Plantation River Tour

Wacca Wache Marina

Last week a small group of us went on the Plantation River Tour on the Waccamaw River, departing from the Wacca Wache Marina in Murrells Inlet.  The Pear Trees were all in bloom and quite beautiful.  

 

Here we are aboard the Waccamaw Lady (L:R):  Cal, Cathy, Paul, Me, John, Jackie, Judy and Gord, ready to head on down the river for a 2-hour tour.

Our Group (back row)

Along the ride we saw rice plantations, trunk gates, slave cabins, moss-laden oak trees, turtles, an alligator, a white egret and osprey nesting.

 

Interesting root formations along the banks of the Waccamaw River

Along the route we pass Sandy Island.  It The island is about 9,000 acres (36 km²) of a prehistoric sand dune.  It is bounded east and west by the rivers, on the north by Bull Creek, and on the south by Thoroughfare Creek.  The northern part of the island is higher and is mostly a longleaf pine forest, which provides a refuge for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and numerous other species of plants and animals.  On the southern, lower end of the island are the remnants of old rice plantations, with the watergates and earthwork canals, built by African slaves skilled in rice culture. Such development was used to manage the water supply for irrigating the rice fields.

A small community in the south is made up of a few families who are descendants of former salves. Some still work the rice fields. The island is only accessible by boat, and workers and school children commute to the mainland daily for work and school.

Boat used for daily transportation to and from Sandy Island

A General Store on Sandy Island

Osprey and nest

 

 

Alligator sunning

Some of the homes and plantations we saw along the tour. 

 

 

Chicora Woods

Great White Egret

 

Trunk Gates

Turtles sunning on a rock

It was a beautiful morning for the tour and the scenery was quite nice.

Here we are pulling into the dock after our tour and everyone has cool drinks and food on their minds.

So we treat ourselves to a great lunch on the deck at one of our favourite restaurant in the area, Hannah Banana's Sunshine Cabana.  What a great day with friends.