Missing the ocean already after just a week inland, so after Savannah Georgia, we popped back to the east coast for a week. This time Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. No ferry required for this one, the island has been accessible by bridge since the 1950s.
Hilton Head is known for its incredible beaches, world class golf courses and mile upon mile of bike paths. It regularly ranks amongst the top spots for Best Island in the US, right up there with the Hawaii big boys. (I could be biased but think the voters might not have been to Ocracoke.)
First thing we did after setting up camp was to explore the island. We pointed at what looked to be a good spot on the map and headed there. With still five miles to go to drive to Harbour Town, we rounded a corner and came upon a gated entrance spanning the entire road. I got a raised eyebrow look from Darren and I pointed ineffectually at the iPhone which in its wisdom had directed us this way. All I could think was thank god we weren’t towing the Basecamp, it doesn’t excel at u-turns.
We really had no option other than to approach the barrier and mumble our apologies. Terribly sorry, we explained we were lost trying to find the lighthouse. With a self-assured grin, the lascivious gatekeeper advised us that indeed we were on the correct road and it would cost a mere $9 to enter Sea Pines Plantation. Ker-ching! Turns out the whole south western tip of the island, which encompasses more than 5,000 acres including Harbour Town is behind this facade. With a bit more research, we learned approximately 70% of the island is located inside gated communities.
Having parked up, we mooched around the marina to the candy striped lighthouse in Harbour Town. Only to learn it has never even been a proper functioning lighthouse – it was built as a tourist attraction and gift shop. WTF, it’s more smoke and mirrors than the Wizard of Oz.
One of the highlights of Hilton Head for us had to be our waterfront camp spot. Blanketed by lush vegetation giving us privacy from neighboring sites, it overlooked a marina and even had a little wooden deck, a perfect spot for BBQing. And wildlife watching. Even working.
But our main office for the week was the rather grand sounding Executive Suites, in which we both had our own offices. Going up in the world you might say 🙂 Ah, not so much. The offices might have been grand in the seventies… but there they had stayed. Proper old school.
Our pre-work morning recreation included rather blustery walks along the beach, in addition to checking out Pinkney refuge national wildlife reserve.
We didn’t get chance to check out those many miles of bike paths during the week, so we extended our stay on Hilton Head an extra night and out came the bikes.
We ignored the ‘Exclusive use of residents and guests’ signs and cheekily tailgated another couple riding on the bike path into a gated community. We cruised through the perfectly manicured and very posh Shipyard golf estate with a shameless grin borne from a misplaced sense of achievement. Nice of them to lay on the Disney features… a turtle strategically placed for photos by the lake. And an alligator (albeit a small one) lazily traversing the deeper waters.
All the best routes lead to the beach. We emerged from the rolling emerald expanse of fairytale telly tubby land to the golden white sand of Forest beach. Sand so hard packed you could ride on it. Admittedly, not the easiest of rides but so exhilarating to feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your back and the waves crashing alongside you.
And then like an oasis appearing in the desert, we spied a tiki style bar. All colorful wood, palm trees and a laid back reggae vibe. I heard the rewarding pfschhhh sound of a can of beer opening. And with my can of tropical lager in hand and view of the beach, it was then I remembered we’d taken the following week off work. What a perfect way to start the holiday.
