Summer Wind: Minim Creek & Georgetown

TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2010 - We arose to a loud horn being blown on the river shortly before 7am. There was a ship turning in the basin and tugs were warning other ship traffic. So up we rose, dressed, untied the lines and headed out. The winds had subsided enough for us to cross the Ashley River to enter the ICW. It was a little rough near the mouth of the river but we endured.
The Summer Wind needed fuel and Dick had checked online for the cheapest fuel closest. He calculated the hours to each destination and realized that the best stop would be Georgetown, SC. Well the winds and weather report wasn't sounding very good for crossing Winyah Bay, so our stop that night was the Minim Creek anchorage about an hour or more south of Georgetown. This stop was familiar to us, so we made short work of setting our anchor. Dick put out a bit more chain, just for extra measure. That evening we settled down and shortly around sunset we could see the rainstorms off in the distance. We were lucky because they didn't reach our protected anchorage. As we were relaxing we received a phone call from Bill, he was in the anchorage on the other side of the ICW. He thanked Dick for letting him know about the conditions in Charleston. We could see Monkey Girl across the ICW in the east anchorage and a full moon.
Wednesday morning we headed out for Georgetown. We had a short trip up Winyah Bay, although not very uncomfortable even though the winds were still blowing a bit. The dockmaster asked us to temporarily tie up at our slip until the fuel dock became available. Evidently they had a couple of boats towed in because of engine problems. We refuelled at $2.99/gallon and went back to our slip. That afternoon we walked around Georgetown and wouldn't you know the sun came out!!! Yeah!!! Georgetown is a cute little town with history of Indigo and Carolina Rice plantations, and a great boardwalk on the water. The only thing negative is that the paper mill plant is close by and there is an odor that is not so pleasant. That evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Goat Island Grill.