Had a really good time! Was a long day because we left from Folly Beach area... the public ramp there.
We stayed at a condo right across the Folly river from the public ramp there. We ended up parking our boat there all weekend. I originally had a slip booked at the Ashley marina, but finding trailer parking was getting stressful. When we arrived Thursday night, the lot was empty so we parked under a light. I pulled into a spot, unhooked from the trailer, drove over the curb and out. That way my boat wouldn't be blocked by anyone else. Each morning, we connected and put it in the water. From the condo, it was an easy walk into Folly as well. There's basically no parking and it was crazy with all the cars trying to get in and out.
Friday, we went down the Kiawah river, then back and up the Stono River to Wappoo Creek. We stopped for lunch at the Charleston Crab Shack. Unfortunately, they have the gate locked so you can't actually go into the restaurant. So we ordered and they brought food out to us. Was good stuff! Continued on and went up the Ashley river. Came up to a train bridge that was up. I stopped there and turned around, didn't want to get stuck on the other side if they decided to lower it! Came back down and went out into the ocean. Went to the Morris Island Lighthouse then continued down the coast and into the Stono inlet. Got a bit hairy there because unfortunately we were coming back during low tide. Lots of waves and 3-4 foot depths. Wife and daughter were super nervous and my boys were having the time of their lives! Made it back in 1 piece.... about 80 miles round trip.
Saturday, went to the beach at the far east end of Kiawah Island. Lot of boats there! Super windy and a strong current made for a stressful time keeping the boat in place. My new Fortress anchor worked like a champ! My shore anchor broke loose twice though..... soft sand up on the beach made it a challenge. I didn't have it angled enough so it kept pulling out. 3rd time was a charm! Bunch of other boats had similar problems staying put. There's a beached sail boat at the north east end of the beach with a rope swing on it. The kids and various drunk adults were having a blast!
Sunday we did the Cooper River run, here's the route we took.
From the Folly River ramp, it was about 23 miles to the Charleston Harbor Marina. We stopped there to top off the gas tank on our way up. Then around 45 miles up the Cooper and thru the lock. On the way up, we got chased by the military boat where 3 submarines were parked. Not sure why... I was doing 30 mph past there and a boat came out of nowhere at us. I started to slow down and the driver just waved us to keep going. Went thru the lock and rode around Lake Moultrie a bit, but not much because I didn't want to press my luck on gas. Grilled some dogs and sausages and headed back.
Ended up burning just over 40 gallons on the way up and back, so had a bit to spare. I cruised between 27-34 mph, depending on the wind and current. I have to say, the trip calculator on the Connext screen was dead on. It said I used 40.3 gallons and when I filled up, it took 40.6 gallons.
Trailered home Monday and did all the cleanup.... kids definitely didn't like that part. All in all, a great trip and definitely the most boating I've done in a 3 day span ever. Kids loved it and my wife did as well. Certainly up for doing this again with a group some other time.
