Sunday, departed Indigo Plantation at 8:05 (mm303). Sunny, breezy, but nice. Blowing from the west 10-15. Everything in the pilothouse was wet from the rains we have had. My seat cushion was soaked-had to improvise and sit on a blue flotation cushion. Improvisation on a boat is a requirement, whether boat maintenance, cooking, artwork, medicinal remedies, working out….you name it. Went by Lockwood’s Folly, saw 4 ft depths (actually 7 ft…..depth sounder reads 4 but add 3 for our draft.) Always a scary area for running aground. I do not miss this trip with a 5.5 ft draft on the sailboat. These inlets are always changing and you see additional channel markers added by the Coast Guard. Shallottes Inlet, another one to be aware of….not bad, we hit it at half tide and the markers lead you. But one must pay attention…..At 12:16, crossed into SC. We passed the Rockpile at high tide-nothing to see. It is fun at low tide, when you see all the interesting rock ledges and formations up close. Some appear as little miniature rock gardens. Arrived at Barefoot Marina at 2:15 (mm354). Larry watched a Patriots game-they lost….

Monday, cast off from Barefoot Marina at 7:45. Partly cloudy, 46 degrees. Current against us. Larry made friends with a tug driver. Nice man. Grew up in Duxbury, one town over from us at home. Stopped at Osprey Marina for fuel. We crossed an outbound boat going into the marina on a narrow alley. So narrow, I almost got hit in the face by a branch. I had to run and get behind the pilothouse then continue putting out the fenders. No turtles this time, usually lots of little ones. Fellow from the marina said no turtles since hurricane Florence. Then we were off again. Now the Waccamaw River, a favorite, especially of Larry’s. This time gray trees, really a different look. So this is what winter in the Waccamaw looks like…..cruising at 11 mph down the river with the current. Arrived in Georgetown, SC by 3pm (mm405). These short days also slow you down. Ate dinner and went for a walk around Georgetown for about an hour. Looking at Christmas lights and decorated store windows. Lots more restaurants than I remember from the summer trip north. Still, a nice town to visit.

Tuesday, cast off from Georgetown at 7:10. Pretty morning. We were up and ready earlier but had to wait for light. Ordered Christmas gifts online while I waited. Finally left as the sun rose. Tons of birds, including 2 eagles, not bald. Then we saw two bald eagles mating. Bird porn in the morning….Larry’s tug boat driver friend crossed paths with us again. He was on his way back from Charleston. Nice to talk to him again. Today, we also saw a couple of guys corner a red fox on a dock. Looked like a stand off-I wonder how it ended….Near McClennville, a shallow area, could feel the mud under us. Actually, slowed us down, as we plowed through it. Went by Charleston. Current and wind helping us so we kept going past our usual anchorage.Used up almost every second of daylight. We travelled 85 miles today. Grrreat for us. Chili was ready, waiting for us after we anchored. Love my crock pots.

Wednesday, anchor up at 7 am. 59 degrees in pilothouse. Not bad, I believe we are getting used to the cold starts in the morning. Great picture of sunrise. Secured at Lady’s Island Marina (mm543) by 1:10. Walked to downtown Beaufort to mail my Christmas cards and tourist around town. Dinner at the Fillin Station. Met a nice cruising couple. Dinner was a burger, a hotdog, beans, coleslaw, potato and (not “or”) salad. No options $4. Drinks additional. It is a must on any trip up/down the ICW.

Thursday, rain and wind. Stayed aboard all day.

Friday, very windy…..on the bow, nasty decided to stay another day. Food shopping and laundry day. Then we walked for Mexican food at Rancho Grande. Still very windy and occasional light showers.

Saturday, Mexican food kicked up all night for me. Cast off at 7:20. Cloudy and windy. Temps in the high 40’s. Winds, west 15ish-felt higher than that to me. Add our speed to it, making apparent wind 20-25, on the nose. Wind against ebb current. Rough crossing Port Royal Sound. 3+ foot waves and wind (small craft warnings). Waves washing over boat. Glad we didn’t go outside. I looked at it before we hit the sound and it did not look good. Then the sound was nasty….go Panda Bear. She handled it well and my new chair stays in place (not like the old director’s chair, where I flew around the pilothouse and Larry would have to grab me). Lizzie doesn’t like these conditions. After the worst was over I went below. Yep, she was green. As I went to leave to go back to pilothouse, she grabbed my leg tightly with both front paws as if to say

”Mom, don’t go!” I lingered for a while. It turns out it was colder here than at home in MA. Crossed over to Georgia. Arrived at Delegal Creek Marina (mm 600) around 4:00. Sat out back in porch-first time this trip. Finally warm enough, with the stern facing south. Always great sunsets at this marina. Didn’t see any wild boars on the island this trip…