Day 7...Battery Creek to The Downtown Marina at Beaufort, South Carolina

    

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

     Before 8:00 last night we got hit by a thunderstorm at anchor.  Gary estimated the wind speed to be about 40 mph.  It bounced us around pretty good for 15 to 20 minutes.  Our trusty 33-pound Bruce anchor dug in and held us right in place.  The rest of the night was peaceful.

     When we started to lift the anchor this morning at 7:28 a.m., the anchor was pretty muddy.  Gary made use of the wash down spray again. 

   

     We headed out to Beaufort. The current was our friend today. Slack tide was going to be at 8:40 a.m. so that gave us about an hour to get there.  On our way there we saw some beautiful houses near the water.

     Great timing.  At 8:48 a.m. we were pulling into a short finger pier on the inside east dock at The Downtown Marina at Beaufort.  We had no trouble at all since it was slack tide.  Gary did his usual tie up and plug in routine, while I checked us in to the marina like I normally do.  We were given a packet to Historic Beaufort with guides and information.  That will be useful I’m sure.

     We went 6 miles in a few minutes over one hour.

     What is tied up to the long wall in front of the waterside park but our “buddy boat” Independence?  After we gained access to the free marina Internet, I googled the ship.  I found out that it is one of several small ships cruising the East Coast and Southern Itineraries.  This ship carries no more than 104 passengers.  It’s 220 feet long and has a 9-foot draft.  That’s a lot for the Intracoastal.  The 2011 rates for this ship for “accommodations, delectable dining with wine, complimentary cocktail party daily, snacks and soft drinks, a naturalist and historian plus low key entertainment” is between $3595 and $6085  plus $250 taxes depending on the stateroom.  This particular one is a one-way 7-night cruise from Jacksonville to Charleston.  Fares do not include “shore tours and fees or gratuities”.  Now all we need to do is calculate how much we need to charge Allison and our three grandkids for the trip they are going to take with us up the Hudson River.  I guess we’ll give them a deep family discount.  Who said I’m not funny.  I'm sure we can work out payments in hugs and kisses.

     After we took long, hot showers and I finished the dishes, we started downtown to have lunch.  I had looked on line so we decided to eat at Q on bay overlooking the water.  It was pretty good.  

     We walked around town some more and came across St. Helena’s Episcopal Church.  The church was built in 1724.  It is one of the oldest active churches in North America.  We wandered around the surrounding cemetery taking pictures of the headstones.  The man who was mowing said that the oldest marked gravestone was for a man who died in 1724, but there are many unmarked graves.  Some of them have been dug up when they were laying water pipes.  One of the fences was very interesting.  

                

This soldier fought in the Seven Years War.      

Captain Paul Hamilton

I thought this was an interesting stone.

Another view of the stone.

An iron tassel on a fence chain

A beautiful gate

                            

Mr. Jim Ryals

Then we went inside where we met a docent named Jim Ryals.  He said he used to live in Live Oak, FL near my hometown of Madison, FL.  We also found out he served with the Navy in Vietnam before, during and after Gary did.  He was very nice. 

The inside of the church was pretty.

The organ in the church sounded wonderful.

     
     We went back to the boat for our usual afternoon relaxing time.  When we got there it was low tide and the ramp that goes to the dock was almost straight up and down.  I made Gary let me hold on to him so I wouldn’t fall since I’m known for my grace.

     After we got back the rain started so I decided to start typing.  I am the world’s slowest typist.   Good thing I am persistent.

     We did Skype with some friends, Jim, Donna and their sweet dog Annie.  They made it to their Bahamas destination of Man o’ War Marina in the Abacos.  We’re glad they made it safely.  They started to the Bahamas the same day we headed North.  We’ve been there with them several times when we had the sailboat.  We always traveled well together.  This year we have a different destination.  We know they’ll have a good time in their “home away from home”.