Monday, October 31st

Halloween

The final driving day announced itself with rain and clouds and more cold. For the first time, it rained properly, not just a light drizzle. The right weather to return to the coast. I had picked the city of Beaufort and its surrounding islands on account of it not looking as posh as Hilton Head Island, if you can tell from the map.

As I was driving through the beautifully named village of Smoaks, the sun came out, but it disappeared immediately when I left it again, and the rain returned. I passed Beaufort which apparently was a mistake as it seems to have a proper old town for once. But with this miserable weather I couldn’t quite see me strolling around.

Instead, I drove on towards the ocean. Beaufort was on Port Royal Island, then followed Lady’s Island, and St. Helena’s Island. A very narrow bridge with a draw bridge included lead to Harbor Island. A sign warning of “terrapin crossing”, a terrapin apparently being a kind of turtle, completed my list of odd animals allegedly crossing the road. Harbor Island itself was very flat and rich in trees, a curious mixture of palms and pines.

It also was very small wit Huntington Island next. It was uninhabited save for a camping site and the offices of the Huntington Island State Park, admission five dollars. I found that a bit steep for a light house. Impressive, though, the very thick vegetation forming a venerable rain forest. This felt a bit odd on this cold and gray day but was probably worth five dollars on a warm, sunny day.

The next and final island was Fripp Island. It seemed to be a privately owned island since there was a big security gate right after the bridge. So I had to turn around without seeing the Atlantic proper. Shame.

On the way back I stopped at the aforementioned camping ground. It was essentially a big forest park and certainly quite nice. If I had be into camping, I certainly would have liked to come here. It seemed they were expecting a big crowd for the night and had brought in a few volunteer helpers. Maybe there was a Halloween party planed.

I, meanwhile, went back to the main land and onwards south. I went around Savannah using the Interstate. I had half a mind continuing in the motorway, but driving was just too crazy and I rather returned to a regular highway. My entirely subjective impression is that people in the Northwest are a lot better drivers than down here. The drive on the equally busy motorway from Eugene to Portland was less unnerving. There was also less cops to confuse traffic.

Once solidly into Georgia, the clouds disappeared and the sun even came out. I continued without incident to Brunswick, the last overnight stop of this trip. The idea was to find a motel and then do a little trip towards the ocean again, but it was past four already when I arrived and I really couldn’t get myself out anymore.