Oyster Roast

We were told to get to the roast early, it started at 10:30 we arrived at 9:30.  since it was at Boone Hall Plantation we walked the grounds while we waited for the party to begin.

they oyster steamers and tables were going strong at 10:30..

Before digging into the oysters we had BBQ spare ribs and Fish and Chips that were both very good..

OK we are ready to try the bucket of Oysters..

they were delightful!  not as salty as the local oysters (these come from Texas) but very good!

temps between 70-72 and very sunny... lots of people enjoying the roast..

Oyster shucking and eating contests..  we did not have the stomach to watch the eating contest. these guys really know how to shuck..

we were not done eating oysters so then went to get Carolina delight.. it was two fried grit cakes, covered with parmesan cream, large shrimp and parmesan cheese... it was really really good....  then we had some chicken wings that were also very good. we finished out with a chocolate chunk cookie that was (you guessed it) very good.  all in all a very good day for eating...

Brother Ray is in Savannah and we can't wait to see him on Thurs when we meet up in Charleston!

Bulls Island

“Bulls Island” at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (this is the place we actually applied for, but they had all of their volunteers so we ended up at Francis Marion NF), is an undeveloped barrier island within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. It was established in 1932 to help wildlife and to preserve their habitat. Bull Island was a well-known hideout for pirates waiting to raid ships along the coast. The ruins of the Old Fort on Bull Island are believed to be what is left of a Martello tower that was built in the early 1700s, which Union troops destroyed during the Civil War. During the Revolutionary War, British warships used the island as a restocking station.
Bull Island is considered a Class 1 wilderness location, meaning it has remained relatively unchanged and unaltered by man. A ferry is the only means of transportation to the island, and visitors are not allowed to stay past dark.

on the way to the island  it was low tide so were were able to see people digging for clams..

this guy has to wait until the tide comes back in to go out..

an oyster bed..

lots of birds including the Brown Pelican

harvesting oysters..

Oyster Catchers

we had a great talk on the way over, it was a bit cool but I was dressed appropriately, the college kids were not! they all gave me funny looks while on the dock, but on the boat I just smiled as I was the only one that was warm!

most of the paths looked like this..

from the Observation Towe we can see Jacks Creek, a 500 acre (I think) fresh water pond. not sure how that works... maybe it is not fresh water..

from here we headed to.....Alligators Alley.....where we seen about 50 alligators..

and the Grand Daddie...

after seeing all those gators we needed a rest by a beautiful pond..

next we went to what is known as the Boneyard..  the shore gets beat up by the waves, moves the sand to the other side of the island and leaves behind dead trees.

Eric playing in the water...  really rinsing off shells..

and a Horseshoe Crab molt

we picked up a few sand dollars and other shells, maybe we will put them on the wall in the Sauna!    we walked at least 5 miles yesterday and we walked about 7 miles today, and needless to say we were pretty tired.  this was a bit pricy but well worth the trip.  they only take the ferry out on Saturdays in the winter and this was the first Sat since we have been here that was not cold or rainy!

Went North for the day

We headed for Myrtle Beach for lunch today.  on the way we stopped at Brookgreen Gardens.

In 1931,Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington established Brookgreen Gardens as a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation to preserve the native flora and fauna and display objects of art within that natural setting. Today, Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and a display garden with the most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world. The Huntingtons first visited the property in 1929. They were captivated by the Carolina Lowcountry with its undulating rivers and shadowy swamplands, sandy pine forests, sweeping marsh vistas and stately moss-draped oaks. So, the philanthropist and his beloved sculptor wife bought Brookgreen Plantation and the three adjoining properties, amassing 9,127 acres of forest, swamp, rice fields and beachfront.

There is about 1400 sculptures on the property along with beautiful trees and a zoo.

Don Quixote..

his sidekick Sancho..

the fountain of the Muses..

of course lots of wildlife..

 

this tree was cut down by hand!

we spent about 3 hours here but really rushed it.  we did not know when we got here that it was so big and that there was so much to look at.  but food was needed and we were about 40 minutes from Myrtle Beach.  most places were closed until March! but we found a place on the ocean that served a great shirmp and flounder basket and fried grouper.  the fish was really good. the fries ok and the cole slaw nothing to write home about. 

its Jan 28th but no Ice fishing here...