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Trip Start Dec 01, 2007

Trip End May 31, 2008

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Flag of United States Kiawah island, South Carolina
Monday, April 28, 2008

On leaving Hilton Head we go north in the afternoon with an arrival at Beaufort SC.   One of the key things you have to know when you cruise south is the difference between Beaufort SC and Beaufort NC.   Ok...all together now: Beaufort SC is Beewfort and Beaufort NC is Bowfort.   This is a very important nuance and will make a big difference in getting attention from bridge operators and marinas.   Practice.

We anchor quietly new Beaufort (bewfort) and enjoy the quiet evening. The next morning we steam north passing under the Lady Island bridge.   This is a 30' bridge and we are 29' so no need to time this one. We pass through the area I have always called the "puddle" as it so thin.   Its low tide, but we squeak through with a foot under the keel. By 2pm, we make the turn down the Edisto River. We were glad the tide was high and going out as there is a very thin patch of water known as North Point where we had run aground in earlier lives, but today we pass it easily. By 1400 we are making the turn up the small creek known as Bowhicket creek. When Sue and I lived on Kiawah this creek was about 4 miles from our home.

Our goal was to meet with an old friend and neighbor who has a nice cruising sailboat.
One thing about cruising is that you meet a lot of people and people who love messing in boats, love the sea and enjoy the cruising lifestyle. People with this mentality tend to bond.   We had known our friend Scott since we lived on Kiawah Island (2004/5), but we had not been able to get together very often. Scott has a heavy cruising sailboat: Peterson 44. He bought it as a vintage vessel that he would restore with the goal of cruising the world.   Since we met Scott 5 years ago, he has made great progress in restoring Lang Ta to blue water shape. In fact, he won his class in the Charleston to Bermuda race a year ago. This happened to be the time Sue and I were in Bermuda for the Med Bound rally (see other BLOG) but as it happened Scott left the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club the week before we got there.

As we move up, I hail Scott on 16: "Lang Ta, Lang, Ta...First Forty".... He came back right away and soon we see the big cruiser at anchor.   We pull up on his starboard side and soon both boats are rafted up for an afternoon of catching up followed by a BBQ with wine and beer.

We had a great time seeing Scott and his partner Penny who also cruises with him. We were thrilled when he told us that he would be out of his slip at Charleston City Marina for several more days and we were welcome to use it. Wow. We were going to anchor out in Charleston as City Marina is quire pricy.   So the idea of a marina in the city was as real treat.

Friends are great.   We send a big First Forty thanks to our friends Scott and Penny who subscribe to this BLOG!