May 17, 2014

We delayed departure from Beaufort to get some assist from the incoming tide and also to arrive at the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff at high tide. This trouble spot is a two part man-made cut with the southerly section being prone to shoaling. Our arrival and passage were pretty much uneventful.

However, we are experiencing, again,  some strange noise from the engine. It sounds sort of like a dry old belt rubbing against the sheave. I cannot seem to isolate the noise and elect to continue on toward Charleston and investigate it there.

We keep pushing northward trying to get as close to Charleston as possible. We pass through the Dawho River and experience extremely low water near White Point. Another eight miles beyond, we decide to stop in an old familiar anchorage, Church Creek. We find a trawler already anchored in our favorite spot and a private mooring ball in our second favorite spot. So, we anchor closer to the mouth of the creek. This means experiencing more current and wakes from ICW traffic. The anchor goes down, sets nicely and we settle in for the evening.

Started: 0930

Stopped: 1800
Distance traveled: 48 miles
Avg Speed 5.6 mph
Location: Anchored Church’s Creek, Beaufort, SC, MM 488