Day 188, "on the loop", 4/15/2023

Map of Trip: St. Simon Marina (Golden Isles, Morning Start Marina) to Savannah, GA (Delegal Creek Marina)

*The 4/8 forecast was Rain and Winds. On 4/7, decided to cancel our reservation at Kilkenny Marina to travel to Savannah, Ga. Stayed at Delegal Creek Marina. This decision allowed us to be closer to our 4/8 destination in Hilton Head (and less travel during the rain / winds).

We traveled the inter-coastal waterway from St. Simon to Savannah, see map above (the red line), it is curvy and long. This leg of the trip was mostly marsh land, not much to see.

Pictures along the Georgia coast line, uneventful:

Pic 1: This boat was anchored out and showed up on the Nebo App: The Karla B

Pic 2: House in the middle of no where

Pic 3: Another house (in the trees), we did not see a road leading to the house - Can you only get to this house by water???

Pic 4, 5 & 6: The view for the majority of the ride

Arrived at the Delegal marina during low tide. This area has 9 ft. tide swings, 2 times per day. Side note: The marina is located at the southernmost end of Skidaway Island, adjacent to the intracoastal waterway. As we approached the marina, we were in less than 6 feet of water most of the time. We left the marina during "high tide" and the same area where the water was less than 6 feet (the day before) was now 14+ feet of water.

Picture below shows low tide, the barnacles on the poles (under walkway) is how high the water rises (high tide). While we were there, the tide changed at 10:53pm and then again 5:04 am the next morning. If you are sleeping when the tides comes in (or goes out), it wakes you because the waves break against the boat causing a loud bumping noise that rocks the boat (not pleasant).

Delegal is the home port to Boat name: R&R (Rick & Ruth Ann). They were our boat neighbors in Key West. They live on Skidaway Island, a community with approximately 6 golf courses, a couple of restaurants and a grocery store. It is a gated community and you are only authorized on this island if you are a Skidaway Island member or guest.

Rick and Ruth Ann treated us to dinner at the yacht club, near the marina. The food was incredible, I had a salmon dish. Side note: It was the best salmon I EVER had.

Side note: Joel doesn't like when we match (if we ever have on matching colors or outfits, it is not by his choice).

R&R gave us these lovely flowers for Easter, aren't they pretty?

We walked around the area.

The beautiful boat in picture 2, below, is R&R (Rick & Ruth Ann's boat). They will be traveling with their dog, Sally. Sally was at doggy day care during our visit. She will be picked up prior to their Loop departure (4/8). Technically, they started their loop in Key West (so that is where they will cross their wake).

The last picture is our boat shortly after sunset.

Map of Trip: Savannah, GA (Delegal Creek Marina) to Windmill Harbour Marina (Hilton Head, SC)

4/8 - Arrived at Windmill Harbour Marina, this place is magical. There is a small lock (only 1 boat can pass at a time). There is a turnstile bridge that opens for entry (there is only one way in and out). This place is gorgeous! Breakaway arrived before us and due to weather, they waited on us! We had dinner at a local BBQ place, food was good and it was nice to catch up with Alain and Danielle.

Side note: This day was a LONG ride, I received a phone call from a friend (Debbie M). It was so nice to hear from her and catch up. Thank you for calling!

*Going through the lock. Side note: I shared a video of another boat pulling into the lock on my Facebook page: Tracy Carr Boisselle

*Summer Place is in the lock, ready to exit, just waiting for the "gate" to open

*Paul (the guy in red shirt) is a lock master, he was talking to Captain Joel. They were discussing expectations of the lock, information about the marina, our slip assignment (F6). This is the smallest lock we have entered.

Forecast is calling for Gale winds for 4/8.

4/9 - Easter Sunday! Happy Easter, I hope everyone had a wonderful day celebrating with family or friends. Joel and I watched a church service on line. Our day started out as a chilly, overcast day.

Easter Brunch at The Crazy Crab, Jarvis Creek with Breakaway: Alain & Danielle

Meanwhile back in St. Louis, a dear friend prepared and served an Easter lunch to Raymond (Grampy) & Jonathan.

