Into South Carolina (State#11)

Many Moons entered her 11th state today on her long boat trip. We’re making way now “up” the Lowcountry, the coastal region of Georgia and South Carolina which is below sea level in many places. Many African Americans still inhabit the coastal islands where their ancestors were once enslaved. (Perhaps an historical aspect of “low?”) Because of this isolation, they developed their own unique culture called Gullah. We learned more about this during a stop-over today at Daufuskie Island, which was once home to 11 plantations.

We are anchored out, for a 2nd night, in the protected shallows of Skull Creek on the north end of Hilton Head Island. As we continue to adjust to the seven-foot tide, we adjust our anchor now and then to make sure we don’t run aground. But if it happens, it won’t be the worst thing. There’s a saying among Loopers: It’s not a question of if, but when you will run aground. We’ve already bumped or dragged at least twice on this trip. I’ve become surprisingly casual about it! (Still, I’d sleep more soundly with an anchor alarm. This tidal stuff is a twist.)

We played leap-frog today with our fellow boaters who left Darien with us yesterday. They anchored a mile or so behind us last night, but got under way before us this morning. We travel at different speeds so did some passing on the way. It’s kind of fun. We also passed the hub-bub that surrounds Savannah, then spent two hours biking on Daufuskie before finding this peaceful anchorage. On to Beaufort tomorrow, to spend two nights in port with time to explore. Photos and captions of our passage into our 11th state, below.