The End

            I am writing this post in my bedroom. My very own bedroom that I have all to myself. It seems so spacious and private after living in my bunk, dubbed the ‘Sarcophagus’ for so long. Being back in a house is so different and so luxurious when compared to White Seal. I’m really enjoying it.

            So as promised, here is a grand list summarizing the high points of the trip:

Top Five Big Cities:

1.) New York City

2.) Charleston, SC

3.) Washington, DC

4.)  Savannah, GA

5.)  Beaufort, SC

Top Five Lesser Known Wonders of the East Coast:

1.) Cumberland Island, GA

2.) Jekyll Island, GA

3.) All of the small towns on the Chesapeake Bay, such as Solomons, MD

4.) The Dismal Swamp, VA & NC

5.) The Alligator River and the Pungo River in NC

Top Eight Bahamian Towns (because I can’t narrow it down to five):

1.)  Rock Sound, Eleuthera

2.)  Black Point, Exuma

3.)  Orange Creek, Cat Island

4.)  Green Turtle, Abaco

5.)  Salt Pond, Long Island

6.)  Alice Town, Bimini

7.)  Spanish Wells

8.)  Hopetown, Abaco

Top Five Uninhabited Bahamian Islands:

1.)  Shroud Cay, Exuma

2.)  Cambridge Cay, Exuma

3.)  Warderick Wells, Exuma

4.)  Allan’s Cay, Exuma

5.)  Sandy Cay, Abaco (for it’s astounding reefs)

Top Five Most Memorable Cultural Events:

1.)  Junkanoo on New Year’s in Nassau

2.)  Attending a public high school in Rock Sound, Eleuthera

3.)  Going to a ‘jam fest’ in Black Point, Exuma at Lorraine’s Cafe

4.)  Seeing Priscilla on Broadway in New York

5.)  The giant ‘Cruiser’s Thanksgiving’ in St. Mary’s, Georgia

Five Things I’ll Miss:

1.)  Seeing beautiful new places every day

2.)  Being separate from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world

3.)  Meeting really interesting people

4.)  Not really having to stick to s schedule

5.)  The peaceful simplicity of it all

Five Things I won’t Miss:

1.)  Yup, you guessed it: the lack of showers

2.)  The crusty feeling of a salty pair of cut-offs that haven’t been washed recently

3.)  The lack of a fridge and the tasty food that comes with it

4.)  The daily concussion I gave myself every morning when I sat up in my bunk and smashed by skull against the ceiling.

5.)  The constant state of being in one another’s way

Some Unusual Stats For Those Of You That Like Numbers:

Number of days gone: 267 (let's hope my quick calculation is correct...)

Number of pictures taken: 7, 985

Lowest temperature: 27 degrees Fahrenheit. (In Florida...)

Number of states visited: 10

Number of consecutive days I went without a real shower in the Bahamas: 56 (I am so embarrassed.)

Highest wind: 67 mph (Bimini, the day after Christmas)

Number of sand dollars collected: 13

Number of sand dollars that are still intact: 6

Number of jars of peanut butter we bought before going to the Bahamas: 24

Number of pairs of jeans that survived the trip without getting hopelessly corroded zippers: 0

     I’d like to think that I have grown as a person on this trip. I mean it’s probably inevitable when you experience so much and travel to new places. Cruising was a wonderful experience and I’d recommend that all of you consider what I’ve done and try to incorporate travel into your lives. (Sorry, I really do hate to sound preachy…) Even if it’s not by boat, get out there and explore the world around you. It’s pretty big. It’s got something for everyone.

     Mark Twain really hit the nail on the head when he said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by those that you did.” Maybe my past nine months was a crazy, irresponsible trip. It sure wasn’t the financially responsible thing to do. But hey- it’s been one heck of a fun time, and I’ll cherish the memories from my time on White Seal forever and ever.

     Well folks, that’s about all I’ve got for you. It’s back to an un-blog-worthy life for me. This blog has been very fun to write and I hope that everyone enjoyed it. I appreciate everyone that wrote in with comments and suggestions; they were all great.

-Mary

P.S. By the way, I’m very sorry about the title of this blog, it was major false advertising on my part. ‘Mary’s Year of Sailing’ is actually only a meager nine months, but it was just easier to call it a year. I hope no one feels too cheated.

