Wednesday, April 2:

After breakfast today, we went over the to Lighthouse area. Here we learned that the original lighthouse was built in 1859 as a brick structure that was destroyed by beach erosion in the late 1860’s. In 1875, the US Coast Guard relocated the lighthouse approximately a quarter mile from the shoreline. The next structure was made of cast iron plates that could be taken apart and re-assembled if relocation became necessary again. The complex included the light-keeper’s dwelling, as well several storage buildings.





By 1889, mother nature had her way again, cutting away part of the northern end of the island and requiring relocation of the lighthouse and the other buildings to their present location, one and a quarter miles southeast of the old site.





We climbed the lighthouse – all 181 steps up a spiral staircase. Nice views from the top.













We also hiked the Lighthouse Nature Trail. This trail once connected the campground and the lighthouse, but today the trail goes only 3/10 mile through the forest before it ends abruptly at the beach.









Here is dramatic demonstration of beach erosion in high gear. The mature maritime forest is being overtaken by the sea, one tree at a time. On average, about 15 feet of beach is lost each year; records of the lighthouse keeper show 400 feet of erosion in one year.










We made a short stop at the visitor center, where there are exhibits and a movie about the history of the island.

And then – time for a shrimpburger. We drove out to the Shrimp Shack and dined in style – on wooden benches on the screened-in porch. Delicious!






We also checked fresh shrimp prices at Gay Fish Incorporated and checked out some of the shrimp boats docked at the pier here. And then it was back to Hunting Island to complete our exploration of the southern end of the island.








We stopped at the Marsh Boardwalk, which extends nearly ½ mile into the marsh – from the main road all the way to the creek that separates Hunting Island from nearby Saint Helena Island. The boardwalk passes through several high spots (or hummocks) as seen in the first photo.









We went all the way to the far end of the island to check out the Paradise Fishing Pier, said to be the longest free-standing fishing pier on the east coast. It extends 1,120 feet into Fripp Inlet and offers nice views of big houses across the water.

And finally, we walked a 2-mile loop of the islands interior trails. The first mile was along the lagoon, where we saw an osprey nest. The return trip was through the forest.













Time for a rest – we headed back to the campground to watch the cold front roll in. The temperature dropped quickly and the wind whistled – all night long.