Downtown Marina in Beaufort, South Carolina

Day #301: Mike and I were up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and cookies to watch the local weather.  Multiple boats left the marina today including "Laurie Jean" who took pictures of the "Parrot Bay" as they headed out this morning. At 8:00 A.M. the two of us took the marina courtesy car to the Publix on Lady's Island which is just across a swing bridge that is located near Downtown Marina to get a few groceries. After the groceries were put away Mike worked on navigation for the next few weeks while I confirmed reservations that the two of us have in the coming days and made a few more reservations for next week. At 11:00 A.M. Mike and I did a walking tour of the historic district of Beaufort, SC with Janet Matlock called "Janet's Walking History Tour". The tour lasted for 2 1/2 hours. At 1:30 P.M. Mike and I decided to go to have a late lunch early dinner downtown. The tour buses must have just dropped off the tourists at that time as the two of us had a difficult time finding a place to eat. The two of us finally decided to eat at Plums Restaurant but we had to eat inside as the outside tables were all full. Mike had shrimp and grits for the first time which he really enjoyed. I had shrimp salad sandwich which was also very good. The two of us headed back to the boat to find that "Miss Utah" had arrived. Mike and I headed to the flying bridge to have happy hour and to enjoy the cool breeze.  At 4:30 P.M. Mike talked to Terry (Captain Crusty) from "Magic" about leaving, "Magic" is going to get off the dock first followed by "Parrot Bay" in the morning. "Magic" is going to be the lead boat. Mike and I enjoyed happy hour on the flying bridge until 6:45 P.M. when it was time for reading and blogging.

Thanks to "Laurie Jean" for taking this picture as they left this morning. Mike is on the back of the boat waving goodbye.

Downtown Marina's courtesy car. 

Janet Matlock our walking tour guide. 

George Parsons Elliott House (1844).

Woods Memorial Swing Bridge (which we will pass under tomorrow).

The darker portion of the tree is mistletoe. Trees that are heavily infested with mistletoe may become less vigorous, stunted, and can possibly be killed if subjected to additional stress from drought, extreme temperatures, root damage, insect infestation, or disease. 

John Mark Verdier House, also, known as Lafayette Building, is a building in Beaufort, SC It was built by John Mark Verdier, a French Huguenot, in 1804.

Mounting stone, horse block, carriage stone is an assistance for mounting and dismounting a horse or cart, especially for women, the young, the elderly or the infirm.

Pomegranate tree 

Loquat fruit which Janet let us try which were very good. 

Beautiful tree in one of the yards covered in Spanish moss. 

Dr. George Mosse Stoney House (1838).

Beautiful garden at the Dr. George Mosse Stoney House. 

Beautiful stone fences with star jasmine. 

The Dr. Joseph Johnson House (1860) with Mike and I also known as "The Castle".

The back of "The Castle". 

Mashlands, also known as the James Robert Verdier House (1814).

Beautiful picture of the oaks with Spanish moss. 

Robert Small's House

Beaufort Arsenal Museum and Visitor Center

Mike and I had lunch at Plums.

Isle of Hope Marina, Savannah, Georgia to Downtown Marina in Beaufort, South Carolina

Day #300: Mike and I were up at 5:30 A.M. to prepare for departure. It was clear and 63 degrees. Engines were started at 6;20 A.M. we were underway at 6:30 A.M. At 7:50 A.M. "Miss Understood"  went under the Sam Varnedoe Bridge followed by "Parrot Bay" then "Magic" all looper boats. "Parrot Bay" ended up in the lead of four boats at a junction. At 8:45 A.M. "Parrot Bay" crossed the line from Georgia into South Carolina. The container ship "OOCL-Asia" was able to be seen heading out into the Atlantic Ocean.  At 10:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" passed the cruise ship "American Star" near Hilton Head, South Carolina. At 11:30 A.M. Mike and I were able to see lots of jellyfish in the Broad River/Port Royal Sound. At 12:10 P.M. "Parrot Bay" passed Parris Island which is a Marine Base. "Parrot Bay" was secure on the face wall dock at Downtown Marina in Beaufort, SC (pronounced Bew-fort) at 1:00 P.M.  After getting the boat settled the two of us had lunch onboard before heading into downtown Beaufort to do some shopping. At 4:00 P.M. Mike and I had a quiet happy hour on the flying bridge while enjoying a nice breeze. At 5:30 P.M. there were approximately 12 looper boats that got together under a pavilion close to the marina to have docktails. This is one of the largest docktails with fellow loopers that Mike and I have had since starting the loop. At 7:30 P.M. we were back onboard "Parrot Bay" for sandwiches for dinner. After dinner it was time for some blogging and reading before heading to bed.

Another beautiful sunrise leaving Savannah, Georgia.

Beautiful home in Savannah, Georgia.

