HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Diane and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving “on the hook” in Beaufort, SC. We were missing our family, friends and especially our Golden Retriever Cruzer, but managed to have a great time, ate WAY TOO MUCH, watched way too much football (Go PATS!), and fell asleep way too early!  For maybe the first time on this journey, Diane allowed me to handle cooking chores (to be honest, I’ve enjoyed her doing the cooking and since I had no idea where everything was in the galley, that was probably best!) and I cooked a real turkey and made sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, and even our favorite creamed onions! Diane insisted on contributing, so she heated up a couple cans of corn and peas!  At 3:30 pm, by prior arrangement with many of our sailing friends near and far, we toasted all and gave thanks for our good fortune.

  Getting here was just a bit of a chore. I’m I sounding like a broken record yet? Just wait till we get to Georgia! Leaving Charleston, we again joined the ICW as it wound (and I mean wound!) its way through the low country toward Beaufort. We were lucky, even though currents were a bit contrary and channels tricky at times, we made the 63 miles in just over 9 hours.  Unfortunately, the anchorage we preferred was just beyond a swing bridge that would not open until well after sunset so we opted for a small creek a bit prior to the bridge.   Although we were secure and relatively protected, on Thanksgiving Day we decided to pull the hook up and move past the swing bridge to the “downtown” Beaufort anchorage. I’m glad we did. Although we are much closer to the channel and get bounced around just a bit by the wakes of passing vessels, the holding is great and we are only a minute or so from the town dingy dock with access to all the shopping and eating establishments of the town.

  The two Beaufort’s we have visited (the one in NC is pronounced BOFORT, in SC is is BEAUfort) have both been gems. Both have tons of places to go for shopping, food, and touring around some absolutely beautiful homes. Late today we went ashore, and stuck our heads into just about every shop in the town! If that wasn’t bad enough, Diane then insisted we throw a Frisbee around…I suck at Frisbee! Of course, Diane wasn’t much better!! Tonight we are going to dingy back into town…and paint it pink!

  Diane and I are very thankful for the family, friends and “former” co-workers who have sent us their good wishes the past couple days. Our adventure is not quite 3 weeks old and we have already seen so much of this country that at least for me were just dots 30,000 feet below. Next stop...Hilton Head!