Tragedy Strikes

We made it to Wahlburg Creek and it was indeed deep and wide.  The plan was to anchor there overnight and then visit Savannah before saying goodbye to Georgia altogether.  St. Catherine's Sound Inlet (Wahlburg Creek) is close to Savannah - we could easily make it there early the next day.  While we were out sailing from Brunswick to Wahlburg Creek our son and Michael's brother had frantically been trying to reach us.  Michael's Dad had been in a horrible car accident.  The next morning we made it to Savannah, got a taxi to the airport and then drove to Durham, NC - Duke Hospital.  Our trip then came to an end for awhile.  It ended up being about 2 1/2 weeks before we were back on Talaria.  Meanwhile, the kind folks at Thunderbolt Marina in Savannah, Georgia watched over everything for us - they even went on the boat and took off the fruit that was going to spoil.  Kindest people in the world right there!!!  Eventually, with sad hearts we continued on our way as I had a job in North Carolina starting June 1st.  So... no pictures of Savannah but we did hang out in Charleston/Kiawah for a few days as I had to go to an anesthesia conference.  Charleston is truly old south.  The antebellum homes take you back to a different era.  

Home near Charleston Harbor

Another home near the harbor - Yes, this is a house!

Beautiful Charleston antebellum homes

Ft. Sumter - Where the Civil War began

Ft. Sumter

And of course, there is Ft. Sumter sitting out there in Charleston Harbor.  Where the Civil War began.  All hostilities aside - Charleston is now just a town full of southern warmth and charm.

This guy was swimming in the pond right behind our hotel room on Kiawah Island.  Unlike Disney the hotel had the good sense to post a sign warning of alligators in the water.  Surprisingly folks still walked awfully close to the waters edge.  

Angel Oak

 All over the south there are live oak trees - but this tree is like none I have ever seen.  It is estimated to be around anywhere from 300 to 400 years old.  It is 65 feet tall and 28 feet in circumference.  It has survived any number of natural disasters - including several hurricanes.  But it just keeps growing.  

 
In order to really appreciate the Angel Oak you really have to see it for yourself - pictures just don't quite capture the magnitude of the tree.

The sign is actually old as the largest limb length is now 187 feet long!!  The tree just keeps growing in every direction.

 Since we have made this trip to Charleston without the boat we likely will not stop with Talaria.  We will have to make up for some lost time.  On with the journey!