Mike and Kathy
11/07/2008, Charleston, SC

November 3rd, Monday Charleston, SC


Our computer doesn't seem to want to talk in the correct tone of voice to allow us to download the software necessary to run our XM radio. It is not a problem at this point but basketball season is rapidly approaching and things need to be organized. Not only that, but the Penn State football game may be one that needs our attention.

The tides here in the Ashley River are of note, luckily the holding seems to be great so even though there are gale warnings on the Ocean, we are comfortable here. We went to shore this afternoon and walked the streets of old Charleston. I had some happy-hour oysters at the "Noisy Oyster" before stopping at the grocery and heading back to the boat with only one pit stop.... at "Fine Lion" who has a slip at the City Marina.

It looks like weather will keep us here until Thursday. The low pressure system that is developing now will be gone by Wednesday but the seas will need a least a day to calm down before we head out again.

Nothing much is new with us ... there are friends here and we always have boat projects to do if we can't go ashore.



November 4th, Tuesday Charleston SC


With the current and wind I decided to not risk taking "Sapphire" over to the Megadock for fuel. Instead, I emptied our jerry cans and loaded them in the dinghy. Two trips would top off our tank with 16 gallons in reserve.

As I was about to leave Dave from "Fawkes" called asking for assistance bleeding his fuel line. He had replaced a filter and followed the directions for removing air from the lines but his engine refused to start. The system had return lines from both the high pressure pump and the injectors. (Maybe they all do?) Anyway once we figured out what was going on, we bled the system on the low pressure side of the fuel pump and then each of the injectors. The engine started on cylinder #3.

I was off for the fuel dock and picked up 16 gallons at under $3 for the second time in a month. I off-loaded that load and was back for more in about an hour. By then is was time to do something so we went to shore with the notion of walking into town. But as we approach shore it started to drizzle so we stopped at "Fine Lion" and hung out with them instead. We made plans to meet back there at 5:30 to take the Marina Shuttle into town for dinner.

We ended up at a Italian place called Mercato and had a wonderful meal. Even on a cool, cloudy, weekday night, downtown Charleston was hopping. We did a little shopping before calling a cab for a ride back to the marina.

The weather forecast calls for calming seas on Thursday so we are planning to take another overnight jaunt out in the Ocean and end up somewhere in northern Florida.


November 5th, Wednesday Charleston, SC

Happy Birthday Dave!

Mike cooked grits with cheese and poached eggs on top for breakfast. When in the south. . . . (it was really good). It was a cloudy, drizzly day so we packed up the laundry and took it to shore. Mike took the XM tuner to "Fine Lion" where he was going to work on it with Steve. After laundry and a successful download of the XM stuff, we headed back to the boat for lunch and readying the boat for another offshore trip tomorrow.

"Perseverence 2" drove by on their way to a slip at the Megadock and we decided to meet at the restaurant on shore at 5. "Estelle" also drove by to say Hi on their way to the dock. It's good to see old friends.

Mike got the radio put back together-everything works and the boat looks much better after having had the stereo torn apart for nearly a month. All neat and tidy. By the time all that was done, it was time to head back to shore.

We saw "Inspiration" and visited with them for a while. Then went with them to "Persevence 2" and headed for the restaurant to meet up with "Fine Lion". We had a nice time and headed back to the boats fairly early as we and "Fine Lion" had plans to leave at first light to head for Fernandina Beach. Our plans are to get fuel in Fernandina Beach, FL, then drive up to Cumberland Island, GA to explore the National Park and anchor there.

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Mike
11/07/2008, Charleston, SC

November 1 & 2, Cape Lookout Bight, NC to Charleston, SC


"Sapphire" and "Fine Lion" pulled out of the anchorage promptly at 5am on instruments. The Ocean was still calm. We set a way-point for the outside edge of the Frying Pan Shoals 84 miles away and motored along at about 6.7 knots.

As we got away from shore we picked up swells from the north which made for a rolley ride. I can anticipate how the boat is going to react to following seas and can steer the boat with them. Unfortunately, the autopilot doesn't have the ability to anticipate and we roll a little more in the swells.

The day was uneventful. The swells diminished some and Kathy was able to go below to pick up and do dishes.

Just about sunset, which is always spectacular from the water, we passed Frying Pan Shoals about 40 miles offshore and set a new way-point for Charleston.

During the afternoon we could hear folk traveling the ICW on our radio.

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Miike
11/07/2008, Cape Lookout, NC

October 31st...Friday Oriental NC to Point Lookout Bight NC

The seafood guy here in Oriental is only open on Fridays and Saturdays so we waited around until 10am while Kim and Steve were making final preparations on "Fine Lion." He showed up at about 10:15 but wasn't ready to sell anything at that point. There is a commercial seafood company located across the street and he runs their retail operation on weekends. It was going to take him an hour or so to get over there and collect today's merchandise. We had a nice chat but decided not to wait... there will be more shrimp along the way.

We cast off at around 10:30 ... but not without dinging the outer pier of our slip a couple of times with our anchor, and headed across the Neusse River to Cedar Creek and the ICW. It was only 18 miles to Beaufort but we planned on stopping somewhere for fuel along the way. As it turned our all the fuel docks were tied up so we pulled into Town Creek (Beaufort) and filled up at the marina there.

By the time we were finished "Fine Lion" was there waiting for the 2:30 bridge opening. We had planned on spending the night in Town Creek but had decided enroute to go out into the Ocean and about an hour east to Point Lookout Bight which is an amazingly protected spot. The Ocean was flat calm. Point Lookout Bight is located in Cape Lookout National Seashore and is beautiful in a desolate sort of way. We anchored in about 25 feet of water surrounded by nothing but dunes.

We rowed the dinghy over to "Fine Lion" for some trick or treating and decided to weigh anchors at about 5 am.

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