Wednesday, November 7 (Beaufort, Mile 540 to Isle of Hope, Mile 590):

            Woke up to COLD, down in the low 40’s – that seems cold to me anyway.  At least the sun was trying to peek through, and the wind had died down.  Slack tide was at 9:00 a.m., and we left at 8:30 a.m. and had no trouble with the current.  We definitely made a better exit than an entrance.  Beaufort was one of the nicest stops along the waterway, and we will probably make it a point to stop here on the way home (hopefully at slack tide).  Actually, the marina where we stayed was at Port Royal, a little past Beaufort, but the town was only a few minutes away. 

            As it was so cold, Bob suggested that we drive from down below, but I thought that situation presented too much of an opportunity to get seasick, so I opted to be cold.  We had on coats, hats, and gloves – just like real wintertime.

            I had a few concerns about the trip down the waterway today, but at the risk of angering the Gods again, it turned out to be a pretty uneventful run.  The first interesting thing is that the markers reverse in the Beaufort River.  I have no idea why, but I am sure someone smarter than me could explain it (here’s hoping some intelligent reader who has done this before will leave a comment, or explain to me why I am completely wrong and have no business whatsoever being on a boat.)  Then they reverse again after the Beaufort River.

            When you leave the Beaufort River into Port Royal Sound, you have to be very careful of the Parris Island Spit which extends pretty far out and has only 1’ depth of water.  Also, we were duly warned not to cross the Port Royal Sound if the wind was blowing from the west.  Today, the wind was coming from the northwest, and blowing 5 – 10 knots, and we had no trouble – but – you could see if conditions weren’t right, you could be in for a very rough ride. 

            We crossed the Chechessee River and turned left into Skull Creek.  Boy, I wish I had a story about that one!  I tried to find out why it was named Skull Creek, but the only thing I could find out on short notice was that it seems to have had that name since the early 1700’s.  Oh well, I guess you will have to use your own imagination.  This takes you past Hilton Head with all the mansions along the water, some well-designed and some not.  Skull Creek eventually ends up in Calibogue Sound where you turn left and go into the Cooper River at about Mile 565.  Then the waterway starts to get a little more interesting.   From the Cooper River you have to take a left at this narrow little cut-through called Ramshorn Creek to the New River at about Mile 570.  Then you turn right into Walls Cut into the Wright River, and from there you must transit Fields Cut.  When you get to Fields Cut, you are supposed to call on Channel 16 to inquire if there are any extremely large oncoming commercial vessels that will mow you down in a heartbeat if you encounter them there because it’s narrow and shallow, but I didn’t hear a peep from anyone, and we saw about 19’ feet of water except at the very end when we saw 9’ and that would have meant about 4’ at low tide (and you would be aground)!

            Then Fields Cut dumps you into the Savannah River, and again, the waterway guides tell you to be very aware of heavy commercial traffic transiting up and down the river, and on top of that, the marks can be very confusing.  Well, I had this picture in my mind of the Savannah River looking like something out of a busy street in Hong Kong with ships running every which way, blowing their horns and shaking their fists out the bridge windows, and other little boats darting and dodging all about; but guess what – not a boat in sight!  Nothing!  And the marks weren’t confusing especially if you were paying attention, which is what you are supposed to do in a boat! (I am sure I am angering the Gods again…)  Besides you only have to cross the Savannah River, and then you are back in the waterway on the Wilmington River.  You do have to be careful at Elba Island Cut as there are rocks, but they are well marked with a “Danger” sign.  This takes you to the Skidaway River and then to our final destination of the day, Isle of Hope Marina.

            Our plan is to spend the day here tomorrow and tour Savannah as the marina told us we could probably borrow the courtesy car for 4 hours.  That would be great but only if no one else requests it, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.  I’m sure 4 hours isn’t anywhere near enough to explore Savannah, but we might also be able to hit it on the way home, and, of course, there is always the opportunity to drive down here someday and stay in a bed and breakfast on solid ground.

            It is 6:00 p.m. and pitch black dark, and I am going to poach some chicken breasts with artichoke lemon pesto, and couscous, listen to the political pundits, then hit the sack.

            This has been a rather boring blog, hasn’t it, but, trust me – boring is good sometimes.  When we leave Isle of Hope, we have to go through Hell Gate!  How about that one!! More later…