Hilton Head, SC to Beaufort, SC

Date            April 15, 2012                            
Day             292
Departure    Hilton Head Harbor Marina, Hilton Head, SC 7:50 am

Arrival         Downtown Marina of Beaufort, Beaufort, SC 11:05 am                   

Miles               20.5

Cumulative   4630.6

The start of another beautiful day.  Although we only had twenty miles to travel today, we wanted to get an early start so we would be able to spend the afternoon sightseeing in Beaufort.

Our travels today took us past Paris Island.  Bob spent eight weeks here in the fall of 1969.  He said that he doesn't ever remember seeing the waterway when he was there.  When he was there, he said he never would have thought that he would ever be traveling on the water in a boat past the island.  At the time, he wasn't even sure what the future held for him.

Paris Island

We arrived in Beaufort before noon.  We had a quick lunch and arranged to take a horse drawn carriage tour.The carriage was pulled by "Doc" a fourteen year old Belgian Clydesdale horse.  Doc has beautiful blue eyes.  The tour was a great way to learn about some of the history and see the historic houses of Beaufort.

Built around 1813 on original tabby foundation dating 1743, the Maxey House is known as the "Secession House" after the first meeting in favor of secession was held here.  (Tabby foundation - southern U.S. coastal building material purportedly composed of equal proportions of homemade lime, sand, oyster shells and water).

Secession House

A Civil War Hanging Tree

On the first date, a young couple would sit on each end of this bench with their parents as chaperones.  On the second date, they would move one step closer to the middle.  On each successive date, the couple would move closer to the middle.  When they met in the center, they were engaged!

The live oak tress covered in Spanish moss are amazing. Some of them are over 600 years old!

Erika Lin securely tied to the dock as the wind was picking up (check out the flag!).

Twilight at the dock in Beaufort.