8 American beaches that are warm NOW

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/12/16/8-american-beaches-that-are-warm-now/

By Mark Sullivan

Published December 16, 2013

Budget Travel

 

 

The snow is piling up and all you want to do is escape to a warm beach? These islands are perfect for a winter beach vacation—and closer than you think.
You don't need to splurge on a trip to the Caribbean to spend time on the beach this winter. These eight U.S. islands have the sandy shores, seafood shacks, and sunny skies that will have you thinking it's summer—even when there's snow on the ground back home.
Take a tour of the islands

AMELIA ISLAND, FL
Average highs of 65/71 in February/March
About as far north as you can go and still be in the Sunshine State, Amelia Island's 13 miles of beaches are mostly deserted until March—so it's easy to find a spot where there are no other people in sight. Horseback riding along the sand is one of the most popular off-season activities. Kids have a blast exploring the nooks and crannies of Fort Clinch, one of the country's best-preserved 19th-century fortifications. It was also one of the last of its kind, as new weapons made brick forts obsolete during the Civil War. Boutiques and lovingly restored Victorian mansions make up the historic district.
Sleep The Seaside Amelia Inn is steps from the beach and has a rooftop terrace perfect for taking in the sunset. Rooms start at just $69 a night.
Refuel Grab one of the umbrella-shaded tables in the courtyard of Joe's 2nd Street Bistro, where the menu leans, naturally, toward seafood.
Easy Escape From Jacksonville (33 miles), Gainesville (101 miles).

AVERY ISLAND, LA
Average highs of 65/72 in February/March
Things get hot here, and not just because of the steamy weather. It's home to the Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory, where you can taste the fiery mixture during the free daily tours. (If you come on a Friday, you won't see the sauce being made, however.) E.A. McIlhenny, son of the company's founder, converted his private estate into a bird sanctuary, which he opened in 1935 as Jungle Gardens. McIlhenny was intent on saving snowy egrets, then endangered because their plumage was popular for ladies' hats. You can still see the brilliantly white birds inside the sanctuary and out. Surrounded by bayous, the mostly undeveloped island is also a great place to spot alligators, deer, and raccoons. You'll want to base yourself in one of the nearby communities; New Iberia, a half-hour drive north, has a good selection of restaurants and gracious homes transformed into B&Bs.
Sleep A bungalow dating from the early 1900s, the Estorge-Norton House in New Iberia is chock-full of antiques. Rates start at $85.
Refuel Landry's Cajun Restaurant specializes in Cajun camp cooking with a menu offering all the classics like gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and oyster po'boys.
Easy Escape From Baton Rouge (85 miles), New Orleans (140 miles).

CALADESI ISLAND, FL
Average highs of 73/77 in February/March
The three miles of white-sand beaches on this pristine barrier island offer some of the best shelling on the Gulf of Mexico. And because it's a state park, you won't search for sand dollars in the shadow of high-rise hotels. In fact, there's not a single place to stay on the island, unless you count the 108-slip marina. There are no cars, either. Once you disembark the ferry ($14 roundtrip from Honeymoon Island, a short drive from Dunedin), the only way to get around is with your own two feet. Not a bad way, actually, as the boardwalk nature trail passes through stands of mangroves and around sand dunes. As you stroll, you may spot one of the rare gopher tortoises. Kayaking around the bay side of the island is a popular pastime, as the sea-grass flats are populated with ospreys, herons, and other birds. Pack a picnic lunch because there's just one small concession stand on the island.
Sleep You can fish from the dock at the Sea Captain Resort on the Bay in nearby Clearwater, a small city popular with water sports enthusiasts. Winter rates start at $101 through the end of January and at $122 for February through April.
Refuel On the mainland, very close to Caladesi Island, Dunedin's kitsch-filled Casa Tina serves surprisingly authentic Mexican fare. A local favorite is the Veracruz-style fish, sautéed with tomatoes and onions.
Easy Escape From St. Petersburg (20 miles), Tampa (24 miles), Orlando (103 miles).