The 'rents anxiously awaiting the opening of Lock 12, the last of the locks.

That's the Champlain Bridge in the background!

:)

THE END.

There's No Place Like Home

     WE'RE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     After nearly nine months of living on White Seal, my parents and I are now back into our house. We motored up the lake on Sunday morning, excited and overwhelmed. I can't even explain the feeling of accomplishment that I felt as we came into Kingsland Bay. It was exactly as I remembered it and a lifetime of memories flooded me as I got ready to pick up our mooring.
     When we rowed ashore I planted a big fat kiss on the ground. I met our friends Buzz and Carol on the trail and we walked back to the parking lot. The trail was exceedingly muddy, as most things in Vermont are right now. We met Roger and Arabella and headed back to my house.
     My house! Oh my gosh. After giving it a quick run-through, I took a pile of rancid laundry and dumped it into the washer. Typical cruiser. I am NOT going to miss the whole laundry/ shower aspect of boat life.
     Roger drove me over to Chelsea's and a 36 hour social swirl began. I spent Sunday night at Chelsea's with Abbey after visiting a bunch of friends. We went to the Memorial Day parade the next day and I must have hugged a thousand people. Slight exaggeration? Probably. But really, I saw a bunch of friends. I spent Monday driving around with my friends, blasting music, and generally soaking up the social life I missed so much. I spent last night at Abbey's then came home to a list of chores.
     I spent today moving stuff in and cleaning out the car. This has been the first of many house project days. I also have to meet with my teachers, take a couple of finals, and somehow incorporate a three day trip to Nantucket into this packed agenda. Adieu to the peaceful, lazy boat days. Hello, reality.
     Well folks, we did it, we actually made it. I just can't fathom that the trip is finally done. I have mixed feelings, but mostly I'm feeling happy and content. It was wonderful, truly an experience that I will cherish forever. As for now, I'm busy resuming the life I left last fall. I imagine that that will be adventure enough for the time being.

Locks & Pictures

     Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. We're getting so close to home! We're more than halfway through the canal system and expect to spend tonight anchored somewhere on Lake Champlain. Perhaps, if things go as planned, we might arrive back at home late tomorrow night or the next day.
     This morning my mom called down and urged me to come on deck. Expecting a calamity of some sort, I immediately rushed up to find her pointing at a pasture full of peacefully grazing Holsteins. Cows, how exciting! We're really on the home stretch now!
     The air is smells earthy and fresh, a smell distinct to the northeast as it comes alive in the spring. (This odor is supplemented by cow manure in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, creating our own extra-special brand of Eau de Springtime.) Everything around, from the mosquitoes to the vegetation, is reminding us of home.
     The locks have been fun. The novelty of riding a water elevator has yet to wear off on me and my dad constantly sends me scolding glances as I excitedly prod at everything around me with a boathook.
     What can I say, the inner six-year-old within me is entertained.
     When we get home, my parents will move into the house and reside in the guest bedroom, the only bedroom that isn't currently occupied in our house. I personally think that I should be allowed to live on White Seal in by the falls in downtown Vergennes, but my parents aren't quite buying this proposal. I'll probably end up downstairs on our renter/ friend's couch or something until she moves out next month.
     I have a busy schedule the second I step ashore back in Ferrisburgh. I have to start work ASAP, get in for meetings with my teachers, and somehow try to attend my cousin's high school graduation on Nantucket. Life is about to move in fast-forward compared to the laid back, unscheduled life I've lived for the past nine months. Living on land like a normal person is going to be odd.
     After weeks of sketchy Internet, I am pleased to announce that I now have a connection strong enough to allow me to upload pictures. Enjoy!

The 'rents in New York City. This was taken on the Highline, a
park made out of an old elevated railway.

Times Square!

Grocery shopping on Broadway

The Bear Mountain Bridge on the Hudson

     I'll definitely post again when I get home. Within the next few days I also hope to upload a blog post consisting of a summary of the trip, including both statistics and fun 'top ten' lists. After that though, I'm afraid that my life will return to a depressing state of un-blog-worthiness. Mary's Year of Sailing is coming to it's inevitable end, I am quite sad to report.

