adventure to put in the books.

Climbing The Mast (yikes)

We are planning to do an overnight on the boat soon but just have not picked the right week-end or location but until then Walter had a new project.

The antenna had broken or fallen off the mast and needed to be fixed.  So with the help of some friends and the use of their bosun's chair Walter was in for a new experience. (all smiles)

We gathered together all the tools we thought he might need. A screw driver, wrench, rope, the antenna of course and what is a project without duct tape.

Fortunately we had help, once we got Walter all situated and the line to lift him on the cockpit winch, up he stated to go. 

Our friend Dan did most of the work while his wife and I stood by ready to help.  I got a turn at the wench and soon realized I could never have gotten him to the top by myself.

I became photographer instead.  I moved around the boat taking pictures and then decided to step off and try and get a good shot from the dock, OOPS, as soon as I stepped off it dawned on me that I made the boat move, not the best thing when your husband is 50ft in the air hanging by a rope, at the top of the mast, but he was a good sport and hung on a little tighter.



After a while and a few colorful comments, success, the antenna was back in place and Walter was on the way down.  Job well done!

First Time To Bass Creek

The week-end of June 8, 2013 the Charleston Cruising Club held one of their annual outings at Sandy Beach near the end of Kiawah Island this month.  Walter and I thought this would be a great trip, so we headed out of the marina for a new adventure.  It seems all of our trips are new adventures, huh.   Must be a good thing, means we are continuing to spread our wings or should I say sails.

Anyways, it was not really a sailing day so we motored through the harbor to the Wappoo Bridge, through Elliotts Cut and down the Stono River (sounds like a game of Candyland) a few hours later we were there.

We crept up the Bass River just around the bend from Sandy beach to look for a place to anchor, we found the perfect place, dropped anchor (first time again, yeah) and took a brief sigh of relief. 

Now it was time to take "plus 1" out on her maiden voyage.  Walter thought he would take her for a quick spin just to make sure that she was ready.

She was, so I packed a bag and some towels, climbed in "plus 1" and off we went. We had a great time, great food, thirst quenching drinks and great conversation!

Being our first outing in "plus 1" we thought it best to head back to the boat before dark, not that we did not have faith in her but with our record playing it safe is sometimes best.  We got back just fine as a matter of fact in time to have a little wine.

While enjoying our wine we tried to set up a wind sock.  The wind sock will be something we will have to work on, we just could not get it to do what we needed it to do, so we were in for a little bit of a warm night, but that was nothing compared to the "No See Ums" or should I say "I See Ums" that decided to join us on in the cockpit.  Walter got the worst of it that night, they just loved him, they barley bothered me until 2 days later.  I looked like I fed an entire colony.

Morning came, we had our coffee and enjoyed our quiet surroundings, it also brought a new experience for me, showing off the back end of the boat 

After showers, we figured it was time to pull up anchor and start the trip back home but Walter wanted to take "plus 1" out for another spin and investigate some more of Bass River and I think also to reward "plus 1" for not letting us down.

Walter had the camera while out and took a great picture of the boat "4 Ever & A Day"

It was time, we pulled anchor and motor sailed most of the way home.  We had such a good time, there is no doubt we will do this trip again.