No Bridge to Beaufort, SC — INDEPENDENCE CHRONICLES

We said goodbye to our friends Joan & Casey on the first of May as they return south to complete their adventures in New Orleans. Now it’s just Larry and myself to get the boat on up the river. The plan for the following day is to head up the ICW to Beaufort, SC, where we will spend a day and then proceed to Charleston, SC. On the second of May we leave the Savannah Yacht Club right on time at 6:00AM to catch the tide and make it to a Bascule Bridge (one that opens in the middle) that begins opening at 7:00AM. We hail the bridge tender and let him know that we are a 25 foot tall vessel and require an opening for his 26 foot clearance bridge. Surprisingly, we are told that his bridge is not functioning and maintenance is due ‘sometime this morning’. We can either wait or ‘try to slip on under’. Well, to my surprise Larry decides to go for it. I am shocked but dumbfoundedly agree to stand at the rear of the fly-bridge and shout if it looks like the radar arch, or any of it’s accessories, will smack the under-carriage of the bridge (evidently, the tide against us is moving so swiftly that Larry says he has the ability to reverse in time). I will just say that there was not a lot of room left between us and the wheels of the cars going over that bridge…who needs coffee to wake-up when you have Larry?!? So, at this point I would love to say that the rest of the morning brought picturesque views of the Bonaventure cemetery followed by low-county marsh filled beauty with epic dolphin-swimming misty sunrises…and yes it did…and we also made it to Beaufort, SC (6 hours/40NM).

That shadow above the radar arch is a car…yes we had a foot of clearance…Image courtesy of Larry McCullough

Another telling angle…Image courtesy of Larry McCullough

Yes, mist and sunrise over the marsh is really magical

The Bonaventure Cemetery for those of you who have read ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ by John Berendt

Dolphins at our bow. Image courtesy of Larry McCullough

The Downtown Marina at Beaufort is quite lovely

‘The Castle’. ca. 1860. The live oak is over 300 years old.

‘Petit Point’ ca. 1850 . Oozing with charm…