Finishing up the Hudson River

     The clock is ticking away. We'll be home SO soon, probably by Monday or Tuesday. I haven't really wrapped my brain around it yet, honestly. We've been motoring north on the beautiful Hudson River for the past couple of days. My grandparents came to meet us in Hyde Park, New York for lunch on Wednesday. It was really nice to see them, I hadn't visited with them since last September. I also went to the doctor for an unexplained ear pain and received treatment for a double ear infection. Double ear infections are rather unpleasant. I don't recommend the experience.
     We unstepped the mast this morning using Castleton on Hudson Boat Club's do-it-yourself crane. It went very smoothly and was much less of an adventure than the last time we used it. It's kind of a tedious process that involves taking off the mainsail and all it's trimmings then removing about 10,000 cotter pins from the shrouds before finally attaching the big hook and giving the mast a little yank upwards. We got up before 6:00 this morning in order to beat the crowds to the crane which, needless to say, didn't appear to be a big issue to me. Deck space and freedom of movement are severely compromised when the mast and rigging are on the cabin top, but at least it will only be a couple short days.
     Within an hour or two we will enter the Federal Lock at Troy, NY. This is our last few miles of the trip at sea level. I'm trying not to dwell on the various 'lasts' of the trip, but it's hard. We did the last overnight passage. The last bit on the ocean. The last sail on the Hudson. The last this, the last that. The trip has been amazing, but now I'm going home. Time to look at the up side and not be overly nostalgic!
     I know that it has been eons since I've uploaded any pictures. They're coming soon- I promise!

New York City

            After a few days waiting out foul weather in Wildwood, New Jersey, the skies finally relented and allowed us a decent weather window to pop up to New York City on the ocean. We left the morning of the 19^th and had a rather uncomfortable. It was dreary and damp with light winds, but a week of strong wind before had made for monstrous swells. Thanks to Bonine, I survived all of this quite fine, though my poor mom got quite sick. We motored the whole way, all 24 hours. It was really a hit on my dad’s ego as a sailor and all, but if we had decided to sail it would have taken twice as long.

            The day went by uneventfully, and as night fell we began to see lightning dancing across the horizon to the east. We stayed far away from these storm cells and it was never an issue, fortunately. At about 2:30 AM (right after I ended a two and a half hour steering watch), the fog set in. The thick, deceptively bright fog banks closed in on us several different times that night and the next morning, but it never put us in any real danger.

After about two hours of sleep, my mom woke me up at 6:00 AM. We were entering the Ambrose Channel in New York harbor in the fog and I was needed as a lookout. I managed to crawl out of my cocoon and on deck and we picked our way from mark to mark, keeping just outside of the channel to avoid confrontation with the commercial shipping traffic. As the morning wore on, slowly the fog lifted and the skyline of New York came into focus. Let me tell you, after a night at sea, there is no cooler feeling than coming into New York Harbor.

The 20^th was spent recovering from the overnight. It’s SO exhausting to do overnight passages and quite frankly, I am very glad that this last little excursion was the last one. We got a mooring at 79^th Street Boat Basin and slept.

The next two days we walked all over the city. Manhattan is just plain cool. We had a picnic in Central Park. We rode the Subway to downtown and walked along Park Avenue. We often stumbled upon well-known attractions by accident, such as Lincoln Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We walked and walked and walked. We scoped out the Highline, an old elevated railway that has been turned into a very interesting park. I sipped on a Starbucks coffee in Times Square, feeling delightfully and uncharacteristically cosmopolitan. I bought some clothes on 5^th Avenue.

By far the biggest excitement came on Sunday afternoon. We sought out and acquired (drum roll, please) tickets to see a BROADWAY SHOW! The only play even remotely in our budget at that time appeared to be Priscilla, an award winning musical about three drag queens driving across the Australian Outback in an old bus named Priscilla. It was absolutely hilarious. The play was so incredibly well done and the special lighting effects on the bus were mind-blowing. Both of my parents loved it also, (although I think that my dad felt a bit squeamish during some rather raunchy scenes.)

I could have stayed in Manhattan indefinitely, if it had been up to me. Unfortunately however, time marches on and we need to get home soon. We left midday and anchored in the middle of nowhere. Today we are motoring up the Hudson in the light rain, enjoying the feeling of being back in the beautiful, lush, mountainous Northeast. We’re really on the home stretch!

P.S. I’m currently stealing WiFi from a random marina we’re passing by to upload this blog!

