Wind, Bridges and Joe

The wind did not lay down early enough for us to go outside to Savannah, so we proceeded down the ICW to Beaufort, SC. We got up at 0500 in anticipation of going out into the Atlantic, but the wind at the dock was about 15 knots which elevates when over open water. I called the Charleston Harbor Pilots frequency and spoke to one of the pilots who had been beyond the breakwaters earlier. He said the waves were only 3 to 4 feet; however the frequency was 4 to 5 seconds and was very uncomfortable. Sealed the ICW deal. We then waited for sunrise to proceed, only to find that the Wappoo Bridge was on restriction until 0900. My book said restricted 9 to 4, other times on request. We went thru last year at 0730 with no problem. The delay meant a late arrival in Beaufort. We got here at 0420 and the Lady Island Bridge was on restriction from 4 to 6pm. We went into Factory Creek to wait until 6pm for the opening and had called Lady Island Marina re; service available. Joe, the Dock Master, said he saw us coming down the creek, and said he had been a cruiser too. Come on in , tie up, get water, a pump out, and walk around until the next opening of the bridge. Nice folks are sometimes hard to come by in life, but not in the boating community, and Joe is one. We hope to easily make it to Savannah and my friend Steve Westgate's dock tomorrow. He was the only guy who volunteered to come and serve as my assistant Director of Mobility Forces in 2003 at a moments notice, and I have known him as a fellow military pilot ;and commander for years. Again, he and Beth are nice folks. Nanc said dolphins came and swam along side as we transited many shallow channels. Caused a low of anxiety, but we never touched bottom. Hope I can say the same thing tomorrow evening. I spoke with my friend Henry up in West Virginia, and he said they have the most snow he has seen in 50 years; over 40 inches. Keeps me motivated to keep the bow pointed South! S