Tuesday, June 2
Leland Oil Co. (McLellanville) – Georgetown, SC
24 nm 4.25 hours underway
We went back and forth on the plan for the day—Georgetown or Wacca Wache. Wacca Wache had its appeal: notoriously cheap fuel and a few extra miles north. But Georgetown…Georgetown is one of those “classic Loop stops” you hear about.
The deciding factor? How Heather was feeling.
If she wasn’t up for exploring, then it made more sense to push on to Wacca Wache, check the fuel, and keep moving. But if there was a chance for a proper stop, Georgetown was a “want to see.”
As it turned out, a fuel stop at Leland Oil Company simplified everything. We topped off and realized the starboard tank was essentially full—no need for a fuel stop. Georgetown it is.
Heading north from McClellanville, the ICW quickly slips back into unspoiled wilderness. It’s hard to believe you’re only about 25 miles from both Charleston and Georgetown.
One of the more unexpected sights of the day? A swing bridge that doubles as a ferry to shuttle cars across. That was a first for us.
The wind picked up more than forecasted, kicking up a bit of chop in the wider sections. Nothing unmanageable, but enough to keep things interesting. Then, just as we were approaching Georgetown—crossing the wide sound—a fellow Looper came by at full speed, throwing a wake that we couldn’t quite dodge.
Unfortunately, Heather had just moved to the stern to get lines ready.
Timing could not have been worse. Water from the flybridge came crashing down directly on her head, instantly soaking her. She went into docking looking like a drowned rat. It’s a shame we didn’t capture a photo—it would have been a classic.
Despite that less-than-ideal pre-docking moment, the docking itself was smooth. We got settled in, tied up, and shifted gears
Georgetown felt different. Not in a bad way—just different from many of the other towns we’ve visited. There’s a sense that time slowed down here somewhere around 20 years ago and just decided to stay put. Once a major port city, Georgetown has deep roots in rice plantations and wooden boat building. That heritage still lingers, especially with their well-known Wooden Boat Show every October.
We started at the Maritime Museum, where we learned more about the area’s history and got to see replicas of boats built right here in Georgetown—including one for E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Post. It added a different layer of appreciation for the town.
From there, we wandered down Front Street. We stopped in at Buzz’s Roast for a drink—a spot that felt like a true local hangout—before heading to dinner at Angell’s Grill, a newer recommendation from the dockhand.
Dinner absolutely delivered. Heather went with a pimiento cheese bacon cheeseburger topped with candied jalapeños (yes, it was as good as it sounds), and Kevin had a fried flounder sandwich. Both were excellent—and we were so hungry by the time the food arrived that we failed to take pictures.
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