I am underway heading out the Beaufort River. In a few minutes I will turn right and head up Port Royal Sound, follow the Intracoastal Waterway behind Hilton Head and Daufuskie Island, and then cross the Savannah River to Thunderbolt.
I had almost no wind from Tropical Storm Mindy yesterday, but I drove through rain and at times low visibility all morning. By around 11:30 am the rain had mostly stopped and by noon I was seeing glimpses of blue sky among the lingering clouds.
I had planned to spend last night at Safe Harbor Beaufort Marina but the marina was full from boats that had elected to lay over an extra day due to Mindy. So I went just a couple of miles further to what has always been the Port Royal Landing Marina, but is now called Safe Harbor Port Royal. Safe Harbor is a company that has been buying up marinas everywhere. It was sold to a real estate investment trust called Sun Communities for $2.1 billion a year ago. Given what I have spent on marinas through the years, I'm guessing they are a good investment. The Port Royal property was very nice and had a decent restaurant with outdoor dining right on the property.
This morning the weather is just spectacular. It is 73 degrees now with a high today expected to be 82 and a low tonight of 70. This is considered downright chilly in coastal South Carolina and Georgia. Seas are still kicked up from the storms and are at 4-5 feet. Winds are at around 15 knots from the northeast. The ride in the Waterway is a little bumpy but comfortable as I make the turn into Port Royal Sound. I am exposed to the open ocean for a short time and I can tell I should stay in the Waterway today.
The incoming tide in the sound is boosting my speed to nearly 10 knots. Practically flying.
