Savannah to South Edisto River

    Finally moving again! We spent an extra day to replace the leaking 12 volt water pump and fix the forward air conditioner, since we have 3 other heads (toilets) I figured I could fix it underway, so just as we were about to untie the dock lines......."Wait a minute!" calls Beth. "We've got a leak in the guest Bathroom.  All the towels and linen are soaked and there is water pooling on the shelves."  Sure enough a hose was leaking.  No problem. We will turn off the valve and fix it underway.  "We are not leaving until I wash and dry the linen and towels. They will get mildew and stink up the boat." says Beth.  "We have it timed to get the right tide through the shallow areas!" I griped. So... first argument of the day...and I acquiesced. Its a new more relaxed (ugh!) me, now that I'm retired, right?
     The whole question of us going in the Atlantic to make up for lost time, skip Beaufort, and go directly to an anchorage off Charleston was settled more abruptly with a definite, NO! from Beth. Damn. Where is that "extending ones self" attitude"!
      The good result of our problem is that as I was using the time to walk Spencer, I met the captain of a 46 foot Jefferson named "Laughter".  He was travelling with his dog, a cock-a-poo named Peanut, headed for Chesapeake Bay.  He told me that they had recently returned from the Bahamas and Exumas and that since his boat draws the same depth as mine, we should have no problem going over or anchoring out over there.  When asked about a water maker, he had none. In fact he didn't feel we needed one.  Water on average cost him only $9.00 to fill up his boat and he had small gutters on each side of his upper deck to collect rain water in 10 gallon ice coolers to supplement their drinking water.(His wife's idea).  This sure beats the $10 to $15,000 expense to install a good water maker!
    We also met Jim and Paula Spence, a nice couple who are owners of a 55' Californian.  This trawler has the same motors (Detroit Diesels 6V92) as mine and he indicated that the mechanics were right. If these motors weren't run up to operating temps they would weep oil. The problem is the only way to get them up is to run them fast,  which isn't easy on the ICW, so when I got to an open bay, up we went.  At 2200 rpms we were on plane and doing 18 knots, temps shot up to 195 deg but even though Jim said he has no problem running them at 200 deg (not 210 or 220) I backed off when the port motor hit 200 (as per the Hatteras owners forum recommendations).  It was enough to blow out the carbon and hopefully, if I can continue to do this 30 minutes a day, it might keep the piston rings free and stop some of the weeping, without breaking the bank for fuel costs

                                                    
                                                               Hilton Head Marina                    

                                               Hilton Head homes along ICW            

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     We caught up to  the motor yacht "Laughter" as we were crossing a bay.  He had to stop to turn around and find the dingy he had been towing.  Two men in a centre console fishing boat, with his dingy in tow, were desperately trying to catch him .  When he tried to compensate them...they "threw a fit!" refusing to take any money, quoting the boaters creed, "What goes around comes around! Some day you may be able to help us or another boater having difficulties." This is what I like about cruising.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     Beaufort, SC

                                                      Beaufort Saturday Fun               

     We anchored out in a very protected  area in the South Edisto River.  Preferring to wait for an incoming tide rather than risk going aground in the propeller destroying shallows of WattsCut or the 3.5 feet at low tide near Slan island).  We would have a leisurely breakfast and prepare the boat in the morning so that we arrived at these shallow areas on at least 2 hours of incoming tide.

                                                          Sunrise at our anchorage

     As I watch the sky go from dark to grey, the morning clouds ripple with the changing hues, slowly transforming through all the colours of the rainbow from deep purple to baby blanket blue and pink.  A soft breeze flows through the open windows and doors, cooling the boat.  No noise except for the occasional  melodious cry of a passing seagull.  This is cruising and I hope that my grandson Blake gets to experience this at least once...with me.

Farewell Party and Return to Savannah

     I was truly humbled by the number of colleagues that turned out for the going away party.  It was so packed that the pub "Starvin Marvin's" had to open up an adjacent room.  Operating room staff from Baptist, St. Elizabeth's, St Mary's hospital and Beaumont Bone and Joint helped turn the initially sedate farewell party into a raucous send off.
      I was asked to give a few comments about my 15 years with Anesthesia Associates and as I was covering what I thought were my contributions to the group (ie pushing for more regional anesthesia, bringing on nurse anesthetists),  Dr. Osborne-one of the "old timers" (of which I am now one!)  commented , "You don't look old enough to retire!"
 I responded, "It was a Canadian thing.  It's cold in Canada, so we learned early how to keep warm and stay looking young.... Sex twice a day!...sometimes with a partner!"
It was all down hill from there!  Hugs, kisses, laughter, congratulations and even a few tears flowed and along with a copious consumption of alcohol turned this into a party that I am told was, over the next few days, referred to as a "Dr. Matthews style party!"
     In the end, there sat two old friends nursing their last cocktail talking about all the trials, tribulations and previous escapades (not uncommonly lasting till dawn!).  As the staff turned the chairs up on to the tables and the lights were dimmed, David Nannan and I finished our last drink and arms around each other's shoulders headed out the door.  Things would be changing for both of us, but we vowed to stay in touch, neither of us wanting to let go of the good times we had in the past.  Fortunately neither one of us had to work in the morning as I am told there were a lot of people at the hospital "dragging ass" the next day.
     I needed to leave for Naples, if I stayed any longer there was a good chance I would change my mind and I have to get the boat to Maine to take my grandson out to see the whales. There was a condo to prepare for what could be a 9 month absence and preparations to make to get Docs's Holiday ready for the rest of the trip to Maine.
      Arriving at Isle of Hope in Savannah, Georgia, we were confronted with a boat that needed to be cleaned up after tropical storm Beryl blew through and of course a few mechanical issues that need to be fixed before we can leave.  We put a pork roast in the crock pot to simmer all day for the pot luck supper at the marina while we used the marina's courtesy car to return our rental and resupply our depleted food stores at the local "Piggly Wiggly". 
     What a great bunch of folks at the pot luck supper. Of interest is Pam and Dave originally from Stamford CT, travelling on Drift Away a 1980 Cheoy Lee 43 foot trawler (www.trawlerdriftaway.blogspot.com). They were traveling south on the ICW  when one of their dogs had problems and they stopped to take her to a vet.  That was months ago. They stayed. Pam now works for the vet and Dave enjoys his day marvelling at the beauty of living on the ICW in Savannah.  I smell danger here!  Breathtaking scenery, relaxed atmosphere and congenial interesting people asking us to stay!  Careful Ralphie! You have people waiting for you to get the boat home.  Being easily seduced, I must  keep focused on the goal. Get shit fixed and Get going! So, I will be working on repairing the 12 volt water pump that gave up the ghost, the forward air conditioner that no longer works and the aft cabin flush that won't stay pressurized. Without the 12 volt pump anchoring out means running the generator and spoiling the serenity of any anchorage, so it is the priority. The rest can be dealt with underway so hopefully we will be leaving Savannah tomorrow.