Day 285 – Shelter Cove Marina to Downtown Marina of Beaufort, Beaufort, SC - April 16, 2012

We had a beautiful travel day today.  We planned an early departure so that we would get to Beaufort with enough time to explore the city a bit.  The weather was perfect with mostly sunny skies, mild temperatures and light wind.  We are continuing to see tides in the seven foot range, so running with the tide increases our speed by one to two miles per hour while running against the tide slows us down.  As with most days, we spend some time running with the tide and some against, so our average speed stays about the same.  All this current can also make docking a bit more of a challenge.  After experiencing very light winds all morning, the wind picked up just as we approached the dock.  Fred fought the wind (and current) and with a second try got us safely to the dock.

We took a horse-drawn carriage tour around the city this afternoon.  Beaufort’s downtown area is located in the National Register of Historic Places.  The streets are lined with historic homes, fabulous live oaks (many of them over 500 years old) and some beautiful gardens. 

            Miles: 29.6      Bridges: 3        Locks: 0

traveling at low tide gives you a very different view
of the intercoastal

a beautiful home along the northwest coast of Hilton Head Island

another beautiful home along the same stretch

Tom at the helm while Fred points things out on the instrument panel