Jekyll, and Hide

Only went 15 miles today. Stopped early at a marina on Jekyll Island (Georgia), where we plan to hide out (see, I did work the pun in) for a couple of nights. Weather is nice - 70s today and tomorrow, mostly sunny. Will use bikes and explore the island. Wednesday we plan to head 31 miles south to Fernandina Beach (FLORIDA!), then hole up for the cold front and storms coming at us on Thursday (or not; our mileage may vary).

AIS track, 12/17/12

Shipwreck - boat we met last Friday night

http://www.jacksonville-boating.com/magazine/boating_news/yacht_washed_ashore_vilano_beach_fl.shtml

This boat came in behind us at Isle of Hope Marina, GA, a couple of nights ago. The next morning, Ilona chatted with the captain and crew member (her daughter) as we were sandwiched between them and another cabin cruiser on the outside face-dock. Offered to help with the lines and push off as if they left first, we would be able to get out more easily what with the strong current at the dock. They bumped out and we stayed inside. Small world. So sorry for them!

Marching through Georgia

Wahoo River, Georgia - fog!

We were anchored on the Wahoo River last night; oh but did the fog suck this AM - pea soup until noon! [but we needed to get the fog out of there ...]  Used everything we have: engine, radar, chartplotter, AIS, Garmin Bluechart Mobile (w/ Active Captain) on iPhone (!), compasses, autopilot (thanks, Otto), binoculars, paper charts, cruising guides, and especially follow-the-lead-boat when s/v-New Wave passed us and led us through the fog for several hours.  
But later it got warm when the sun came out - actually took off some of the 5 layers of clothing.  We finally made it across the marina-less stretch of the ICW through Georgia; now there is a safe harbor within 15-30 miles of anywhere.  And countless anchorages - some of them really good. We may just make it to Florida this year yet ...

http://marinetraffic.com/ais/datasheet.aspx?datasource=ITINERARIES&MMSI=367522380
then click "Show on Map" for whatever day you want

Now at the Hidden Harbor Yacht Club marina for the night. Outside of Brunswick, GA. Day turned out very nicely after several hours of dense fog. The other four boats in our parade today ended up anchoring north of us; we kept going. We needed showers very much. Found out that the marina had  an outside shower with a shredded curtain. Would have been interesting. The owner came back and said please come and use our home's shower. And then spent time chatting with us in her lovely condo. Laundry is in process. Great little marina in a condo development. But with sweeping views of the marsh and the Mackay River.

AIS track 12-15-2012

Today we made our way down the Georgia Coast on the ICW - from Isle of Hope (SE of Savannah) to being anchored on the Wahoo (sic) River (Absolutely Nowhere, GA).

See yesterday's blog for instructions on how to follow our AIS track, and download these diagrams yourself.

Follow our track !!!

Now have a good way to show our vessel's track (using our AIS with our iPhone) and the internet:
go to -
   http://marinetraffic.com/ais/datasheet.aspx?datasource=ITINERARIES&MMSI=367522380
and then click on "Show on Map" - and you will get something like this (today's track):

from Hilton Head to Savannah, 12-14-2012

Georgia !

Okay.  Need to update this blog.  We have been REAL busy since we left Charleston last Saturday (has it been a week already?).  We made it to Beaufort SC in 2 days, anchoring overnight on the north part of the South Edisto River and then spending 2 nights / a whole day / in Beaufort.  "Byew-furt" is a real neat antebellum town (since the Union occupied it during the Civil War, Sherman didn't have to burn it down).  Then we made it to Hilton Head Island, where we got stuck for several days with strong winds, tides (of course), and rain.  Cold, driving rain, 40 degrees, no fun.

Today we escaped and made it all the way to the Isle of Hope Marina in Georgia (suburb of Savannah).
It was colder than almost anything - 40 something in the morning, but no rain, but strong north wind.  After 30 very cold miles of motoring, we are here tonight.

Plan is to try to get down the Georgia Coast before winter (we may just not have made it) and get into the protected ICW in Eastern Florida, where we will escape the outrageous tides and cold weather, and make our way south to warmer places.

Separate blog notes coming, on tides, and on chart of our track, when I have time.  We have been busy.  Yesterday we spent several hours going over the charts and chartbooks, trying to figure out how to make it south through Georgia, (another blog post, later ...)

And then a miracle happened ...

We only had enough diesel fuel to run the boat for one day, but then a miracle happened and it lasted for 8 days!

Happy Chanukah from the crew of s/v Ihana - currently in Beaufort, SC; bound for Florida.