This is where we learned what's what.

 



 

 



We had spent about three days winding through rivers, island and sounds in Georgia, loosing our way, looking at charts and way markers and sometimes going a little way the wrong way before finding the right way.  It was hot, the apparent temperature107 so we usually swam just at dusk, then showered on the walk-through transcom of the boat and then had dinner.  A couple of nights ago, we were swimming around the boat, sort of lovingly patting her down and I saw/felt something sticking out in the water on the port side (left) of the stern of the boat.   I said "What is that?" and Tom answered, " I have no idea.!)    We felt a little further and discovered that the rudder of the boat had broken off and was hanging by some fiberglass threads.   Wow - and we had steered all day through some a windy sound!     We had heard a "pop" during that transit and couldn't think what it would have been.    We now that think that when we were pulled out from those two groundings by BoatUS, we may have damaged the rudder and that that trip through the sound in strong wind and currents might have been the end of it.

 

That evening continued very calm.   It was one of the most peaceful, quiet times we've had.  No one was around anywhere and we just sat on the bow of the boat and watched and listened as night fell.





 



 

 

 

The last day we were out, we came across a "motherboat" and two baby boats, unmarked. The two smaller boats were chasing each other all over the place.   The boats looked like military boats.  We think they might have been practicing chasing ________s. (You fill in the blank.

 

 

Most of the shrimp boats look like they're barely kept up, just enough to keep catching shrimp.  This one all dolled up.  Doesn't she look glorious?

We came along a string of islands upon each of which a nice house was built.

 

 

 

Oh, I forgot to tell you . . . that last night after we swam, we saw this crossing the river where we anchored, then it followed down one side.   Tom says he's not going swimming again in the waterway, but we'll see.

 

 

 

We are now in Thunderbolt, Georgia, just a couple of miles short of Savannah.  We called ahead and came across a marina where they do all kinds of work on boats.  The harbormaster said they have a lot of experience with fiberglass and can build anything out of it, even, maybe, rudders!     And, docking is free while they work on a boat.  So here we are, docked and waiting for Monday when Tumbleweed Too will be hauled out and we'll see what's next.    If they work on or order a rudder for her, we might as well get the bottom painted and a long list of lesser things done.   They even do upholstery here!

 

As we were headed to a local pub, we came across a man we'd seen in Vero Beach and in Fernandina, but not talked with much.   We three headed to the pub and were picked up by a couple who were also headed there. It turns out that Stein and Lita and Svei were all from Norway and had much to talk about.   Lita and Svein are leaving their boat on the  hard here and going back to Norway until October. They have crossed the Atlantic several times and don't cruise the Intercoastal Waterway because their keel is too long - 6' 6".   Their method of traveling is to come in from the ocean, find a dock, then rent a car to see what they want to see. This morning, they drove to Charlston.  Before they left, this morning, I visited them on their boat to see the upholstery and the boat.  Lita is retired from interior designing.    I took fabric swatches and she helped me zero in on what I should be using, IF we decide to redo the upholstery.

 

Naturally, when we hear what we're up against with getting the boat/rudder back in shape, we may abandon any beautifying efforts.





 

Can you see a shadow that looks like a fish trailing out behind the boat?   I tried to photo the broken rudder. 

 

Although we should be discouraged, somehow we're not.   It feels like an adventure - something to be gotten through on the way to something else.   We'll post what we feel like on Monday.  It may be a quite different attitude.