May 21-22, 2017 Sunday & Monday
Before leaving the Isle of Hope, GA we took a morning walk and then headed for Hilton Head, SC. Rick’s family has vacationed at Hilton Head for years and we wanted to check it out. Hilton Head Island has a rich history and its estuaries are the breeding grounds for many saltwater species of game fish, sport fish, and marine mammals. The local dolphins escorted Andiamo and jumping stingrays entertained us, both on our way in and out of the island.
Hilton Head became an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports during the Civil War and was the home of Mitchelville, a town built during the Civil War for escaped slaves. We visited Fort Mitchel and I was surprised to learn that Ormsby M. Mitchel’s leadership was so remarkable that both the fort and Mitchelville were named after him. He served on the island for only 45 days before dying from yellow fever.
We stayed at the Windmill Harbour Marina, which you have to go through a 75′ long by 19′ wide lock to enter, that means your boat is pretty safe from storms. Most of the island is well-manicured and gorgeous, which is not surprising in view of the fact that approximately 70% of the island, including most of the tourist areas, is located inside gated communities.
