WAHOO RIVER IN GEORGIA TO BULL CREEK NEAR DAUFUSKIE ISLAND IN SC

Tuesday, April 21st, 2015

Day 260
Miles Traveled: 67
Total Miles Traveled: 3218


  We did not get much sleep at the Wahoo River anchorage.  The current was very strong, as is the case with almost all of the Atlantic ICW, and the noise of the waves hitting on the bow of the boat was not music to our ears. (It was a little too loud.)  But, to make up for the lack of sleep, we were given a spectacular sunrise.

sunrise at Wahoo River anchorage

  We hoped to move through the rest of Georgia's Atlantic ICW today.  That only required us to travel along Sapelo Sound, Johnson Creek, North Newport River, St. Catherine's Sound, Bear River, Florida Passage, Ogeechee River, Hell's Gate, Vernon River, Burnside River, Skidaway Narrows, Skidaway River, Wilmington River, Elba Island Cut, across Savannah River, Fields Cut, Wright River, Ramshorn Creek, and Cooper River.  Sounds like that would be impossible.  Many of these waterways we only traveled on for couple of miles before we cut through into a different waterway.  Markers along the waterway are our guide so as not to get lost.
  
    The scenery was frequently changing - from broad expanses of water to narrow channels and from undeveloped to developed shorelines.

St. Catherine's Sound - expansive

narrow channel - it you look closely there is a red bouy (float) near land - we had have land on our starboard (right) and the red buoy on our port (left) - narrow channel - only room for one boat - this was in Fields Cut

Homes along the shore of northern Georgia Atlantic ICW - different than the marshland of  Georgia's Lowcountry

  There were a couple areas which required us to pass through at mid to high tide - Hell's Gate and Fields Cut.  For Hell's Gate we had a guide - "Mighty Fine" which we traveled with yesterday.  "Horizon Chaser" was traveling along with them.  We followed them both through Hell's Gate and had no difficulties.  Our timing was perfect and high tide was occurring right as we traveled through the area.  Hell's Gate connects the Ogeechee River with the Vernon River.  

traveling through Hell's Gate with "Mighty Fine" and "Horizon Chaser"

warning sign along Hell's Gate channel

  

  They both stopped at Thunderbolt Marina near Savannah, Georgia and we continue our journey north.  We have visited Savannah in the past and decided to continue on up the coast.  We traveled the rest of the way on our own and managed Fields Cut without running aground.  Fields Cut connects the Savannah River with the Wright River.  We did not travel much on the Savannah River as we only had to cross it to get to the other side.

looking down the Savannah River as we went across

  Our anchorage for the evening was up Bull Creek near Daufuskie Island, SC.  So, not only did we travel a lot of waterways, but, we also entered a new state today.  Daufuskie Island is a residential "sea island" between Hilton Head, SC and Savannah, GA.  The total island surface is about 8 square miles and is home to a full-time population of about 250 people.  This island was home to a sizable population of Gullah inhabitants from the end of the Civil War until recently.  Gullah people are the descendants of enslaved Africans who live in the Lowcountry region of the U.S.  They have strived to preserve much of their African cultural heritage. 

  We had a nice view of the Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island.  This lighthouse may look familiar to our golfing family and friends.  The golf course on Harbour Town - Sea Pines Resort is one used on the PGA Tour.  The lighthouse is located on the 18th hole.  We will get a better view of this lighthouse as we continue our trip north.

view of Harbour Town Lighthouse seen from our anchorage