4/13/2010

Well, here we are again. Isn't it just wonderful being able to meet so often. Frankly, it is quite enjoyable to us, I hope it is for you as well. Good, fast day today. Lots of favorable tidal currents that boosted our speed immensely; I even saw a reading of 10.4 kts ( that would be a whopping 11.9 mph, Chuckie). We were, unfortunately, also being blasted by adverse winds. Didn't affect the speeds all that much, but it blew a lot of water out of the channels. That slowed us down a bit, 'cause I'd rather hit at a slow speed than going fast. One word reason: cheaper! We are currently about 20 miles South of Charleston, SC. Our goal for tomorrow is McClellanville, SC. Nothing much there, but we'd like to stop, get some shrimp, diesel, and ice. If that isn't possible due to shallow water, or some other obstacle, we'll head to the Santee River, or Minim Creek, tie the boat to the ground, and figure out what to do next.

We have come across an ugly, ugly thing on our northbound trip thru the waterways & marshes of the South. I've heard about this phenomenon, read about it, and even experienced it on a small scale. Frankly, in this day & age, I did not think this sort of thing would be allowed to exist. Only a mere 4mm in length, this critter can drive a person nuts in a matter of minutes; day or night, they are all over you. Open your mouth to cuss, they'll bite your teeth! can't swat them; you can't see them! Officially, they are midges: in real life they are no-seeums. The Yankee versions are quite mild, biting a chunk off now and then, but the southern versions operate in highly trained attack groups; gnawing off any exposed flesh on one side while going for the eyes & ears on the other side. The gyrations that sane people go thru; wild arm waving, knees pumping so the ankles can be reached; it is surely a sight to behold. Its like the dance of the demented! Then there are the chemicals. Ah, the sweet smell, & taste, of Deet. Funny, we spray it, with our eyes closed, on our body parts, then start the wild arm waving all over again. What will the human race do when we come up against something really big & bad?

Ain't life grand! On the serene side, we are sitting in a peaceful spot, surrounded by gurgling water, blowing dolphins, and enjoying a gorgeous sunset. Have a great day tomorrow; be safe, be adventurous & smile at someone you don't know. Catch you later!