WOW -- Charleston!

November 4 - 13, 2012

We arrived in Charleston expecting to stay two days.  After the first day, we changed our reservation to two months!  The following morning the Today Show announced the best city to visit in the USA is Charleston!  Extending our stay was definitely the right decision.  It has been a phenomenal week:  architecture, history, shopping, gardens, the most delicious food and super nice friendly people!  If you have never made a visit to this city, you really must! 

 

Historical notes: 

The Slave Market
This is where the slaves shopped. 
It is not where slaves were sold.

In 1669 the first settlers arrived in Charleston. The first American Jews arrived through this port along with 1/3 of the slaves brought into the country. 

The shops inside the Slave Market. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Sumter was an early loss during the Civil War.  The Union fort was forced to surrender when it caught fire after a 34 hour artillery exchange.  The surrendering troops were granted permission to fire a 100 gun salute before lowering the Stars and Stripes.  One of the shots misfired and killed two Union soldiers.  Ironically, the first two official deaths of the Civil War were friendly fire.

 

 

The lavish lifestyle of the plantation owners and merchants crashed after the Civil War and the collapse of the rice market.  Luckily, the city was too poor to tear down and rebuild the homes.  Today those homes are selling for up to 20 million!  

Unique Style
What appears to be the front door, opens
to the porches on the side of the house.
If this door is open -- the owners are receiving
guests.  The real front door to the home is
midway on the main floor porch.

 

Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality.
Satellite dish is a sign of modern living.

The first submarine to sink an enemy ship was the hand cranked vessel H.L. Hunley.   It sank in 1863 and the crew drowned at it's Charleston mooring when the wake from a passing steamer flooded it.  The submarine was rediscovered in 1995 and raised in 2000.

Huge Saturday morning farmers' market in
Marian Park:  arts, crafts, vegetables and
food booths. 

 

   

Second Sunday of the month King Street (the main
shopping street downtown) is closed to traffic. 



Jennifer and her trusty stead, Amos. 
They gave us a wonderful tour and history lesson.

Two of the great restaurants we ate at.

While lost, we drove past this restaurant four
times.  We decided it must be an omen.  Great
sandwiches and homemade soups. 

Charleston is second only to Rome for the most
preserved city in the world. 

The Dock Theater built in 1736.  It is
 the oldest building constructed for the
sole use as a theater in the US. 
The theater is still in use today.

Walking the beach we were greeted by this warning!

South Carolina low country waterfront.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!




 

Charleston On The Horizon

November 2 - 4, 2012



Moon reflecting in the water off our stern. 

Hurricane Sandy must have taken all of the bad weather with her. Since leaving New Bern, we have had beautiful weather every day, gorgeous sunsets and a full moon. 

We ended Friday's travels and started Saturday's in a miserable part of South Carolina's intracoastal.  The "Rock Pile" -- a narrow 28 mile section of waterway that is lined on both sides with very large jagged rocks.  At low tide, which we had on Friday, the rocks are visible.  At high tide the rocks are not visible...our fate on Saturday morning.  After spending Friday night at a marina in North Myrtle Beach, Tide Hiker -- Bob and Deidre's boat -- had an engine problem.  They were able to make a temporary repair and we were back in the "Rock Pile" by late morning.  Gotta Smile managed to hit one of the rocks in spite of great care and concentration.  Everything is working, but we are fairly positive that one of the stabilizer fins is damaged.  This is especially aggravating since we just had both fins repaired and the bottom painted in Solomons.  A diver will inspect for damage when we get to Stuart.  The only way to insure that there are no incidents on the water is to leave the boat in a slip.  What fun would that be?  We'll take our chances and accept the risk.       

Bon Voyage and Tide Hiker rafted on Gotta Smile.

Saturday night we anchored with all three boats rafted together.  Bonnie made a fabulous dinner and we relaxed sharing stories and reminiscing about our travels together the last few weeks.

Sunday morning Brian and I jumped out of bed at 6:45, knowing we had a long day ahead of us.  Quick showers and dressed by 7:30 when we realized we forgot to turn back the clocks last night.  Too late to go back to sleep.  We were 45 minutes into the day. 

Interesting sights along the intracoastal:

Near Camp Lejeune -- sounds serious!

Aerial tramway ferries golfers between holes.



Waterside wedding with parasols and cowboy hats.

Deluxe ferry boat

Gotta smile, we're lovin the ride!

And, minimal ferry boat.

                

Halloween Trick - One Day Late

November 1, 2012

Gotta Smile & Bon Voyage grounded in the channel.

Just as we were thinking, "Wow, two perfect days in a row", we came to an abrupt stop!  There we were in the middle of the channel riding the magenta line (on electronic charts the center of the course is marked in magenta).  We went aground and so did the 39 Krogen traveling with us.  We both tried to wiggle and jiggle to get loose, but it wasn't to be.  Tow Boat US monitors the radios and heard us discussing our situation.  Since we are both members, we agreed to be pulled off by them. 

Tow Boat Tom to the rescue!

350 horsepower can really churn up the bottom!



Almost free, the first time.....

The captain backed his boat up to us and put his two 175 horsepower engines at full throttle.  He sat there and let his big engines dig the sand out from under us.  Once we were free, we moved to the starboard side of the channel where it was supposed to be deeper and we grounded again.  The tow boat was still next to us.  This time he attached to our bow and pulled us until we were definitely in deep water.   As we sat signing the paperwork, the Coast Guard arrived.  They were measuring the water depth and buoy placement.  Apparently this has been a problem spot for other boats too.    

The Coast Guard surveying the channel.

Shoaling is a constant threat on the waterways.  As the water moves, it carries sand and redistributes the bottom.  Move enough sand in an area and a shallow spot is created in a location that makes no sense from the surface.   

Still a beautiful day -- just a little hiccup or what I call a memory maker!


Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!