We are in Charleston SC – which is half way along our Intracoastal Waterway trip to Florida.   Our good friends Ben and Sallie du Buisson  have been fantastic, arranging a slip for us at the Carolina Yacht Club, taking us for a wonderful dinner there, sharing their car, internet, copier, fax and washer/dryer to allow us to catch up on all the land-based type of things that we have put on hold.  Charleston is such a picturesque town with every street having its own charm created by buildings, plants, cobblestones and color.   But according to Ben and Sallie, many people have discovered its charm and are moving here in droves, pushing up real estate prices and making the narrow streets congested.  They are philosophical though and realize that small towns need to grow in order to thrive.

Here’s a picture to ponder – what is it?   (answer at the end)

We had two nights at anchor – one in Calabash Creek near to Myrtle Beach, and one in Minum Creek about 80 miles further.   The weather has been spectacular – in the early mornings the water is like glass and the reflections have been amazing.

In Calabash Creek we were surprised to see a big boat heading down what seemed like a very narrow inlet opposite us – turns out if was a gambling boat which heads out to sea into international waters where gambling is legal.   The inlets are interesting – we are only aware of some because we feel the current either with or against us; at others our path takes us pretty close to the sea.   Some of the houses are also built to get a peek at the ocean over the top of the dunes.

The scenery is ever changing.  Especially now after the hurricane, you have to keep your eyes peeled for floating debris.

Of course, turtles on logs are not to be passed by without a photograph

And birds on poles likewise …

We saw a lot of destruction from the hurricane, especially on the stretch after Myrtle Beach.   I can’t imagine how devastated some of these people must feel.   In some places the water was still almost right up to the houses – in others we just saw windows and doors open with personal belongings brought outside to try and dry.   The line of trees shows the level to which the water rose – and plants in gardens were dead up to that level because of the salt water.   It was sobering.

Sunrises are always so beautiful – photographs can’t seem to capture the ambient promise as light fills in.  But I take them anyway.   And then there is breakfast – we eat well on Jabulani!!

Coming into Charleston we were lucky to see the 210 ft Adix.   Garth had read a lot about her in magazines – the rigging was amazing!

And to end, two pictures of the spectacular Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge as you come into Charleston – one taken with the distinctive palm trees, and the other hauntingly beautiful as it appeared through the fog.

Answer:   It’s a VOR (VHF Omnidirection Radio Beacon!) used by all aeroplanes for navigation.   We used to use these when we were flying across the country in our small plane.