May 25, 2017 – Thursday
Today we passed by Charleston, South Carolina’s largest port. Our expectation was that that the port would be busy and it would be a challenge to navigate, however with gale force winds predicted on the Atlantic side and 20 and 30 knots blowing on the ICW there were only a few hardy souls on the water and the run through Charleston was fast and uneventful. With sunny skies and the temperature in the high seventies, we were having a great time as we enjoyed scenic marsh views, birds, and dolphins playing around our boat.
Things changed when we reach Matthew’s Cut, at mile 431, we were on an ebbing tide, the wind was blowing water out of the cut and we had very little water below our keel. The next four miles were a bit stressful but, Rick did a masterful job of keeping us in the center of the channel instead of grounded in the mud banks. At mile 430 we turned into Jeremy Creek, gained about 6 feet of water under our keel, and tied up the Leland Oil Company dock, McClellanville. With the wind gusting it was a challenge, but all went well.
McClellanville is a small fishing town and the fuel for their fishing fleet comes from the Leland Oil Company, lucky for us they allow transients. After securing Andiamo we took a stroll around town. There are so many historic clapboard homes, shaded by grand live oak trees, with historical markers on them, we got a good laugh out of the one that said, “On this site, in 1897, nothing happened.” The citizens of the town are particularly proud of their Deerhead Oak, estimated to be 1000 years old, it was named as SC’s Heritage Tree of 2007.
Our dock mate for the evening was Jim Brassord who, in honor of his friend John, is traveling the ICW from Miami to New York to raise funds for the John P. Musante Health Center (JPMHC). His vessel of choice, an 18′ Little River Heritage Sculling Skiff. To learn more visit Jim’s site at www.miami2nyc.com.
Row Jim Row, safe travels.
