On to Beaufort! November 14, 2012

After an all too short stay in Charleston, we left the Ashley River Marina and headed to the Stono River toward Beaufort. The guidebook states, "....tidal current in the Elliott Cut, between the Stono River and the Ashley River can reach four knots." We were just a bit off on our timing and although we didn't see four knots of current, we saw enough to realize we should have stayed in Charleston another hour or so. It is all a timing game and sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.

After clearing this cut we motored for hours through marshland past Johns Island. We stopped for the night and anchored just as the sun was setting in Toogoodoo Creek. It was another beautiful and peaceful spot, but we did not see it for long because the no see ums were out in force and drove us below as soon as the anchor was set.




On the way we got a short rain shower and saw a nice rainbow. This is Heritage sailing through the arch.




The next morning we left the Stono River for the Dawho then the Edisto River to the Ashtepoo River and then into the Brickyard Creek which connects to the Beaufort River. You get the idea; lots of rivers.

We pulled into a small anchorage off the Brickyard Creek and anchored near the home of Alan and Kathy. They are friends of friends of our friends, George and Jackie. This connection got us an invitation to their lovely home for cocktails. Alan and Nancy have done the trip to the Bahamas many times and were a wealth of knowledge, as well as gracious hosts.





This anchorage is now known as "the incredible shrinking anchorage." We came in on a falling tide and within a few hours, most of the water had flowed away. This picture shows a crab pot that was underwater when we anchored and is now nearly high and dry. it was also the first time that we anchored next to a herd of cattle.



We left in the morning and motored the six remaining miles into Beaufort and just barely made the 9:00 am bridge opening. After getting settled at the city docks, we used the marina's courtesy car for a run to West Marine and Piggly Wiggly.

Later in the afternoon, we did an informal walking tour of the city.


The architecture and the landscaping is all very "deep south."









We met a woman who lives in a renovated home that once was the "dependencies house," (slave quarters) for a mansion. She knew a lot of history of the area and showed us the "four seater restroom" next to what was the stable.




Beaufort is a beautiful city that has held on to its history and culture. It has also been used as a set for many movies including The Big Chill, Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, Prince of Tides and GI Jane. We saw the home that was used in the Big Chill and the park where the touch football game was filmed.




Tomorrow we head toward Savannah, but we will probably not go all the way because the forecast is calling for a cool rainy day.



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Location:Beaufort, SC