Charleston to Mosquito Creek, NC

Today:    43 miles, 7 hours, ICW St. M 512.0

Total:     704.2 miles, 103.5 hours

     Leaving the dock could have been difficult with about a 10-12 mph breeze along with a 2-knot current against us, but Pete got us away with no problems.

Cruising through beautiful country

     It was a beautiful ride. Sunny skies and gentle breezes, just not enough to help.  Our speeds varied between 4.8 and 9.2 mph.   Hoping to catch the more of the favorable currents today, we decided to leave at 8:15 am. A number of areas have become very narrow due to shoaling. We cleared all the problem areas at mid- or higher tides, with the exception of Fenwick Cut.  We went through there at dead low, but still had 1.5 feet below the keel. Once again Bob 423’s observations were spot on!

The most unusual profile of a water vessel!

     We were passed by the usual assortment of power boats.  Sail boats were few and probably traveling south behind us.  The most unique boat we have seen this journey, was ALCHIMEDES.  It looks to be a 45-50-foot sailboat hull, minus the mast, with framework about 5-foot off the decks that support a total of 22 solar panels.  On the starboard side is a painter with a small engine that powers the boat via the hip tow.  The cruising speed appears to be about 4.5 mph. It would have been interesting to talk with him and learn more about the boat. He turned into Ashepoo Cut while we continued up the Ashepoo River heading to B & B Shrimp Co., on Mosquito Creek.

The B & B Shrimp Company

Signs & floats on the
work shed

     Yesterday, Pete called B & B Shrimp to request dockage.  We said we should be there around 3:30 today, and sure enough, he was there to help us secure to the dock.  Things are a bit more tired since the last time we were here 7 years ago, with SV BRUNELLE, SV ANDIAMO, and SV SEVILLA, but the creek is still very pretty.  There was no power at the dock, which we knew in advance.

The FV BILLIE B 

Further up the creek

FV SWEET PA TOOTIE

Working Boat FV SWEET PA TOOTIE

Apparently, B&B does oysters, too!

Portrait of the SV BILLIE B

     With temperatures due to drop to the low 40’s we added extra blankets to the bed, had Bailey wear her coat overnight and made it an early night.