Jonathan headed back to UARK shortly after he ate. I am sure he dined and dashed :-).

Danielle and I walked over 6K steps around the marina. This place is absolutely amazing with several types of birds, trees and plants (didn't capture pictures of everything; see below for the ones I did take).

The most common bird seemed to be the Cardinal, they were so vibrant in color. There were pretty blue birds (Eastern Blue bird) too. We walked by Crepe Myrtles, large Magnolia and Loquat Trees (Loquat produces yellow berries). We are hopeful these trees bloom before we leave the marina.

April 10th we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Doesn't seem real, I can't believe it has been 25 years! Joel may feel differently (may seem like forever to him) - LOL. We are beyond blessed and grateful to meet so many wonderful people (from all over) as well as experience this adventure. It is surreal, so many beautiful sites from the waterway. We are THANKFUL. Yesterday marked 6 months on the loop, we have 6 months to go!

Had a wonderful dinner at Hudson's Seafood House on the Dock, Hudson's is located at the edge of Port Royal Sound and known to be one of the oldest seafood restaurants on Hilton Head Island. Converted from a seafood processing plant in 1967. They serve approximately 3,000 gallons of oysters, 70,000 pounds of shrimp, and over $250,000 raw oysters (served on the half shell). The food was good, the company even BETTER.

4/11 - Joel and I were doing a few chores around the boat when we heard a knock at the side of the boat. It was Theresa from Boat Name: Masquerade, a looper we met at the Rendezvous (Windmill marina is their home port). Susan & Theresa completed their loop this past Saturday (4/8). They have a nice Main-ship Trawler (they are looking to sell, if anyone is looking for a boat).

It was nice to see Masquerade and hear about their trip, they took 11 months in total. In addition to Windmill marina being their home port, they crossed their wake here and earned their "gold" AGLCA flag.

Breakaway (Danielle & Alain) rented a car for our time here in Hilton Head. They have been so kind to include us as they drive around to sight see and run errands. We checked out the Burnt Creek Distillery and tried a few flights of bourbon, gin and whiskey. It was a cool place!

A little background: The distillery is rooted in unearthing the truth behind where the road got its name, as well as demystifying local folklore that went along with it.

Started in the years surrounding the Civil War, the days of plantation life, and delved deeper into the 20th century, including a stop on the polo grounds in Old Westbury on the North Shore of Long Island in New York. Their discoveries include those of tragedy and jubilation; the demise of Lowcountry plantations, the rise of new industries, and the advent of private hunting and sporting clubs. All before developers swooped in and began building gated communities with private golf courses. They explored the real stories behind local legends as they navigated through the Lowcountry’s deep and rich history surrounding Burnt Church Road.

The question, “Where does a name like Burnt Church Road come from?” drove these founders / investors to embark on this multi-year journey. Finally, the answers become a reality. Luckily, so have their corresponding Lowcountry spirits.

Burnt Church Distillery has a unique urinal. Joel said this is the nicest urinal he has ever used. (The waterfall flows into the urinal.)

We wrapped the evening up with dinner at Giuseppi's Pizza. It's a festive sports-themed, Italian plus pizza by the slice or pie place with a huge Pittsburgh Hockey presence. Several Pittsburgh hockey jersey's are framed and hung around the restaurant.

Some Giuseppi's background:

Influenced in Pittsburgh, Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta insists on the freshest and most authentic ingredients, their dough is made daily at the Hilton Head and Bluffton restaurant locations. They have been serving for over 33 years.

You won’t want to miss out on watching football at Giuseppi's, especially if you are a Steelers fan! They are the island’s home to Steeler Nation, have 14 TVs, the Big Ten Network, Direct TV and NFL Sunday Ticket!

