MV SERENDIPTY Larry and Erin

October 21 and 22 McClellanville SC  from Osprey Marina

Nestor has passed and out three day stay at Osprey Marina has also come to an end. Today we would pass thru the man made cut that started behind Myrtle Beach

and would take us to the upper reaches of the Waccamaw River and to Winyah Bay as we passed by Georgetown SC. The destination was McClellanville,SC.

We were underway at 0730 in a light cloud cover with no wind as we said good-bye to the well protected berth at Osprey Marina and entered the canal. It was here that we began to encounter the large cypress forests seemingly growing right out of the water. There was deep water right up to the shores and navigation was not difficult. The pictures will offer a glimpse into the passage of the canal and the river on the way to Georgetown and Winyah Bay.

The sun broke thru the clouds about 10 a.m. and soon we were joined by more Dolphin and again signs of civilization as the upper Waccamaw River was pretty barren of dwellings and services. The wide bay was easy to transit as we gained sight of the huge steel Plant that was working furiously if

the huge plume of steam rising from the plant is any indication.

Soon we entered another man made cut called the Estherville Minim Creek Canal. Here the Cypress forests gave way to large coastal marshlands in The Cape Romaine Nature Wildlife Preserve. There were seemingly miles and miles of marshes which had canals and earthen redoubts separating many areas. It was obvious that these were once colonial rice fields. Rice was the “gold Crop” of Coastal South Carolina for man many decades. The traveling got a little tricky here also as we negotiated two well known intersections on the ICW. One was the North Santee River and the other about one mile further was the South Santee. Yes we even saw dolphins in these shallow waters miles from the ocean.

These rivers flow thru the low country of SC to the ocean and drain a large portion f the old rice parries and upper reaches where the cypress swamps are . These rivers stretch quite far inland as the rivers are crossed when driving I-95.

There were a few other boats in the waterway today but the rest of the trip was unremarkable. The arrival in McClellanville SC during an incoming tide. We planned on staying there for at least one night as Charleston was just 30 miles from here and also had a reputation n of the best diesel prices in the ICW. The whole port of McClellanville is dedicated to the shrimping and fishing industries and is home to more than a dozen working shrimpers. The prices are so low because the boats all get their fuel there. 

The Leland Oil Company owns the piers and built more than they needed for the shrimpers and let yachts tie up there as long as space is available. We did buy 100 gals fuel there. That is the first fuel we bought since departing VA some 500 miles ago. At the moment we have 750 gals aboard of the 900 full capacity.

Another feature of the town of McClellanville is historical from the earliest days of the colonies to the present day if conveys a true small-town warmth of the deep south. The tree lined streets with overhanging live Oaks draped with Spanish moss are truly the image of how it was in the beginning but with dirt or oyster shell roads. Some of the homes along Water St. were built in the 1800’s and are still occupied. In a small park on the corner of Water Street is a Historical monument, a 1000 year old sprawling live oak tree and dedications to past personages who inhabited the town. The old general store is a seafood restaurant called T.W. Grahams and has a history all the way back to the founding of the town when it served the rice, seafood and cotton trades selling merchandise to the growers and watermen of the day. There are B&B’s here and would be worth a weekend to TRULY VISIT a real taste and view of “The Old South.” There is no place else you will see this better than in McClellanville South Carolina. Here are some pics of the town.

typical tree lined street in McClellanville

Anti-Bellum Home

Anti-Bellum Home built 1861

Tree house on a single branch of Live Oak tree

At the wharf where the shrimpers, oystermen and clamers sell their catches is a real, I mean real, seafood market. Everything is fresh Caught. The owners also make Clam and shrimp dip that is TO DIE FOR! OMG it is good. Bought two to take to the boat. It is rich tasty and a little on a cracker goes a long way to satisfy that seafood itch.

We stayed two nights because I did not want to get to Charleston before our slip would be available. The quiet of this little town is enchanting and sunsets over the trees calming. Day is done, Rest well travelers.

Tomorrow October 23 we are on the way to Charleston, my childhood home and roughly ½ way to the Florida Keys.