CATALINA ISLAND, CA
Average highs of 64/65 in February/March
You won't entirely escape the state's notorious traffic on this island 22 miles off the southern California coast. But since golf carts are just about the biggest things on the road, you probably won't mind. You can get your own cart through Island Rentals ($40 for an hour rental plus a $40 deposit), but to explore the island's rugged interior, you'll need to rent a two-wheeler from Brown's Bikes ($20 per day) or enlist the help of an outfitter like Discovery Tours. Spotting one of the island's bald eagles, which were almost entirely wiped out by chemical contamination a few decades ago, will put a feather in your cap. The island is an hour and a half from Dana Point on the Catalina Express ferry ($74.50 round-trip), which drops you off at the town of Avalon, a pleasant place for window-shopping. That cylindrical building on the edge of the harbor is the Casino, an art deco movie house that still screens the latest releases.
Sleep On Avalon's main drag, the Hermosa Hotel welcomed its first guests in 1896. Standard rooms start at $75 per night from December through February and $100 March through November. Cottages with their own kitchens start at $100 from December through February and $150 March through November.
Refuel This is California, so the home cooking at Original Jack's Country Kitchen includes free-range chicken, and beef and pork raised without antibiotics or hormones. Sound too wholesome? Try one of the gooey doughnuts from its adjoining bakery.
Easy Escape From Los Angeles (60 miles), San Diego (66 miles).

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, SC
Average highs of 61/67 in February/March
Still weaving baskets from the sweetgrass that grows wild along the coast, Daufuskie Island's tiny Gullah population—descended from slaves—carefully tends to its traditions. You can take a peek into local life at landmarks like the white clapboard First Union African Baptist Church, built in the 1880s and still in use today. Less than a quarter of this 5,000-acre island has been developed, leaving plenty of open spaces to explore. (And we mean exploring by foot or by golf cart, as no cars are allowed.) One especially nice excursion point is the Haig Point Lighthouse, which has a tower extending from the roof of an antebellum-style house.
Sleep As you might guess, Daufuskie isn't an all-inclusive-resort kind of place. A good option is the two-bedroom Daufuskie Island Cottage, a vacation-rental property that's on a quiet dirt lane in the historic district. In January and February, the rate drops to $115 (two-night minimum), including use of a golf cart.
Refuel There's nightly live music at Marshside Mama's, which one local calls a "put-your-feet-up place." The ladies in the kitchen ladle out a tasty low-country gumbo.
Easy Escape From Savannah (44 miles), Charleston (116 miles).

MOLOKAI, HI
Average highs of 76/77 in February/March
When Hawaiians talk about Molokai, they often say it's "how the islands used to be." It's true that there are no traffic lights or sprawling hotels. The least visited of the major Hawaiian islands has a rugged northern coast with the world's highest sea cliffs, a southern coast that gently wades into the sea, and a rocky interior punctuated by three extinct volcanoes. The biggest town, Kaunakakai, has barely 7,000 people, along with a three-block-long main street and a tiny airport. The top tourist attraction is the former leper colony in what is now Kalaupapa National Historic Park, a peaceful place reachable only on foot or by mule. The scenery is exhilarating, and the remaining buildings, such as the pair of squat churches, are thought-provoking. There's also a nearly endless string of beaches, including the lovely Papohaku, a three-mile-long stretch of glimmering gold sand.
Sleep Lodgings are limited and can be expensive. Try Kaunakakai's Hotel Molokai, a cluster of A-frame buildings set in a tropical garden. Winter rates start at $159 if you book online.
Refuel A local favorite is the Paddlers Inn in downtown Kaunakakai. Enjoy island specialties like mahi-mahi on a breeze-cooled patio.
Easy Escape From Honolulu (50 miles).

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX
Average highs of 70/75 in February/March
Here's one place where the building industry is in full swing—if you count building sand castles, that is. Professional teachers have specialties ranging from one-on-one instruction to creating huge sculptures for weddings and other special events. Sons of the Beach, which has been around for more than 20 years, charges $25 for private lessons. This barrier island off the southern coast of Texas also attracts kids with rowdier activities in mind—spring breakers. Don't worry, though. Get there before the college crowd, and it's still a sleepy beach town. Among the dive bars are boutiques selling goods like rustic pottery and silver jewelry, much of it from Mexico.
Sleep The Palms Resort is a hipped-up beach motel with an oceanfront café and a heated pool. Off-season rates start at $75 a night.
Refuel The menu at Cap'n Roy's is exactly what you would expect from a pirate-inspired restaurant on a barrier island. Try the famous Camaronitas Diablitos—shrimp wrapped in bacon with cream cheese, jalepeño, and pineapple.
Easy Escape From Brownsville (26 miles), Corpus Christi (179 miles).

