12/8/14
Beaufort SC
Posted by Bill
Our days in the Beaufort/Port Royal area are winding down. This has been a really nice area to spend some extended exploration time. If you want to have maximum exposure to shopping and restaurants, dock or anchor in the downtown Beaufort area. Port Royal Landing Marina is a 30 minute bike ride from downtown Beaufort and a 15 minute ride from Old Port Royal which has several restaurants. Port Royal Landing is also a 15 minute walk to West Marine, Piggly Wiggly, a liquor store, a fresh seafood stand and several restaurants. From Port Royal Landing you can also bike 15 minutes to Publix, a larger liquor store, and a hardware store with propane. Coming back again, which we will, we will stay at Port Royal Landing Marina. They have been the epitome of southern hospitality, and the facilities are clean and very adequate.
The Beaufort/Port Royal area has substantial charm with it’s waterfronts, Spanish moss hung oak trees, palm trees and true southern hospitality. Our marina has a neighborhood associated with the marina that is very picturesque. Here are some pics of the surrounding area.
Docks leading up to the office and restaurant:
The grounds in the surrounding neighborhood and marina parking lot:
The marina:
The Ladies Island Bridge and Beaufort waterfront (left of the bridge):
The Beaufort waterfront closer up:
A boat from our home port of Catawba Island Ohio:
Snoopy’s boat:
Our Island Bound at dock:
Today we rode bikes into old downtown Port Royal where there are several really good restaurants, and where we ate a late lunch/breakfast. We ate in an old one room school house that was converted to a restaurant and it was really good.
When we got back we met an old salt that lives in our marina who’s name is Red Dog. The following description is not meant to be derogatory, just accurate. He claims to be 69 but looks like he is 125 years old. He has no teeth but he claims that he used to keep them in his pants pocket. He grew up in Beaufort, served in Viet Nam, and has been through several marriages. He has long gray hair and a beard, and looks like a typical old sea dog. I took one look at the guy and thought: “this guy has some really good stories, but he might not live to tell them”. I was right. Almost always drunk and no teeth, he was difficult to understand, but after 30 minutes you kind of caught on to his speech enough to understand him, and he was a hoot!!! We learned stuff about the local area that I am sure very few people could know. If he lives longer than a couple of weeks, which is suspect, he might just be my new hero. I wish we would have met him earlier because he was very entertaining and could spin local yarns better than Rumple Stiltskin could spin gold! I am a descendant of the Grimm Brothers, so I know a good yarn spinner when I see one! I will try to get a pic with him before we leave because I know it will be priceless.
He doesn’t have the link to this blog but the manager of this marina is a gem. His name is Mike and he has been a most gracious host, and a true ambassador for Beaufort and Port Royal. I wish I could spend time enough to become best of friends with him. We will certainly stop here on our way back north, but don’t tell any other cruisers about the glowing remarks for this place because I don’t want it to become crowded…lol!!!!
This area is high on our list of places to settle down when we become dirt dwellers again.
As for future plans…based on the current tide schedule and weather forecast…we are planning to leave Wednesday. If weather permits we should be in Vero Beach Florida by the middle of the month and could be in Miami for Christmas. We would like to be in Miami/Miami Beach for New Years. Stay tuned…..