Friday, December 11, 2009 From South Edisto River (N32 37.180 W080 23.892) S. Carolina To Beaufort (N32 25.751 W 080 40.836) S. Carolina

Anchor up at 8:33am; down at 2:05pm with 23 ft. depths. 27.2 miles traveled
Cloudy & cold out…

Oh my goodness I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. I finally got up at 6:45am threw on my boots, sweat shirt, etc., and then put the coffee on. As I was looking out the port window I had to groan. There on the banks of the river were two wild pigs rooting through the mud (we’re approaching low tide) for something. While I couldn’t get a clean shot at the deer last night, I could get a picture of the pigs. IF, I wanted to go up top in the cold… Okay, I wanted the shot. Several shots… Then shivering, it was back below to make coffee and get semi-warm.

The boat started on the last try on battery 1, and we bundled up to face the sub freezing temperatures and narrow channels of the day. As we passed some mudflats along the Ashepoo River Cut I saw a dolphin scratching itself along it’s side and back on the edge of the mudflats. It did this several times. It’d disappear into the water then come back up and roll and stretch on it’s back/side then sidle back into the water. I was mesmerized watching it repeat this, several times. Farther down the River (the Coosaw) we had a couple of dolphins following us. One leapt out of the water and dove next to me. It gave me quite a startle but had me laughing while I watched it.

Instead of anchoring up Factory Creek on the North side of the Lady Island Bridge, this time we came through the bridge and are anchoring near the town of Beaufort. An anchorage is designated on the chart, just past the marina, but it looks like it’s been taken over by the marina mooring balls. We anchored a little further up past the mooring field and still have a great view of parts of the town.

Clam chowder for dinner – I’m feeling the need for warm hearty soup… this cold weather just doesn’t want to let up.