I felt a bit (only a bit) guilty (there's that ancestral thing again), putting them to bed at 6:30 p.m. - but we did get up at 5:30 a.m. to set motor. When I snuck back into Jonas' bedroom (the kitchen) for some rice pudding, he cornered me (for a taste) and to ask how many miles we traveled today. When I told him 50 (a record for us, at a record 9.1 knot speed - we had the current with us and even revealed a sail, for old times sake), he let me know he had read 47 pages from his book - which was less than the number of miles we went - like mother like son..which reminds me, the ICW is still in the lead, with 650 miles to 850 pages. Lately, Jonas reads The Indian in the Cupboard, by flashlight, until 10 pm - looks like we've moved to self home schooling. I, on the other hand, just completed assignment 5 (out of 8), for my self home schooling - right on schedule, how surprising..
So, after a very bundled up journey (we broke out the gloves, neck warmers, and hats), we arrived in Georgetown (3rd oldest city in South Carolina, for the record), and may stay a day or so, as it rains. Unfortunately, we were greeted by some very territorial captains, strongly persuading us to anchor elsewhere - our reputation (which one, I'm not certain) must have preceded us. This, like almost all of our sails, have been quite tame, but for some reason I've stepped up my safety precautions - I wear the life jacket more often, and Jonas & Elias are always "attached" when we're moving. It was refreshing to drive by abandoned (due to hurricanes) rice fields, and oak trees strung with Spanish moss (see photo to be sent), as opposed to neon IZOD signs.
So, by the by, I decided that 2 things I want to do upon our return (besides turn on the water, buy groceries, and get a job) are go camping and attend a weekend book retreat - my friend has gone on a few, I think they're at a scenic college campus, a theme is selected, you read books listed in advance, and then there are guided mini book groups - how reckless!
I'll have the rice fields with a side of Spanish moss (on route to Georgetown)
Do you - remember when tour - is over (Georgetown)
say ‘marshmallow’
Although historical and quaint and scenic, Georgetown is a bit quirky - when the wind is just right, the stench from the paper mill makes one appreciate the olfactory sensation in the Fort Trumbull "neighborhood." The Rice Museum is its featured attraction - although I guess once you've seen one rice museum, you've seen them all. After strolling its waterfront boardwalk, lined with "Do not feed the alligators" signs, we stopped in at the local humidor (cigars, coffee, internet, games...) - where Jonas was reprimanded for playing cards. The historical trolley-like tour focused on the town's ghosts, the bookstore manager would not let us use their bathroom (directing us to the public one outside), and the owner of the ice cream shop refused to give us tap water, threatening I'd have to pay for the cup (memories of Sam's). However, the proprietor of a small restaurant was so enamored with Jonas and Elias, that she sent us back with free chocolate/marshmallow desserts (-maybe we should have shared with Jonas and Elias). Then we waited out the rains at the library, having a nice chat with the librarian from Staten Island. However, due to forecasted high winds, we may stay another day.
So, I couldn't help myself, but I bought yet 2 more children's books - one called The Adventures of Pelican Pete (a trip relevant natural history poetic story for Elias) and another titled The Little Red Lighthouse and the Big Gray Bridge, published in 1942 (another trip relevant story - about the building of the George Washington Bridge - more along Jonas' interests - and a lighthouse that still stands on the Hudson River) - I think I'm still in the rationalization phase of children's bookaholics -
Georgetown Rice Museum,
special exhibition - rice pilaf
find your dream girl at
www.internetdating.com
(aka cold weather sail to Charleston)
I don't have any great photos to forward, so this correspondence will have to suffice. We had a Bazooka Joe (reference for the 40+ crowd - looks like you'll just slip through) sail. It's way too cold to even consider showering - which may be why those other boats have been extra courteous not to sail too close downwind of us. There does seem to be a we vs. them mentality (sailboats vs. motorboats - so where does that leave us?), with the sailors yelling at the motorboat captains over the marine radio about reducing their speed and subsequent wakes.
Anyway, about that creek subject, we're anchored solo in a creek - 52 miles further along than when we began today - and only about 14 miles from Charleston - it was very windy today too, although less than yesterday - I spotted a bald eagle today, not to mention a red tailed hawk and many egrets roosting in trees -