Georgetown, SC July 1-4, 2014

July 1-4, 2014

Most of our Tuesday scenery after having left Charleston, some 70+ miles of it today, was marshland as we tracked through the Santee River delta. We docked late afternoon at Harborwalk Marina in Georgetown, SC and connected water and electric; then I began my routine of washing both breakfast and lunch dishes before starting dinner prep. To my amazement (and horror), the galley faucet water began running green! Oh, this will not do. Dr. Seuss wrote of Green Eggs and Ham; SaSea Sally writes of green water. His might have been edible, but you're not gonna catch me drinking this stuff! Thanks, Jan Moore, for your misery-loves-company comment that you've had likewise in your RV park due to algae.

Later afternoon I retrieved and processed our USPS mail scan from Tonya then prepped for dinner at the River Room which came highly recommended by local tour boat guide Fran and her hubby known as Captain Ron to the townsfolk. They were to become instrumental in guiding us through upcoming Hurricane Arthur.  

As we secured SaSea Sally to the dock and connected the water hose and electric, Sally decided to wash the accumulated dishes.  SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEM.  The dishwater is green!!!

Wednesday morning Clay and I walked the pretty front street of Georgetown, then eagerly and happily bid the Charleston folks goodbye and safe travels; my adverbs describe our mental mindset at the time as we were soon to relocate in their more-protected slip in prep for Arthur. We did what we could to further prepare, attaching additional lines and fenders, retrieving potential blow-aways from the fly bridge and deck, etc. We took some solace in the Georgetown residents' laid-back attitude regarding the storm's potential damage. Knowing our soon-to-board guests were in transit toward Harborwalk, Clay encouraged Johnny and Audrey Roberts to take advantage of activities along their route as SaSea Sally was in hurricane-wait mode and would not be departing until Arthur did.

Clay waiting for "docktails" with Chip and Pat

This Wednesday being Clay's birthday and anticipating Roberts' dinnertime arrival, I wandered downtown, poking my head in various shops in search of an appropriate gift. After finding birthday candles at Tuck's General Store, I was geared toward finding a bakery so Clay would at least be able to make a wish on a birthday cake. Kudzu Bakery was a 'find' with whole and half-cakes, wines, sauces and marinades, coffees, and refrigerator/freezer items to rival the Schwann's man. No present, but armed with cake and candles, I made my way back to Harborwalk to find Roberts' had detoured, giving Johnny a memorable Atlanta Aquarium diving experience, but delaying their arrival by at least eighteen hours or so. Plan B. Chip and Pat (Aerin E) became birthday celebrants as we set up our party dockside in the shade cast by SaSea Sally. What wonderful friends these two have become...a gift beyond measure, yet we knew not of such at this point in time. Dinner out became dinner in as I defrosted our only remaining piece of shark and added leftover grilled asparagus, white rice and pasta salad.

Wednesday brought drizzle and mist with Arthur well-formed and heading our way. Locals seemed to continue to treat the approaching hurricane as a non-event, but nonetheless I was apprehensive. I'd never planned to ride out a hurricane onboard, and I doubt Clay had such itemized on his bucketlist either. (Dave, don't wanna join ya in this category, thank you!) As our morning walk ended, Clay decided he needed to mingle with the townsfolk for an Arthur update at the popular downtown breakfast nook called Thomas Cafe. Nothing new to report (good news!) must have heightened Clay's appetite; he certainly dined on a hearty breakfast fare which is often lacking from SaSea's galley.

With Johnny and Audrey's arrival at noon, we joined them at Five Rivers Tavern for lunch where we rode out the brunt of the storm. My table position allowed me a birdseye view of the effects of Arthur, but only later did we realize that the sheeting diagonal rain, bending trees and whipping leaves were the worst that we were to experience. A big thank you to all of our friends and relatives who expressed concern about our well-being. Arthur truly was a non-event in Georgetown, SC, (it was offshore), but the anticipation was enough to last me a lifetime! And, I will remember Roberts' as storm chasers of sorts; they arrived in time for the hurricane. Don't know that I would have strived for such!

As the storm tempered, we made a Wal-Mart/Food Lion run and returned to the marina as skies cleared. The sun came out as we stowed our purchases and made plans for dinner at Alfresco's, a cute little Italian dining spot downtown Georgetown.  Only as we were ready to depart did the Harborwalk Marina owner tell me that when a major hurricane is forecast, the marina must be evacuated!!!  Then what do you do?  "Just go up the river and tie to some trees on the bank"--right! 

With Arthur now history, we made plans to depart Harborwalk Marina on July 4th and cruise north toward Myrtle Beach.