Day 10 - On to Charleston

Since we got an extra hour of sleep last night, we got out of Georgetown a little after 8:00am and made good time to Charleston. It was an uneventful trip, especially since there was an exceptionally high tide this morning, giving us plenty of depth. That isn't to say there still weren't some challenges. There were a few areas that required special attention due to shoaling issues. We also slow down around other boats and docks as our boat creates quite a wake. I really don't want anyone in another boat to get hurt due to our wake. I feel the same about docks. Unfortunately, there is no real standard regarding boat wakes, so we err on the side of caution. Others do not. Early in the trip we passed a unique swing bridge ferry. It pivots on one side of the river and connects on the opposite side. We didn't see it operate, but could see how it works. The view today was mostly grassy swamp areas, but we did see quite a few dolphin. Some right next to the boat in the marina. It's hard to get pictures of them as the disappear as quickly as they appear. We'll keep trying.

We did pass some dredges today. These big vessel/machines are key to keeping the ICW open for mariners. Unfortunately, Mother Nature tends to erase the work they have done in a short period of time. Some areas of the ICW are just prone to constant shoaling. One new experience today was having the seagulls follow us. I guess our wake stirs up something they like to eat.

After going through a long slow section through the residences and docks at Isle of Palms, we finally saw the Charleston skyline and were excited to be here. The water was a little choppy, but we are getting more accustomed to that. Martha was a little intimidated when she saw the marina. We are docked amongst a number of super yachts. Encore looks a little out of place in the row of 100 footers. This is a huge marina and quite an operation. The docks are very substantial, which is good because the current in the river is quite strong  and bounces us around a little.

We took a walk into town before it got too dark. There are many historic homes and buildings. We will spend more time in town tomorrow as this is a two-night stay for us. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the marina as we walked back.

​Thanks for reading.