4/12 - A couple (The Fischer's: John & Julie) are planning to do the loop. They are looking for their looper boat. While vacationing in Hilton Head, they found us on Nebo. We scheduled time for them to stop by, they are looking for boat ideas and what will work for them. Guess what?! We actually met them at the Rendezvous in Paris, TN (we were day 2 on the loop) back in Oct 2022. We gave them a tour, introduced them to them to Danielle and Alain too! They toured Breakaway also. It was a nice visit. We look forward to hearing about their boat purchase and following their loop journey!

4/13 - We said goodbye to Windmill Marina in Hilton Head, SC. As mentioned before, this was a hard one to leave. It was so lovely! The staff and locals were amazing.

Map of Trip: Windmill Harbour Marina (Hilton Head, SC) to SafeHarbor Marina (Beaufort, SC)

Below are pictures taken as we prepared to leave-

Captain Joel preparing for departure. He uploaded his charts and entered the coordinates.

Most houses surrounding the marina have an average cost of $4million.

Morning sky @ South Carolina Yacht Club - Windmill Harbor)

Calm waters

Look close, there is a double rainbow and a reflection of the rainbow in the water.

4/13 - It was a short ride from Hilton Head, SC to Beaufort, SC, only a couple of hours. Safe harbor marina checked us in early. We walked around the historic town, had lunch, waited on the boat for the rainstorm to pass. Closed down the day at a local dive (Hemingway's).

Lunch at Wrens Bistro & Bar, the food was delicious and the staff were fun. This place is a great place to stop in, if you are in the area. Upon arrival, Alain asked if they were open, the bartended responded "no, we just leave the doors open". With a response like that, we knew we were in the right place!

We caught up with Long Gone 2 (Dan & Chris). They have been in Beaufort, SC for a few weeks.

Hemingway's, a cool little dive.

Now we know where Bud & Kathy vacation: Fripp Island, it is only 19 miles from Beaufort (where we docked). This area is gorgeous!

Danielle and I did some window shopping while the guys waited. The sign behind Joel's head reads: "Husband's Bench, 5 hour limit". Danielle loved the sign about crazy and the birdhouse is a nod to our friend Jane Ruby :-)

Walked around Beaufort, SC and took a few pictures. This is a place I would like to visit again.

This was interesting, Beauford hospital (view from water way), they have a boat dock. Curious if they use this for emergency situations that may occur on the water.

My mom's family name, Harrington, couldn't resist the photo.

This church dates back to the 1860's the stain glass windows appear to be intact. I think that people still attend this church today.

We walked through a cemetery and discovered a couple of families with a long life span. I don't think that was very common in the 1800's. One family had a couple of members living well into their 90's. (Ricker's was one of the family names) Side note: I didn't get a picture of the gravesite.

Friday, April 14: Departing Beaufort, SC - Charleston, SC bound:

Beautiful morning for a long ride! It's a bit crowded on the water today, looked like a boat parade at times (aka Flotilla).

Map of Trip: Safe Harbor Marina (Beaufort, SC) to Safe Harbor Marina (Charleston, SC)

After a long day, we settled in for the afternoon, took the Safe Harbor "free" shuttle to the downtown area for dinner. Stopped in the Gin Joint for a before dinner drink.

Danielle, Alain and I selected the Bartender's choice. I selected: refreshing and unusual. Danielle selected floral and fizzy. Joel selected a simple rum drink (in the wine looking glass). I don't recall what Alain requested. The drinks were delicious!

The guys found this restaurant, Well Hung Vineyards and had to stop in to try their spirits. The wine is sourced from California, Washington & Oregon. After the pre-dinner drinks, we decided to find the best Fried Chicken in town!

We are in Charleston for a few days, I am beyond excited to see what this town has to offer and tour around a bit. Have a wonderful weekend!

Random Information & Other Stuff

Alligator / Crocodile Difference:

Alligators have a wider, U-shaped snout, while crocodiles have a pointier, V-shaped snout. Water: Alligators prefer fresh water, while crocs tend to prefer saltwater or brackish water, which is a combination of saltwater and freshwater. I do not want to see one up close, prefer to see them on the shoreline when we are traveling :-)

Hilton Head, SC:

• Named after the English explorer, Captain William F. Hilton, who in 1663 surveyed the island while sailing from the Caribbean Island of Barbados. Captain Hilton was so impressed with the "sweet water," and "clear sweet air," that he named the island after himself.

