Winter in Charleston
Feb 18 thru Feb 21
—Blogpost written by Bob
Monday, February 18
As I returned from my shower this morning storm clouds approached the marina from the northwest. All the sailboat masts looked white against the dark sky. Soon the heavy clouds were directly overhead but we only experienced a light drizzle. It was a muggy 69 degrees at 8 AM. Even though the temperature was expected to fall during the day it was not expected to go below 60 degrees during daylight hours. Not bad weather!
We had a rental car for the day since Maggie arrived from Sarasota last night. After running several errands on Johns Island, we returned to Charleston to have lunch at Leon's--the hip restaurant specializing in oysters and fried chicken--this has become one of our favorites! We had an excellent lunch with Long Island Blades (a type of oysters on the half shell) and 2 pieces of fried chicken with sides--it was all fantastic!
I replanted our onboard spider plant into a larger hanging pot after we returned to the boat. I also picked up some (Miracle Gro-brand) fertilizer for the plant since it hasn't been doing well lately.
Today was considerably cooler than yesterday--the weather forecast said it would only reach 56 degrees in the afternoon. At 8:30 AM it is already 52 degrees outside. The sky was solidly overcast. We expected rain late in the day and most of tomorrow.
Since we expected to be boat-bound in the afternoon and tomorrow, we decided to bike to a coffee shop that we've been interested in trying: Second State Coffee--it's on Beaufain Street, within about 1/2-mile of the marina. The coffee was great--so were the little bacon quiches. This was one of the few times that we had breakfast out since arriving in Charleston.
I would like to share one of my simplest recipes--cucumber salad. It uses only three ingredients: sliced cucumbers, seasoned gourmet rice vinegar, and dill weed. (I've had cucumber salad where the cook tries to add too many ingredients and ruins this simple side dish--so, keep it simple!) The most important ingredient to get right is the Marukan-brand rice vinegar--if you can't find it in your local grocery store, you can buy it on Amazon.
I like to remove the skin from cucumbers before slicing--it's just my preference. Slice the cucumbers into approximately 1/4 to 5/16-inch thick slices. Place in a closable container suitable for refrigerating. Generously splash the rice vinegar over the cucumber slices and then sprinkle the dill weed over the top. I like to close and container and shake a little before refrigerating. Allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
We have a kitchen knife that we really like that has a chipped plastic handle. The plastic handle actually broke at the bottom on both sides (see close up view below):
I decided that I would completely remove the existing plastic handle and make a wooden handle from some exotic wood. (This probably is more effort than the knife is worth but it seems like a nice project for me.) I looked at a couple YouTube videos (like this one) and it seems pretty easy. I ordered a large piece of Goncalo Alves (an exotic hardwood from Brazil) in 3/8-inch thickness for this project.
I removed the old plastic handles and pulled out the pins with vice grips. I ordered 1/4-inch diameter brass round stock for the new pins. I will also have to drill out the holes but this will have to wait until I get back to Baltimore since I need my drill press. More on this project later...
Since it was raining in the morning and we needed some groceries, we decided to take the courtesy van to Harris Teeter, across the Ashley River in a suburb called Avondale.
We had a light lunch at Harris Teeter while we were there. Shortly after we got the groceries loaded onto the boat it stopped raining and the sun appeared.
I removed the plastic tape from around the fid on the galley sink, declaring the four coats of varnish adequate for the job. To the best of my recollection, this is the first time I varnished this area, I sanded it very smooth before staining and then applied two coats of stain. From that point on I simply applied (Epifanes) varnish, sanding between coats with 400-grit sandpaper. It turned out great! Next up, the teak window frame by the companionway...
The rain returned in mid-afternoon. I'm glad the temperature was relatively warm--it certainly beats the snow that is happening up north right now. The rain was expected to end in the early morning hours tomorrow and it is supposed to get up to 75 degrees tomorrow afternoon! I can't wait!
It rained lightly most of the night and it is foggy this morning. I thought that once the sun burns off the fog it would be a nice day. (It did turn out to be a beautiful day after the fog burned off--it reached 70 degrees!)
Yesterday, I was able to start varnishing the frame for the window next to the companionway. (This is the window that I added to the boat many years ago where square instruments were once mounted on the bulkhead.) For some reason I had a hard time getting the masking tape to adhere. To help remedy this we cleaned the surfaces around the window with lacquer thinner and then rubbing alcohol--it may have helped just enough to get the masking tape in place but it still wasn't adhered well.
Today, I lightly sanded the varnished window frame with 320-grit sandpaper and applied the second coat of varnish. (I think two more coats will be adequate. I made this window frame before I knew about staining the teak to get all the teak the same shade--consequently, it is a shade lighter than the rest of the interior teak.)
Once the fog burned off we rode our bikes to the downtown post office on Broad Street to mail a couple items. While on Broad Street, we had lunch at the Brown Dog Deli--we just can't resist this place!
After lunch we biked along battery park and then returned to the boat for an afternoon of reading and relaxing.
