Wednesday, March 7th to Friday, March 16th, 2018
Well, we certainly weren’t expecting this! It has been cold, cold, cold through most of Florida, and now Georgia and South Carolina. Still we are making tracks, though admittedly we are doing it very slowly in hopes that spring will arrive up north and the storms will pass before we get there.
We have a great time touring around Jekyll Island, GA on bicycles. This island was historically used as a playground of the rich with many beautiful ‘cottages’ and a large Club House. Thankfully, the weather warms up a bit and it is a beautiful day to see the island.
Silver Maple on the dock on Jekyll Island, SC
Jekyll Island is a great place to ride bicycles
First transcontinental call was made from Jekyll Island in 1915
The Spanish moss hanging from the trees gives the place some great character
The Jekyll Island Club House for the rich and famous, is now a hotel
Lovely day!
We take a tour of the Rockefeller ‘cottage’ called Indian Mound on Jekyll Island
The former club house diningroom unfortunately requires jackets for the gentlemen and dresses for the ladies — not something we have on the boat, so guess we will have to take a pass this time (ha!)
Some rooms still have the upscale hunting lodge feel
Randy pretending to be a Rockefeller sitting on the porch of the Club House
Exclusive multi-family residences are considered to be some of the first condos
The wharf where the boats arrived bringing people from the mainland is now a nice, casual restaurant
From Jekyll Island, we head to Wallberg Creek, GA and then on to Thunderbold, GA just outside of Savannah. On the way, our mileage on Silver Maple passes the 5000 mile point. Wow!
Another windy and cold day travelling form Jekyll Island to St. Simons Island, GA
Lee bundled up trying to stay warm
Settled on the dock in St. Simons the next morning after a windy arrival the day before
The Morningstar Marina on St. Simons Island, GA
Captain still uses paper charts as back-up for navigation
Lots of technology including iPad and full Raymarine navigation system on the boat too
Back on the water leaving St. Simons Island and heading towards Wallberg Creek, GA
The Inter-Coastal Waterway (ICW) in Georgia is mostly through marsh areas
Lots of birds
Water fowl on the shore as we pass (Heron?)
The buoys marking crab traps make navigation even more challenging. Birds like them to rest on.
Passing barge traffic
Anchoring in Wallberg Creek, GA
Dolphins visit us in the anchorage
A calm day on the ICW as we head towards Thunderbolt, GA which is just outside of Savannah, GA
Channel markers make great bird perches
Finally, a nicer day!
Approaching Hell’s Gate, one of the notoriously shallow spots on the ICW. Georgia is frustrating to navigate because there are so many areas where the depth is so low we can only traverse when the tide is up.
While in Thunderbolt, we take a day to tour around Savannah, GA. What a great city! All of the squares give it a very peaceful feeling. And, the weather warms up a bit for us again for the day. Woohoo!
Safe and sound at Thunderbolt Marina just outside of Savannah, GA
Randy with our Segway Tour Guide, Ray in Savannah, GA
Fountains in Savannah have been dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day
Lee and Randy on Jones Street, historically one of the most prestigious streets in Savannah and where we get the phrase ‘keeping up with the Jones’
The flowers are blooming in Savannah
Beautiful hedges!
Lee and Randy in front of the ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ house
Savannah is a really nice, livable city built around 22 squares
Spot where the bus stop bench Forest Gump sat on eating his chocolates in the movie
Hey, we have a square!
From Thunderbolt, we do a very short trip to Hilton Head, SC marking the end of Georgia. Whew! The shallow depth of the Inter-Coastal Waterway in Georgia makes it very challenging.
Bad weather and gales are moving in later in the day, so we want to get tied to the dock as soon as possible.
Back on the water, we approach some traffic on the Savannah River
We won’t argue with him!
The lovely Harbour Town Marina in Hilton Head, SC. We are out of Georgia!
Silver Maple on the dock in Hilton Head next to our next boat… maybe?
From Hilton Head, we take off for Beaufort, SC. which is another very short run. And, then the next day we head towards Charleston, SC. This turns out to be a horrible day. Its cold, in the 40s and 50sF. Its windy, with up to 30 mph winds. And, its a long day where we are on the water early and don’t get in until the early evening. We are so glad to get to the St. John’s Yacht Harbour Marina just outside of Charleston.
Cold again as we head from Hilton Head to Beaufort, SC
Lots of military aircraft around
Pelicans still around even in the cold
Wow! That’s cold!
Fighter jets overhead
Bridge opens as we approach our marina in Beaufort, SC.
Nice little town with beautiful old homes
Heading from Beaufort, SC towards Charleston, SC. What’s with the cold!??
We take the next day to visit Charleston. Love that city!
Sunrise at the St. John’s Yacht Harbor Marina just outside Charleston, SC
Lunch at 82 Queen in Charleston, SC.
Charleston, SC is one of our favourite cities with beautiful old homes and great food
These houses are know as The Three Sisters
Silver Maple safe and sound on the dock at the St. John’s Yacht Harbor Marina
Noisy neighbours on the dock at the St. John’s Yacht Harbour Marina
Today, we are still on the dock at St. John’s Yacht Harbour. We will be moving Silver Maple later this afternoon into the a marina in Charleston where we will be meeting up with our friends, Doug and Ellen from Charlotte, NC. Looking forward to seeing them!
Tomorrow we will be back on the water!
Silver Maple Blog 
March 16, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Wow, beautiful. Do you go all the way up the east coast? Will you end up anywhere close to Groton Long Point in Fishers Island Sound?
March 17, 2018 at 7:47 pm
I’m afraid we won’t be going that far north, just as far as Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake.
March 17, 2018 at 12:16 am
We were a month later than you and I remember it being cool. Did our tax returns sitting on the docks in Charleston trying to access wifi! Enjoy the journey.
March 17, 2018 at 6:07 pm
Lovely pictures, Lee! I hope the weather warms up for you soon.
March 18, 2018 at 2:54 am
Beautiful pictures! What an amazing adventure!
March 18, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Great pictures. I hope it warms up for you soon!