Friday November 8: Georgetown, SC

Yesterday started as most days do. Up, breakfast, unplug the power chord, start the engine and off we go.

But yesterday was kind of like how it is when you go to the garage, put the key in the ignition, turn it and .... nothing happens.

We've been spoiled I guess. This engine is 'bullet-proof' is the usual description of the Ford Lehman 120 hp diesel. If it has fuel, it runs.

Until yesterday. So this is a picture I didn't expect to see: us leaving Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach, SC. Seems our engine is susceptible to hydro lock (water in one or more cylinders) because of the design of the Albin 36: engine is below the waterline. Who knew??? Not us!

After a number of calls to American Diesel (the folks that originally marinized the Ford diesel engine) ... after Steve spending too many hours turning the engine over BY HAND with a socket on the crankshaft (plus a long bike ride to purchase a breaker bar and a better socket wrench) .... the engine started. I had already been in touch with a local mechanic Randy (but that was a whole other story!).

Cranking the engine over by hand basically pumped the WATER out of the cylinders. Water in the cylinders is called hydro lock and the starter acts like it hit a brick wall when I tried to start the engine. Definitely not a good thing. Rust was in my mind.

At right is the prettiest picture of a long time: our engine running just as smoothly as a purring cat :-)

Steve said it was actually Fozzie that gets the credit. He was ready to give up. Too many time turning the crankshaft. Too tired. Back and arm done in. And then he thought about how when Fozzie would be in the kitchen just waiting for someone to toss him some food. We termed the phrase - persistence pays. So he was re-energized by thinking that persistence pays. It was the last time we were going to try to get the engine started - and it did! So there - good for you Fozzie :-)

So off we headed for Osprey Marina as we were to run the engine to help dry any leftover water. It was ironic really. Sailboat Dave has been at Osprey Marina for several months but was scheduled to be away for this week. We were going to miss seeing him sadly.

As it turned out, the farthest we could get until dark was Osprey Marina and he unexpectedly was able to return Thursday - the day we arrived. Otherwise we would have missed him as our plans were originally to travel much farther.

Sadly I didn't take a picture of him and his girlfriend, Vivian (she's a real winner in case you haven't figured this out, Dave!). But this is a picture of him from when we first met in Baltimore 2 years ago. It was so great to see him and meet Vivian. We will see them again .....

We were almost the first ones out of the marina this morning - mostly because we were docked on the fuel dock and boats were waiting. Which was fine as the current was headed out way anyway.

Unfortunately we were going to have Dave over for breakfast but it just didn't work out.

The trip down the Waccamaw River was wonderful. Cold but sunny and the leaves are definitely an indication that fall is following south.

 

The trip to Georgetown was helped by favorable currents for the first couple of hours until the incoming tide slowed us down.

We were here last year so today just made a quick trip to the local Piggly Wiggly to pick up a few things. It was getting dark as we had spent a good part of today working on a timeline that will allow us to meet the replacement battery charger which we'll have delivered to a marina.

Georgetown is an incredible place being the 3rd oldest city in South Carolina.

The homes are amazing! This was the home of William Doyle Morgan who was the mayor of Georgetown in the late 1800's.

There is definitely an effort on the part of this city to maintain rich history of this area of SC.

Tomorrow: we are closing in on Charleston. Longer day of 50 miles (about 7 hours).