To Wildwood, NJ

            Ever since we crossed over the US, we have had positively delightful weather; that is until we reached the Chesapeake early last week. It hasn’t been really awful or anything, just kind of blustery and drizzly for the past few days. Oh well, if nothing else the cool weather makes for much more pleasant sleeping and the rains have kept the coat of salty grime that always encrusts the decks from building up too much.

Despite this weather, we had a lovely time on Chesapeake Bay. It’s a pretty place loaded with protected anchorages and cute little towns. After departing Solomons, we sailed/ motored up to Annapolis in a stiff Northerly breeze. I had taken a seasickness pill that morning that sufficiently knocked me out for the duration of the day. I woke up around 5:00 in the afternoon and had some breakfast. Shortly after that we went over to our friend’s house for dinner. Seeing them was great, they are awesome people and a lot of fun to be around.

The following day we stayed put and walked around downtown Annapolis. We toured the William Paca house, an obscenely oversized mansion with beautiful gardens behind it. William was kind of a big deal I guess, he signed the Declaration of Independence and was Maryland’s governor for a while. My parents had toured it 20 years ago and remembered it for it’s gardens, so we brought a small picnic of cheese and crackers and ate it out there after the tour. We walked through a bunch of little galleries and stopped in for lunch at Chick & Ruth’s Deli, an awesome little sandwich shop that is well renowned for it’s tasty subs and has been in business many decades.

We had dinner with our friends again that night. They have a daughter my age and she and I had fun listening to music and chatting about life in her room. We got back to the boat around 11:00 that night and collapsed, thoroughly exhausted from a long, happy day.

The next morning we were up and out early. We motored to the top of the Chesapeake, weaving our way through a slalom course of pesky crab pots. Late in the afternoon we anchored in Chesapeake City and went ashore for a walk around town. We poked around in every single antique shop/ boutique in town then retired to the boat for the evening.

Saturday the weather was rather icky so we remained in Chesapeake City. We went to the C&D Canal Museum in the morning and entertained ourselves by trying to figure out how the steam powered water wheel worked. More boutique window-shopping kept us occupied that afternoon, though it was rainy. I went back to the boat, knocked out some schoolwork, and went to bed before 8:00.

Yesterday morning we left Chesapeake City mid-morning to catch a favorable tide out to Delaware Bay. There was thick fog everywhere but we zipped along under power without any difficulty.  We anchored in the Cohansey River, a windy, scenic creek where we stopped last fall on the way South. My mom and I went for a walk and discovered that the gently rolling hay fields and big red barns of the town look strikingly similar to those of our hometown.

This morning we pulled up anchor and headed down Delaware Bay to Cape May. It was extremely foggy. We couldn’t see the horizon most of the time, but the water was flat calm and everything went smoothly. We anchored at Wildwood, a touristy suburb that is pretty much dead this time of year without it’s summer vacationers. We got pizza in celebration of our successful trip down Delaware Bay.

We’ll probably be stuck here for a few days waiting for good water to make the ocean hop over to NYC. After we make the passage to New York, we’ll continue up the Hudson to the Champlain Canal, then up the Lake to home. The Champlain Canal is closed due to high water until May 23^rd, but I’ll be home shortly after that. I can’t believe that we are actually getting close to Vermont. Wow, this year has flown by!

Going up the Chesapeake

     Late on Saturday afternoon we arrived in Deltaville, Virginia. My dad recognized friends from our marina at home anchored next to us and we spent much of the night visiting with them. They're pretty cool people and had many stories to share.
     On Sunday morning we left for Reedsville, after a Mother's Day breakfast of French toast. It was dreary and drizzling, but after we anchored the weather cleared up and we walked around on shore. Reedsville was a pleasant place; it was the type of coastal town where people actually live and work, not one of those fake, generic touristy towns. There was a nice museum there and we learned all about the fishing history of the Chesapeake. (My dad was very in to this. He would have stayed there all night if it hadn't closed up.) In honor of Mother's Day, my ol' man decided to spring for dinner that evening at a place called the Crazy Crab. We feasted on crab bisque, crab cake salad, and crab dip at a waterside restaurant a short row from White Seal. Fresh Chesapeake crab meat is good stuff, let me tell you.
     I awoke feeling queasy this morning. It was about 7 AM and my parents were beating to windward in 20 knot winds towards Solomons, Maryland, a town inconveniently located dead upwind. I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow, trying to mentally discourage the onsetting seasickness from happening. An hour later I finally dragged myself out of bed and onto the deck where I curled into the fetal position in the aft of the cockpit. I spent all morning in either the cabin or on deck in a state of extreme discomfort. After many hours of this, the wind finally lessened and I gradually began to feel like a human again. We motored the rest of the way into Solomons, Maryland and anchored near our friends. It was an exhausting day but we only covered about 30 miles or so. Ugh.

