And we are off!

Beaufort, SC is one of our favotite ports. With either a night at the city docks, or an anchorage next door, you are in the heart of the city. There are nice shops, tours to take, good restaurants, a nice coffee shop along their beautiful new riverwalk, and small town charm, including a Halloween Trick or Treat evening where hundreds of children in costume trick or trated their way through town and ended the evening watching an outdoor playing of "Casper The Friendly Ghost outdoors on the riverwalk. If you stay at the marina, they provide a courtesy can for grocery shopping. Another benefit is that we have severazl friends nearby, including Luke and Jan Sand who we will "buddy boat" with on our way back to Boca Chica in Key West. Last night we had dinner at their house on Dawtaw Island and planned our course, checked the wind and tides, decided on the initial rendez vous site, with lots of flexibility for unexpected changes in weather and wind. Earlier in the day, Jan andCookie had shopped and stocked the boats. We leave in the morning at first light for the next stop about 325 miles (and 2 days) south in Fort Pierce, Florida.