When In Charleston ...

Charleston    

Barry and I always look forward to our stopover in Charleston. It offers a little bit of everything -- centuries of history, excellent restaurants, museums and galleries, retail options at every price point -- all within walking distance of the City Marina. Today was our day to enjoy all Charleston has to offer. Prior to sunrise, I was in the pilothouse reading when I noticed a large row boat heading up the Ashley River. The synchronized oars broke the water in unison and the boat eased through the sky's reflection on the quickly moving current. Shortly after breakfast we left Crossroads and set out on a familiar path along the waterfront. The temperate climate here allows for a wide range of plantings and vegetation. We spotted window boxes containing either kale and cabbages or pansies and ivy, red-leafed poinsettias growing outside in planters, small fern fronds emerging from the ground, and palm trees sprouting high toward the sun. My favorite items to note are always the gas lamps.

It was a sunny morning and we both quickly removed our jackets and stored them in the backpack. We passed iconic areas such as Rainbow Row and snapped the required photo. We also enjoyed walking the streets less traveled. We found the Frog on the Bench to be just as interesting as the multicolored row houses. 

We stopped at The Griffon, a small locals pub down a side street, and enjoyed lunch before heading to the Waterfront Park. The Pineapple Fountain is the one tourist spot we always visit and get our souvenir photo. We asked a lady walking her dog to do the honors. The clear sky and high sun made for a nice shot. Spanish moss hung from the branches of the live oaks in the park. Oh, the stories these ancient trees could tell. With our photo taken, we departed the park and headed to Church Street and the French Quarter. The French Huguenot Church, with its pink stuccoed exterior, dates back to 1845. 

We had a little extra time, so we entered St. Philip's Anglican Church for a mini-tour of the vestibule and sanctuary. We spoke with the docents about the building's history (dating to 1838) and its current ministry as a thriving congregation. Inside, the columns and large capitals supported an arched ceiling. The boxed seating, organ pipes, and stained glass window were also impressive. We heard the bells in the 200-foot spire sound for 2:45 and new it was time for us to make our way to the stable for our carriage tour. After checking in, I went out and met Prince who would be our transportation for the hour-long tour. The Belgian draft horse was super sweet and enjoyed a little extra attention. 

I complimented Prince on his beautiful pedicure and shiny new shoes. Barry and I lucked out with a seat on the back row of the carriage. This position provides bonus views when turning around and checking out from where we came. Our route lottery came up with 5B, which was a new area for us. We sat back and relaxed as Prince pulled our carriage through the narrow streets, unfazed by the passing automobile traffic. I didn't take many photos, but this "Doors of Charleston" scene struck me as funny. It resembles my front porch in the days prior to Christmas.

The packages also reminded us that our final Amazon shipment was available for pickup at the marina. Our new headset arrived and we were all smiles. Our headsets are critical in the operation of Crossroads as they allow Barry and I to easily communicate when I'm outside while we're anchoring or docking. My headset has not been charging properly and it was important to get a spare before crossing to The Bahamas. The day ended with a nice sunset behind the James Island Expressway. It was a fitting close to a productive and enjoyable stay in Charleston. We'll depart tomorrow at first light with a destination of Beaufort (Bew-fort). We still don't have a weather window to jump out into the Atlantic, so we'll be in the ICW for a few more miles, the first of which will take us under the James Island Expressway bridge.