Port O Call, Isle of Palms, SC

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Saturday morning we took an Uber back to Savannah to pick up the car. What a great service.

We have previously packed two large suitcases and 1/2 dozen storage boxes and taken them to Charleston. Today we continued to pack and load the car. The Merc is starting to look a bit like the Beverly Hillbillies, loaded to the ceiling liner. Last night on board.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Breakfast out followed by more packing and cleaning. The weather had "broken" over night and we were able to give the AC a rest. We drove away at 1 PM. Quite a sad moment, though we contented ourselves by agreeing to return on Tuesday to finish cleaning up.

We have rented a small apartment for two months on/near the beach on the Isle of Palms.We are about 50 steps from the sand.

View of the beach from our screened in porch

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

This was the big day. We were told to report to the hospital at 5 AM! We were called into prep shortly thereafter and they took Deidre into the surgery at about 7:15 AM and I retreated to the waiting room. The surgeon found me about 10:15 AM and reported that the procedure went well.

After the procedure

Next day - learning to walk

We were discharged from the hospital on Friday. The intermediate time was OK but Deidre did not have much fun.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Deidre has made steady progress. We now have the pill regimen down pat and we are both getting enough sleep. She has felt plenty of pain, but Deidre is already talking about easing back on the pain pills - but just talking! We get a nurse or physio almost every day which is comforting and a great service.

Resting at "home"

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Today we went out for lunch. It was a bit of a production, and now she is buggered and back in bed, but it was a nice change.

The rest of the month

All in all I visited Tide Hiker 3 more times to remove all our gear and give her a good cleaning. I also needed to change the shower sump pump, that obviously decided to turn its toes up in protest. Deidre came with me the last time, but the 250 mile round trip proved to be a bit too much for her.

Back to Thunderbolt

Monday September 25, 2017

Deidre was off and Tide Hiker and I were underway by 6:30 AM, at dead low tide. It was quite dark but the first hour or so was open water (and clear of crab pots!) so I was not expecting any issues. I had brewed a full pot of coffee and so I was set for the immediate future. The sun was up at about 7:15 and we made good speed on the rising tide.

We arrived at Thunderbird a few minutes early but they were ready for us and we were on the hard shortly thereafter. The mechanics were on board soon after and removed the propeller and then the shaft in short order. The fiberglass people visited and did their planning for Tuesday

Deidre and I decided to take and RBandB and were off Tide Hiker by 5 PM. A successful day.

Tuesday September 26, 2017

The fiberglass man was on the job when we arrived about 9 AM and the grinding and clean up were complete by 2 PM. The damage was confirmed as totally superficial and he left to prepare the materials for the morning. Deidre and I spend the rest of the day taking it easy "on board". The solar panels are taking good care of the batteries. (We were able to save a small amount of $$$ by declining the shore power! Small mercies!)

The layer o fiberglass ground of Tide Hikers hull, before the repair. 

After lunch at the local pub we headed back to Kylie's - they are away camping.

Wednesday, Sept 27, 2017

Spent the morning at the hospital for a cardiac check up. The white coated people decided that her heart needed a stress test before the operation. After some fuss, this was scheduled for Friday, which is cutting things a bit close.

Friday, September 29, 2017

The stress test seemed to go OK and by Noon we were "released" back into the wild, and so we headed back to Savannah and the boat yard. While we were at the hospital we received an email from Kurt and Beth (the "Buyers") that they accepted the Survey - and so now Tide Hiker was really "sold".

The boat yard was waiting for us when we arrived and Tide Hiker was launched promptly thereafter. Our original plan was to split up - Deidre to drive back to Windmill, me to take Tide Hiker. But it was a beautiful afternoon and since this may well be our last "voyage" on Tide Hiker. we left the car at the yard and took off in Tide Hiker immediately after the "sea trial".

Our run back to Windmill was idyllic. Lots of porpoises provided an honor guide much of the way.

We had emptied and turned off the refrigerator for the week on the hard, and the pantry was empty. So we decided to eat at the "Sailing Club" as there were no other eating establishments in walking distance. We understood that it was a very fancy place and Deidre was convinced that gentlemen had to wear big boy pants and a coat in the dining room, despite the fact that it was still 90 degrees and 90% humidity. Most of my clothes were already packed, but I dug up a creased pair of long pants, a long sleeved Hawaiian style shirt and a jacket that I had purchased many years ago in Wales (that is suitable for shooting grouse in a snow storm.) and off we went.

When we arrived it was immediately apparent that most people were in shorts and there was not a coat in sight. Apparently "the rules" were just for the dining room, and not the bar where the food was being served.

Back for our second last night on Tide Hiker.

Back to Windmill Harbour

Friday September 22, 2017

We sailed tide Hiker back to Windmill, arriving at about 3 PM. Since Irma the weather has been positively delightful, about 80 degrees with sea breezes. Tide Hiker was pleased to get away from the yard and just purred along for the 22 NM run. We passed a few nice looking anchorages on the way and were very tempted to stay the night on anchor.

