We arrived in Charleston, SC, on Saturday, planning to spend two nights so we could do some sightseeing on Sunday. Our location is on the west side of Charleston, on the Ashley River, just south of the first large bridge across the river (coming in from the harbor). A great location, and the marina (City Marina) has an hourly shuttle van for trips downtown, or anywhere in the local area.
We spent Sunday afternoon sightseeing. Took the marina shuttle to the visitor’s center, and from there took a 1.5 hour tour of the city by van, to get the lay of the land. Afterwards, we walked back downtown and through the market, then south to the Battery where we toured a historic home. Then walked back through the market and a little north to a large grocery store where we bought a few things we needed, and then had the shuttle meet us to take us back to the marina. We ate dinner with boating friends who have an 1820s era home in the old city; went to a restaurant across the Ashley River from the marina. My only criteria for the restaurant selection was that they have shrimp and grits (a Charleston specialty according to Norm Wulf and Emeril) – and of course, the restaurant served up some great seafood, including shrimp and grits.
Today we took care of some housekeeping on Sanderling, then went to the Charleston Museum.
We had decided by late afternoon yesterday that we would depart today (Monday) as planned, despite a forecast for heavy rains today, and very windy conditions tomorrow. We reasoned that we would be well protected on the ICW by the time the wind worked its way up in the form of a Nor-easter running up the coast (remnants of the last tropical depression). Last night during the night it rained almost five inches! When the alarm went off this morning at 0615 I checked the weather radar (cable TV) and we were surrounded by heavy rain, and the forecast for tomorrow, although sunny, was still for high winds (20-30 MPH). We have a couple of large sounds to cross the second day south of Charleston, so we decided to stay here another day or two and enjoy the amenities of the marina! We’ll depart whenever the forecast improves or the windy conditions pass.
This delay is going to put us back home around the 29th/30th, if we can keep going once we depart. If more bad weather intervenes again, we may be cruising into early December! We’ll certainly be cruising on Thanksgiving Day. Actually, Thursday’s forecast is for warmer weather and sunshine, and we’ll be further south by then, so all in all we should have some nice weather again.
Our thoughts will be with you on Thanksgiving.
As I send this, late in the afternoon, the wind has clocked around to the northwest and is blowing steadily at around 15-20 mph. We’re glad we’re in the marina tonight.