Pilot Boat

Container ship ""OOCL-Asia".

Crab boat passing "Parrot Bay",  Check out all of the yellow crab traps.

"Magic" with the famous Captain Crusty (Terry) is well known in the looper community as he and his wife Dorothy have been looping for years. 

"Magic", "Traveling Soul" and "Miss Understood" cruising today with "Parrot Bay" in the lead. 

"American Star" one of the American Cruise Lines boats. 

Private ferry company that transports its members, their guests, and employees to and from Daufuskie and Hilton Head Island. Haig Point is a U.S. private 1,050-acre community on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. 

Parris Island is best known for its U.S. Marine Corps training facility Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, where about 16,000 Marines pass through boot camp every year. 

Large siren seen from the water. Luckily there was no active shooting occurring as "Parrot Bay" passed by Parris Island. 

That sailboat doesn't belong on land.

NEBO Savannah, GA to Beaufort, SC.

Shopping in Beaufort, S.C. at Barefoot Bubba's Gift Shop & Souvenirs. 

The Chocolate Tree in Beaufort, S.C.

Mike and I each got a free chocolate sand dollar at The Chocolate Tree.
 

Check this out we found this chocolate alligator at The Chocolate Tree so we had to buy it. 

Along the waterfront in Beaufort there are swings to sit on so that you can enjoy the water. 

Venue for docktails this evening a pavilion on the waterfront in Beaufort. 

Isle of Hope Marina, Savannah, Georgia

Day #299: Mike and I were up at 6:00 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and tiny cookies from Byrd's. At 7:30 A.M. we took the marina courtesy car to Kroger to get a few groceries (Mike had wisely asked the harbormaster if we could have the key to the courtesy car before the marina closed since the marina on Sunday doesn't open until 10:00 A.M.). After groceries were put away Mike and I did some navigation planning for next week. At 9:45 A.M. Mike, myself with the assistance of Patrick and Tina from "Sea Loons" moved the "Parrot Bay" to the fuel dock to take on diesel and pump out the black water tank (tight quarters maneuvering at the fuel dock between two big boats-Mike did great). The fuel pump and poop-pump was super fast so Mike and I were back in our slip by 10:45 A.M. The two of us did a few boat jobs before having lunch onboard. At 12:10 P.M. I called for an Uber ride to take us to the Old Savannah Tours so that we could explore a few more historic sites. The two of us were riding the trolley by 1:00 P.M. heading to Forsyth Park were we were able to see musket and cannon firing in the park. The two of us then hopped back on the trolley heading to River Street Market Landing were we looked around at a few shops. We had early dinner at Spanky's on River Street. The two of us than headed down to see "the Waving Girl" statue. We stopped at one of the hotels to call for an Uber to take us back to the marina. Upon returning to the marina Mike and I had happy hour on the flying bridge. It was time for Sunday night phone calls with family along with blogging and reading.

                                                                                       

                                             The original Savannah Union train station.

One of the original train cars from the old Savannah Union train stations.

                                                                                        

   One of the buildings that The Savannah College or Art and Design (SCAD) is in the process of               developing. SCAD has nearly 70 historic and beautifully renovated facilities interwoven                                                                    throughout the city.

The Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah was developed by James Oglethorpe in 1755.

A former railroad trestle that connects SCAD Turner House residence hall with The Hive residence hall complex and houses the student mail center. 

The steeple of the Independent Presbyterian Church.

                                                                                  

                                                        St. John's Episcopal Church

Confederate Monument in Forsyth Park.

There was a musket firing today in Forsyth Park.

Cannon firing at Forsyth Park.

Beautiful fountain in Forsyth Park.

Old Savannah Tours Trolley

Johnny Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer who was born in Savannah, Georgia. A character actor playing "Johnny Mercer" came aboard our tour bus.

Savannah tried the concept of 1/2 taxi ride/1/2 police car. The concept wasn't popular.

Debi's Restaurant is the diner where Jenny worked in the movie Forrest Gump.

"Bird Girl" is on the cover of the bestselling "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".

McDonald's in Savannah has a walk up window.

Savannah has many beautiful fountains.

Lucas Theatre

Looking down River Street.

Shopping on River Street Landing.

Mike and I had an early dinner at Spanky's located on the River Street.

Florence Martus is "The Waving Girl".

1996 Olympic Yachting Cauldron. This cauldron was lit with the original Olympic flame from Olympia, Greece at the Savannah opening ceremony, July 20, 1996, and burned throughout the Centennial Olympic Games in Savannah, Georgia site of the Olympic Yachting events. The five fluted columns on round bases represent the five Olympic rings and the fluted slice of a classic columns symbolizes the Olympic Greek heritage. The six sails represent the Olympic yachting events and the copper flame replaces the billowing real flame.

Not the sign that you want to see before climbing stairs......

These are the steps (a bit scary) but we survived.