Saturday September 23, 2017

After a lazy morning we drove up to Charleston fro Kylie's birthday - she is 35!

Sunday September 24, 2017

We need to have Tide Hiker back at the yard by 10 AM on Monday. That means we have to get underway at about 6:30 AM and that means we had to move Tide Hiker thru the lock and out of the marina this afternoon. We have tied her up at a floating dock just outside the lock for the night. In the AM Deidre will hop off and drive to the yard and I will meet here there. meantime, we have to pack - again.

Waiting outside the lock

Thunderbolt Marine

Wednesday September 20, 2017

Easy morning - breakfast, washed the decks, and underway by 11 AM. The short 22 NM run was pleasant and uneventful. Even though we have not cleaned Tide Hikers hull for a month she ran along at her usual pace. We spend the night at the marina and will be hauled in the AM.

This is definitely a "big boy" yard. I am sure they will pick Tide Hiker up like a dinghy!

Thursday September 21, 2017

This is a very professional yard. Our Project manager ("Lars") arrived at 7:30 AM and asked us to have Tide Hiker ready to move at 8:30AM. By 9:00 AM we were in the slings and on shore shortly thereafter. I hate hauling Tide Hiker, and we have probably averaged one haul a year for various reasons, but this was the best and least stressful that I had experienced.

First step was to power wash the hull, although the anti fowling looked really good and did not need much work. The running gear was a bit rough with some growth the workers identified as originating from Windmill Harbour. The power wash made short work of that.

The surveyor got to work "sounding" the hull with his hammer and all was good until he noticed some damage near the port shaft "log" (the area where the prop shaft passes thru the hull into the ER). I quickly realized that the damage must have happened when we ran over a crab pot float and line in Charleston harbor when returning from Florida. I immediately started making arrangements with Lars to get the area repaired. While Tide Hiker was out of the water I replaced the rudder zincs. The shaft zincs looked OK. Everything else looked good and so Tide Hiker was put back into the water and we were back on the slip before Noon.

The survey continued on board, including another sea trial, until about 6 PM! The surveyor was a very nice gentleman, and had surveyed boats and boat builders all over the world. IMHO he seemed rather impressed with Tide Hiker, making comments like "nice layout" and "clean engine room" and "Is the deck paint new?" that gave me that general impression.

He did note a few things that needed attention, but nothing major. I was embarrassed that 2 of the 3 "High Water" alarms were not working (since fixed!) and that the fire extinguisher inspections were over due (easy to resolve) and suggested I purchased a spray for spots that showed minor corrosion (purchased yesterday!). Other then that, Tide Hiker surveyed very well.

We celebrated with the people next door who had been towed in the previous night - their big cat had been washed into the marsh during Irma - the rudders and "sail drives" were damaged and not serviceable.

Tide Hiker, Windmill Harbour Marina, HHI

Wednesday September 13, 2017

We arrived back about 5 PM Tuesday and we were delighted to find Tide Hiker in good shape - not a scratch and no water inside. The surrounding houses all looked in good shape, there was plenty of foliage scattered around but no apparent damage.

I spent the hour or so before dark removing the extra lines and hooking up power and water. Some of the knots in the lines were pretty tight, so there had been some wind (The only "official" wind number we heard was 70 mph in the area.) We heated up a frozen pizza, watched a bit of TV (reception was pretty good, considering that the TV aerial was mounted upside down and zip tied to the side of the boat!) and hit the sack.

Today we are quietly working around Tide Hiker "undoing" our hurricane preparations.

Thursday, September 14.

More of the same plus washed the windows. Popped in on Steve and Patti on Last Laugh in "our slip" at Shelter Cove.

Friday, September 15.

On the road to Charleston by 7 AM for Deidre's appointments at MUSC. Also took a couple of canvas pieces with minor zip damage to "our canvas man", Victor. Deidre's appointments all went well and Victor had the canvas ready by 4 PM - now that's a record.  Popped in on friends at the IOP. Back on board by 8 PM - a bit pooped.

We understand that the survey is now scheduled for Thursday next week. I seem to be having trouble with my Cox email account because I seem to be missing messages.

Saturday, September 16

Borrowed a ladder from the marina and assembled the canvas on the fly bridge. Its a bit of a pain in the rear job.

And now, Irma (Windmill Harbor Marina)

September 6, 2017

Yesterday we cruised from Shelter Cove Marina to Windmill Harbor Marina.  We had arranged with our Buyers to move Tide Hiker to Windmill, and our time was up at Shelter Cove. Windmill is some what of a "hurricane hole" - on the lee side of the island and completely landlocked. The entrance is via a lock that allows the marina to maintain a constant water level, independent of the tide.

