Log of the ELISSA II: Charleston to Georgetown SC 6/29-7/2/2013

06/29/13: Made a short (30 miles) run to the Charleston City Marina, leaving the very nice anchorage of Steamboat Creek at 0830. We were in our slip secured and with the cabin A/C cranked up (another scorcher) by 1230. We called Joe & Edie Rubin, Gold Loopers and Charleston residents as we had promised to do. Some of you may recall the Rubins by their encounter with Asian Carp last Fall on the Illinois River – their boat, the Seaquel was totally slimed following an attack by a very large school of maddened Asian Carp. They came over to the Marina for a visit, took us to a very “cool” coffee shop in the heart of Old Charleston and then on a windshield tour of the City’s highlights. Joe and Edie are Harbor Hosts for Charleston. Harbor Hosts are “Loopers” who volunteer to be contacts at their homeports for other Loopers – provide information re: marinas, shopping, attractions and, as was the case today, shared Fellowship. Edie and I finally finished a conversation begun at Pickwick Lake last October. Her parents escaped from Eastern Europe and the Nazi’s in May 1939. It took until Oct 1939 before they finally made it to Israel—initially the British prohibited their landing in Israel; diverted to Rhodes. No one else in her family survived the Holocaust. Edie grew up in Haifa and then Montreal, where she and Joe met. She is in the process of recording this fascinating, and valuable, family history. She has promised me a copy.

Knowing there are gators in there dem waters???????????

Approaching Charleston

06/30/13: Taking a lay day to meet with Buddy & Nancy Maertens, friends and co-workers from 1^st Personnel Command, in Heidelberg, FRG. I began my day with the Marina Van ride to the Charleston City Market, followed by a 4-block walk to St Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church for Mass. St Mary’s is the oldest Catholic community in the Carolinas and Georgia. Mass was followed by an interesting historical tour. Across the street is the 2^nd oldest Synagogue and first Reformed Synagogue in the US. Thus, it seems Charleston has always been a city of religious Freedom-but not at the beginning. It wasn’t until after the Revolutionary War that Irish, especially Irish Catholics, were permitted to dis-embark from ships entering the Harbor! Before meeting Bill and the Maertens, I wandered the Market and eastern waterfront and alleys and byways. Lunch was at Magnolia’s-a lovely and very good Southern restaurant. We first met the Maertens in 1984 in Heidelberg, shared many a good meal in Gasthause’s, skied with Nancy in the Black Forest and enjoyed family times together with them and their 2 sons. It had been 15 years since we had been together but with friends, who are family, seemed like 15 days! I had hoped to walk back to the Marina but the afternoon was spent in drenching rains.

St Mary's

City Market with sweet grass basket vendor

A lovely-and fun-wading fountain

USS Yorktown-I spent my first night in Charleston, spring 1982, on this vessel with a Brownie Troop from Ft Jackson. Mattress was straw!

Buddy and Nancy Maertens at Magnolia's

07/01/13: Involuntary (weather) in Charleston. Small Craft warning on Bay, forecasted gusts > 35 mph…etc. Decided to delay a day. This day’s delay permitted me to walk all over downtown Charleston—logged 9.66 miles on my pedometer. Bill joined me for a walk into the heart of the city and another wonderful lunch at Blossom-She Crab Bisque and Fried Green Tomato BLT (incl crab salad). Before leaving the Elissa II, Bill saved the laptop by dropping it on his foot. That was the good news. Bad news was bruising and swelling of his foot made a continued walking tour for him out of the question. He caught the Marina Van back and I proceeded on my walking tour. Pictures are better than words so follow below. This is such a beautiful historical city. I returned just as sprinkles began. Bill said while I walked in sunshine 1ish miles from the Marina, he experienced 2-3 squalls!

Tiffany windows in Cathedral of S John

St Michael's Episcopal Churh where both George Washington and Robert E. Lee have worshipped

Alliance Francaise

Signs of 2013-cable hook ups in OLD Charleston home converted to student apartments, University of Charleston

The Battery

07/02/13: Good to go. Not great weather (rained all the way, sometimes reducing viz to <100 yards) but tolerable. After 7.5 hours & 65 miles we arrived at the Georgetown Landing Marina, AND, the sun appeared after a day of conspicuous absence. Since we began this leg 1 March in Columbus, MS we have traveled 2,169 miles. Since the start in August 2010 we have covered 5,944 miles. The cruising guides all recommend a stop in historical Georgetown. When I mentioned this to my 2 Carolina friends, Teri and Nancy, their reaction was the same-a quizzical look=huh? Nancy who had surveyed a Nursing Home in Georgetown added the comment, “well, just don’t go to that nursing home!” Once settled in the Marina-with an exceptionally helpful staff, I rode my bike the mile or so into town proper, through lovely oak tree lined streets with gracious homes from the late 1770’s. There is a nice, short, Harborwalk along the riverfront with many restaurants and shops. For me the best was the local seafood market where I picked up fresh scallops and grouper. Yes, Teri and Nancy, Georgetown was a nice, convenient, on the way stop. My 60 min bike tour and fish purchase was just the right amount of time. Of, course, after yesterday in Charleston, what was I expecting?! Oh yes, Georgetown does have a claim to fame: largest Marlin, 881+lbs caught by local charter here in 2005!! Dinner: Seared scallops with bacon, garlic and fresh basil-served on a Remoulade sauce and a side of sautéed sweet potatoes, zucchini, corn and onions topped with garlic parmesan.

Along Mid-SC ICW