Church Creek Anchorage views

    

Beaufort SC views

March 27, 2009

     We put all our clothing and all the food on the boat March 24.  Charlie didn't get back home until about 8:30 p.m.  After a shower,  we were taken by our friend, Mary-Ann Becker to Vickery's on Shem Creek for some dinner before going to the boat.  We arrived at the boat about 10:30.  We had to put some of the clothing and food away just to get to bed.  

       The morning of March 25 (Wed.) we spent putting away more of the food and clothing so we could get underway.  Charlie decided that we should go in the Inter Coastal Waterway (ICW) so we could stop when we got tired.  We left Patriot's Point Marina about 12:45 Wednesday.   We stopped at Church Creek  on  the ICW about 5:30.  There were just two other boats at this pastoral anchorage.  Mary-Ann Becker told us later that night that it had been so foggy on the coast that she could not see Sullivan's Island lighthouse or even across the intercoastal connector to Isle of Palms.  We had 20 knot winds even in the ICW.  The winds calmed down during the night during which we had some light rain. 

     Thursday morning we were up early, but our departure was delayed by a Head problem which was soon fixed.  We were on our way by 0930 going south on the ICW toward Beaufort, SC.  We had winds between 25-35 knots  most of the journey.  There were even white caps on the rivers.   We just missed the 4 p.m. opening of the Beaufort Lady's Island swing bridge so we had to wait until 6 p.m. for the next opening.  We arrived at the Port Royal Landing Marina about 6:30 p.m. against a rising tidal current and 25 knot SW winds.   Our friend Marianne Mikell met us about 7:15 to drive us to dinner .  We ate a delicious meal at WREN in downtown Beaufort.

     Friday morning found us sleeping in.  We did errands such as having a propane tank refilled and some grocery shopping as well as a stop at West Marine using the courtesy truck provided by the marina.  We were even able to get online using the marina's wifi.  The marina had its Friday  Grill Out dinner on its deck which we joined this evening.  We met a number of the "live-aboards" from this marina. They were a friendly group who welcomed us.  

     We  may stay a few days as the weather is supposed to become nastier with two cold fronts coming through Sat. and Monday.  We may creep further south on the ICW. 

     I will try to post some pictures of Beaufort tomorrow.  It is a lovely town with a small but lively downtown and beautiful old historic houses.  The azaleas are blooming.