On the move again we time our departure to make the passage of Elliots Cut as close to slack tide as possible to minimize the navigation of the narrow channel and it’s noted turbulent currents. From there we make our way through the crowded Charleston harbor and “light up” the AIS with lot’s of warnings calling out “dangerous target detected!”, the chartplotter’s collision avoidance systems way of letting us know it “sees” other boats out there with a speed and course in conflict with us! The 3 hour crossing is again thankfully under calm seas and winds and after another couple hours back on the Intracoastal Waterway we reach a secluded anchorage in a huge marsh behind Isle of Palms.
Even near slack tide the waters in Elliot Cut run strong and can push you into the banks!
Busy and beautiful Charleston Harbor.
Need to keep clear of the big boys going out to sea!
Our AIS and chartplotter let us know there are many other boats on a dangerous course to ours!
A secluded anchorage in the marsh after a day of cruising.
We’re now in the heart of South Carolina’s Low Country and that means fresh seafood! The seaside villages and towns of Mcclellanville and Georgetown are celebrating the end of the softshell crabbing season and later we end up renting a car at our last stop in North Myrtle Beach on Easter weekend to drive back down to Port Royal for their annual softshell crab festival and hot rod cruise in.
The softshell crab is a special delicacy in that it has a very limited season. For a period of only a couple weeks, the crab "molts", shedding her hard shell to allow her to grow bigger. The "soft" shell hardens after only a few days so catching and sorting the crabs and "watching them" to harvest them at that special time is a time and labor intensive process. In this area, the time is NOW!
These softshell crabs were part of an education stand at Port Royal's annual festival.
Like Florida and Georgia, many of the primary rivers of South Carolina retain their “indian” names (the ones that likely discovered and used them first). South of Charleston we traveled on the Wadmalaw and Combahee. To get to North Carolina we turn inland and connect with the Waccamaw and get back in to a freshwater system of twisty blackwater cypress stands. The treetops and channel marker posts are again frequently home to osprey nests and it seems this is the season to see a couple chicks heads poking up waiting for mommy to bring fish home for dinner.
