Doing the Charleston

The First Mate is a little excited about doing the Charleston (South Carolina, that is!)

 

 

 

 

Our first look at Charleston as we enter the Ashley River.

Boats of all types, shapes, and sizes abound throughout the harbor.

The impressive Ravenel suspension bridge, over the Cooper River, is in the background.

 

 

 

 

The most "desirable" area to live is on the tip of the Peninsula.  The fortunate residents enjoy cool sea breezes and breathtaking views of the harbor and Fort Sumter.

 

 

 

 

Cruising down the Ashley River, we see Fort Sumter in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

Charleston is refered to as the "Holy City" because of the many church steeples that dot the skyline. 

 

 

 

 

 

Spiritus, in the foreground, is dwarfed by her neighbor, a three-masted wooden ship.

This ship hails from Sweden and is used as a "working classroom" for college students who spend a semester on the sea.

 

 

 

 

 

At the Charleston Museum, Capt Eddy poses next to a replica of the CSA submarine Hunley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Philip's Episcopal Church is the oldest congregation in the city.  Its first building was built on this site in 1710 and was replaced by the present building in 1845 after the original building burned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note the architecture of the unique Charleston single houses.  Built one room wide, they are entered through a door onto a piazza, giving the occupants privacy from the street in town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The modern Charleston Fire Department trucks barely fit into this late 1800s firehouse.

 

 

 

 

 

A replica of the flag that flew over Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Most of us don't think about our flag having anything but 50 stars.

 

 

 

 

 

Our "Carolina friends", Scott & Denise Rhoads, come to town to share more good times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The full moon rising over Charleston.

Do you know why the state flag has a palm tree on it?

 

 

 

 

 

Our night-time view of the Ravenel Bridge from Spiritus.

  This magnificent engineering marvel is North America's longest cable-stayed bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

Scott & Denise brought their way-cool Wally to visit us on Spiritus.

 

 

 

 

 

Linda struggled to handle her LARGE cone!

 

 

 

 

 

The Dirtbag family takes a break during their walk along the waterfront.

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The Old Slave Mart, built in the mid 1800's.

Charleston was the largest slave port in the American colonies, accounting for 40% of Africans imported across the Atlantic.

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Market is the best spot to see the sweet grass basket weavers at work.

 

 

 

 

 

You gotta love a city parks department with a sense of humor!

 

 

 

 

 

One last look over our shoulder as we set our course north from Charleston.