We left Charlestown in a parade of half a dozen boats. We were planning to go as far as the Leland Oil Company in McClellanville. A small marina a short way up a river so it is quite protected. It is also close to a working shrimp fleet whose product can be bought just after landing.
Our plan was a short cruise ending near noon. Buy some shrimp, toss them on the barbie with blackened spices and then eat them with a spicy cucumber salad before turning in early. The following morning would see us making for Georgetown, SC where we would hide from the storm that has everyone running for cover. If conditions were too bad to move, we would just stay.
Updated forecasts suggested that the storm would arrive earlier. Hmm, a call to the marina confirmed that we could extend our stay for a few days , if necessary, but no they did not have pump-out facilities. Hmm!
We decided to take advantage of the calm before the storm and press on to Georgetown Landing where we had a reservation for three days. Believe it or not the pump-out gremlins had been there too.
We called the other marinas in Georgetown and only one had a working machine. We could go in for a pump-out but he was expecting a large sport fisher who was to spend the night on the fuel dock. We asked if we could raft to the other boat for service. The answer was yes if the other owner agreed. A discussion with the skipper of Stroller ensued on the VHF. Thanks buddy! We emptied our tank and were on the way to our marina before he came over the horizon.
Georgetown Landing is a large facility laid out along the sound. Not completely exposed but pretty unprotected. They put all transients on the outside of a t-head. We negotiated a slip on the inside of the t-head so we will be a little less exposed when the wind backs to the northeast. Not enough as it turns out. A strong wind was blowing within a hour and whistling in the rigging. Our boat was rocking and rolling enough to cause nausea if we tried to do anything except watch a movie. Even falling asleep was difficult.
Moon Dance IV 