[/caption]Given the normal 3 knots of current in the Cooper River, it is no small challenge to maneuver Cutter Loose out of her slip in this marina. With this thought in mind, we time our departure to coincide with slack tide at 6:50 AM, knowing full well that this is a hurry up and wait decision. Today's first opening of the Wappoo Creek bridge on the ICW will occur at 9 AM, and it is located a scant 4 miles south of our marina. Under clear skies, we motor slowly through Charleston Harbor observing the early morning activity, including the dockage of a Carnival cruise ship.
Our objective for today is to reach Beaufort, SC, some 67 miles to the south. But by the time we clear the Wappoo Bridge, it is already 9:30 AM. With only 10 hours of daylight, reaching Beaufort before sunset is not in the cards.
South of the bridge, our course takes us through narrow Elliott Cut where the current is running with a vengeance, this time pushing us into the Stono River. From here, the ICW follows the Dawho River and the South Edisto River which collectively form the western boundary of Edisto Island. As we navigate a dogleg in the Dawho River, thick plumes of smoke appear to be rising from the McKinley Washington Bridge, causing us to think twice about passing under the bridge. Soon it becomes apparent that smoke is billowing from a forest on the horizon and that our safety is not in danger.
[caption id="attachment_1983" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cutter Loose emerges from the marshes of Rock Creek"]
[/caption]After transiting the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff, we enter Parrot Creek off the Coosaw River where Cutter Loose will hang on the hook for the night. The sun dips below the horizon just moments after the anchor is set. Today's journey has been a sunup to sundown experience, with only 53 nautical miles to our credit. Despite the initial inefficiencies of tide and bridge openings, it has been another gorgeous, stress-free day on the water.
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