Days 21 and 22 - Layover Day In Beaufort and Beaufort to Isle of Hope, GA

We needed a layover day yesterday. Well at least I did. We arrived in Beaufort on little sleep and had to wait about 40 minutes (with one engine) for the Wappoo Creek Bridge to open (apparently it was only opening on the hour, not the half hour as well). While we were waiting it was pouring rain and the entire floor of the cockpit/living room/dining room was soaking wet. When we got to the marina all I wanted was to get on the computer and watch the highlights from the previous night's UVA basketball game (UVA beat #13 Minnesota to open the ACC/Big 10 Challenge). I hadn't even been able to listen to the game on the radio the previous night. I can normally pick up 3WV on the wunderradio app on my iphone, but we didn't have good enough service the night before. When we got to the marina I realized not only was my computer not working, but the internet wasn't fast enough to watch the highlights from Ben's computer. My feet were wet and cold, and I had to walk to the communal marina bathroom just so I could wash my face with warm water. Sometimes living on a boat is not glamorous and I had my first "I want to go home moment."

It didn't help when the weather remained rough that night. We barely got any sleep again, so when the weather was still looking iffy the next morning we decided to just stay put for the day. It also allowed us to check out two additional restaurants - Plum's and Pannini's. Both were better than should be expected and the brick oven pizzas were exactly what we needed. We also had a chance to hang our Christmas lights and finish watching Harry Potter Episode #4 (...and the Goblet of Fire).

We also used the courtesy car to run to West Marine and the Piggly Wiggly. There wasn't really have anything we absolutely needed, but it was nice to pick up a few things - body wash, bread, and some more boat cleaner. We also did a little walk around the downtown area. When we got back to the marina it was really filling up. A lot of boats seemed to have had rough days (or previous nights) from the weather, and everyone was looking to re-charge. It was fun this morning - we were up about 6:30, and there was a little bit of a buzz as all the boats around us were getting ready and heading off about the same time. There was also another young couple, we didn't get too much of a chance to talk but they were heading outside to St Augustine, FL today and planning on getting there tomorrow morning. They also had a cat on a leash.

We were aiming for Thunderbolt, GA which is at the mouth of the Savannah River. We've decided to skip Savannah this time around since we just took the day off, and since Savannah is about 8 miles up the river, so out of the way. We made it about 8 miles further to Isle of Hope Marina. Ben cooked a wonderful dinner and we just watched the 5th Harry Potter (and the Order of the Phoenix). I'm enjoying being on a boat again, I realize how lucky we are to be able to take this time off to do this, especially at this point in our lives, and it's vacation, but it's four months so it's also our lives and there are bound to be ups and downs, but as long as everything is taken in stride I'm sure there will be more ups than downs.