Beaufort, SC to Jekyll Island, Georgia
Trip Start
Jul 21, 2001
1
31
45
Trip End
Apr 22, 2002
Jekyll Island,
Georgia,
United States
Sunday, November 18, 2001
This morning it was time to leave for Beaufort, SC. We had spent 3 nights at the Charleston Maritime Center using it as a home from which to explore the city, tour their new aquarium (very nice but not on the scale as the huge one we visited several years ago at Mystic Seaport) and do laundry. Marcie and Dave, a live aboard couple on the neighbouring boat Nine of Cups', had rented a car to drive to a meeting in Florida. Before they left, they kindly took us to have our propane tank filled and then to the laundromat which was quite some distance from the marina. Their kindness was much appreciated.
On this day, we motored about 60% of the distance to Beaufort, anchoring for the night in the quiet marshes of Fishing Creek.
Nov. 11
Another day of motoring. Finally at 2 p.m. we anchored off the town docks of Beaufort (Bew fort) South Carolina. Tomorrow we will explore this historic town and hopefully find our mail waiting for us. This will be the first time we have tried to have mail sent to a U.S. post office. We read about the service in the Waterway guide. There are certain Post Offices on the waterway which act as mail drops. You address your forwarded mail as follows: Your Name, Your Boat Name, General Delivery, the Post Office Address and print "HOLD FOR ARRIVAL" in several places on the mailing. Apparently your mail will be held for up to ten days awaiting your arrival. Well, we'll see tomorrow, or the next day, or ....
Since Remembrance Day fell on a Sunday, Monday was a holiday. With the Post Office closed, we took the opportunity to explore this beautiful old town. The entire eastern section of the town has been designated an historic area. Each house seems more elegant than the previous one and the attached pictures certainly fail to do justice to this area. During the civil war Beaufort was spared the burning that so many southern cities faced and instead it was kept as a Union hospital and staging area for troops after it was captured in November 1861.
There are 32 homes listed which were built from 1717 to 1850 but along each street we found many more beautiful old homes. A Brief History of Beaufort' states: "Much of Beaufort's wealth in the third quarter of the twentieth century has been used to restore the grandeur of its old homes and buildings."
They have taken great care to preserve their old oak trees.Even branches may not be cut unless they are dead. If they grow over a street, then traffic is limited to whatever height the limb provides. If there is one over your driveway, you better buy a vehicle which will fit under it.
The Parish Church of St. Helena Episcopal established in1717 had a most unique graveyard within its churchyard walls.
Nov. 13 - 17
Big package of mail arrived this morning, thank you Mary Smith for continuing to look after our mail.
After spending three and a half days in Beaufort, we were anxious to continue southward. Thus we bypassed the luxurious seaside resort community of Hilton Head and the very historic and interesting city of Savannah, Georgia. Well, you can't see everything in life. Maybe these are two spots we will enjoy when we bring the boat back north.
At this time, I'll provide you with two quotes to give you an idea of our cruising days through Georgia. From the Cruising Guide to Coastal South Carolina and Georgia: "With only a few exceptions, the region's shoreline is undeveloped. Isolated residential settlements may be seen far in the distance where they dot the banks here and there, but in between are vast stretches of untouched marsh grass and highlands. Most of the anchorages provide only minimal shelter and are often not suitable for winds over 20 knots."
The Mid Atlantic Waterway Guide states in its section entitled the Savannah River to Florida: "Study your charts before beginning this passage - the next 140 miles are visually interesting and physically demanding. You'll use your compass, depth sounder, GPS, radar and binoculars as you wind along serpentine rivers and cross choppy, open sounds." Well, we certainly used all of these items except radar, which we don't have but could have used on our final day. Later, I intend to complete a log entry entitled "Cruising Through Georgia" which will give you an idea of our time in Georgia. Suffice to say that when the Jekyll Island marina came into view we were ever so happy to stop and take a breather.
We arrived early in the afternoon and after a much looked forward to shower, we took advantage of the free bikes which the marina provides and went exploring. The history of this island began in 1886 when prominent East Coast Millionaires like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Morgan, Crane, Goodyear, Pulitzer and Macy bought the island for their own personal use.
"By the early 20th century, Jekyll Island Club members were said to represent one-sixth of the world's wealth." (AAA Georgia tour Book) Today, it is a National Historic Site, with 33 of the original cottages and outbuildings remaining. Once again we saw a community with beautiful, stately homes; only this time we knew they were only COTTAGES.
We wondered what their homes looked like and then we remembered touring the Vanderbilt mansion "The Breakers" in Newport, RI. Yes, in comparison, I guess you could say these were just vacation cottages.
Apparently none of the cottages originally had kitchens. All meals were prepared at the Club House. "Here no expense was spared, for the head chef from Delmonico's Restaurant in New York was lured to put together some of the most fabulous repasts in culinary history. (The Lure and Lore of the Golden Isles).
Today, the Club House built in the Queen Anne style and the Crane Cottage built in the Venetian style have been turned into inns and even "common folk" can eat at the same tables where the exclusive 100 club ate. One of the most impressive cottages is that constructed by Richard Crane, the plumbing magnate. It had twenty-one bedrooms and seventeen baths, some having solid gold fixtures.
Today, the Club House built in the Queen Anne style and the Crane Cottage built in the Venetian style have been turned into inns and even "common folk" can eat at the same tables where the exclusive 100 club ate. One of the most impressive cottages is that constructed by Richard Crane, the plumbing magnate. It had twenty-one bedrooms and seventeen baths, some having solid gold fixtures.
Today Jekyll Island boasts not only this historic area but 10 miles of white sand beaches, four golf courses, numerous walking and biking trails, and numerous luxury hotels. Quite an island!
