January 23-26, 2025
Port Royal, SC
One of the best things about snow in the Low Country is how rare it is to have any at all. There’s no real removal plan besides letting it melt. There’s no rush to get back to busy, so most folks are staying close to home and enjoying time with their loved ones.
School is closed here because we have run out of state-allocated eLearning days. Since students must get a minimum of 180 days of instruction each year and teachers only get paid for days we work, we will have to make up this lost time in person. We are more likely to miss school due to hurricanes (we lost 4 this year) so most of our calendared makeup days have passed. March 17 is on our calendar as a makeup day – the other day has not yet been decided. I think many people think that bad weather days are “free days” but they always come at a price.
Thursday was mostly overcast with heavy skies and only a few hours of above freezing temperatures; snow and ice just barely melted.
It’s kind of relaxing to chip away at the ice, though.
Thursday was the first day I left Lailia. The ice and snow was textured so walking on it wasn’t too treacherous and John had cleared both a landing space on our finger dock and the ramp to the high dock.
Our heron buddies were active in the evening. There are two great blue herons that hang out here – and no doubt they need all the calories they can get to help them stay warm.
Someone also was busy creating a snow friend. It’s so heavy and icy they must have had a time of it.
The parking lot is still a mess and it’s easy to see why the Sheriff’s office is asking people to stay off the roads.
Sunset brought hope – clearer skies are on the way; the sun will definitely help with melting.
Friday
Overnight temperatures have been below freezing so it takes a few hours each morning until melting begins.
We went out for bagels this morning and took a ride to Cypress Wetlands for the rare opportunity to see how it looks decorated with snow.
I hoped I might see some gators but they were probably tucked under a mudbank brumating. There were bluebirds galore and only a few wading birds. In a month or so, this place will be filled with nesting birds
The shadiest parts of the Wetlands actually had a thin skin of ice on them. The water at the marina moves too quickly and has too much salt to freeze in these temperatures.
Temps will continue to rise this weekend so we should have clear, dry roads by Monday morning and get back to normal.
Saturday brought warmer weather and a little more melting. The snow buddy is a good indicator of what’s happening
We also joined all the folks shaking off cabin fever at Shellring Brewery which has a front seat on the best sunset views in town.
Sunday
The snow is mostly gone from the docks although the hard packed stuff in shady places is still slowly melting.
And, finally, for those who celebrate – Go Birds! We are Super Bowl bound!
Life on Lailia 
Amazing how quiet and different Cypress Wetlands looks compared to when I visited with you as it was teaming with wildlife. Glad you’re both doing well considering the nasty weather.
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