"ICW Trip 2001 Leg 14 Georgetown SC" Georgetown by grandmaR

The first time we came down the ICW in 2000, we skipped Georgetown because we were trying to get to Charleston before Thanksgiving. We stopped in McClellanville instead (see McClellanville page). We decided never to go there again, so on the way back we stopped in Georgetown. We wanted our friends to see Georgetown too, so we've stopped there each time since then.

BAD BOY and the Socastee bridges

SIMPLICITY (dink MANANA) and JAZZABELLE, KNOCKOFF and CAROLINA passed us. BAD BOY was behind us for awhile. She had a *huge* US flag flying from the top of the mast, and then a large MD flag and then a US Navy flag.

The Socastee Swing bridge has apparently been completely decommissioned and is permanently open (it was back in operation when we came back up unfortunately). We went down the Waccamaw River (SANGRIA II that we saw in Belhaven) also passed. We saw Bucksport (see Bucksport page) which is supposed to have great sausage and passed Wacca Wachee Marina (see Murrells Inlet page) also on our way to Georgetown.

We went to The Boat Shed (a marina). There were a ton of boats anchored in Georgetown including SHARON LEE. We tied up by 12:50 after 51.3 miles or a total trip of 475 nm.

Max and Lucette went to explore the town and met Sharon and her husband from SHARON LEE, and they came by in the dink. There was a Morgan OI (Out Island) behind us on the dock from Baltimore. They have two boys on board age 9 and 14 and are homeschooling. Their cousins came down from Columbus to see them, and the boys were fishing off the dock. One caught a little croaker.

The Rice Museum gift shop was open, but not the Rice Museum itself. SWEET SENSATION came in and anchored, as did the yawl that was the inside boat on our raft (named MONDAY MORNING). A big motor yacht named GOT the FEVER also came into the marina.

We found that there were NO restaurants in town open on Sunday night, so Lucette phoned around and we found that a restaurant named Lafayettes out on US 17 was open so we walked out (about 8 or 9 blocks). They had a buffet for $6.95 each.

Esterville-Mimm's canal ferry

The Morgan behind us which wants to get to Charleston today left at first light. We were underway by 6:20. BAD BOY passed us and so did the trawler ALLEY CAT. A big tug passed us by Belle Grove mansion. I tried to see the Esterville Mansion from the water, but it was obscured by 'seasonal foliage'.

We went into the Esterville-Mimm's canal and passed the Cat Island free running ferry. There is about 20 knots of wind. There is a group of boats anchored in Alligator Creek - we see their masts. WAYWARD is one of them and calls us on the radio to ask about conditions. I tell them that there is considerable cross current (we are crossing a whole delta of rivers and creeks) and wind, but no waves.

MARY FRANCES (that we saw in GA coming up last year) passes us, and so does NORTH STAR the Gozzard that was in the South Mills lock with us.

Next: Isle of Palms

• Pros:Nice town to walk around in
• Cons:Rolls up the sidewalks before dinner
• In a nutshell:The Rice City