Well we made our first boat trip to Charleston, South Carolina along with two pontoon boats. We left LakeVue Marina on Lake Marion. Crossing the lake by the dam. Through the Diversion Canal. Leading us into Lake Moultrie. As we crossed Lake Moultrie we came upon another sailboat crossing, going in the opposite direction. Upon crossing Lake Moultrie we stopped by the Navy Retreat "Short Stay". Leaving and entering into the Pinopolis Canal. We had to wait about half an hour. Waiting for boat that were already in the canal to pass through . While we waited we had a alligator cruise up and roll in the water near our boat. He seemed o.k. with us being in his waters. I am sure other boater were feeding him, so he just hung around waiting for boaters. Waiting on food that was tossed out to him. We chose not to feed him. But enjoyed the show he gave us. Pasting thru the locks was a real thrill. From Lake Moultrie to the Santee Cooper River is a 75 foot drop. But once we were in side and tied to the dock. The waters went down sowly. When we dropped to the river level, the gaint steel door opened. And we entered the Santee Copper River. Then we went under the Strawberry Railroad track. Then we came upon the Gilligan's restaurant . We stopped by. Tied up to dock and went in for refreshments. On our way back on Sunday we stopped and ate lunch, which was very good food. As we travel down the Santee Cooper River we saw many beauitful sites. Rice fields,old plantation homes abandoned sailboats. The river consisted of many twist and turns. Passed by the Monastery in Monks Corner, we snapped pictures of the as we pasted by. The closer we got to Charleston we begin to see the larger boats and tugs. Passed by the Naval Yard, seeing the warning markers and the gun boat station as a deter, it worked for us. When we reached that point a thunder Storm came up. The rain pellet us a small rocks. The winds picked up and the waters was crashing over our bow. It was a sight to see the wide spanned bridge. As we crossed under it we could we Patriot Point. Were the old World War two battle ship, submarine,and Coast Guard boats were. At this point we could see The Charleston Harbor Marina. As we entered in another sail boat was ahead of us. We stayed at the Red Roof Inn. Friday was a full day. The next morning we got a ride into downtown Charleston. Went to the market place. This is were they have a open air market with many vendors. We spent all day looking around the old city. At 3:00 p.m.. We went out on the schooner "Pride" for a two hour sail. It was a blast. I was able to help hoist the sails. We readied our self for another cab ride to Folly Beach. Which was again across the great bridge and Through Charleston. We wanted to eat at the Crab Shack. Once again we were not disappointed with the food. She crab soup, oysters,shrimp,crab legs,crab and artichoke dip. MMMMMMMMM good. Back to our room and a time around the pool. Sunday morning we left to head back to Lake Marion about 8:00 a.m.. This was a great trip. Can't wait to do it again. The only thing that could have made it better would be more time. Maybe next time.
We are enteing the Canal here following our friends in.
Here we are in the Canal. Waiting to be lower. You can see the Santee Cooper River below us.
This pic show the water level dropping.
Another pic of our entering the canal.
This is a gauge on the wall. Don't know if you can see it. But full it read 75' full. At this point the water is dropping.
We are now at the river base and the lock doors are opening.
This is a pic of the lock as we were leaving. You can see the dock on the right that we tied up to.
Another pic of the lock as we enter the Santee Cooper River.
This pic is of my wife Leslie. As she came our of Gilligan's Restaurant.
Pic of us coming up to and docking at Gilligan's. The two paontoons are our friends traveling with us.
This pic is a sad one. Of a sailboat that has been abandoned.
If you look close in the back ground you will is a gator. We saw many on this trip.
This is a pic of the Monastery in Moncks Corner. Monks Corner, South Carolina gets it name from these guys.
Tug boat as we got closer in to Charleston.
the new Cooper
River Bridge's diamond towers
have been completed, construction
crews are turning
their focus on the installation
of the cables and bridge deck
of North America's longest
cable-stayed span.
When it is completed, the
new Cooper River Bridge will
span 1,546 feet between the
eastern and western diamond
towers. The new bridge will be
twenty feet longer than the
Alex Fraser (Annacis Island)
Bridge in Vancouver, British
Columbia, and will become
the new record holder for the
longest cable-stay span in
North America. The longest
cable-stay span in the world is
the Tatara Bridge in Japan at
2,919 feet.
The completed diamond towers
extend 572.5 feet in the
air. They are now the tallest
concrete structures in the
state. Each tower was constructed
with almost 22,000
cubic yards of concrete and
3,700 tons of reinforcing steel.
To put the towers into perspective,
their combined concrete
could easily construct a
five-foot wide (4 inches thick)
sidewalk from Patriot's Point,
across the new bridge, and up
to the SCDOT office in
Columbia - roughly 120
miles. The reinforcing steel in
both of the towers is the
weight of almost 900 African
elephants - averaging 16,500
pounds a piece. The mainspan
deck will be constructed 186
feet above the mean high tide
mark in the Cooper River to
provide a shipping clearance
of 36 feet more than the existing
bridges.
Another tub boat passes by.
We are here seeing our Marina. Charleston Harbor Marina. We will be docking here for the next two days.
The USS Yorktown
Another sailboat meets us as we pass one the other.
Charleston Harbor Marina. These guys were so nice to us.
Skyline view of Charleston.
.jpg)
Another skyline view.
Down town Charleston at the Market place. In the back ground you can see a cruise ship. We really enjoyed the old market place. Much to do and see.
This is a model of the Ist submaine
the H.L. Hunley
Runners on the Satee Cooper
This is a picture on the wall at the Charleston Harbor Marina Hotel.
Picture of the Schooner "Pride".
Leslie and I as we stand on the Schooner Pride.
I pic of a dolphin playing in the river.
A pic of the skyline of Charleston and Rainbow houses.
Sun behind the main sail of Lazy Dayz.
