Pulling into the Dock

I certainly was right to assume there would be more to write!  After 26 hours at sea and very little sleep (my best sleep was for an hour after sunrise) we decided we should start checking our fuel consumption knowing there were problems with the tank.  Of course we found that we had consumed more than normal (how do these things happen anyway?) and we would not have enough to make it the final hours to home.

We tried switching to the fouled tank again and were successful for almost an hour but then that was all she wrote and we couldn't get that lucky again.  Our attempts at siphoning from one tank to another were fruitless as well.  Our calculations left us with just enough fuel to get to the Charleston inlet before we'd run out . . . that would be right at the JETTIES at the inlet.  Being that crashing on the rocks of the jetty after running out of fuel didn't sound like a good idea, we put plan "b" into place. 

We were still too far out to get any decent coverage from our radio so we used the Coast Guard to relay our messages to Sea Tow, our offshore AAA of sorts.  After numerous transmissions, we had arranged for them to bring us fuel before we reached the mouth of the inlet.  Of course the weather had to change about that time and some driving rain passed through and the seas were building - but we've grown to expect that under these circumstances!  An hour or two later, the Sea Tow vessel arrived and we transferred 15 gallons of fuel between the boats as we both swayed in the swells. 

After 35 hours, we motored through the jetties with a passing tanker and continued our way finally making it under the Ashley River bridge where we pulled up to the fuel dock for the night.   We have such mixed feelings about being home.  Of course we're excited to see our kids and friends but it's been such an amazing adventure.  Despite the challenges of weather, holding tanks, leaks, and the countless other quirks of cruising life - there's just that "something" about it that sucks you in, so to speak.  

Another of our visitors - we ended up having four! 
Must be migrating, hearty little guys!

It's now been 24 hours since our return and we've had the car with the dead battery towed and repaired, the dead motorcycle battery charged, the flat bike tire inflated, the yard weeds pulled and the grass cut . . . and we haven't even had a chance to see our boys or get the mail yet.   HMM . . . looks like we really ARE home again!