Island in the Sun

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff and I spent a beautiful day on Dafuskie Island, across the river from Hilton Head. We had bought this excursion on Groupon and took a water taxi for the half hour ride. Upon arrival we were given a gas powered golf cart and a map. We had some real adventures driving on dirt paths and getting lost. The island is quite small and has about 400 people living there. Some live in the three fabulous golf communities and others live in trailers. There are no stores or groceries and everything is brought over by boat. We even saw some folks bringing a mattress and box spring on a small boat. Many gullah people (former slaves) lived on the island and their descendants are still there. There are six black cemeteries and one for white people. The old segrated school houses still stand. Author Pat Conroy taught at the black school and wrote about his experiences in The Water is Wide. Top photo is a rookerie with egrets and wood storks loudly chirping. The squirrels were very large with black faces and I'm told they are fox squirrels. Jeff driving our cart and me on the pristine beach. Jeff visiting gravestones dating back to the 1700's and lunch at an island favorite "shack" with good food.