Thursday, May 28
Savannah to Beaufort
41.1 nm 7 hours underway
The stretch from Savannah to Beaufort felt like a shift. In days prior, we had long stretches of uninhabited coastal marsh – this leg was a bit different – it felt more like an obstacle course. Not more than a few hundreds yards off the dock, we encountered dredges. Between the early morning light and the haze, it made it tricky to determine which span to use. And that was just the start of it.
If you’ve cruised this section, you know the drill—slow down, call ahead on the radio (hope they answer), look for the correct color lights (whoever decided to use black balls on a dredge should be fired), and hope you guessed correctly which side they want you to pass on. It’s not hard, but it definitely keeps you on your toes. And the ferries – the wake that the ferries throw is not insignificant. Although it was enjoyable to hear the radio chatter from the disenchanted boaters who were thrown in their wake.
By the time we crossed into South Carolina and made our way toward Beaufort, we were more than ready to be tied up. And then came the docking.
Let’s just say… it wasn’t our most graceful arrival. The current, wind, and just enough pressure from nearby boats to make everything tighter than it was, our landing was less than perfect.
Beaufort greeted us with charm, history, and, on this particular evening… rain.
We wandered anyway. There’s something about Beaufort that feels instantly familiar. As we walked along (or at least as much of the waterfront we could access), we kept saying it reminded us of a smaller version of Manistee—our Michigan home base. That same coastal-town feel with a Riverwalk- right down to The Social District.
We stopped at Beaufort Wine Bar for a pre-dinner flight. Kevin had the “Coastal Crisp White Wine flight” while Heather enjoyed the “Rose and Bubbles European Sparkling tour” (you may be sensing a theme here).
At the wine bar server’s recommendation, we made our way across the street to Breakwater Restaurant and Bar. We were hoping for a good burger – and it delivered. We shared the mushrooms stuffed with sausage and cream cheese and the wagyu pimiento cheese and bacon burger – it was just as good as it sounds.
We spent 30 minutes each way walking in the misty rain to find the house from The Big Chill only to find out the following morning that the best view was from our boat as we left Beaufort.
We tried to find Forrest Gump’s bench, but struck out there. The riverwalk was closed, cutting off access and leaving us wandering just short of where we needed to be.
Even without checking every box, the evening didn’t disappoint. Rain and all, Beaufort delivered—quiet, charming, and just different enough to feel like a true stop, not just another waypoint.
Today was certainly not about perfect conditions or picture-perfect arrivals – but we managed to adapt and enjoy ourselves nonetheless.
Leave a Reply