Surprise In Beaufort

After we parted ways with all the folks from home, our next stop was Beaufort, SC. There are two Beauforts in the South. One is in SC and the other is in NC. The names are pronounced differently and DO NOT get them mixed up. The SC version is pronounced "BEWfort" and that is where we went that day, April 16th. It was a comfortable 47 mile trip up the ICW.

We were looking forward to seeing Beaufort as it was a smaller southern town of some historical interest with a lot of walkable sites...

 and restaurants near the marina. As we were busy bringing the boat into the slip, the marina staff were on hand to catch our lines. Another man had walked off his nearby boat to gives us a hand and then he stopped as he saw we had plenty of help. I looked at him a said to myself that I know that guy.

After all was secure and we got connected to shore power, I looked over to this guys boat again. Then I figured out who it was. In November of 2011 we, along with friends Bob and Jeri, spent a month on the South Island of New Zealand. Our favorite spot was a place called the Rough-N-Tumble Lodge. This place was beyond the end of the road, through the cow pastures ["close the gate please"], and across a creek ["if its too high, we'll come get you"]. We were the only guests there along with the brother of the owners and a friend.

Our Beaufort surprise was James, the brother of the owners.

So here we were on the other side of the world many months later and we just happen to meet up again. Beaufort was James' hometown. It is where he grew up and where he had his veterinarian practice for many years. He now lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains but bought a boat last fall and was back in Beaufort getting some things fixed.

During our 2 day stay James showed us around town taking us by the house he used to own...

 and other historical sites,

took us to the grocery store,

 and out to dinner. What a great surprise and reunion!

Beaufort, SC is a very charming southern town with many well preserved homes of historical interest. Part of its history stems from the fact that it has the Milton Maxey House. It is also known as the "Secession House".

South Carolina was the first state to try to secede from the Union before the Civil War. It was in the basement of this house that the first "Ordinance of Secession" were drawn up, oaths taken, and the wall signed in the blood of the conspirators.

Later on in the war when the Union soldiers occupied the town, this was one house they happily took over. They apparently wrote "Union Forever" over these names. This is all supposedly well preserved behind a big plexiglass panel these days but was not viewed by us. Love to see it though!

We were also able to take a horse drawn wagon tour...

 led by a lively young lady through the streets of Beaufort.

The classic southern non-Spanish -non-moss draped from the large oak trees and is quite beautiful.

Some of the these old trees have branches that bend down to the ground and back up again.

What an historic town with old churches,

 buildings,

and homes.

Did I mention that James also took us to the liquor store? We were able to find some Georgia made moonshine whiskey...

 and a sign on the wall in the liquor store sums up their philosophy!

Nautical Word For The Day:

Yankee:

1. A sporty loose-fitted down wind sail hoisted high in the forward rigging.

2. A gaff topsail.

From Great Loop Jargon:

3. ANY person born north of the Mason-Dixon line and is still a reference made today... sometimes joking... sometimes not!