Leaving Jacksonville FL

     We finally left Mandarin marina on Tue. at about 0815 and made the 35 mile trek down the St Johns River to the ICW.  We were doing so great decided to continue towards Fernandina Beach.  Francie noticed that we did not have any water coming out the exhaust for  cooling the engine, so pulled to the side and anchored.  Turned out to be a raw water pump belt had wore out.  Luckily we had a spare and were going again in about an hour.  With a little help from the tide continued on to Ferandina Beach and fueled up.  Then on to Cumberland Island for an anchorage.    We left Cumberland I. this am about 0700 and out the St Marys Inlet to the ocean.  It seemed like a mass exodus as there were a lot more boats leaving as well.  The weather man lied again and our SE winds turned out to be NE.  We managed to work with them and the Iron Spinnaker and made Sapelo Sound "Blackbeards Island where we are anchored for the night.  Skipper and Black Beard must have made friends as  he wants to go ashore there again tomorrow.  Winds from the SE again tomorrow?  We will seeWe left Blackbeard's Island (SC) and headed North with a little help from the wind although again not as predicted.  That ran out real quick and we were  then motoring.  We decided to head for Port Royal Inlet as the predictions for Saturday were rain and wind from the north, right on the nose. We went in to Port Royal marina for fuel and learned that Lady's Island Bridge (Beaufort) was out of commission and would not open till Saturday.  We decided to stay at the marina, do laundry, showers and use their loner car for groceries and a spare belt for the engine. This is a very good place to stop.  Nice restaurant and a place for Skipper to run. 

    Leaving Saturday, for the first opening we could get was at 1230 and against the tide and by then the wind was at 20 knots.  We thrashed on to an anchorage at the Ashapoo River and spent a quiet night. Skipper enjoyed Fenwick Island and managed to find a great muddy place to bring back muddy feet for Francie on the boat.  Sunday we carried on to Charleston and through the Ben Sawyer Bridge.  We were making great time, and trying to find an anchorage that would be suitable for the winds that night. About a mile from the bridge we were reminded of the "Spring Tides" as we ran aground in the middle of the waterway!  A couple of hours and a beer later we were floating again.  This shortened our look for an anchorage and we pulled in a Dewees Creek,on the Starboard side .  Lots of water and a place to walk Skipper.

    Sunday we got an early start and decided for Georgetown SC and another Marina for fuel etc.  We had a little help for most of the way with the wind, and a lot of help going up the Wacamaw River to Georgetown.  It had rained on and off most of the way, so were happy to arrive there early. It called for beer and appetizers at a waterfront restaurant that accepts friendly dogs.

     We have decided to continue until we find some better weather and then hit the beach for a day.  This is not in the near future though, I guess, as the reports are not good yet.  Our next anchorage was at Enterprise Landing and very good for the evening.  It rained very hard and for along time.