Unfortunately, they are calling for heavy thunderstorms later on this afternoon, but the good news is that we will be having some awesome Fall weather here in Mt. Pleasant for the rest of the week, so come on out and checkout Shem Creek’s newest digs!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Shem Creek Park, you CAN get there from here!

So, if you have any interest in sailing whatsoever, you’ll definitely want to be in town two weeks from now for the fifth and final leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS around-the-world sailboat race that coincides with Harborfest 2011.

The 3,600 nautical mile final leg will be leaving Charleston May 14th, racing to the finish line in La Rochelle, France.

‘Sprint’ really encapsulates what the finale to the VELUX 5 OCEANS will be: an all out adrenaline-fueled race across the North Atlantic and back into the Bay of Biscay, where La Rochelle will celebrate the unique achievements of the skippers in completing The Ultimate Solo Challenge. They are expected to arrive in La Rochelle in early June 2011 with prizes presented June 11.

“I have a lot of incentives to get to Charleston first, my kids are there, my family is there and my home is there. The sooner I get there the longer I get to spend at home. Mentally that is a bit of a liability, and it will be important for me to keep my head straight and not get too excited about sailing home.” – Charleston’s own Brad Van Liew, skipper of Le Pingouin.

Charleston Harborfest 2011 Schedule

Thursday, May 12th

• VELUX 5 OCEANS Vessels and Race Village Open to Public >> 1:00 – 6:00 PM

Friday, May 13th

• Festival Grounds Open to Public >> 1:00 – 6:00 PM
• Skipper Bon Voyage Party >> 5:00 – 8:00 PM

Saturday, May 14th

• Festival Grounds Open to Public >> 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• VELUX 5 OCEANS Parade of Sail >> 12:30 PM
• VELUX 5 OCEANS Race Restart >> 3:00 PM

Sunday, May 15th

• Festival Grounds Open to Public >> 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

From the Shem Creek blog.

Charleston Harborfest 2011

1. his trailer axle threw one wheel’s studs
2. he forgot his code to buy more minutes on his cell phone
3. his bank declined his attempt to withdraw funds (first time in 20+ years at that bank)
4. so, his parts won’t be ordered ’til his wife gets there in another hour!

UPDATE: $500 bucks later (hub, wheels, hotel…), he made it down when we discovered his starter was dying on him. I didn’t wanna-make-a big deal of it, but David really hooked us up in a 24 hr squeeze – thanks again!

From the Shem Creek blog.

What’s a guy gotta do to go fishin around here?

Just like many over on Charleston’s tip, it’s quite common for East Cooper real estate owners – whether in Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, IOP, or Daniel Island – to wait as much as 4 months before reducing their initial sale price.

When owners finally give in and do reduce their sale price, most only give in about 10%, and if they’re lucky, their sale is consummated then.

For the unlucky ones still holding on to the real estate they’re now (usually desperately) trying to get rid of, there’s a 50% chance that they’ll wind up reducing their sale price again.

So there you have it, probably pretty common throughout the world, but it is telling to see how long people hold out here in East Cooper before finally caving in to sell their real estate. After all, whether a home, business, or vacant property, it makes sense to get as much as you can for your equity – the question is: when do you cave in and reduce your selling price?

From the Shem Creek blog.

East Cooper Real Estate Sellers Hold Out… Before Caving In

One of the stipulations for the lottery is that bidders have a local business license, but we all know there are ways around that one; for instance, ever notice how most corporations are created in Delaware or Nevada due to their low corporate taxes?

“I think it’s important for everyone in the commercial fishing industry to have a chance to dock up there” – Eric Demoura, current Town Administrator

While that sounds like a fair share for everyone, as we all know, what will probably happen is that these 6 spots – 4 shrimp boats + 2 crab boats – will be won by those with the most money to bet with come lottery day (Feb, 1st each year).

And a Shem Creek fish market? I don’t see Shem Creek ever looking like San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, so why even go there? There isn’t enough fish in the sea to sustain another fish market on this creek.

The other side of the coin is that cutting down on shrimping helps out other species with a lower by-catch over time, but for many, it’s a small price to pay when it comes to a shrimper’s livelihood or a town’s primary draw for traveling visitors.

Anyway, the full council must approve the lottery 7 days from now before it goes into affect, so voice your concerns accordingly.

So much for small town ambiance!

From the Shem Creek blog.

Local shrimpers beware: good luck with lottery for our $hem Creek docks

Sure, things may go out on the peripheral over on our Facebook and Twitter profiles, but here on site, we stay focused.

So what do you want to hear more about from us? Inquiring minds want to know…

From the Shem Creek blog.

Say the word

It may seem quiet and lonely in this photo, but I can see this place really hopping once our Shem Creek Park is born about 6 months down the road – just like this other photo I took during Mardi Crawl the other day (click to enlarge).

And perched around the bend from this ‘bar down under’- on a little spit off the marsh pointing East – are a few chairs only an early-bird can catch once the sun starts doing its thing.

Just past the chairs… there it is: Shem Creek’s ‘other bridge’: the Jones Creek bridge and its walkway that will be getting a major overhaul these next few months leading up to Shem Creek Park opening.

Here’s a few photos I’ve taken of it recently; it branches off Shem Creek between Vickery’s and what will soon be a popular destination: that tiny outlook at the end of our new Shem Creek walkway. So enjoy them now, because things are a-changin!

From the Shem Creek blog.

That other Shem Creek bridge

This Saturday February 12th, the first ever Southeastern Wildlife Expo Kick-Off Party is here at Red’s Ice House on Shem Creek.

The event is free 12-5pm – with Barrier Island Marine having a 2011 New Boat Model Preview in and out of the water (sunset cruises offered too). At 5:30, there will live tunes from Ken Block & Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel along with Tyler Mechem of Crowfield.

All-you-can-eat oysters, a food buffet and adult beverages will be available as well.

All-inclusive tickets are $40 dollars before the event and $50 dollar day of, so get your tickets fast at Red’s during business hours, or online at SEWE.com

From the Shem Creek blog.

Red’s on Shem Creek holds SEWE Kickoff Party 2011

I had to leave early to run out to John’s Island, so no telling how many people showed up, but I’m sure they all had great time, especially with the awesome oyster eating weather we had yesterday afternoon.

From the Shem Creek blog.

Oysters and Pelicans Oh My!

It’d be no small feat, but once completed, it’d be a fantastic lure for water lovers – locals or tourists; imagine being able to walk down to Shem Creek and stroll the waterway from one side to the other, without having to walk near the traffic up on Coleman Blvd!

At the Coleman Street bridge, stairs could go up on either side of the creek so you could cross over it. A lot of it is already in place. Just look at the latest Shem Creek proposal; about the only part of the walkway missing is the end of Church Street where it runs into the creek (the space between RB’s and Red’s), but if somebody was to put in a low enough bid, perhaps Town Council would take a look at it. After all, way back in Feb. ’09, they mentioned it too.

Gary Collins stated they have looked at the opportunity to connect the entire length of the waterfront. –
Town of Mt. Pleasant

Even if it was just crazy talk, the space at the end of Church St. could still be better utilized than it is now; it could be additional dock space to go along with all the other remodeling getting ready to start.

What do you think? Would completing an end-to-end walkway around Shem Creek be worth the expense of building it, the additional insurance coverage it may require, etc. or is it just wasting money that could be better spent elsewhere? It seems that if all the effort is being put into a new walkway across the marsh for our new Shem Creek Park, why not go all in and provide a walkway around the edge of Shem Creek itself for everyone?

From the Shem Creek blog.

An end-to-end Shem Creek walkway