Tuesday, May 5, 2009

At 0100 Otto decided to separate again but still seems to be holding up. I guess around 0200 while Wayne was at the helm it came apart again because when I came up at 0416 Wayne was in control, not Otto. With both of us up, we got the auto helm (Otto) pieced back together then Wayne went below for sleep. At twilight Otto is still holding.

7am and sunrise was awesome. I love sunrise. I spotted a fin in the water, not a dolphin, but I don't know what it was. Weird fan shape.

9am - the salt from the sea splash on the dodger windows is crystallizing into individual little crystals that glitter like diamonds in the sunlight. My own little sea diamonds to gaze at while at the helm J

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful and we pulled into Charleston SC at 1500 (3pm). It was strange to know where I was going to this time. Less confusing than the first time we came here.

We pulled up to the Megadock and got tied up just before the rains started. After tie-up I called Wendell real quick before going to the office to check in. The weather forecast there was still the same as when we left Florida, sunny and nice with southerly breezes. I sometimes wonder about NOAA forecasts. I'd checked the forecasts for the coastal weather all along our track to Charleston and showers and severe thunderstorms were not supposed to be a factor until the upcoming weekend. It was good to hear my bro's voice though, if only so briefly. Coming into Charleston Harbor the radio crackled alive with a severe Thunderstorm Warning so it was a race to get in and tied up.

We're on the outside, end of the Megadock, which tends to get currents pushing you into the dock. The last time we were here it was rainy and windy, but not like this time. After checking in, covering the sail, taking off our wet raingear and having some chicken salad, we looked up the West Marine here for Otto's parts. They don't have them and it was after 3pm so we couldn't have ordered one to have it shipped next day to us but were given a number in CA to call to see if they could (3 hours makes a difference in next day shipping). Our belt should be here Thursday (good because I don't want to do a 48 hour stint without one).

Wayne had just dozed off and I was trying to catch up on my journal when we really started rocking and pitching on the dock. I heard a loud pop and thought one of our dock lines broke. It was really howling out there and there were white caps on the river. I went topside and Wayne came shooting up out of the cabin as I was checking fenders and lines. One of our fenders popped from being pushed so hard against the dock and our boat was playing bumper boat with the mega dock. Althea, Our Turn, Serenity were all topsides with their lines and fenders too and came by to help us push off and secure our little bird too. Gotta love this boating community. It seems like people are always helping each other out. Now it's time for some much wanted and needed sleep if we can sleep through this weather...