Reunion Voyage: Charleston, SC

Sunday we left Savannah and anchored out in the salt marshes once again on our way up the AICW. It was peaceful and still and you could hear the birds across the marsh. Monday we made the last leg up to Charleston. We had to make it a two day trip in order to time our arrival at a temperamental stretch call the “Elliot Cut”. We had been warned that the best way to go through that area was to wait until the tide was pushing us along – and that meant early to mid-morning. So all went well and we are now at Charleston Maritime Marina.

The wind has been fierce. This week the rest of the country is experiencing a ferocious outbreak of tornados and we are getting thunderstorms and rain. Pulling into the dock was a concerted effort from our highly skilled captain and three strong deck hands trying to get our lines tied down as we bounced and pitched. We are at a long dock with “Carole Ann” right in front of us, and “Field Trip” right behind.

Table Cloths imported from France

We have gone into Charleston and shopped at the city open-air market. I got some French cotton tablecloths and Loretta found the Sea Grass basket she wanted. The baskets are a Charleston specialty, hand woven from bulrushes, sea grass, palmetto and long pine needles. There were at least 20 choices of hand-weavers selling them at the market and on the street.

Loretta buying a sea grass basket, very nice!

We also took a trolley down King Street today, and walked among all the beautiful historic homes and gardens and along the Battery. That is the seawall of the city, built for protection from enemies and floods. The houses here are beautifully detailed with ironwork, balconies, side porches and of course, pillars. They are also often painted in pastel colors. We stopped for a refreshment at the Southern Brewing Company and checked out the menus at numerous restaurants to plan ahead for tomorrow, our last day here.