Everyone knows THAT’s not possible. Whether your home is on the water or terra firma, it requires upkeep. On a boat, it’s not the number of chores, it’s the complexity that’ll toss a monkey wrench into things. In this case, “Appliance Swap-out Time!” Susie was super excited, like Ralph the Saint Bernard on Chewy’s Peanut Butter Box commercial.

We’re going with pictures for this tale.

Part I – the Washer

But first, we needed to get the old machine (did I mention, heavy) out of the boat before we could bring the replacement in. Clearly, we needed some muscle. Not like we don’t have three sons, or something. I’m sure they’d all pitch in if they lived nearby. In this case, fortunately for them, they don’t. 😉 (Love you, guys. Just busting your chops.) For some reason, Susie thought College Hunks Hauling Junk would be a good plan. Hmmm, wonder why? At any rate, we ended up with a couple of nice fellas from a local moving company.

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Part II – the Refrigerator

Bringing in the new one revealed a whoopsie! When Todd verified the needed opening, the “as built dimensions” on the fridge were too big for the hole! Surely there is enough “slop” in the hole? Nope! After checking with a fellow woodworking friend for confidence, in dove our resident woodworker!

Shout out to dock mates for their assistance – Kevin from Destination Unknown for slithering way up in that cabinet when the washer connections insisted on leaking and Terry from Finish Grade for helping Todd muscle the new refrigerator into the opening! Who needs Thor when you’ve got willing friends?

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Speaking of friends, November 1 has become something of an insurance-mandated “shotgun start” for cruisers. It’s the technical end of hurricane season and the first day most can venture below Cumberland Island, Georgia. You should have seen the boats heading out. We were delayed by Susie’s new spectacles (ha!), but for plenty of others, it was time to go south!

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With the chores sorted out, we can get back to what we enjoy about cruising – life on the water.

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We finally bid farewell to Lady’s Island Marina yesterday. Today, as we sit anchored in a totally idyllic spot creating this post about our time in Beaufort, I am pleased to report we did not forget how to anchor! Ha.

After being chased up the coast by Hurricane Ian, we spent October enjoying South Carolina and getting some chores done on the boat (not to mention Susie got glasses – welcome to a new decade). Following some delays that were out of our control, what happened when it was time to depart? Yep. Hurricane Nicole! Really?

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So, what have we been doing between the stormy bookends of Ian and Nicole? Well, since we’ve been remiss in posting, we’ll split this long month into two entries. For this post, let’s highlight the fun stuff. As the weather shifted back and forth between warm and cool, we went ‘xploring in the area!

Chapel of Ease ruins, Saint Helena Island, SC

During the Colonial period, “chapels of ease” were constructed by planters out on the islands as houses of worship because their plantations were located so far from the town churches. This one was built around 1740 and served the island parishioners until it was heavily damaged in a forest fire in 1886.

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Fort Fremont, Saint Helena Island, SC

At the turn of the 20th century, Port Royal Naval Station was built off the deepest natural harbor on the east coast. They built the only dry dock in the southeast big enough to repair the largest of Navy ships, the battleships. Important right? Well, across the bay, Fort Fremont was constructed in 1898 to protect this important facility. Super important at the time, but political winds changed, and it was pretty much shut down by 1906 as Charleston Harbor got dredged to become the hub.

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Hunting Island State Park, SC

Hunting Island State Park – that’s right, it was a real hunting spot! Nowadays, it attracts more than a million visitors a year for its five miles of pristine beach. Prime pickings for shells and sharks’ teeth and a cool lighthouse!

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Good times!

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More about this stay later, for today, we begin our journey back south. Gotta scoot! Hope we remember how to anchor! Hahahaha!

These metaphors are getting a bit crazy; first we’re a horse and now we are scoring touchdowns. Either way, it’s good to be here in Lady’s Island.

Remember those “eyes” from the other day’s post? They were at it again as we cruised up the ICW to hang a right onto the St. Johns River.

The St. Johns River coming into Jacksonville certainly includes one big thing – Naval Base Mayport. One of the major ones on the east coast of the U.S., and that means the “eye in sky” keeps a vigilant watch. So, while we watched the ‘chopper watching us, BIG commerce continued. Geez, those container ships are really big when they go by less than 100 feet away.

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We both love to see our country’s Navy. It’s beautiful and powerful all at once. We figure they will be heading out also, as is the case when a hurricane is eminent. They are safer at sea!

Our transition from river into “la mer bleue” was uneventful, and about eight hours later we celebrated a gorgeous sunset. Gosh, it feels great to be moving again! SaltyMare and her crew love the ocean!

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Speaking of moments to celebrate, at 1535, we unceremoniously slipped north of the insurance company’s desired 31st parallel. Would someone please tell Hurricane Ian?

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And 12 very dark hours later, after travelling on a moon-less night (pictures impossible, duh!) and being depressed/concerned as we cruised by a long line of “really big” ships (their lights were way far apart) just waiting in the ocean off Savannah, we were finally greeted with a great sunrise lighting our path along the Beaufort River in South Carolina.

TOUCHDOWN! Now we can hunker down to prepare for what Ian brings north. Just as soon as we take naps….

Ya’ll stay safe out there!

Well, South Carolina, actually

With the SaltyMare tugging at her reins and the first mate’s desire to just get north, the captain made a quadruple check (been watching it for days) on the predicted sea state for today and tonight, and we are making an overnight offshore run from Jacksonville, Florida to Beaufort, South Carolina. Yeah, stretch her legs out!

Taking advantage of the calm before the storm to let this freshly powered Selene Ocean Trawler do what she was built for!

Yes, it seems somewhat ironic to have ended the last post about the start of our new journey with a reference to a rainbow. Our first day moving was a bit overcast with bouts of sunshine, both liquid and not!

Yes, we did finally head out of Fort Pierce on Thursday. Yeah! She’s cruising again and couldn’t feel any stronger. First stop, after a lovely nine-hour cruise up the AICW – Cocoa Beach.

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Her first cruising day in more than four months was a complete success. This girl is ready to go. W-e-l-l, turns out to be a good thing, because…enter Ian. That’s right she is running…. really.

If only we could keep the first mate from getting distracted. 🙂

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Although we galloped into Daytona Beach, work schedules messed up seeing the oldest grandson and his family. Rats. Would be good to hang around, ’cause, heck, we don’t work, but gotta keep running. There’s a storm coming. Next stop, Marineland Marina for a quick visit with daughter Tracee and her beau’s family, and a quick hug with three more grandkids. Special shout out to granddaughter Kayla, she’s a senior. Notice the theme!

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We will see Marineland next time through, gotta keep moving. So, throw the lines, and today we continued northward to Jacksonville Beach. Man, Florida has A LOT of bridges!

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As the ‘Mare gallops north and her crew keeps a vigilant watch for updates on that rascal storm, Ian, it sure seems like we are being guided each step of the way. (Or is it watched? Ha!)

Eyes around of all kinds!