Footsteps in the Sand – Hunting Island, SC

Hunting Island Beach - just you and your footsteps

It’s the crunch of sand under your feet, the feel of fine grains running through your toes, the smell of salt and the melody of the ocean in your ears. It can soothe you to the deepest sleep, lull you into a silent meditation or send you bounding like a wild, happy kangaroo down the shore. It’s the beach, and here is South Carolina it’s oh-so-baby-beautiful.

Hunting Island is one of the hundreds of Sea Islands on the Carolina coast. This little 5,000 acre paradise sits ~15 miles east of Beaufort, SC and was once a popular hunting preserve. It boasts 4 miles of pristine beach, a deep forest, a cool 19th century lighthouse (only $2 to climb), and endless hours of romance with your honey.

Funky low-tide striations

I haven’t seen beach this nice, this dog-friendly (pooch is welcome everywhere) or this deserted in years. There’s a few folks out, but most mornings and we have the place entirely to ourselves. We’ve spent a sublime week walking the shore, playing in the water and absorbing the beauty of the ever-changing sea and sand. 

It just goes to show, you never know what kind of hidden treasures you’ll unwrap on the road. Can’t wait to see what our wheels bring us next…

Hunting Island Lighthouse

So much sand, so much blue....

Wild and wonderful

Happy hubby, happy doggie

The Lowcountry of the Carolinas

De Wey Wi Speak, Duh De Wey Wi Lib”
(The way we speak is the way we live – Lowcountry Gullah)

Gorgeous Hunting Island. The dunes protect the sea turtle eggs.

We’re in deep Lowcountry and the center of the Gullah culture. It’s a region entrenched with history and racial tensions intermingled with stunning beach’s and virgin coastline. These are the Sea Islands of the Carolinas they’re a totally unique experience.

The broad, flat “Low Country” is a tide-influenced coastal area extending from ~70 miles inland through swampy inlets, marshes and rivers to hundreds of islands speckled along the coast of South Carolina. With its rich soils it’s one of the epicenters of North American plantation history, from large rice plantations in the early 1700′s to cotton in the 1800′s. During the boom-time thousands of African slaves were bought in to labor the fields, and  on the isolated coast they preserved their Gullah culture, a combination of Creole language and West African cultural heritage.

Lowcountry wilderness; inlets, marsh and forest

It took until 1960 to see the end of segregation in the region, and you still see a lot of the history in the region. The local population clearly remember the days of past, and many areas still show a stark separation between the poorer and richer communities. Much of the coastal wilderness stands apart and pristine and has kept a strong link to Gullah culture. It’s one of the last developed frontiers of the Atlantic with broad, stunning white beach’s set against a thick interior forest brimming with deer, racoon and wildlife.

The Gullah Grub Restaurant on St Helena Island serving old-fashioned shrimp and grits

We’ve spent the past week roaming the wild beach’s, exploring the coastal towns and talking to the locals. We’ve been amazed at the beauty of the area, as well as the warm Southern welcome we’ve been given by everyone we’ve met.

As the locals would say “you don’t come here to hide away, you come here to hear, feel and touch our story”, and it’s a story worth touching, indeed!

NF Campground Rating – Brick House, Sumter National Forest (Whitmire, SC)

Can you get deep forest seclusion for $5? Oh yes, you can!
Link to campground here: Brick House Campground, Sumter Forest
Link to map here: Brick House Campground, Sumter Forest

1. Site Quality = 2/5
   This is a primitve campground and the sites reflect that. Nothing fancy here, just dirt/forest-surface back-ins with picnic table and fire-pit. The sites vary quite a bit in size and level, but they’re are large, well-separated, nicely shaded and you can easily get the biggest rig in here.
2.  Facilities = 2/5
   The only facilities here are vault toilets. The campground does have a day-use area (with large, grassy field) and direct access to over 30 miles of horse/bike/hike trails.
3. Location = 4/5
   Gotta give this place kudos for location. You’re just off Hwy 26, yet you feel like you’re in deep, secluded forest and you’re only a few miles from the small town of Whitmire,SC. It’s a primitive location with civilization not too far away.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Another doggie haven. Lots of open space, hiking trails and little critters to chase.

Overall Rating = 3.25
BONUS ALERT = A secluded forest campground for only $5!

Summary: You really can’t get a much better deal than this! For $5/night you’re in a secluded and peaceful forest campground. It’s right off Hwy 26 and close to Whitmire, SC yet feels like it’s way out there. The campground is basic and primitive, nothing but forest ground and vault toilets here, but the surrounding area is lovely with over 30 miles of horse/bike/hike trails and lots of space for yourself and your furry friends. The campground attracts hunters and horse-men, so there’s plenty of room to fit big-rigs. This is a very basic campground, but it’s wonderfully peaceful. Great dry-camping spot and one to keep on the list!

 Extra Info:  Amazingly both Verizon datacard and AT&T phones worked. Primitive sites only (no hookups). $5/night. NO water or dump.

Paul walks Taggart at our site

Typical site view...just a cleared-out forest space

Picnic table and fire-pit at each site

View down campground road to our neighbour

Hiking in the forest w/ Polly

We Dip our Feet in the Atlantic!

Strolling on the Atlantic...even better than we imagined!

Well, I’m jumping ahead a bit here but I’m just so darn excited I can’t help it! After ~4,700 miles, open desert, high mountains, deep woods, grassy plains and what seems like a lifetime of experiences we’ve reached the East Coast and dipped our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. Whoo hooo!

It’s been one thumper of a ride. There’s been moments of deep awe, moments of doubt and cursing bugs, and moments of profound beauty, but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

When we made the plan to go East we envisioned ourselves arriving on a huge white beach and running in the ocean with Polly. Little did we know that our vision would be so potent. So, here we are…coast to coast, sand in our feet, stunning beach stretching to the horizon, the wind in our hair…and already planning how we’ll go West next year.

All I can say is this life is really addicting….

The whole journey...coast to coast