May 7-8-9, 2024 Cowen Creek and Marine Propulsion and Wadmalaw Island

May 7, 2024 River Oaks to Cowen Creek Anchorage 73 miles 8.75 hours

Sunrise over the Ogeechee and As You Wish pre-departure

Not gonna lie. Other than some excitement at the start of the day, the rest was just long and boring. So, lets jump in with the excitement. There was an alligator at the marina.

Only about 3' long but makes you wonder "Where's his mama??"

We had the boat all provisioned after our stay at home and cast off without issue. 9 AM departure on the last of the rising tide, so good water for our trip to the ICW. First mate did an awesome job getting us cast off and we easily sidestepped our way off the dock unassisted. Started heading downriver and after getting to the first bend the starboard engine cut off. This is where the real excitement begins! No overheat alarms, no low-pressure bells, no weird underwater thumps. It just quit. Try restart and nothing. Port engine is still going so put it in neutral. Think, Think, Think through the possibilities. FUEL!!! Rush down below, through the salon, out the back door, down the lazarette stairs and into the engine room. DANG!! Sure enough, in my rush to go I had reopened the water seacocks but had failed to open the fuel valves. I always close both these items when we'll be stationary for any length of time and even have a reminder note place at the helm. First time this has ever happened to me. Open the valves, head to the helm and try refiring the engine. Turns but won't fire. Now - THINK, THINK, THINK. What did the mechanic say was the sequence for bleeding the fuel line? Crack the bolt on top of the fuel filter housing, unscrew the manual pump handle and pump until fuel bleeds. Do it, retry the engine. Still no start. Martha and I are swapping ownership of the throttle controls as she's on the flybridge trying to hold position in the current while I'm trying to start it from the pilothouse. Back to the engine room. Bleed it again. Try to start again. Still nothing. Third time I bleed off from the screws on both fuels filter housing. Back at the helm again and it sputters. Try again and it finally starts up. Yeah for us!! Crisis averted.

Now just a long slog to the ICW. We take a cut through to the Little Ogeechee which saves us going through Hell Gate and eventually dumps us on the Vernon River at the ICW. Then past Isle of Hope, Thunderbolt and eventually across the Savannah River. Unusual for us, but no container ship in sight as we cross. Once into SC we are attacked by flies again. On and off all afternoon depending on having a breeze. I had forgotten how many no wake zones make up this section of GA and SC. Made even more maddening when the current seemed perpetually against us. We finally pass Daufuskie and Hilton Head islands, cross Port Royal Sound and head up Cowen Creek for the night.

Tourists parasailing at Hilton Head

Sunset over Cowen Creek

Journey for May 7, 2024

May 8, 2024 Cowen Creek to Machine Propulsion 56 miles 6.6 hours

Buildings at Parris Island

Revelry across the river at Parris Island Marine Base wakes us up early. Anchor up at 8. We'll be traversing several narrow cuts today and want to try to hit them before low tide. Thankfully the flies were less of an issue today. Not much happening on the ICW today regarding other boats. Mostly just us with exception of a few small fishing boats and a southbound sailboat and trawler. That made occasional dolphin sightings a highlight.

Slow day on the water

Mom teaching calf how to surf the boat wake

Lowcountry scenery - pelicans in flight

More dolphin sightings

Water through here is either pulling or pushing all the time with speeds either 7.5 or 11.5mph. Current is amplified in this area due to the unusual 8' tidal swings. The cuts we traversed were Ashepoo, Fenwick and Watts. They were finally dredged last year so no longer an issue, but they were so bad they became almost impassible at anything but high tide. We did manage to hit the creek up to MP at dead low tide but since we've been here before we knew we could get in. One small area with a 5' hump, the rest at 8-10'. Tonight, we've got plans for dinner at a new Mexican restaurant with friends Gene and Paula who live nearby on Johns Island (our hailing port).

John, Gene, Martha and Paula after a great dinner.

Journey for May 8, 2024

May 9, 2024 - Marine Propulsion to Church Creek 17 miles 2.0 hours

We got hauled out at 8:30am on the high tide. The bottom was amazingly in great shape. Paint is 2 years old and boat has sat idle for some extended timeframes this year which usually gives plenty of opportunity for marine growth. Nothing on her but a little slime and a few barnacles on the running gear. A quick pressure wash of the bottom and new zincs on the shafts and transom and we were back in the water by 10:30. Drop a B.O.A.T. unit at the front desk and we were off the dock.

Always a little nervous at the initial lift from water

Up on land and looking good!

Weather not looking so good as we prepare to head out

Weather forecast is not looking good for the day. Severe storms to the west approaching by early afternoon. Already lots of reports of severe thunderstorms, winds to 70 mph, hail, tornadoes. At 12:30 it's decision time. Do we stop now and anchor in Church Creek or continue to an anchorage another 2 hours along but with less protection? We opt to head into Church Creek, put out a 10:1 storm scope on the anchor line and hunker down. We're joined by three other boats with the same idea. The front arrives early at 2:30. Brief, but intense. Then just rain for a few more hours. Early anchoring allows time to update the blog. We'll plan an early start tomorrow to put on some miles.