Today: 63.5 miles 9.6 hours ICW ST Mile: 472.6
Total: 683.5 miles 193.85 hours
Departed a little before 7:30, sunrise shortly after. In another two weeks we will be adjusting our clocks and sunrise will be earlier. . .but so will sunset! Cruising in the fall, we have to deal with days getting shorter. Cruising in the spring means longer daylight, which is easier on the planning.
Today's temps were in the mid-50’s and breezes light from the SSW; clear, with just a few light clouds. Quite a few cruisers were on the move heading south. The two northbound boats were probably locals on weekend excursions.
A sports fish slowed twice in area where aids moved courtesy of Bob’s Tracts. The tracts previously that appeared to for travel over land for a brief period of time after turning into Edisto River.
It was a day of “Push me – Pull you” between all the inlets. Watts Cut was the shallowest with 1.3 under our keel at dead low tide. Ashepoo Cut Off was no lower than 12 feet (of course it was at a much higher tide.) Today the current gods were kind. After the first 2 hours of doing 6+ mph, we caught most of the currents and enjoyed cruising in the high 7's and low 8. We did hit 9 mph for about 10 minutes, but it still felt great!
A little further south, we passed Morgan Island, which NORTH STAR was going to anchor off of. We never knew it was locally known as “Monkey Island.” The following is from The Charleston Today’s website:
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3,500 Free-Ranging Monkeys ~ The story of S.C.’s Monkey Island
AUG 21 2018 / Jen Ashley
Picture this: It was the summer of ‘79. Jimmy Carter was president; Margaret Thatcher had just become the first female Prime Minister of the U.K.; + Pink Floyd was getting ready to release, “The Wall.” Oh, and 1,400 rhesus monkeys were shipped to an island in South Carolina.
Those monkeys (or their descendants, rather) can still be found on Morgan Island, which sits off the coast of Beaufort. Today, the colony’s population has grown to nearly 4,000. The primates enjoy a lifestyle, not unlike that of Charlestonians: their population is female-dominant (it’s 75% ladies on Morgan Island vs. 52% in Charleston), they can often be found on the beach (except when it’s too hot outside), + they’ve witnessed the property value of their home skyrocket in recent years (the island sold for a staggering $20.5 million in 2002– though we’re told the monkeys were not on the hook to pay for it).
Why’d the monkeys come here in the first place?
The colony came from a primate research center in La Parguera, Puerto Rico, traveling 1,300 miles to Morgan Island, S.C.– where they were re-established as a free-range colony, and bred to fulfill the needs of biomedical researchers.
Before the monkeys relocated, various social groups existed within their colony. When they were shipped, those social groups were broken up. But get this: after arriving on the island, the monkeys proceeded to re-establish those same groups. In other words– even monkeys know how to keep in touch with their loved ones, so you have no excuse… Call your mom.
How can you visit Monkey Island?
Here’s the thing: the first rule of Monkey Island is that you can’t actually visit Monkey Island. This is an important rule to follow, for a few reasons:
- The monkeys prefer to enjoy a natural, undisrupted habitat
- Humans are gross– a.k.a. they may be carrying diseases that could potentially be transmitted to the monkeys
Monkeys are wild animals– and although they may seem cute– they can pack a serious punch (and getting attacked by a monkey isn’t a cool scar story when said monkey weighs 15 lbs.)
If that doesn’t sway you– those who get caught could be arrested for trespassing.
Says who?
Says the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The department owns + maintains Morgan Island. It was acquired as part of a collective effort to better protect natural resources along the ACE Basin, called the ACE Basin Project.
Morgan Island is about 4,000 acres in size. DNR leases 400 acres of that to Charles River Laboratories, Inc.– and that’s where the monkeys live.
While CRL takes care of the monkeys, the colony is actually owned by the National Institute of Allergy + Infectious Diseases (which is part of the National Institutes of Health). The monkeys used as part of research aimed at developing preventions + treatments for diseases affecting the public. None of that research takes place on the island, though.
So… is there any way to see them?
Up close, maybe not. But, if you’re going bananas over the idea of seeing Monkey Island in person, you can always boat to the area.
According to Bluffton resident + self-proclaimed Monkey Island guru Matt Richardson, your best bet is to launch from the Eddings Point Boat Landing on St. Helena Island. It’s less than 5 miles away from Morgan Island + open to the public year-round.
Pro tip: Consult a local tour guide or beforehand. They may be able to go with you to make sure your expedition goes off without a hitch.
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We passed through the Ladies Island Bridge around 4:30 and tied to the main dock by 5. NORTH STAR is at the opposite end. It turns out, Mary & Bill were sitting on the swings along the water front and have video of PEKABU exiting the bridge.