     Tomorrow is laundry/ showers/ West Marine/ grocery shopping day. I am psyched. Today I had a rotten day of seasickness, but it's nothing that a hot shower and some fresh food won't cure. Wednesday we shall be off to Annapolis to visit with our good friends there for a few days. I'm loving the Chesapeake, it's a beautiful place!

Cruisin' in the Fast Lane

     We’re on the Chesapeake! After flying through the rest of the ICW, I finally feel like we’re on the homeward leg. After leaving Charleston on April 29th we really motivated, covering upwards of 60 miles on a good day. We zipped through all the places where we lingered last fall, never staying put for more time than absolutely necessary.  It’s very tedious to go all day long, although being confined to the boat has certainly allowed me to wrap up my schoolwork.

     A typical day these days starts off with my phone alarm clock going off at 6:00 AM. I generally doze for another hour or two, but my parents get up, haul up anchor, and motor off. My dad can’t fathom how I can remain asleep despite the throb of the engine, but I can sleep through just about anything. I really like this whole sleeping in thing, but I know that this habit will have to go when I get home. Reality is going to be harsh.

     After getting some grub I do a few pages in my math book. (I am about three days from being done, at which time I plan on baking a celebratory cake.) I’ll write a page in my science journal, update my seamanship and PE logs, and read. I’m pretty much done with English and History for the time being, but when I get home I’ll meet with my teachers and there will undoubtedly be some major studying to be done before I am sufficiently prepared to attempt the final exams.

     When I think that I have done enough schooling for the day I’ll help steer the boat or read. On the off chance that we’re actually sailing, I will assist with that. Often I just end up relaxing on the foredeck and listening to my iPod.

     It’s generally past dinnertime when we anchor. As the sun sets we all go below and get ready for bed. After a long day of plugging along at 5 knots, we are all ready to crash.

     6:00 AM comes too soon and the routine begins again.

     Hopefully we will get to spend a day or two in Annapolis later this week. We would all really like to see our friends there. From there we’ll speed on to New York City for a visit there. After that, the next stop will be home. Due to the unusually high lake level, the Champlain Canal is closed until at least May 23rd, so arriving earlier than the 26th at home is impossible. My dad still says that we’ll make it back around June 1st though. I’m a confusing combination of excited, sad, and anxious. Fortunately, I'd say it's mostly excitement.

     Here are a couple pictures of what life has been like on the White Seal as of late.

Sometimes we share the Waterway with much larger traffic. This barge
and it's load were about 1000 ft long all together.

Giving dad a haircut...

Charleston: Take II

            Charleston was as delightful as I remembered it, if not more so. We arrived there at around 10 AM on Wednesday and got dock space at the Municipal Marina. The wind was really whipping and the current in Charleston is strong, so I was very glad to be tied to a good, solid dock. The forecast was bleak; it called for thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, and basically every other type of formidable weather catastrophe possible. Luckily for us, this weather system didn’t bother Charleston, but unfortunately, much of the South has been devastated by it in the past few days. I know many friends/ family members/ blog readers have been concerned, so I just want to clarify that my family and I are safe and sound.

            I have to say that the Municipal Marina was the nicest marina we've stayed at so far. When my mom went up to the office to settle up, they gave her a complimentary bag full of brochures, coupons, pens, and maps for the city. They had a laundry facility that was conveniently located, as well as a courtesy van that took marina guest wherever they pleased. The facilities were very well maintained and service was nice. And most importantly, we had access to the cleanest, nicest, hottest showers yet.

            After having lunch on the boat, we all walked into town. We explored south of Broad Street (the exclusive district with beautiful, historic Antebellum homes) for a while, absorbing the grandeur and smelling the sweet jasmine that was blooming all over the city. (My mom decided that she wanted to get a jasmine plant for the boat. Yes, a  plant. On a boat. Is it just me, or is that a ridiculous idea? Small sailboats and potted plants just don’t mix well.)

