Beaufort SC, to Meggett, SC

Miles Traveled 43.3

Total Miles Traveled 3396

Day 233

                        

We were anchored close to the Beaufort public dock so we took the dinghy to town and had breakfast at the Lowcountry Produce Restaurant.  The restaurant is located in the old post office building built in 1916.

Beaufort is an old river town chartered in 1711 and is the second oldest city in South Carolina.  The city has maintained its historic character by preserving its antebellum architecture.

As we were approaching the dock we noticed a sailboat that we had passed yesterday before crossing the Savannah River.  The sailboat had oars and the captain was rowing as there was only a mild breeze in the narrow channel.

We introduced ourselves and asked where he came from, as we are about 40 miles from where we passed him yesterday.  He said his name was Ron and we were surprised to find he started the loop a few miles north of the intersection of the Ohio River and the Mississippi River on December first!

That's our dinghy in front of Ron's Boat

His boat is only 13 feet long, has no motor, no generator…no shelter.  He camps as he travels the Great Loop.  He told us when he broke camp this morning and was loading the gear in his boat, an alligator slid into the water.  Now that’s roughing it!  What’s really amazing, we left two months before he did and we didn’t pass him until yesterday.  Ron told us his boat’s name but by the time we arrived at our boat and were underway, we both forgot the name. 

Know we know why they call this the low country, miles and miles and miles of salt marsh.

We did see a few dolphins today, this one stayed in front of the boat for quite awhile.

We are anchored tonight in the Toogoodoo Creek, we may stay here tomorrow and wait for a storm to pass before continuing on to Charleston.