Georgia, coronavirus, and Florida in sight

So I'm in Georgia.  I stopped in Savannah and really loved it, great fatty heart attack inducing food and good margaritas as well.  Very laid back people.

For the first time I anchored out by myself and stayed overnight in a nice marshy setting (see pic). I'm not sure the anchor ever set properly (see pic) but the tide and current kept changing so it's hard to know what the tracking pic really means.  I'm going to do it again in a day or two.  I didn't see a single boat the entire time I was anchored (Johnson Creek/South Newport River).  Dolphins did provide entertainment by circling the boat and shooting blow hole water at it. I was so anxious about the anchor set that I didn't sleep much but I did enjoy the experience (anchor popped out clean and pulling it up was easy).

I should also announce that summer is here in southern Georgia.  Coats and heater have been removed, fan is plugged in and I am finally finally wearing shorts and crocs.i am also sunburned and need to get a dodger made.  

The coronavirus has hit the marinas.  This marina has a sign on the door telling you that they aren't going to shake your hand and the bathrooms have handwashing instructions pasted on the mirror.  I have no problem with reasonable precautions but people buying out toilet paper and hoarding goods are being stupid.  Of course if I'm wrong....I'll be in my boat offshore fishing and crabbing for food in a remote uninhabited area and desalinating salt water to drink until anarchy has ended.  I'll also poop in the water and wipe with reeds and palm leaves like our forefathers did. Ah what a life!

Florida is a one day trip away, but I may take longer.  I'm only 5 months behind schedule! I think I'm going to stay a month in Jacksonville or Saint Augustine and get my solar stuff setup and have the boat hauled and power washed etc.  I also might paint the hull and finish rebedding stanchions while I'm at it.  Then, on to South Florida! Until next time....

SC marinas

Today I am staying at Safe Harbor Charleston City Marina.  It is expensive (about $20-25 more a night than what I usually pay).  All Charleston marinas are expensive.  This marina is huge, like a college campus, and truthfully caters to huge million dollar boats....not my 1977 Cape Dory.  

I did soon learn though that what you are paying for is services.  On the hour the plush van takes you wherever you want to go.  Then you call them and they pick you up.  If your boat needs work, they coordinate it for you.  My boat is not the smallest here, but it is probably the cheapest.

I did find alot of boats like mine though....about 100 yards from me with dropped anchors paying nothing.  There are lots of places here to do this.  I really need to get my solar panel installed so I can join my brethren poor cheap boaters.  

My initial impression of Charleston is that it is very much like a small New Orleans....but it isn't really what I had hoped for...it's a city that seems to think that it is more than what it really is and charges for it.  I'm stuck here for 2 days due to bad weather and the way the boat is bouncing around I doubt I sleep much.  Wednesday is supposed to be a good weather day so I am leaving and will try to get to Beaufort, SC on my longest trek yet.

Yesterday's 9 hour trek only used 3.5 gallons of diesel because the current basically pushed me to Charleston.  I hope I am that lucky again.