• Famous for its beaches and world-class golf courses.

• The island is 5 miles wide and 12 miles long, has over 100 miles of bicycle trails.

• Has fewer than 40K year-round residents; however, 2.5 million visitors a year.

• The island is shaped like a foot. People sometimes refer to the heel, toe or ankle when describing locations.

• There are NO neon signs on Hilton Head. The island was developed to try to remain in harmony with the natural world, so all the signs here are in natural and nurtural colors (NO neon signs).

Windmill Harbour Marina (located in Hilton Head):

There is a small lock (fits one boat at the time) to enter the Windmill Harbour marina. Lock provides a tide free basin, security and beautiful harbor. There is a harbor master that operates the lock during normal business hours; however, lock access is available after hours for Marina members that have a "lock card"

The lock controls the water level and protects the marina from extreme weather. Because there isn't a current in the marina, it helps prevent barnacle growth.

Pic 1: Panel that the lock master operates

Pic 2: Shelter covering the lock master's equipment

Pic 3: Captain Joel entering the lock, talking to Paul (the lock master)

Entering the lock at Windmill marina, the middle picture shows the gate closing at the back side of the boat. In the first and last picture, you should see a bridge. This bridge opens to allow boats into the marina.

If you look really close you can see the break in concrete (where the bridge turns to open for the incoming / outgoing boats).

See the bridge from the street level, the red and white bar drops to prevent walking traffic when boats are entering or exiting the marina. See Facebook page to see the bridge in action: Tracy Carr Boisselle

Mossy Trees in Hilton Head:

Shout out to Chauntiel Carr who shared this information when we visited her in Fairhope, AL. I told her I would probably put this in the blog one day... Well this is "one day".

A well-traveled member of the pineapple family, Spanish moss (Tillandsia usenoides) ranges from coastal Virginia to Argentina. It is an "epiphyte" or air plant that only hands from branches to take in sunlight, rainwater, and nutrients in dust.

In the Lowcountry, Spanish Moss flowers (blooms) from April thru July. Late in the summer, the three petal flowers produce silver-sized seedpods. These release seeds with downy hairs (think dandelion seed, but way smaller). The aerial seeds float aloft until they strike a tree-usually a live oak, then slide off the waxy outer leaves, and finally settle in the fissures and crags of aging lower limbs. Here the moss grows, forming those hanging (draped look) strands.

Live oak, black gum and bald cypress trees have the most fissured bark and widest spreading, horizontal limbs making it easy to support the Spanish Moss strands. Palms are to bushy and Pine trees are too spindly branched for the moss to grow on them.

Spanish Moss hangs in silvery-gray stands from weathered live oaks. Some people think the Spanish moss is a fungus and kills the trees; however, it doesn't harm the trees at all. In fact, it is believed that the lacy plant is the key to the survival of the coastal forest.

Deer, Wild Turkey and horses eat the leaves produced by the moss.

*look close and you can see the moss hanging from the trees*

Gale Winds:

Wind that is stronger than a breeze; specifically a wind of 28–55 knots (50–102 km per hour) corresponding to force numbers 7 to 10 on the Beaufort scale. As issued by weather service forecasters, gale warnings occur when forecasted winds range from 34 to 47 knots (63 to 87 km per hour). See example of a scale below:

Beaufort, SC:

During the Civil War, Beaufort was the first southern city conquered by Union forces after the U.S. Navy victory in Port Royal sound on November 7, 1861. Beaufort became the headquarters of the U.S. Army, Department of the South, and most of the buildings were converted to hospitals for Union army wounded.

Beaufort's Colonial period was 1711 - 1783, Antebellum period 1783 - 1861, Civil War and Reconstruction 1861 - 1893. There was a decline from 1893 - 1945 and then the recovery phase started in 1945 to Present.