            After wandering around for a while we got hungry and decided that it was time for some grub, so we picked up a couple deli sandwiches from the grocery store. I had forgotten just how much I adore chicken salad sandwiches. Oh, how I miss having a refrigerator. I’m going to eat chicken salad every day when I get back home.

            I recently got hired as a hostess in a restaurant back home, and I had to buy a pair of professional looking black pants to complete my required uniform. My parents poked around in antique shops for an hour or so while I shopped at Forever 21. When we met up later, they were rather disappointed but not altogether unsurprised that I hadn’t exactly accomplished my mission. In my bulging bag of newly purchased clothing I had a printed skirt, a gray sweater, a blue cardigan, a tank top, and a sundress- but no black pants. I ended up coming back the following day to buy pants.

            Across the dock from us was the sailboat Calypso with Jonathon and Christine onboard. We became friends with them in the Bahamas and we ended up spending a good chunk of the evening on their boat. They’re very nice. They also have the world's cutest little dog.

            We spent Thursday afternoon walking around town some more. Every now and then the sky would spit a little, but for the most part the weather was pretty decent. We went into a beautiful church with brilliant stained glass. We stopped in at an antique shop that specialized in recovered treasure from sunken ships. My parents got pita pocket sandwiches at a tiny little café downtown. My mom and I tried on a hundred different hats at an overpriced little shop on the east side of town. There’s a whole lot to do in Charleston, and we did as much as time would allow us to do.

            This morning we left for Georgetown, South Carolina. We actually got boarded by Customs/ Police officers. It wasn't a big deal though, they had been boarding pretty much every other pleasure vessel in the harbor. They checked our passports, vessel documentation, and asked us all about our trip. It was all over in about 15 minutes and we were free to go. 

            In the next few days we will pass through some beautiful places that I loved on the way down, including the Waccamaw River. It’s interesting to be doing the Intracoastal backwards and seeing everything I saw last fall again from a different angle. Even though I have passed through these places, I am still loving the trip north!

Walking down by the Battery with my dad.

Beaufort, South Carolina

     Man, I am beat. Sailing offshore for over twenty-four hours completely and totally zaps your energy. We left from St. Augustine at around 9:00 AM on Easter morning and motored out the inlet onto the Atlantic. The sea was pretty calm, but I still spent most of the day curled up in the fetal position trying not to vomit all over the place. (Sorry, too much detail...) The sun was brutal, but fortunately there was a nice breeze that allowed us to turn off the engine.

     As the sun began to sink lower in the sky, my stomach slowly started to stop somersaulting and I went up on deck. Well-rested from my day of being incapacitated, I took the helm. I steered from 8-10, then from 11-1, then from 3-4. There was always an extra person on hand to keep and eye out for ships, but one person always got to rest. Sleeping is a challenge during these times though, considering the boat has an extremely unfortunate tendency to hurl you from your bunk and onto the floor when it rolls. Needless to say, when one is tired enough, it is possible to get a wee bit of shut-eye. 

     I woke up in a stupor this morning and proceeded to smash my head on the hatch board as I ascended the steps into the cockpit. Feeling very upset, I decided that breakfast should consist of a Starbucks frappachino and a handful of Reese's peanut butter cups. I felt a lot better after this healthy meal and fell back asleep until we neared Beaufort.

     Beaufort, South Carolina is an old town. When you walk off of the dinghy dock, you are greeted by a bustling main street lined with fanciful boutiques and decadent eateries. The side streets are shaded by ancient live oaks, draped with wispy beards of Spanish Moss that stand guard over the manicured gardens of grand estates. The houses are astounding; a huge amount of time, money, and TLC went into making and preserving such a town. 

     I spent the afternoon poking around in art galleries, eating ice cream, and marveling at the extravagant, beautiful architecture that is distinctive to the South. It was a quality afternoon indeed. It's 8:31 now and I'm the only one up. I'd love to walk around Beaufort some more this evening, but after last night's journey, I am about ready to collapse. Good night everyone, I am off to bed!

My favorite mansion in Beaufort... slightly more roomy than my current accommodations.

My second choice.