We left Beaufort SC on Wednesday morning around 9 am. The weather called for winds to be 10 to 15 and die down to 5 knots during the later part of the day. Well the forecasters were wrong.... winds picked up as soon as we got out of the channel (13 miles out) to about 25 knots with gusts over 30. Seas were very rough, the worst I have experienced! We new at that point it was going to be a very long night. We continued on our coarse to Jacksonville Florida. Waves were somewhere around 20 feet and fairly close together. After many prayers were said by both Pat and myself, the winds finally subsided around 6 am on Thursday morning. We still had seas of 8 fett or better. We certainly made good time surfing down 25 foot swells at 11 knots. We made it to the St. Johns River channel entrance at 9 am on Thursday morning, of course on an outgoing tide with the winds from the east, however, we made it. We have never been so tired... we pulled into anchor, emailed a few friends and crashed for the evening. We then had an easy day and a half to St. Augustine where we are now. I am sorry I don't have any pictures from this leg, our camera was submerged when waves crashed into the cockpit unexpectedly. Fortunately the marina had a courtesy car and we went to walmart today to get a new camera. More to come

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The waterway between Charelston and Beaufort was a challenge as the water was very shallow. We are learning to ride the tides and have done well - we have not run aground any more, Although we have pinched up a few times. We are planning to be in Beaufort until Thursday and then leave for Savannah or Jacksonville fl Mostly Depends on the weather! Cats are doing well, sometimes I think they get a little stir crazy. I left one of the floor hatches open and they both crawled under the floors of the boat. When we finally got them out, they had been in the bilge.... not fun cleaning up a wet cat! I don't think they learned there lesson... they are curious about everything. More to come.

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We have had a great trip and met many very nice people along the way. We left Southport and made it to Myrtle Beach at dusk. The Rock Pile was a bit scary at times, but we made it through with no problems. Spent 2 days in Myrtle Beach and had a great time. We left Myrtle beach and anchored out just north of Winya Bay, SC, then got up early the next morning and made it to an anchorage just outside of Isle of Palms. We got up this morning and had an easy day sail to Isle of Palms. We will most hang out here for a weather window to go offshore. Overall the trip has been excellent, other than a few shallow spots that we crept through ever so slowly. The waterway guide has been our saving grace! More to come.

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