BULL CREEK NEAR DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, SC TO PORT ROYAL, SC

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Day 261
Miles Traveled: 26
Total Miles Traveled: 3244


  We had a calm and restful night at Bull Creek anchorage.  We still had current, but less wind and better wind protection.  This kept the waves beating against the hull to a minimum and made for a much quieter night. 
  We experienced a little excitement trying to leave the anchorage.  While maneuvering the boat to retrieve the anchor, the anchor trip line and its float (this is a line attached to the base of the anchor that can be used to help pull up the anchor if it gets fouled on debris on the bottom) got pulled underneath the boat due to the current.  It apparently got hung up on some of the running gear or rudder and Dan was unable to pull it back up into the boat once the anchor was up.  As we drifted further up into the creek (at about 1 mph due to the swift current) Angie was afraid to put the boat into gear for fear that the line was wrapped around the prop or would become wrapped around the prop.  Dan decided to cut the line from the anchor and hoped to be able to pull it in from the back of the boat.  Luck was in our favor, and, Dan was able to retrieve the line and float before we got too close to shore.  Sometimes things that are meant to be a big help, somehow find a way to be a bigger nuisance.  We are not sure if said trip line is going to be reattached to the anchor - will have to reweigh the pros and cons of having one.  For now, its home will be in the transom storage locker.

  We had a beautiful cruising day with sunshine and blue skies.  After finally leaving Bull Creek, we reentered the Cooper river which took us to Calibogue Sound.  

Calibogue Sound

  This is the location of the Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island, SC.  As we passed by, we got a much better view of the famous lighthouse that we saw from our anchorage yesterday.  We have visited the lighthouse by land on several occasions while visiting dear friends Jim and Susan who have a home on Hilton Head Island.  On thing about this trip we are enjoying, is seeing sites by water that we have already seen by land.  It provides a different perspective.  

Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island, SC

  We left Calibogue Sound and entered Skull Creek.  This creek runs by several marinas in Hilton Head, SC.  It also is the location of our favorite place to eat when we visit Hilton Head Island - Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks.  They have the best She Crab soup and hush puppies.  We have decided not to stop here on this particular journey, since we have been here several times before.  We opted to move on and see places we haven't seen before.   

Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks

  After leaving Skull Creek we entered Port Royal Sound and crossed over to the Beaufort River.  Before entering the Beaufort River, we noticed this water tower on Parris Island.  Parris Island is the home to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.  It was officially designated as a training station in 1915, but marines have been stationed here since 1891.  The marines train about 17,000 recruits at Parris Island every year.  

water tower on Parris Island - "Marine Central"

  Less than one mile up the Beaufort River is Port Royal Landing Marina, which was our final destination for the day.  Like most all the waterways in South Carolina, the currents can run swift.  Unlike our home Ohio river, whose current only runs one way (down to the Mississippi), the currents here switch back and forth depending on whether the tide is going in or going out.  Once either high tide of low tide is reached, the current becomes "slack", or nonexistent.  The currents in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina can be very fast because the tide level changes are so high.  In the spring they average about 10 feet.  It is easier to dock the boat when the current is very low.  We planned our travel day to come in as close to "slack" current as possible.  This has been, and will be, a consideration when traveling through these three states.

Port Royal Landing Marina

  

  After tying off our lines and adjusting the fenders, we borrowed the marina's courtesy car and went to do some provisioning (getting groceries).  One important stop, a chocolate shop, was in nearby Beaufort, SC.  We learned about this shop after visiting Beaufort, SC with Jim and Susan.  The Chocolate Tree has some of the best handmade chocolates.  Tom Hanks agrees with Angie on this point.  In the movie "Forest Gump", the candies in the infamous Russell Stover chocolate box where actually from The Chocolate Tree.  Anyone can have these fine chocolates shipped to their home (or to Angie).  
To order go to: http://www.thechocolatetree.us/index.html.

Angie at The Chocolate Tree in Beaufort, SC - one happy lady

  We got back to the marina in time to have dinner at the marina's restaurant and enjoyed some Chocolate Tree chocolates for dessert.  YUMMY!!!!