Southwest Winds-What’s Up With That?

Ever since we left the Norfolk/Portsmouth area the winds have been south or southwest, exactly the direction we are headed.  This is unusual for the fall when they usually come out of the north or northeast which would allow us to sail more, but when they are right on your nose it is useless when you are trying to make miles. We have not been able to go out in the ocean due to the wind direction either.  We got to sail all of twenty minutes in Port Royal Sound on our way to Savannah area.  The one benefit of this wind direction is the great warm weather we have been having.  It is around the low eighties during the day and cools off for sleeping at night.  Today in Thunderbolt, GA was the first really humid day but luckily we are at a marina and can use the air conditioning.  Another benefit at this marina is the complimentary Krispy Kreme donuts and a USA Today newspaper delivered to your boat.                                                                                    



 I have been getting a lot of rug hooking done on the long motoring days as well as reading and tending my little herb garden.  It is great to pluck a sprig of mint for my mojitos or basil or parsley for my recipes for dinner..



Since leaving Charleston it seems all we have been seeing are catamarans.  There are definitely more this year than on the last trip.  We had drinks on Lipari (40 ft. catamaran) in Bull Creek with Janet and Randy Wallace.  We enjoyed getting together but I don’t want to get on too many catamarans because they make your mono hull feel small!

In Thunderbolt we found a shrimper selling fresh shrimp from his small shack about a block from the marina.  While we were getting the shrimp, there was a gent fishing through a hole in the cement floor of the structure.  We could not believe it when he pulled out a nice size red drum bass which you can see in the basket.  The fish barely fit through the hole. The owner said that is the best fishing hole because shrimp parts get thrown down there which attracts the fish.  It was like he was ice fishing, so do you think they call this cement fishing?!!

We took the bus from Thunderbolt Marina and enjoyed a day in Savannah, A modern flagship named Peacemaker built in 1989 was docked at the harbor and free tours were available.  It has an interesting background and you can learn more about it at www.peacemaker.com.  Next big stop is St. Simon Island, GA.