However when we arrived and locked thru into the harbor, I realized that the lock gates are only about 4 feet above high tide and so a 5 foot surge will fill the harbor quick smart. And that becomes a big problem because the docks are concrete and fixed.

Wednesday: We spend a lot of time watching Irma and the forecast track. Yesterday the forecast put the eye passing a bit south of the southerly tip of Florida, then maybe turning north and inland - not bad for us. But this morning the new forecast had Irma turning earlier to the north - bad for us. And during the day the turn became more pronounced - very bad for us. We are located right on the coast at the Georgia/SC line - Bulls Eye! But it will change again!

Based upon the current map we have until about Monday lunch time to get Tide Hiker prepped and then to decide to stay locally or run. We sat down after breakfast and made a list of jobs and then got busy crossing them off.  It was a sweaty day with a few thunder storms.

Today I focused on improving the dock. We purchased two vertical dock fenders and arranged for the marina to install. I bought some hardware from Lowes and attached our 14" finders to the face plate. (there is no point having fenders mounted on the boat when you are at a fixed dock, especially when expecting a surge.) Sadly, the face plate will probably fall off when the fenders attached if they are stressed.

Cruising friends turned up in town this afternoon, so we took a break for dinner with them back at Shelter Cove. On the way back to Tide Hiker we gassed up the car.

These bloody things cost an extra $100 each. And if the surge is more than 6 feet we will float over the top of them anyhow! Note the good looking legs of the supervisor on the right. 

Thursday: Today was mainly canvas and lines day - we borrowed a step ladder from the marina office and removed the canvas from the fly bridge and stored the pieces in the pilothouse. Then stripped and/or covered and/or taped and/or zip-tied everything remaining on the fly-bridge.

I dug out all our lines (and anti-chafing gear) and laid them out on the walkway so I could allocate them around Tide Hiker. By tonight they were all roughly in position and so tomorrow we will finalize the set-up, anti-chaff and attachment. Some how we have to set up the lines to hold Tide Hiker to a fixed dock in an unknown amount of surge.

Big day - I am at 14,600 steps for the day and I have not left the dock. Deidre was really pooped and her hip was hurting.

This afternoon the forecast track moved a bit west, so we are now about 50 miles east of the track, with 2+ days remaining. Savannah (about 40 miles away) is being evacuated. We are thinking we will leave Friday night.

Friday: Good news (for us) this morning as the forecast track was moved another few miles west, and that change remained in the 2 PM edition. But we are still "in the bubble" and so preparations continue. All the screens are off, the doors and windows are taped etc etc

Its a nice quiet day in the marina. I estimate that less then 25% of the boats have been visited and prepped so far. Fortunately both our neighbors have been on their boats and done some prep work (although the arrangements on the Searay on the other side of our dock are rather pitiful.)

With the improved forecast Deidre and I are debating when to leave. We have an offer from friends to share a second floor condo near Shelter Harbor and I am keen to stay - Deidre not so much.

Saturday: Last night the governor declared a compulsory evacuation of the barrier islands, so we are resigned to leave Tide Hiker. I spent most of the day tweaking the lines in anticipation of "some amount" of surge.

We left about 3 PM and were settled at a friends home in Charleston by 6 PM.

Sunday: Breakfast with Kylie and the kids. Lunch at "Five Guys" and dinner out at a local French Bistro with Mark and Donna. This is our version of "stocking up with food"

Monday:  Not much weather overnight but a large amount of wind and rain today. Its still raining cats and dogs now at 6 PM, The power has been on and off, and is out again now. The center of the hurricane is now about 600 miles from us, but still having a strong effect on the SE coast. The big issue is the surge. In Charleston today the surge was reported as 6' and much of downtown and the shoreline around us was flooded. We took the car to have a look around and everywhere we ventured a police car of some sort pulled up behind us with lights flashing. Otherwise the streets were rather deserted.

We have received some reports and one photo of Tide Hiker, and she seems to have done OK. As expected, the surge let water over the lock wall and flooded the marina so that the docks and walkways were covered - not sure by how much. So far it seems that Tide Hiker has fared OK. We have a photo sent by a friend, but I have to figure out how to get it into the blog.

You can see the dock on the left is about 6" under water when this photo was taken (and I do not know when that was). I estimate this water depth would represent between 4' to 5' of surge.

And here is a video of the "lock breach"

https://www.facebook.com/robinfirestone/videos/vb.768935373/10159378906845374/?type=2&theater

Tuesday: Early this AM the governor gave the OK to return to HHI. But before we could leave we received a "baby sitters" call from Ryan and since that took precedence we headed over to Kylie's to sit the kids - she was at work, day care had not re-opened and Ryan's parents needed his help at The Creek, which was flooded again. We had a wonderful time with the kids for a couple of hours. Ryan was back about 2 PM and we headed south.