Days 331 -333

Beaufort SC - Charleston SC

• Start 7:10 AM
• End 3:10 PM
• Underway 8:00 Hours
• Distance 62 Miles
• Total Miles on Trip 5285
• Av Speed 7.7 knots
• Weather Sunny , 75 Degrees, Wind 8 Knots ESE

The trip from Beaufort SC to Charleston SC was long, and at times stressful. Because of the strong current at our destination, it is highly recommended that we only arrive at slack tide. We timed our departure so we would arrive about 45 minutes before slack tide, to give us some leeway. There was one very narrow section of the river that the depth finder was showing 2 feet of water below the boat. Knowing that it could get even shallower, we turned around and took a longer route. Once again we ran into 2 feet of water, but this section was much wider and we were able to find a path around the shallow water. The next challenge was when our navigation software had our route going over a sandbar, luckily we figured that one out before we once again ventured into shallow water. The last challenge was the last six miles through no wake zones and way to many weekend boaters. It was a beautiful day out, and everybody was taking advantage of it. Typically we do not like to travel in congested areas on weekends, but sometimes it has to happen. We did manage to arrive at the marina at slack tide and both Kay Dee and Nothing To Plunder made it onto our slips with no problems.

Saturday we did not do much, other than go out to eat and make plans for our next two days in Charleston. Our marina was about 2 miles from downtown, but there was a decent restaurant within easy walking distance.

Sunday we took the bikes, and went exploring. Our first stop was The Battery Park, a historic defensive seawall and promenade on Charleston Harbor. The Battery was civil-war coastal defense artillery battery along the lower shores of the Charleston peninsula, bordered by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. While we were there we could see the shrimp boats lining up for the Charleston Blessing Of the Fleet. Had we know about it advance, we might have been able to get closer to see the festivities. After leaving the Battery, we made our way to The City Market. The City Markey was established in the 1790's and stretches over four city blocks. The Market is a series of one story open market sheds. The vendors must bring their goods to the market every day, and take them back at the end of the day. We spent the afternoon wandering through the market, stopping halfway through for lunch.

We saved the best for last in Charleston, and on Monday we rode our bikes to Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum to tour the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown, and the Vietnam Exhibit. To get to Patriot's Point from the marina we first had to cross the Cooper River via the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge. The bridge is a 2.7 mile long bridge that sits 150 feet above the river. It was a very fun bike ride. After leaving the bridge, Karen's eagle eyes spotted a small alligator sunning in a retention pond. While watching it, we wondered where it's mother was, the last thing we wanted to do was have to out run an alligator.

We had a great time touring the USS Yorktown. We decided on the guided "Captain's" tour. The Captain's tour is a 90 minute (turned out to be almost 2 hours) narrated tour that also takes you to places that you cannot go on the self-guided tour. Our guide Tom was a 30 year navy veteran that served on four carriers before retiring. After the USS Yorktown we went to the Vietnam Experience Exhibit. This is a 2 ½ acre replica of a "Brown Water Navy" support base and a U.S. Marine Corps artillery fire base during the Tet Offensive and the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968.

Patriot's Point has been on my list of places to see on our trip since Angel & I came to Charleston five years ago, and it was well worth it.

Our next stop is Leland's Fuel Dock, a one night stop on our way north.