Clearing Customs
12 April 2019
Allan Gray
As Canadians there are limited ports on the eastern seaboard where we can clear customs and Beaufort SC is not one of them. However, the customs people have introduced a new app that allows check-in anywhere along the coast so, we filed our report Monday evening expecting a clearance at anytime. Unfortunately there was a glitch in the system and we were instructed to proceed to Charleston for inspection. No one was allowed off of the boat since we hadn't cleared customs so, once we fueled up in the morning we were off to Charleston. We made great time along the ICW despite fighting a few tidal currents and arrived in Charleston Harbour just before dark and dropped the hook. We all marvelled at the harbour lights as we enjoyed dinner aboard Dagny.
Once we secured a dock on Wednesday morning I called customs to arrange an inspection and wouldn't you know it, there was a cruise ship in town needing clearance for 2000 people. Again we weren't allowed off the boat until the inspector arrived at 3 p.m. so we lazed around watching harbour life. I must admit most customs agents could take lessons from the lady who came to the boat. Instead of playing the heavy like most agents do, she apologized for being late and making us wait most of the day. She cheerfully checked all our paper work and in no time welcomed us to the USA and was on her way.
My nephew Mark and his wife Megan have been with us since Marsh Harbour to gain experience for their own trip next year. They recently bought a boat in Norfolk VA so Bev and I decided it would be fun to get to Norfolk and see their boat with them. As a result we are trying to keep the hammer down but the weather hasn't been on our side. We had hoped to go from Charleston to Beaufort NC in one jump, leaving us 3 days to Norfolk. Unfortunately Wednesday morning's forecast called for strong NE winds so we spent another day trucking along the ICW arriving in Georgetown SC at day's end. We're not sure what the next couple of days will bring, in the meantime we enjoying the abundant wildlife along the ICW.
Today's picture is of Dagny's crew in Charleston with the USS Yorktown in the background.