Photos of BIG boats in Charleston...and you thought we were big...ha.

Loved Beaufort...quaint town...took the carriage ride recommended by Linda Niles...and met up with friends of friends...had a nice evening of wine and conversation on the aft deck before heading out to Charleston...notice interesting accumulation of sticks from ICW...

OMG...when Charleston City Marina said they were putting us on their megadock, we thought that meant big dock. It means BIG BOATS...we are the smallest boat here...most in excess of 120 feet. We spent a pleasant evening googling some of the names. The MUSE was our favorite. It is a charter that sleeps 8, has a crew of 6, and has lots of water toys. You can get it for only $98,000 a week. Do you think they'd take a check????

Yesterday we were tourists in historic Savannah...and there were lots of us. Rode in a horse drawn carriage for an overview (horse threw a shoe), then walked to cathedral, cemetery, river front area, markets, squares, Thomas-Owens Museum tour, and ended at Paula Deen's restaurant. Somewhere along the way Floyd found his sign...hehehe ...Returned to the marina tired and very full...we sure slept good. Today awoke to rain...and now it is just HUMID...we had thought we'd leave for Beaufort but since our mail isn't going to arrive until tomorrow we'll be staying around. Oh, the joys of traveling. Hope all is well with you...

We've seen them in Tennessee, Kentucky and all along the ICW...eagle like birds, nesting in the channel markers...feeding their young....but TODAY Floyd pointed one out and I was finally in the right spot at the right time to get a great photo.

Finally we see the sun and have georgeous weather for cruising the ICW...today's challenge is a lovely passage called Hell's Gate..and there happens to be a big dredge parked right in the narrowest spot...not a problem...that Floyd is one sharp captain... We had a short day of traveling; only about four hours to Thunderbolt Marina...arrived in Savannah safe and sound...smooth docking inspite of strong tidal current and winds. Tomorrow we play tourist and plan to eat at The Lady and Son's Restaurant (Paula Deen's place). I'm having to explain who she is to the guy I'm with!!!! He's gonna love it!!!!

Travel to Kilkenny Creek was an adventure. We got to experience two notorious trouble spots on the ICW...Jekyll Creek and the Little Mud River...both during low tide conditions. We did just fine, thank you very much. Followed a barge who wasn't so lucky...we heard he ran aground after we had passed him. Also managed to spend some time traveling with a couple in an older boat who stated they were originally from Coffeyville, Kansas. File that under small world. But our biggest challenge were the thousands and thousands of HUGE flies that insisted on coming aboard...OMG...we tried the Thermacell and citronella candles,even put Listerine in a spray bottle and squirted them like my mom had suggested..we wished we had a bee keeper outfit. Floyd took great delight in killing hundreds with his fancy-smancy flyswatter but that produced such carnage that we finally resorted to using the shop vac to just suck them away......folks around here just shrug and say ..."oh, yea, those bugs. Nothing seems to work." Kilkenny Creek Marina sure reminded us of our first night out of St Charles docking at Hoppies Marina. Swift current and rickety docks...always a fun combination.

Made it to Brunswick in time to use their FREE laundry facilities and tour the town. No bowling balls were located...scratch it off your places to visit...pouring rain storm that night...headed to Kilkenny Creek.

Lots of skinny water down here. And tides...OMG...tomorrow the shift is 10 feet...Weather permitting we are headed to Brunswick, Georgia...then on to Savannah. Good bye, Florida...this liquid sunshine is getting to us.

The skies weren't exactly clear...but the rain had stopped ...so away we went...cloudy, rainy and cool all day...but we made it to Fernandina Beach in time to play tourist.

Got a chance to visit with Mary Ellen Isaac last night...she was my supervisor for the last six years at USD 259...now working in Jacksonville. Was good to see her and catch up...

AAARRRRGGGHHH...there should be a country western song titled "Stuck in Jacksonville". It has rained since we arrived Monday evening. I'm talking pouring, heavy, blowing ...lots and lots and lots of water...Our plans are made, supplies are loaded in, boat is ready...could we get a little cooperation from Mother Nature????

We arrived safe and sound back in Jacksonville. No hang ups in the Atlanta Airport this time...we'll probably pay for that on the return trip. Tumbleweed was still afloat ...today we are defrosting the refrig, cleaning the cobwebs, getting supplies and such. Sounds exciting, doesn't it??? New raw water pump was installed while we were gone so we'll do a long day cruise before heading out later this week. One of my former students and my former USD supervisor both live in Jacksonville. We are trying to get together with them before heading north. It is cloudy, rainy and 62 degrees here...what happened to that warm weather???