After straightening up and making the log entry, we sat in the cockpit talking to dock mates as they passed. For the first time in many, many years, we had a family of Trick-or-Treaters! A family from Montreal in costumes (including the dog) was heading into town for Beaufort’s Halloween Party on Main Street. I was so glad we keep a bag of Milky Ways on board!
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| Our favorite Trick-or-Treaters back in PA! (Thanks, Kel!) |
Monday, 11/1/21 Beauford ~ Day 2 ~
When Pete walked the dog, he had a chance to speak with the dock hands about staying for the week. One will get back after checking with the harbor master.
Around 11:30, we moved to the inside of the dock as the pervious boats left. So, we are good for the next week and reservations for Harbortown and Fernandina were cancelled. We’ll watch the weather and remake the reservations later in the week.
I did chores while Pete worked.
Just before dinner I was able to catch a magnificent sunset~
Around 11:30, we moved to the inside of the dock as the pervious boats left. So, we are good for the next week and reservations for Harbortown and Fernandina were cancelled. We’ll watch the weather and remake the reservations later in the week.
I did chores while Pete worked.
Just before dinner I was able to catch a magnificent sunset~
Tuesday, 11/2/21 Beauford ~ Day 3
Sky were pretty cloudy when we got up. As the morning progressed the clouds disappeared. Temps rose into the mid 70’s, with the breezes barely present.
I was checking out a kitchen supply store when Kay returned my call. Somehow, we couldn’t hold onto the call by the shops, so I walked to the water front, claimed on off the swings, and we spent a good 45 minutes catching up. By the time we said out goodbyes, it was lunch time. I headed back to the boat knowing that Pete would be too busy to think of lunch.
Dinner was the wonderful salmon I bought in Georgetown. I made it with the peppers, dried apricots, onions seasoned with Maple Syrup. It is one of our favorite dinners!
Wednesday, 11/3/21 Beauford ~ Day 4
Today I got my exercise in. I exercised onboard in the am while waiting for temps to climb into the 60’s. Then I cleaned & polished all the stainless. It took all afternoon.
Pete is still swamped with work,
Thursday, 11/4/21 Beauford ~ Day 5
The temps dropped into the mid-40s and breezes increased 10-15 mph out of the NNW. It was raw outside. Not many people where on the move. Only the bigger yachts with the crew moving the boats south for the winter.
I spent the afternoon working on photos. Was able to upload only a few, before Pete had problems with conferences. Photos are organized. Hopefully, I’ll be able to weed and process the majority of them tomorrow and upload on Saturday, when Pete doesn’t need the band width. Marina has WiFi, but it has a major problem with service to our dock right now.
Friday, 11/5/21 Beauford ~ Day 6
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| Screen Shot from WINDY |
Pete worked all day. I just processed photos.
Saturday, 11/6/21 Beauford ~ Day 7
Rainy, windy, raw again. Winds 35-50 just offshore, with wave heights 10-12 feet. I found out that the starboard window is still leaking. I will have to wait until things are dry before doing a patch again.
We pulled up the flooring so that Pete could clean the bilge. He also cleaned the sea chest and checked engine.
I was able to process and started posting photos to the blog, FINALLY!!! I have found out that for some reason once I finish with a post, I need to close and reopen the blog to post photos to the next entry. I promise I won’t complain as I can finally finish up the previous postings.
Sunday, 11/7/21 Beauford ~ Day 8
I investigated & ordered groceries from Publix to be delivered. The cost of an UBER, if we can find one, is more than the slightly inflated prices and minor delivery charge. It was definitely a win-win for us. There were a number of things we would have run out of if we didn’t provision now.
30 minutes after high tide
By about 4 the clouds cleared, winds abated greatly and the waters returned to normal levels. Offshore remains a mess. Pete changed reservations again. There is no way we can safely make the jump around Georgia. As a result, we start heading through Georgia tomorrow. We were lucky on reservations as everyone is backed up. The Alligator Bridge has been closed since Friday due to winds. Coinjock is completely full on both sides of the canal. There has also been a closing on the RR Bridge in Norfolk that has backed things up in Norfolk.
5 hours after high tide ~ 9 foot less water!
Pete was able to spend the afternoon reading after checking the engine. I worked on posting photos to the blog.
Around 5, we walked over to the main street. The water height was much different than when I came over to do laundry. Now the dock was about 9 feet down from the top of the sea wall. We enjoyed a great lasagna dinner at Hearth Wood Fired Pizza. The place was packed when we left at 6:15.
After dinner I was able to do some more. I have put up photos through Southport! By 10 pm, I have only 5 more entries that need photos inserted. Now, I wait for good internet to continue posting. It will probably be a while.
With the time change last night. We are both tired. Tomorrow is an early departure.
~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
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