Charleston Rendezvous Huge Success

[SearayPaul]

What a great time in Charleston. A great group of people met Friday just above Santee and finished the short jaunt to the fish camp where we launched. After a ride down the diversion canal we crossed Lake Moultrie,which was a tad bit rough Friday afternoon. This particular area has the highest concentration of canbotes in the United States fishing but catching nothing. On the other side of Lake Moultire the Pinopolis locked was entered for the 75 foot ride down to the Cooper river.

Lunch was at Gilligans which is a small reasturant in the middle of no where. The food was good local seafood and the reasturant provided a good place to get acquantied.

Searide led everyone down the Cooper River from the desolate winding wetlands, pass the submarine base complete with armed Navy patrol boats, under the Ravanel Bridge and into the anti-bellum city of Charleston . The fearless tour guide never missed a turn.

At Charleston Sadler was waiting for everyone to dock at the Charleston Harbor Marina. Chuck1 took off for Charleston, IslandHopper, Searide, and SearayPaul went to dinner, while Sadler and JGarrett went to the marina party.

Saturday a group ran around Charleston Harbor, out to FT Sumpter, and then over to Kiawaha Island. The lucky fellows with the big boats overnighted while the smaller boat returned to CHM for a great night. It is rumored that one of the overnighters saved the day by diving into the water for the marinade when it went over board. If that is true they can identify themselves. Saturday dinner for the other groups was in Charleston or the Isle of Palms.

Sunday was the prettiest day of all. On the way back to Santee the weather was perfect.

Superlatives go to Searide for shinest boat, Durango for friendlest participant, Islandhopper for lending a line in a pinch or as he would say "getting along to go along", Sadler for the Garmin technical support and local knowledge, JGarrett all round good guy who seemed to enjoy the trip the most with the exception of Durango, Chuck gets the prize for largest group and longest drive.

Picutes to follow.

 

[First Born]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Glad you guys had a great trip!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Wesley

 

[Aquia185]

Sounds like a blast. Thanks for the update Paul.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

I hope someone got a few pictures. Up load to photobucket.com com and post them with a link so we can see! :thumbsup:

 

[Dave S]

I hope someone got a few pictures. Up load to photobucket.com com and post them with a link so we can see! :thumbsup:

Some of the pictures are posted here http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1432&start=120&sid=09c9e3377550705a0b9e3884ef24c972[/url]

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Got it thanks. :thumbsup:

 

[islandhopper00]

Thanks to Paul and all who had a hand in making this trip happen. I really enjoyed my adventure, and will cherish my new found boating friends. :thumbsup: Thanks to Saddler for the anchor out experience, your a gentleman and unselfish leader. I learned a few things and shared a few things, over all I enjoyed my trip. Gerald good luck with your boat and thanks for the "zing zangs" I'm sure I'll be consuming more of them in my future. Thanks to all. :smt038

"beerbob" your a character, what a story about a couch!
Gerald, thanks for saving the marinade, and what a dog.
:smt038 :smt038 :smt038 :smt038 :smt038 :smt038 :smt038

 

[chuck1]

Thanks everybody :smt038 We had a great time. Just wish it could have been longer. Hear is some pics.

 

[Sadler]

What a great trip. It was terrific to share "Sea Ray" stories, see everyone's customizations, and hear ideas for upgrading. I had a hunch there'd be some "stories to tell" emerge from the trip, and I wasn't dissapointed.

Paul--thanks for all the work organizing the trip. The slips were "primo" with the best views anywhere and I greatly enjoyed meeting you and Jane. Gerald--I hope your "camper" is back to 100% asap and it's not serious; glad you found your way to the ramp ok and thanks for the message--and the ZingZangs. Mike--loved hearing your experiences doing the Bahamas crossings; I'm a little closer to doing it myself now.

Sadler

 

[GJarrett]

:smt038 What a wonderful, WONDERFUL trip! This was exactly the type of adventure that my wife Ashli and I were hoping for and had in mind when we got Offroad Dancer. I only wish Ashli could have made it to share the experience (she had to stay in town for a funeral Saturday) . My hearfelt thanks go to everyone for all of the planning that went into this and the help given to me when needed once I broke down. Even the tshirts were awesome :smt001 Thank you all for the memories that I'll treasure for a very long time from this trip.

