Dec. 31, New Year's Eve

The tide started coming in early this morning and I wanted to ride it in on the first leg of our trip.  So we found the boat ramp at the Charleston City Marina and were ready to get in the water by 9:00. Our routine came back quickly as we knew exactly what had to go in the boat and there seemed to be little learning curve delay. A nice lady came by and helped us get a picture taken. 

That first stroke I've been looking forward to took us out into a maze of docks lined with big cruisers. It was not immediately obvious which was the channel to open water. I came out the end of the channel and looked across the river to the entrance to the ICW channel on the Stono River. Heather thought we needed to go further downstream but after another look agreed with me and we got across and into the current going up the Stono within a few minutes. I was paddling lightly and with the current's help we were doing almost 6 knots! I crave flat water like this like I crave deep light powder on the ski slope. My gentle swing was surely a sustainable pace and it never stopped until we arrived at the take out ramp near the new John Limehouse Bridge to John's Island. The quiz on all these place names will come at the end of our trip! If you are going to be following us on a map they might help but if you are a casual visitor reading this once in a while, try to ignore them.

I was not at all ready to stop and retrieve the car when we pulled in. We hadn't even had lunch. But I had persuaded Heather that the first day needed to be short because I needed to break in my hands slowly.  So I gave up my suggestions that this was just a lunch break and continued to get the boat out of the water. I had no prearranged ride to the car and would have to hitchhike or call a cab. Either would need some time. Besides, I have one little blister next to my wedding ring.

Limehouse Bridge boat ramp

The dispatcher at the first cab I called would not send me a cab unless I had a street address and a local phone number! This seemed to me a major glitch in their system. I guess the dispatcher’s job will be gone soon and you will be asked to dial in the address and the phone number.  The second cab’s dispatcher was a little more human but too much so. She decided she new which bridge I was at better than I so told her driver to go to a different bridge. When I called back after waiting for 45 minutes she said that the driver was waiting for a drawbridge.  There were no drawbridges on the way to my location! Another half hour later the cab arrived driven by a lady listening to loud rap music. After getting in the front seat I realized there was another lady in the rear seat who seemed to be a friend getting a free ride.  The rap continued for the half hour back to the Charleston City Marina with the two women having a screaming conversation about picking strawberries and the dispatcher blurting unintelligible orders on the two-way radio. I guess I have paid more than the $19 she charged me for entertainment but strawberry rap does so little for me.

I was back to pick up Heather within an hour.  The poor thing had been sitting by the boat near the two boat ramps. On one of the ramps lay a dead midsize dog near the water line. Drivers backing down with their trailers had to steer clear.  Within inches of her seat seemed to be the favorite place of other dogs to relieve themselves. The sun had come out and started to bake the odors out of the collection. I helped tie the boat on as quickly as possible and we were back at the hotel by 3:00 p.m. Heather’s endurance of such things to allow her husband to keep rowing is much appreciated!

Gunnar with the boat back on the car after the first day's row

Here is a map of our 1st day's 10.3 mile nonstop row!