We took I-95 around Savannah to get back onto 17 after our fuel stop in Hardeeville SC. The Georgia and South Carolina border is the Savannah River. An interesting fact about this border. On June 29, 1977, an altercation between Georgia law enforcement officers and a South Carolina shrimp boat captain attracted national press and rekindled a controversy that would not be resolved until 1990.
South Carolina and Georgia disagreed over the exact location of the boundary in the lower Savannah River, as well as ownership of several islands in that region. At stake in this border dispute was not only tax dollars but also potentially millions of dollars in federal aid. The original boundaries for Carolina stretched as far south as the St. Mary’s River, in Florida. Georgia’s founding charter established the colony as bounding Savannah’s “northern stream” south to the Altamaha’s “southern stream.” At the end of the Seven Years’ War, the St. Mary’s River became Georgia’s southern boundary opposite the new British colony of East Florida.
Border controversies continued, and three commissioners from each state met in Beaufort on April 28, 1787. The Treaty of Beaufort guaranteed to South Carolina; and all of the islands in the Savannah River belonged to Georgia. Uncertainties remained, as the US Army Corps of Engineers and other organizations significantly altered the lower region of the Savannah River to ensure safe navigation for deep-draft vessels. As boundary questions continued between the two states, a 1922 U.S. Supreme Court ruling placed the line at the Savannah “midway between the main banks of the river.” On June 25, 1990, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina and awarded ownership of most of the islands in the Savannah, adding three thousand acres of land and seven thousand acres of water to the Palmetto State.
We are in South Carolina now and we stop for gas at a Pilot Flying J on 17. We both pull in to get gas and there is a large gathering of people near the entrance. They look like a bus tour group. I pay for the gas and watch the pump as Charlie cleans the windows and checks the tow car. I notice a man taking pictures of our RV and car. I see Charlie talking to him and then a lady comes over and talks. Pretty soon Sheryl comes out of the store talking to this group of people, almost like the "pied piper" the group is following Sheryl. They are now talking to Sheryl near her rig. Gary is pumping the gas. I go over to give Sheryl something and the rig door is open and I start to go in, but there are people coming out ... almost this the clowns coming out of a clown car.... they just kept on coming! As Paul Harvey would say... the rest of the story ... They were from Paris, France on a bus tour from New York City to Key West. They had never seen RV's this big nor had they seen RVing towing cars! They were just fascinated! No one could say that the Americans at the Hardeeville Pilot were not friendly, accommodating and cordial to this group of visitors from France.
We got back onto US 17 heading north. Heading into Charleston we choose to avoid the downtown area and take the 526 around Charleston. We were lucky to see a military aircraft take off over our heads, from the Charleston Air Force Base. We did cross the Cooper River a bit north of Charleston Harbor.
At the other end of Mount Pleasant the roadside sweetgrass basket stands are the most visible aspect of the Gullah/Geechee culture along US 17. The Hamlin community – a community of families who are descendants of slaves from area plantations, have stands along this "Seven-Mile" stretch known as the "Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway." In 2006, the sweetgrass basket became South Carolina’s official state craft.
If you drive through historic Georgetown SC, stop and enjoy the waterfront community. Easily accessible by land or sea. It is a beautiful hidden gem between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Many more tree canopied streets to enjoy! By sea, this harbor is a great stopover along the Inter-coastal Waterway. You don't want to pass it by, you will be pleasantly surprised. As the 3rd oldest seaport in the country and is filled with history, charm and personality. In this harbor, you will be happy to find that a small town still exists. The people are warm, welcoming, and will treat you with their southern hospitality. The stores, restaurants and tours are locally owned and are not part of any big chain so you will get a real feel for this wonderful town.
Pawley Island is known as one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700′s. Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back lifestyle, which includes crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes.
You can tell we are getting closer to the big commercial beaches, we continue to see beach shops, golf carts for rent, bicycles, scooters for rent, chairs, umbrellas and cheap t-shirts. We took US 17 and enjoyed the stop and go of the traffic, not really! Myrtle Beach State Park is our home for the next few nights. I am ready to dip my toes in the ocean and walk the beach and see a sunrise! Our friends from Texas, Milt & Gaby, should arrive soon. But our first official visitor was a big ole raccoon!
Stay tuned tomorrow as we explore Myrtle Beach for a day! #TwoLaneAdventures
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