JewelryByDeb

Silvertone Lariat Necklace

Approximately 19 inches long

 Assorted links with aqua and coral colored beads

 Contact:  

gbelch@rocketmail.com

or IM on FB

JewelryByDeb

 Lariat Necklace

Approximately 15 inches long

Handmade Copper findings and links

Assorted beads in earth tone colors

Email me at gbelch@rocketmail.com or IM me on FB if interested!

Charleston, SC

The marina

If possible, we try to spend a few days in Charleston on our way south, and on our way home.  We have good friends here and it is a great stop for fun and getting boat chores done.  We usually stay in a marina, after re-fueling, and take the opportunity to do laundry, spray off the boat (get that salt water off), and re-provision with some fresh veggies and fruit, plus any other maintenance issues that need to be taken care of. 

Sunset view of the marina

Sun Daze was docked at the end of this dock, then at the end of the left side dock, over a thousand steps to the boat!  Good exercise!

After settling in and our chores completed, we start walking.  Charleston is lovely any time of the year, but spring is pretty special.


 

Dogwood in bloom

Azaleas

Dogwood blossoms

We typically walk the Battery on the waterfront.  Large historical homes with lovely gardens and views overlooking the harbor.

The Battery

After a couple of hours, we are ready to eat.  Loads of places to choose from and we try to visit some place new each time we are here.  Of course, we always have our fav spots too!

Tuna Tartar

Raw Seafood Plateau

Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe is one of those favorite spots.  The Berry Cobbler here is out of this world!

 

Berry Cobbler topped with vanilla bean ice cream

Charleston is a city that loves throwing fantastic events and festivals.  The Cooper River Bridge Run was going on while we were here.  A world class 10K foot race, reported being the 3rd largest in the USA.  Lots of spectators and loads of runners and walkers from all over were here to participate.  Our good friend, Becky, was participating in the event.  GO BECKY!!!

The Lowcounty Cajun Festival was also going on this weekend.  A day of Zydeco music, Cajun and Creole foods, along with vendors selling their wares.  Becky was also there.  She is the owner of Simply Sail.  She makes fabulous hand poured all natural soy candles.  She had a booth at the festival.  Her candles are great, I love them.  Check out her website @ htpps://simplysail.indiemade.com

Becky's booth at the Lowcounty Cajun Fest

The weekend flew by and we had a blast with Marcus and Becky.  But home is calling.  We will be traveling the ICW due to weather forecasts, so we need to get going.  Our house sitters are ready to pass the key back to us and I am ready to get back!   I miss my family and friends there and spring at home is my favorite time of year.  


NC...here we come!


Until next time...


Enjoy!

Off Shore Passages

For those of you that have been on the sea in a boat... you will appreciate this post. The pic above - this is what I call perfect sea conditions.  Flat calm and oily slick.  The open waters are beautiful, breathtaking when the seas are like this. 

But...we only see the sea in this state on rare occasions.  It is magical to be on the open water with barely a ripple noted.  I LOVE IT when we can move around on the big water in this tranquility.  However, this was not the case with our passage from Jacksonville, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina.  The seas did not look like the pics above! For us, this is a journey that takes us about 36 hours to travel off shore on Sun Daze.  If we traveled the IntraCoastal Waterway, it would have taken about 5 days.  Sun Daze is a small catamaran with top cruising speed of 6-7 knots with the sails up and a good breeze. No breeze and we are motoring a bit slower.  Off shore we can travel day and night and get to our destination sooner, while on the ICW we can only travel during daylight and often have to wait for lower bridges to open to allow us to pass through.  So when it is safe, we take the opportunity to go off shore for the faster route. 

I have a confession to make.  I am not a true sailor at heart.  Oh, it is wonderful on the rivers or lakes with a bit of breeze to carry you along.  But in the ocean, a good breeze means waves.  And sometimes big ones.  I am not a fan of big waves.  I have a tendency to get sea sick and big waves means I am more sea sick.  Our 36 hour trip to Charleston was one of big waves.  I am still getting nauseous from thinking of it.  The constant motion along with looking out at waves higher on one side than our boat and the other side dipping down and knowing that in a few seconds your stomach will lurch upwards as the boat transitions from side to side...😵Oh my goodness...not fun and the hours just seem to pass ever so slowly.  For the cruisers that spend days on end on the open waters...my hats off to you.  I know I could never do that.  We know cruisers that have traveled around the world and sometimes have been off shore for longer than 20 days at a time.  Nope, not for me. 

My captain is such a sport, as I am pretty much helpless in this state.  He handles the boat, fixes his meals and makes sure we are safe, while I lay in the salon waiting to pass out.  On a positive note...it is a way to loose a few pounds.

I was so, so HAPPY!!!! when we entered Charleston Harbor.  It is amazing how the sea sickness just disappears with getting in calm waters.  Although this time, it did take me a few hours to feel back to my old self.  Whew.  Am hoping the rest of our journey back home is flat calm.  I can hope, right?

So as you can see from this post, our time traveling is not all sunshine and huge big smiles on my face.  But, it is a small price to pay for the rest of our treasured time on the waters.  

Now, it is time to enjoy the tastes, sounds, and sights of this beautiful city of Charleston.   

Until next time...

Enjoy!

Back in the USA!

Well, here we are!  Back in the states.  It was an uneventful crossing.  Took us about 37 hours.  Entered in Fort Pierce Inlet, cleared with customs and got some much needed rest.  After some restful sleep, we started up the Intra-Coastal Waterway (ICW).  

And we are having to pull out sweaters and long pants!  It is cold!  We were hoping for warmer temps, but still we are glad to be back in the US.  

 

We are making treks north.  Will probably stop in Charleston for a couple of days, but otherwise we are in move north mode.  Trying to get in as many ICW miles as we can in daylight.  Until we can get good weather to go off shore, the ICW makes for a long ride back to NC.    

So sharing some pictures of the beautiful Florida sky!  

Until next time...

Enjoy!