I cannot claim credit for "jumping in" to save the marinade - it was more like "falling in" - but I'm glad to help once it was too late and I was too wet, LOL.

I cannot remember laughing so hard and for so long as Saturday night while we were swapping stories anchored out at the island. Sadler, your friend "BeerBob" needs to join the Blue Collar Redneck Comedy Tour. My ribs are still hurting from laughing so hard.

I almost didn't break anything. :grin:

But I did... and I think it was major; I threw a rod or bent some valves, etc. The engine is 14 yrs old now with unknown hours so I may be coughing up for an entire new engine. Links to cheap sources would be appreciated.

 

[chuck1]

Gerald,

Sorry to hear about the problems, keep us posted. Sounds like you guys had a great time on the overnighter at the beach. Maybe next time I can join you all. This trip was just too short :smt013 I have a couple great pics of you and Durango on Snapfish.

 

[Sadler]

Chuck--great photos. Those are professional. Snapfish really shows them off. I need to take some lessons. It would be great if you could join us on the anchor out thing next time. You've tricked out your Sundeck for easy overnighters.

I hope Gerald told everyone the midnight story of "Durango Goes Ashore", and the sequel, "Durango Takes Care of Business", and the final book, "Durango Returns/Against the Current".

Sadler

 

[SearayPaul]

My wife and I had a great time meeting everyone in Santee. We enjoyed getting to know everyone over the three short days. It is amazing what a good bunch of people belong to this forum. Thanks for sponsering this forum Jim and for the great shirts. This group of pictures are my favorite from the trip. There are more pictures posted on the snapfish site if anyone is intrested.

 

[Dave S]

Paul..........can you post the link to the site?

 

[SearayPaul]

Snapfish.com and you have mail Dave

 

[GJarrett]

I hope Gerald told everyone the midnight story of "Durango Goes Ashore", and the sequel, "Durango Takes Care of Business", and the final book, "Durango Returns/Against the Current".

Unbelievable. I had just gone down into the cabin to go to bed and I hear you guys yelling "he just jumped off!" so I climb back out to the cockpit and Durango was swimming ashore. He spent several minutes exploring around and doing his business while we kept him in sight with our spotlights.

When he tried to swim back to us he was swept straight downstream (we were rafted up in a very strong current) and I thought for sure I'd have to cut off from the raftup and drift downstream to find him, but he swam like crazy and motored up to my stern. I don't think any of us thought he'd be able to swim against that current. Amazing.

 

[islandhopper00]

Here is a picture I can contribute that's not a copy.

 

[SearayPaul]

That is an excellant picture Mike.

Gerald did you get the picture of Durango swimming?

 

[GJarrett]

Mike, awesome photo!

Paul, I didn't get a pic of him swimming. It was midnight, we were keeping him in our spotlights so we wouldn't lose sight of him, and I was starting to prepare to cut myself off from the raftup. We were all a little too busy to pull cameras out at the time.

 

[chuck1]

Chuck--great photos. Those are professional. Snapfish really shows them off. I need to take some lessons. It would be great if you could join us on the anchor out thing next time. You've tricked out your Sundeck for easy overnighters.

Sadler

Thanks, but I have to give all the credit to my wife, Judy :smt038 , She loves to take pictures and does a great job. Ye, I like snapfish plus it free to upload them and does not cost to much to have prints made. Maybe next time I'll get to do the overnighting with you guys. This trip was more family time in Charleston, with the way our family schedules are going this may be the only family trip we get to make this year.

Mike - Cool Picture :smt038
Paul - Great pictures, look like you had a full load in the lock Sunday, too.
Gerald - Lets hear some more of them stories.
Sadler - Did you record some of Bob's stories for us?
Charley - Thanks for the great leading, only one missed turn :lol: You have got yourself one great family the kids seem to love the boating life. Have to agree with you about the SunDancers. Judy said the same thing, but seem to really hint how nice that 50' Sedan Bridge looked :smt100 . Told her that the hemi would not pull it :lol: