Beaufort SC

Beaufort SC   …   Thursday 15 November

It was cold, wet and windy when we got up, so we cranked up the Espar heater and got the boat fairly warm and then felt compelled to take showers. Not the delightful hot and steamy experience you might wish for given that we are using a garden sprayer filled with warm water - but hopefully just as effective. We also moved anchorage because we were concerned how close we were to a bedraggled power boat that appeared to move differently to us in the wind and current. Then it was off to shore to explore Beaufort. The main street has a number of nice restaurants and attractive art galleries and a quilt shop. Within a mile radius there are lots of beautiful historic houses, with gardens that are full of plants and trees, including huge live oaks draped with moss and branches that stretch right across the roads. We enjoyed walking round even though it was a cold and dull day. For lunch we dropped in to Hemmingway's Cafe and each had an excellent soup (black bean or She crab) and shared a french-dip sandwich. We returned to the boat at dusk and are having a quiet night in. Tomorrow we plan to head on Southwards - but we've decided we probably won't stop at Savannah. We'd love to visit but there are no decent anchorages nearby and dock prices are just too high at $2.75 to $3.00 a foot. We have just over 400 miles to go to Vero Beach FL where we plan to spend a couple of weeks over the Christmas holidays.

Mike

32 25 45.9 N, 80 40 34.8 W

The bedraggled power boat that was either dragging or on a really long scope

Marshes on the Beaufort River - the land at the end of every street that ends at the water has been acquired by the town to maintain public access

One of the many beautiful houses

Live oak and moss

Cemetery at Parish of St Helena

Quilt and Designer

 A lovely dog 

... looking at us through a hole in the wall