Our position is 33:55.588N 78:07.617W

ICW miles to go: 315

The Osprey marina was so peaceful (once the electrical storm subsided) that we didn’t get up that early, but after topping up the water, refuelling and having a pump out we were on our way before 10am. The pilot book suggested that the Socastee bridge might be slow to respond to a request to open, but we were soon through it.

A review of the pictures taken reveal that in fact the day was pretty dull apart from the 12 65’ bridges (2 of which were so new they weren’t listed in the book), the 3 low level bridges opening on demand, 1 railroad bridge that is usually open (and it was) and an aerial tramway, taking golfers from one side of their course to the other. The only other highlights were a section of the waterway known as The Rockpile, where rocky ledges jut out into the waterway and are covered at high tide (fortunately we were going through at low water and they were visible), a close encounter with two small boats towing fishing nets behind them in the channel, the crossing of the border into North Carolina and being passed by Merritt, a boat used by the Corps of Engineers to maintain the ICW.

The weather was cloudy and threatened rain all day and the wind was from the north so we couldn’t use the jib. Again we had set off without a clear destination in mind and when we were both thoroughly bored we started to attempt to identify a place to stop. Anchorages were few and far between and the first marina we phoned could only accommodate us if we drew less than 3’. The second didn’t answer the phone and we were just discussing whether we could just go in and tie up again when they rang back and were able to confirm they had space, even though we were going to arrive after they had all left for the night. When we arrived it was a delightful little basin surrounded by a charming housing development, with the obligatory dolphin swimming near the entrance. We tied up quickly, as it had started to rain but a 60s band playing in the Tiki bar on shore soon had us heading for a drink. Their set was over all too quickly and we went back to the boat to eat and to bed.

Socastee Bridge                                                                                  You can't always believe the chart plotter!

Some docks (and their inhabitants) need some tlc                                      Not all the waterside houses (or the boats) are big

A new bridge with no visible means of support apart from the trees                 I didn't think 25mph constituted a hurricane

Going through the Rockpile                                                                       and underneath golfers

Looks like someone should sue their builder                                               A lighthouse seems a bit OTT on the cut!

Fishing in the channel                                                                                  The decline of the fishing industry

Merritt                                                                                                    St James Plantation Marina