Hi All!
Took a break and got out on the boat yesterday for about 6 hours!
Had this idea we could beat the afternoon heat and get out on the boat earlier in the morning….
Original plan:
07:00 - Get up
07:10 - Make coffee and walk the dogs. Leave the big dog out on the run for a bit after playing ‘run’ with him
07:30 - Make fresh chicken salad from leftover KFC and put in tortilla roll ups for lunch later.
08:00 - Pack shoulder cooler.
08:15 - Wake up Admiral with a cup of hot fresh coffee
09:00 - Make fried egg breakfast sandwiches on fresh sourdough with shredded Mexican cheeses
09:30 - Retrieve the big dog and feed both dogs and the cat
10:00 - Walk the dogs again.
10:30 - Pack up and go to the boat
11:00 - Launch boat
Actual:
Same as planned but started at 8:30 and left house at 11:30… a bit later and a bit more rushed
12:15 - Launched boat but needed to stop and get gas at the fuel dock
12:30 - Finally on our way
Not to plan but we got out!
We went up the Beaufort River just near/after high tide.
Explored an estuary that we not been in previously called Brookfield Creek.
Quite a nice and beautiful area.
We’d been hesitant to explore this before due to concerns about how shallow it appeared on the charts.
But as this was a high tide felt it was worth a try. Glad we did!
Spent more than a hour slowly working our way in dodging sandbars and shallow waters.
We pursued our explorations until it was approaching the point where the ebbing tide starts to pick up speed.
The tide had dropped about two feet from when we entered when we decided to turn about and retrace our steps.
It was a fun bit of exploration.
Once back on the Beaufort River we headed further North to the Coosaw River and on out to Sam’s Point.
It was now about 16:00 and the tide was quite low by now.
I believe the creek we turn in is called Lucy Creek.
It was really interesting to see the extensive tidal oyster beds all exposed.
Definitely will need to come back here with a smaller boat, a friend and a couple of buckets in the right season!
An Oyster Roast needs to happen!
We eventually turned around and headed back to our slip.
While it was only above 95F since we had departed our slip it did feel cooler being out on the water which was averaging 91+F.
The radio said the “real feel” temp was over 110F.
(Sorta like being in a lobster steamer given the humidity.
It was a hot day even by South Carolina expectations!
We got back to our slip around 06:15 with a cruising speed of only 10 to 12 mph (per GPS).
(
Aside:Seems that the warm weather is giving the marine growth on the hull a leg up as of late.
Need to figure out a way to scrape/brush off the hull while still afloat.
Maybe get to one of the local pier boat ramps at high slack tide and get in the water?
Long handled stiff broom? A hoe fitted with a plastic scraper edge? Goggles and a wide putty knife?
(Probably skip the goggles and putty knife.. I not anywhere near my twenty something years any more… 
) )
After a nice smooth landing in our slip and tying up I plugged in the shore power to fire up the A/C for the Admiral to cool off while I took care of chores. Glad I made that A/C mod! Makes the Admiral happy too!
Gave the engine a good long flush with fresh water to rinse out the salt. Then rinsed off the hull.
Checked fuel consumption… for 6 hours out on the water with a good portion at 4500-to-5000 rpm our Suzuki DF60AV consumed about 12 gallons. Not bad actually. With a cleaner hull we have done better but still not bad!
It’s also time to due an oil change. It’s already been just over 200 hours of engine run time since we launched.
So far this season our utilization of our boat has been lower than expected due to weather and schedules and other commitments.
Gotta hope the temperature and humidity give us a break in August so we can get out more often.
Current plans have us scheduled to haul out at the end of August to head north but I’m inclined to possibly delay that a month or two if I can get the Admiral to agree. She has some prior commitments up there in November and there are several important tasks on the ‘Northern-To-Do-List’ that need to be accomplished before winter freezes things up and snow falls.
(Funny it’s 96F outside right now like a sweat box sauna and I’m talking about things going to freeze up
)
Well today turned out to be a stay home day as it’s hotter out now than yesterday.
Best to stay indoors. Fribble.
Progress on the ‘Southern-To-Do-List’ has been delayed by the unplanned trailer bolt and bunks refurbishment efforts.
The unpredictable weather and heat hasn’t helped any either on that account.
Now the wheel lug issue…
Fortunately it’s at a stage where I can legitimately kick that can down the road to a time with cooler weather for now.
I really need to get back into gear with the house refurbishment/remodeling down here.
Even I’m tied of how long things has lacked progress
and that’s sayin’ something!
So the next step there is to get back onto solving the inslab floor electrical receptacles aspect.
After that, now that the carpet has been removed) is patching a zillion little nail pops from where the carpet tack strips came up and the process of filling/ leveling of the slab.
After that then comes the installation of the new vinyl plank flooring in the main portion of the house, new kitchen area and hallway. About 1000 square feet…..
Really want to get these completed before the end of August….(
That may be my residual twenty something brain talking
… but it’s making sense right now…
).
Things are what they are and they’re not gonna get done by themselves.
(:D
And I was afraid I’d be bored in retirement
)
Best Regards,
Over Easy
