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Live Oaks on Cuberland Island
Cumberland Island is a favorite for on shore walks under these fabulous trees. Most of you know that we had an exciting period of gremlin chasing before we actually got underway to leave Georgia. It took Christian a couple of days to straightened out the radio problem. This is especially important since we use the radio to send and receive e-mail (including weather) when off shore or in anchorages where there is no WiFi. The transmission was dripping a bit and we decided we wanted that fixed before heading off shore, too. The aft shaft seal was replaced and that seemed to fix it. We spent a few more lovely days hiking on Cumberland Island (see photos) waiting for a good weather window and catching up with cruiser friends Doug & Sharon on About Time.
On April 18th we headed out the St. Marys inlet for Beaufort SC. Within half an hour the autopilot quit and we sighed in anticipation of the 24 hours of hand steering that lay ahead. Before despairing, though, Christian used the THWACK! technique and it worked immediately. That is when you take a good sized hammer and THWACK the recalcitrant equipment to show it who's boss. It worked and auto steered the whole the way. There was very
Dungeness Ruins
The ruins of Lucy Carnegie's Cumberland Island mansion make a nice walk destination. little ship traffic, which was good because the USB GPS I use for the computer acted up and I had to use one that connects via a serial port box that also receives the AIS signal. I have back up serial to USB cables to use but in the middle of the off shore leg I chose GPS for the computer (which is in addition to the one going into the chartplotters). For non boaters AIS is a bit like radar and is used for tracking large ships and ferries. Christian LOVES having the small chartplotter at the outside helm and it will receive the radar signal as well. The larger plotter is inside the pilothouse but we installed it on an articulated arm so it can be seen from the outside helm, too if necessary. We plan for failures!
Having said it was a lovely off shore passage I neglected to mention that Carter up chucked at least 3 times and drooled his sea sick protest when not otherwise occupied. WHEN will he get his sea legs? Bisous may not have been happy either as she went AWOL our first night in Beaufort at Evening Star's dock (see
Marsh View
A view of the marsh south of the Dungeness ruins looking southward towards St. Marys Inlet photos) and kept us searching for 48 hours. We were only hours from departure when on a last nighttime walk around the neighborhood we found her. It was a happy night on I Wanda.
While we were in Beaufort Christian and Alan (Evening Star) spent some time trouble shooting the transmission which had its oil leak reoccur during the passage. This is not a big leak, but you don't really want ANY do you? As it turned out the locking nut was installed backwards-- but not during our repairs in St. Marys. This was done LONG ago as the shaft saver won't go into place with the nut put in the right way. We are confident we can manage until we are in the Chesapeake and can see about getting everything in the right order. We do not really want to go without the shaft saver as it has "saved" the shaft and us several times on various crab and lobster pot lines. We have cutters now, but like having the shaft saver for extra protection. So we have a drip pan that we can monitor and the transmission itself is working fine. While at dock we had several
Wild Horses on Cumberland Island
These horses are descended from Lucy Carnegie's stables, freed on the island at her request. These horses are viewed from the anchorage fun gatherings with the Butler's (SSCA cruising station) and the Rae's (OCC cruising station). In typical cruiser fashion this included good food: Japanese, a potluck and great pizza. For the pizza Andrea was able to join us since Beaufort is in her work area.
In view of all the kitty "excitement" since leaving GA, we decided to stay on the inside route to Charleston. The water would be smoother and less likely to make the kitties unhappy. They seemed to enjoy the two day trip, spending lots of time out on deck watching pelicans dive bomb for fish and dolphins cruising alongside for dinner. We heard no complaints and as far as I can tell no laundry will need to be done here in Charleston! The anchorage in the Ashely is a little lumpy and that is good, we think, so they get used to the movement. I checked on line and with our vet and Carter will be on a small dose of Dramamine when we head off shore next time. For now though we are enjoying the lovely Spring weather and scenery on the inside route. We will spend a few days here with Andrea before continuing
Rae's Landing
Allan & Cathy Rae welcome members of the Ocean Cruising Club to their dock in Brickyard Creek, Beaufort, SC on.
More soon... Mary & Christian / I Wanda
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