Meanderings
Svmelos
Tue 17 Jun 2008 12:03
46.90’ N, Long 79° 57.42’ W (for mailasail: 32:46.90N,
79:57.42W)
Our last entry was several days ago before we left Beaufort,
SC on Saturday. That day we motored North along the ICW
taking one river then a cut through to the next and then the
next river as they wound their way through the islands. It
seems the whole of South Carolina is a maze of rivers, all
deep and navigable! That night we anchored in a wide part of
the South Edisto River just north of where the ICW turned
off to head through a cut to the next river. We were the
only boat there apart from a small fishing boat that came
and went. Once anchored, we sat and watched the pelicans and
terns diving for fish and we thought we may stay a while.
The next morning when I started the engine I realized how
bad the smoking was getting and we began to reconsider our
plans once again. It now seemed as if we would be pushing
our luck to make it to North Carolina and we decided that we
would continue to Charleston and, once there, leave the boat
until we could fix the engine. We arrived here Sunday night
and today (Tuesday) we are moving Melos to another marina on
the Cooper River where we can leave her for a couple of
months. Right now we are not sure what we will do about the
engine repairs but we are planning on getting some more
expert opinions.
So, our plans have changed again. Though it is interesting
to visit places I have never been before, to arrive there by
water and to have the luxury of time, it has not been as
idyllic as you may be imagining or, for that matter, as we
would have liked. When we prepared Melos for her voyage it
was with the intention of heading to the UK. For that reason
we do not have air conditioning. So, with the Summer Sun it
has been pretty hot aboard especially during the afternoons
and at night when the breeze dies. Now that we are here for
a while, Janet and I are planning what to do with the rest
of our vacation time. With Janet’s three-month leave we want
to use the time as best we can so we are looking at taking
some side trips including one to Alaska to see one of
Janet’s friends who has recently moved there. After that we
plan to return to Melos but we may go no further aboard her
this year. If we decide to get the engine fixed by a
mechanic here then maybe we will still head further North
but if I decide to do the work myself I plan to return to
Charleston at a later date to do it.
Now you know our plans. Until we finally get back to Texas I
plan to continue the blog for my own benefit as well as for
any readers who are still interested in our trip which seems
to change course as much as a South Carolina river!
Jeremy