Riding Out Weather and Chasing a Window North
We pulled anchor at Duplin and set our sights on a sixty‑mile run to the Herb River anchorage. The day unfolded quietly and beautifully—Georgia’s waterway winding mile after mile through more than 368,000 acres of coastal marshland, one of the East Coast’s most important wetland ecosystems. It’s scenery that makes you ease back on the throttles and just let the boat glide.
As we made our way north, the weather forecast kept tightening. A strong system was expected overnight, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain. First came a small‑craft advisory, then a gale warning. Herb River in Thunderbolt/Savannah is a known well‑protected anchorage, so we stayed with the plan, added extra chain and set up a watch schedule in case the storm arrived early or stronger than predicted.
In the end, the worst of the wind never hit us. The storm slowed down, and that opened a window. Instead of sitting and waiting for it, we decided to get ahead of it and make Beaufort, SC before the system caught up. By 7:30 the next morning we were underway, radar up—an invaluable tool when you’re trying to stay one step ahead of weather.
Most of the run was comfortable, but Port Royal Sound delivered a lively ten‑mile stretch. Three‑foot Atlantic swells met 20‑plus‑knot southerly winds pushing up 2–3‑foot whitecaps, creating confused seas. Not pleasant, but manageable, and soon enough we were turning the corner toward Beaufort. Everything calmed down, and we slid into Ladies Island Marina just after noon.
Two quiet days in one of our favorite towns felt like the perfect reward after the push north. That first night we ate at Dockside—our second‑favorite restaurant with the same name as our first‑favorite back in Colonial Beach. My swordfish steak was excellent, and Carey’s meal was just as good. Tuesday was a workday for her, with a little help from me. She made a grocery run to restock the boat and tackled the laundry. She loves boating, but laundry days are not high on her list of joys.
Continuing North
Turned in early and were up at first light to continue north. The plan was an easy forty‑mile day to Steamboat Creek, where we anchored with two other boats tucked in nearby. From there we’ll do the 45-minute cross of Charleston harbor on our way to the next anchorage above Isle of Palm, then onto our favorite stop .., Georgetown S.C. for a 1-night stay. Still taking it slow, steady, and relaxed—just the way this stretch of the ICW should be. However, we have a tight schedule to meet with a couple of upcoming events in April.
Pictures show a Georgia island home with access only by water, Dockside restaurant, over our stern to one anchored boat, and, finally, the Nordic tug off our port side that was our neighbor last night at Lady’s Island Marina in Beaufort. Nice day to relax at anchor. Meatloaf dinner tonight.
