We left our anchorage at Ashepoo River 1 and headed for Charleston. (6 hours 39 minutes). While at anchorage we were not able to run our generator due to no power in the generator starting battery. Our first order of business in Charleston was finding and installing new batteries. Mike decided to replace the batteries that power the bow thruster as well. Safe Harbor Marina did have 2 marine service operations and we were able to purchase the 3 batteries from a battery wholesaler. Mike installed the batteries and we are ready for the rest of our loop!
Below:
We passed this vessel on our way to Charleston. It is a Dragon recovery ship used by Space X. The vessel is one of two ships configured to recover the capsule after splashdown at the end of a mission.
We stayed at the Safe Harbor Charleston City Marina, known as the “Mega Dock”. The dock hosts some prestigious yachts and cruise ships. It was a little intimidating docking here! In addition the winds were really swift and we did have several days of rough seas and rocking conditions. The dock was at least 1/4 mile long. Below you can see our friends “Tumbleweed” docked between a private 200 foot yacht and a river cruise ship!
Charleston is a beautiful city!. Much of Charleston’s charisma is owed to its storied past, hundreds of years of history unfolds here from the colonial period, revolutionary war era to the civil war. It is really a living museum. We toured the Battery, White Point Garden, Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, Rainbow Row, City Market, Colonial Lake, Four corners of Justice, The Exchange and much more.
Dinner at the Oak Street Steak House, the St. Patrick’s Day crowd was there too!
Below: The Exchange Building, George Washington entertained here in 1791. It was a building used for Government, Social, Trade and dungeon. A copy of the Declaration of Independence was on display, it was one of the original 200 copies.
We took a tour of Fort Sumter, only available by boat. The first shot of the Civil War was fired at Fort Sumter. The Union soldiers were underpowered and the Confederate Army was able to take the fort. The flag below was removed when the Union left the fort and was returned when the Confederate Army surrendered at the end of the war. The Union Commander had been the Confederate Commander’s teacher at West Pointe, so as gentlemen, he allowed the flag to be removed and the Union soldiers to leave unharmed.
Below is a picture of the flag being raised during our tour.
We took a water taxi to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. We were able to board and tour the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, The USS Laffey Destroyer, 28 Historic Aircraft and the Vietnam Experience Exhibition
My brother Mike spent several years on the USS Kittyhawk aircraft carrier when he served in the Navy during Vietnam War. It was a sombering experience touring the aircraft carrier and thinking of his time spent on an aircraft carrier.
The USS Laffey Destroyer took 4 Kamikaze strikes and still managed to float. The gunnery held 14 men. We were able to crowd into the gunnery and see a video clip of what these sailors endured. It was really horrific. Gratitude to our fathers and brothers who served and for all service men and women.
A view of Charleston from the Water Taxi.
