April 11, 2023 Toogoodoo Creek and Marine Propulsion

April 10, 2023 Toogoodoo Creek to Marine Propulsion - Rockville, SC 11 miles

We settled into our anchorage way up the Toogoodoo Creek. Past the open marshes and behind a line of treed shoreline giving us protection from the winds and rain forecast for Sat and Sun. as a cold front moved through. As promised, the skies clouded over Friday evening and winds started blowing a bit harder. Just a dismal day on Sat. with off and on rain but non-stop winds howling a constant 15-20 and gusts into the 30's. Cold all day and barely into the 50's. We hunkered down and chilled. Slept in late, then a late breakfast, some TV, some reading. Not an overly productive day. Rain finally eased up overnight but wind continued to blow. By late Sunday the clouds started breaking up but the cold and winds remained. So another sort of relaxing day doing pretty much nothing bundled up in long pants and sweatshirts. We got some great news that warmed us up over the weekend. My nephew and his wife had their second child. Welcome Eliza Helen to the family!!!

Eliza Helen and her proud dad

Tree line in Toogoodoo Creek breaking the wind

Sunday evening sunset

Our Northern Lights genset had developed a minor fuel leak sometime along this trip. It ran fine, developed power fine and kept our batteries recharged at anchor fine. But even a small fuel leak leaves that ubiquitous diesel smell hanging in the air in the lazarette. Our timing was ideal for a stop at Marine Propulsion. They are the service yard in Rockville that did the1000 hour service for us last year and the same service for the previous owners. They are Yanmar and Northern Lights certified, and we have full confidence in them. We made arrangements to head into the marina at slack high tide as Adams Creek can be a bit shallow at low tide. A breezy cool but short trip. Got docked, checked in and asked to spin the boat and move it forward a bit to keep the travel lift area clear for a boat they were hauling out in the morning. Tues. AM bright and early the travel lift was growling. Afterwards Anthony headed over and got to work on the genny. My original thought that it was just some O-rings turned out incorrect - although they were shot and needed replaced. Next we determined the low-pressure lift pump was faulty when trying to bleed the system. Got that replaced and the genny running. Much better, but determined there was still a slight leak. Looked like the high-pressure fuel injection pump actually needed rebuilt and we'd have to get it done later and elsewhere. Good living has its rewards and we were blessed today. Anthony has the same genny on his boat and has been in the process of rebuilding it. He had a replacement fuel pump for it!! So, no stopping somewhere else for unknown days, using an inferior mechanic, finding a shop to rebuild the pump and then getting it reinstalled. Once and done all here and in just a few hours. Even got some extra tutoring on our main Yanmar engines!!

The source of our problems - the leaky fuel injection pump

As an added bonus during our stay, our friends Gene and Paula who live on nearby Johns Island (our boats hailing port) drove out and took us to dinner at a great Mexican restaurant. Amazing friends from our Spartanburg days who now live down here. Great to catch up with them and chat about numerous mutual friends. On the way back to the marina after dinner Gene told us of his adventures almost losing his new Jeep while attempting some off roading. Scary and hilarious at the same time. Pictures of the mud caked vehicle were priceless. And yet again, we forgot to take pictures while visiting!!! Tuesday, we unloaded the bikes and made the short ride towards Rockville and stopped at HUMS grocery. Learned about it on our last visit. Not much to look at but fantastic sandwiches for lunch. Renowned for their chicken salad sammy or the Pimento cheese with bacon sammy. Even been written up in several magazines and featured on ETV.