Hilton Head — Cupcake Afloat

The past few days have been spent safe in the arms of friends and family at Hilton Head Island. Once again we were able to sail and motor sail more than anticipated. So the half-day jaunt from Beaufort was a pleasant ride down the river and across Port Royal Sound.

As luck has it, our friends in Hilton Head live a short walk from the safest anchorage in town. The cruising guide we have been using on the trip down the ICW (Skipper Bob, highly recommended) says of the two anchorages recommended in this part of the island that one is better and only has room for one boat. We are that boat, anchored just north of Green Day Beacon 11 on Skull Creek.

Cupcake is anchored a few hundred feet from the Skull Creek Marina, and Ellen prevailed on the marina staff to let us tie Mr. Flowerpot to their dock during the day when we are visiting on the island. This would not be a good spot for a cruiser with nobody to assist them ashore because there is no easy access to anything but golf courses. We, however, have Pennie and Alan who have opened their home to us. And we have my parents who flew down for a visit this week. Perfect.

It’s fantastic to see everyone. I have known Pennie and Alan since I was born (Pennie is my mother’s childhood friend…we found out the two of them learned how to smoke cigarettes together when they were in 10th grade…the first of myriad vices to which Moss has been exposed this week) but can’t remember the last time I saw them. It’s been at least ten years. I have also known my parents my whole life. And not seeing them since July was too long.

Our days have been passed visiting, swimming, and eating. Such good meals.

Yesterday we took my parents for a great sail across Port Royal Sound and back. Dad rode with us out to Cupcake with us a few days ago just to see the boat, and was treated to a dolphin visit. So Mom wanted her share of dolphins too. She got to see about four of them as we sailed up Skull Creek on our way to the Sound.

Now we are at the house alone while the grown ups are at some sort of charity event. We are using the time to do laundry, gorge on wifi, and spread out our route planning materials on the big dining room table.

About those vices. When we arrived, before my parents’ plane had even landed, Alan offered us all cold drinks. Ellen and I each had a beer, Moss had a lemonade.

But when Alan brought it to her, it was a bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Moss was appropriately skeptical (she can read labels, after all) and didn’t take a drink until I checked it out. When she found out it was booze, she was wide-eyed and appalled.

The next day, Moss and I were playing Gin. Alan came over and taught Moss how to play for money, how to bet, how to count points.

And the day after that, Alan taught Moss how to play poker and how to bet at that game.

This afternoon we assume he will either teach her how to smoke cigars or crack safes.

Last night we experienced our first cold front of the season. (This is not a complaint about the temperature. It is strictly an informational paragraph. I know how cold it is up in New England right now.) The temperature plummeted 30 degrees overnight, the wind came up, gusting into the low 20s, and today is a bright, crisp, windy fall day. We once again appreciated the hard work done by Pablo the anchor, allowing us to sleep more or less soundly on a windy night.