Until our next blogpost, thanks for following our blog!
 |
| The light drizzle falls on the front window of our dodger. The bridge in this image is the Route 30 bridge to James Island. |
We had a rental car for the day since Maggie arrived from Sarasota last night. After running several errands on Johns Island, we returned to Charleston to have lunch at Leon's--the hip restaurant specializing in oysters and fried chicken--this has become one of our favorites! We had an excellent lunch with Long Island Blades (a type of oysters on the half shell) and 2 pieces of fried chicken with sides--it was all fantastic!
 |
| This neon sign faces the rear of the restau- rant where there is additional outdoor seating. It was packed today. |
 |
| In the restroom at Leon's, the small sink is part of the toilet fixture--this is the first time I have seen this combination! |
 |
| When the tide goes out little rivulets remain in the pluff mud. |
I replanted our onboard spider plant into a larger hanging pot after we returned to the boat. I also picked up some (Miracle Gro-brand) fertilizer for the plant since it hasn't been doing well lately.
 |
| My favorite sailboat--a Hinckley Bermuda 40 Yawl. (She is appropriately named Black Magic.) |
Tuesday, February 19
Today was considerably cooler than yesterday--the weather forecast said it would only reach 56 degrees in the afternoon. At 8:30 AM it is already 52 degrees outside. The sky was solidly overcast. We expected rain late in the day and most of tomorrow.
 |
| The replanted spider plant is already showing signs of improvement! |
Since we expected to be boat-bound in the afternoon and tomorrow, we decided to bike to a coffee shop that we've been interested in trying: Second State Coffee--it's on Beaufain Street, within about 1/2-mile of the marina. The coffee was great--so were the little bacon quiches. This was one of the few times that we had breakfast out since arriving in Charleston.
----------
I would like to share one of my simplest recipes--cucumber salad. It uses only three ingredients: sliced cucumbers, seasoned gourmet rice vinegar, and dill weed. (I've had cucumber salad where the cook tries to add too many ingredients and ruins this simple side dish--so, keep it simple!) The most important ingredient to get right is the Marukan-brand rice vinegar--if you can't find it in your local grocery store, you can buy it on Amazon.
 |
| In my opinion, the Marukan-brand rice vinegar makes a huge difference in the taste! |
I like to remove the skin from cucumbers before slicing--it's just my preference. Slice the cucumbers into approximately 1/4 to 5/16-inch thick slices. Place in a closable container suitable for refrigerating. Generously splash the rice vinegar over the cucumber slices and then sprinkle the dill weed over the top. I like to close and container and shake a little before refrigerating. Allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
 |
| My favorite version of cucumber salad! |
----------
We have a kitchen knife that we really like that has a chipped plastic handle. The plastic handle actually broke at the bottom on both sides (see close up view below):
 |
| Broken plastic handle on one of our favorite kitchen knives. |
I decided that I would completely remove the existing plastic handle and make a wooden handle from some exotic wood. (This probably is more effort than the knife is worth but it seems like a nice project for me.) I looked at a couple YouTube videos (like this one) and it seems pretty easy. I ordered a large piece of Goncalo Alves (an exotic hardwood from Brazil) in 3/8-inch thickness for this project.
 |
| The knife is prepped for replacing the handle. |
I removed the old plastic handles and pulled out the pins with vice grips. I ordered 1/4-inch diameter brass round stock for the new pins. I will also have to drill out the holes but this will have to wait until I get back to Baltimore since I need my drill press. More on this project later...
Wednesday, February 20
Since it was raining in the morning and we needed some groceries, we decided to take the courtesy van to Harris Teeter, across the Ashley River in a suburb called Avondale.
 |
| Lola under the dodger on a rainy morning. |
We had a light lunch at Harris Teeter while we were there. Shortly after we got the groceries loaded onto the boat it stopped raining and the sun appeared.
----------
I removed the plastic tape from around the fid on the galley sink, declaring the four coats of varnish adequate for the job. To the best of my recollection, this is the first time I varnished this area, I sanded it very smooth before staining and then applied two coats of stain. From that point on I simply applied (Epifanes) varnish, sanding between coats with 400-grit sandpaper. It turned out great! Next up, the teak window frame by the companionway...
----------
The rain returned in mid-afternoon. I'm glad the temperature was relatively warm--it certainly beats the snow that is happening up north right now. The rain was expected to end in the early morning hours tomorrow and it is supposed to get up to 75 degrees tomorrow afternoon! I can't wait!
Thursday, February 21
It rained lightly most of the night and it is foggy this morning. I thought that once the sun burns off the fog it would be a nice day. (It did turn out to be a beautiful day after the fog burned off--it reached 70 degrees!)
----------
Yesterday, I was able to start varnishing the frame for the window next to the companionway. (This is the window that I added to the boat many years ago where square instruments were once mounted on the bulkhead.) For some reason I had a hard time getting the masking tape to adhere. To help remedy this we cleaned the surfaces around the window with lacquer thinner and then rubbing alcohol--it may have helped just enough to get the masking tape in place but it still wasn't adhered well.
 |
| The window next to the companionway after the first coat of varnish was applied. |
Today, I lightly sanded the varnished window frame with 320-grit sandpaper and applied the second coat of varnish. (I think two more coats will be adequate. I made this window frame before I knew about staining the teak to get all the teak the same shade--consequently, it is a shade lighter than the rest of the interior teak.)
----------
Once the fog burned off we rode our bikes to the downtown post office on Broad Street to mail a couple items. While on Broad Street, we had lunch at the Brown Dog Deli--we just can't resist this place!
 |
| A young vine hanging along an old wall. |
After lunch we biked along battery park and then returned to the boat for an afternoon of reading and relaxing.
Until our next blogpost, thanks for following our blog!
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