We have been watching the approaching cold front for several days, while we are in summertime, perfect, unseasonable weather. For several days, we have been planning where we wanted to spend a couple of 30 kt, gusts to gale, blowing days of cold rain. We didn't want to spend the time at a dock when the inclement weather would stop us from exploring the area. So, we've planned for a few days to spend Saturday night in Cane Patch Creek.
In order to get there, we needed to cover a lot of mileage before the weather turned. We started at 0630 in the fog. Another boat that was going to run with us decided not to. The trip was gorgeous. Though it was foggy in the morning, there was a current pushing us most of the day, and the Atlantic Ocean was about as calm as it ever gets.
We entered the Ossabaw Sound channel around noon. Though we had planned to go up the Southern Channel, we had some exploring time, so we went up the North Channel, the Odingsell River, and Wassaw Creek, to the Ranger's dock on the north side of Wassaw Island.
If I could change one thing, it would be an almost perfect anchorage! The large trees and curves in the creek would be great in a NE wind. There are beautiful beaches, dock access to the island, walking trails.... Unfortunately, the USFWS forbids pets on the island. We decided not to anchor there, where our dogs would spend the next day looking shoreward. While Mercy would be ok with that (and she would be allowed on the island with me, since she is a working service dog) Mocha would go into a bathroom strike, looking at the shore, knowing that if she held out long enough, surely we'd take her.
The afternoon was gorgeous, and unseasonably hot. There were a several boats with people on the beach, and even more fishermen. There were dolphins everywhere, including right along the beach!
We came back to the northern channel, to continue up the sound, passing just north of Raccoon Island before turning westward and passing through the notorious Hell's Gate, and up the Ogeechee River to the Florida Passage. At the red 102, we turned east, up Buckhead Creek, taking the northern fork into Cane Patch Creek. There is deep water, about as the charts show. We continued up the creek to anchor to the southwest of an island with large trees, being sure to stay south on the creek far enough to dodge the eddies of the merging creeks. I've learned over the years to NOT anchor in the eddies, as you can do 360's with current in some places all night long.
It began to rain as we dropped anchor, but the squall passed through quickly, leaving it dead calm in the marsh, and bringing out the no-see-um gnats. We closed the screens and ran the air conditioner for a bit, grilling on the deck, and watching television from Savannah.
It is the preverbal calm before the storm.
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