Charleston is great!

We've really enjoyed our week in Charleston SC but, as you can see, they do communicate a bit differently here. Note the palms.

Its obvious that we did pop for the extra marina fees to stay here for a week. In part this was to have more time to do Christmas shopping, boat maintenance (oil change!), and see more of this lovely city, but its also a factor of the Charleston Maritime Center's pricing scheme. For example our last 4 days here cost only 2/3 of our first 3 days. If we extend the stay to a month, the remaining 3+ weeks costs the same as our first week. Its tempting but we've gotta move southwards.

The weather has been mixed: 70's and mostly sunny today, but plenty of rain and cold in the past days. Since we have shore power, I bought a small electric heater that was perfect to keep Spray warm on the cold nights we've had.

The best part of hanging here has been to visit with cruising friends (and fellow Castiners) Karen & Jeff Siegel. We've shared some great meals (especially last night's 'dinner party for five' aboard their boat), evening movies (we've been turned on to 'Red Box'), much boat talk, walks around town, and doggie play times with Riggs and their two labs Dyna & Dylan. They will be leaving Charleston in early Jan. to head south. My guess is that we will rendevous again in the FLA Keys.

This big-city living and marina comfort can be addicting, but its time to head down the ICW and live on the anchor. We'll fill the water tank tomorrow, do some final grocery shopping, and get going. In two days we should be in Beaufort SC.