Last week, just before Hurricane Helene, Jeff and I wanted one last boating adventure. The forecast was promising. It called for clear skies and a few storms to the south. Perfect for a day on the water! So, off we went to Butter Bean Beach in Savannah. We aimed for the Rodney J. Hall Boat Ramp (yes, it has a name change history).
The tide was low, leaving the ramp slick and slimy—just the way you want to start your day, right? Jeff spotted dolphins playing nearby, clearly after his bait. I couldn't help but admire those beautiful creatures and wanted to snap a few pictures.
As I stepped onto the slimy ramp wearing my adorable Croc slippers, I even noted how slippery it was. Not even seconds later, I went down hard, landing flat on my backside and hitting my head. Ouch! It was a rough start, and I was sore for a few days afterward.
On a side note, yoga isn't just good for your mind; it also helps after slip-and-fall situations like these. It provides the stability and strength to recover after such tumbles!
After brushing off my pride, we hopped onto the boat, ready for a fun-filled day. We had our picnic packed, and Jeff was keen on catching some bait. However, the weather quickly turned against us. Those storms we thought would pass us by? They were headed straight for us! No amount of refreshing the radar could change the weather. So, we decided to seek refuge at Hogan's Marina, now Sun Life Marina, on Wilmington Island.
The folks there were incredibly kind, letting us pull in to escape the rain. We even stocked up on fresh bait from their bait shop, as Jeff hadn’t had much luck earlier. Despite the pain from my fall, I tried to stay positive while we sheltered under the T-top of our Sportsman 247.
As we waited for the rain to pass, we realized something was off with the motor. It wasn’t “peeing,” which is the telltale sign that the engine is cooling. When you stop seeing that little squirt of water, something is wrong. And overheating could be on the horizon. Jeff quickly diagnosed a clogged water line.
In a moment of practicality, Jeff decided to Uber me home to rest while he dealt with the boat. He returned home after unclogging the line, which a pesky dirt dauber had blocked. After fixing everything, he sneaked in an hour of fishing while I rested. Talk about multitasking!
Once back home, we settled in to prepare for Hurricane Helene. We expected some effects and a bad thunderstorm from the outer bands. But, the storm went slightly more east than predicted, and we got more than just a thunderstorm. Around 1:30 in the morning, we realized that we were in for a wild ride, with winds hitting the high 70s. Trees came crashing down all over Savannah, and we were left without power for five days.
We learned a valuable lesson: There's no bad weather, only bad clothing. So here's to more adventures—preferably with fewer falls and more sunshine ahead!
Stay safe out there, and remember to embrace every moment, even when things don’t go as planned! 🌊🌪️✨
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