Myrtle Beach, SC to Georgetown, SC to Charleston, SC February 16-24

         We traveled from Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach to Georgetown, SC on a COLD day.  Upon arrival, Kay asked the dockmaster if he cared where on the dock we tied up, and his response was, “well, did you see anyone else out on the water today?”  Georgetown has a quaint old downtown area which, but for the cold, misty weather, we enjoyed touring.  Our second night there, we did find a very good restaurant, and Kay finally got to eat out after cooking aboard for the better part of a week.  The microwave got a rest!  (Very) cold fronts are coming through about every 48 hours, so we can travel only every 2^nd or 3^rd day.  We are also entering areas where tidal height is critical…many are not passable during the lower half of the tide cycle, so careful planning is necessary.             We left Georgetown early (based upon tide predictions) in fog, and worked our way down the ICW towards Charleston.  By early afternoon we had reached an area just north of Isle of Palms, and pulled off into a creek where we had anchored overnight on our way north a couple of years ago.  We anchored for a couple of hours waiting for the tide to rise, and then crept along at about 2 knots through the stretch of ICW from Isle of Palms to Ben Sawyer Bridge—one of the worst on the waterway.  We made it, due to careful tide timing and patience to wait for that time, and tied up at Toler’s Cove, a small marina just north of Charleston Harbor about 5 p.m.  The next day we rented a car, and drove round-trip to Southport, NC to retrieve the Element.  For almost a week we stayed at Charleston…partly to unwind, restock, and sightsee, and partly because the weather wasn’t fit to travel (or take photos)!  We actually got up early one morning to leave, and realized the weather was much worse than predicted, so we just had an early breakfast and stayed another day!  Twenties every morning, 30’s every afternoon, usually with mist or drizzle!  For some of these days the Charleston airport was even closed!  We did have good electricity, a secure dock, decent TV (off-air), and every grocery store chain in the state within a mile, so what more can one ask for?  Well, lunch at Jestine’s, a quintessential downtown spot for Southern home-cooking, was a special stop, as was Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island (listed as one of the best burger spots in the country).  It’s hard to beat the culinary treats of Charleston, even in yucky weather!  

Charleston Architecture

Relic From the Retail Past