Sept 25 Isle of Palm, SC to Beaufort, SC (Beaufort Downtown Marina)

Another overcast day…so Harry stayed below to drive (he’s taken my seat but that’s okay, i’m now cruising in one of the deck chairs behind him or down below…still in shouting distance from him….although sometimes i act like i don’t hear him…

So we pass through the city of Charleston and are hanging a left when all the sudden i hear sirens…i look back and a orange boat full of coast guard marines are right behind us holding up their radios meaning for us to get on the horn! 

Via the radio they ask when last our vessel had been through a coast guard safety check…Harry replied, ‘never’.  So they said they would board and conduct a complete safety check.  We did not have to stop, anchor or anything like that - they just cruised right up next to us tied one line between the two and up they came.  ALL THE SUDDEN WE HAD COMPANY!!

I’m just glad i made the bed!  and wouldn’t you know…the ONE time i decide to take off my boat shoes and put on my comfy ‘house slippers’ is when we have unexpected guest, all of which are tall, big and handsome…..i cannot believe i was in my fluffies.  

So i drove while Harry complied with all the requests they were making...they had a checklist of things one must have on a vessel (most were totally understandable but some of which were totally laughable - like a hand written note - posted some where in the boat - that declares, 'I will take the trash to shore and not throw it over.')

Harry’s nervous but I'm excited as punch that i’ve got company…..i even told them i wished I’d known they were coming i’d of baked a cake….note: they were not a playful lot..  

A couple of times while i was driving i had to call Harry back to the helm due to a very strong current coming toward us while trying to get through a narrow bridge with a boat coming at us.  They guys understood allowed H to take the wheel and told us horror stories about this spot (Elliott’s Cut - with 6-8 knot current) in particular - so i did not feel like such a wimp.

All in all the inspection went just fine…in fact i think we did really good.  It took them about an hour to complete the inspection - they toured the engine room and other rooms only to check the fire extinguishers.  but for those other boaters out there…here is what they ‘dinged’ us on…they gave us a warning, no fine.  We just ensured them that we’d get these items at our next stop…(shhh…we haven’t gotten them yet.)

• No navigational rule book on board
• No oil discharge placard on board
• Not enough red flares on board - several had expired

I grabbed my camera and told them i wanted a picture (mostly for my sister Jan) but i guess marines are not trained on how to pose - i could barely get them to smile.  but it was mighty exciting…and you could see the ‘oh i’m glad that’s not me’ look on the faces of all the passing captain’s.

Fun day....ten four good buddy!! over and out....