Tina and Doug pause on Pieradae before shoving off.
Thursday, 27 November 23.8 SM
Ahhhhhh, Kilkenny Marina. How to describe, how to approximate the flavor, the color of Kilkenny Creek? It is “rustic,” as the cruising guide notes, and remote (as in, no internet, the reason this is posted a day late) and so much more. Easier to answer is the question as to why Kilkenny.
After tending lines when Pieradae cast off, Steadfast followed a half-hour later—with a big assist from Beverly and Jimmy of Jimmy G—as the current caught and pivoted her in the slip, then gave her a boost into the narrow Skidaway River. It had warmed some by then, 0745, to a still crisp 42 F. The bright sun promised something more, what turned out to be false promise.
It’s wise to give ICW markers a wide berth.
The Skidaway became the Burnside and then the Vernon, by which time a nifty little breeze had built to the upper teens, gusting to the 20s from the west-nor’west. Off the starboard quarter, that was okay. But turning to port at Hell Gate (yes, another and—today, at least—well-named) put the wind smack on the beam. Given myriad cautions regarding the shoals that snag the unwary through this stretch, wind and wave driving Steadfast to the lee shore were not the desired circumstance. But hey, it’s just for a few minutes and then…
Pounding up river send spray over the Bimini!
WHAMMO!
Another 90-degree turn to starboard and the deep (25-30’) water of the Ogeechee River, and Steadfast was slamming into a steep three-foot chop, falling off the crests and sending spray up over the Bimini. Not all of the spray, though, regrettably.
The turn to Kilkenny Creek is easy to spot.
Three or so miles of that and the heading put the wind more to starboard, it had less of a fetch and the river surface settled some. A bit farther and there, rising from the marsh on the windward shore was the much welcomed marker for Kilkenny Marina.
This house withstood an assault by Union cannon during Sherman’s March to the Sea.
A mile-and-a-half-or-so off the waterway and there’s Danny Bacot on the floating (somehow) wood pier, waving a big Thanksgiving Day greeting. Danny’s dad bought the place in 1960 and the family’s worked it ever since. “The Place” includes the pier, a chain of home-made wood floats that dip and wobble as one walks along; launch ramp, bait tanks, office and ship’s store (of sorts); parking for boat trailers; a half-dozen two-room cabins; and a two-story white clapboard Ante-Bellum plantation home that Danny says still bears the scars of Union cannonballs.
Kilkenny Marina offers a unique boating experience.
A “fish camp” the cruising guide calls this. Whatever, it’s got character. And…a most enviable view of Georgia marshland. For miles. Quite simply, it. Is. Beautiful. Wow.
The best part for this evening, however, is to be out of the wind, sheltered by the tall trees that line the shore. Plugged in to Kilkenny power, the little ceramic heater can take care of the cold so it will be a happy Thanksgiving.
Here’s hoping yours is as well.
Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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