TYBEE ISLAND, GA
Average highs of 61/67 in February/March
Unlike many nearby islands with higher profiles (and higher prices), Tybee Island isn't out to impress anyone. It's more akin to Coney Island than Jekyll Island, and therein lies its nostalgic charm—imagine boardwalks, food vendors, and stalls selling beach-themed kitsch. This is the kind of place where the restaurants have place-mat menus and the lodgings are of the park-at-your-door variety. There's a wooden pier where you can stroll and five miles of sugary beaches fringed by sea oats. The Tybee Island lighthouse was picture-perfect enough to make it onto a postage stamp. On nearby Cockspur Island is Fort Pulaski National Monument, where you'll find a magisterial brick fort used during the Civil War.
Sleep The Ocean Plaza Beach Resort has been thoroughly updated, but it still reminds many people of beach hotels from when they were kids. Even the rates are retro, starting at $69 in low season.
Refuel The Crab Shack is a local institution that's all it's cracked up to be, serving you-shuck-'em steamed oysters. One favorite is the seafood low-country boil, filled with shrimp, sausage, and potatoes.
Easy Escape From Savannah (17 miles), Richmond Hill (34 miles), Charleston (124 miles).

Daufuskie Community Farm/Artisan Village Festival on December 4th

From the Daufuskie Island Community Farm: Save the Date - Wednesday, December 4, 2013 Come join us at Jolly Shores on Prospect Road, Daufuskie Island, SC For the First Daufuskie Community Farm/Artisan Village Festival Stop by anytime from 10AM until 5PM There will be: -Animals from the farm, Information booths -Handmade on Daufuskie items for sale -Artisans working on their crafts -Classes scheduled throughout the day on a variety of arts and crafts. -Enjoy hot dogs, chili, gumbo, salads, baked potatoes with toppings, -Ice tea, coffee, lemonade, sweet tea & A chili cookoff - To register contact Pat Donations appreciated. You will have an opportunity to support Daufuskie's Farm & Artisans by making a purchase from a bountiful array of wonderful & delightful items for holiday gift giving. For more information contact Pat @ bowwow@hargray.com.

Thanksgiving on Daufuskie Island, SC 29915

Dear Front Porch Readers, Please note the following: From the Daufuskie Island Co-op: The community Thanksgiving this year will be on Sunday, November 17th at Marshside Mama’s starting at 1pm. Turkeys, ham, rolls and drinks will be provided by the co-op. Everyone is asked to bring a covered dish appropriate for the number of guests they are bringing. ****************** From the Daufuskie Community Preservation Zone Association: Improving Daufuskie's publicly funded ferry service is an ongoing topic... A Ferry 101 Community Listening Circle Discussion will take place on Daufuskie Island Sat, Oct, 12th at 12:30PM.It will be hosted at the Maryfield School. Discussion topics will include some history of Daufuskie's publicly funded ferry, what's contained within the Beaufort County Code related to Daufuskie's publicly funded ferry, ways to get more return on the taxpayer monies being spent on the publicly funded ferry and more. Beaufort County Officials have been invited to attend and participate. The Daufuskie Community Preservation Zone Association is interested in hearing what the community has to share. For more info call: 843.842.7792 or email: CPZA13@gmail.com ****************** From the Daufuskie Island Elementary School: Please join us for our Fall Festival at the Daufuskie Elementary School on Saturday, October 19th from 1:00PM to 3:00PM. Silent Auction, fun games and cool prizes! $10 unlimited wristband. Rib dinners provided by Melrose on the Beach - dine in or take out $10. Hot dog dinner $5. If you love making baking goodies for people here is your chance to get your apron out and have fun! Daufuskie Island Elementary School needs volunteers to make baked goods for their 2013 Fall Festival Cake Walk and Bake Sale. Goodies for the sale will need to be individually wrapped. Cakes need to be in disposable containers. All items must be delivered to the school by 11:00AM on Saturday, October 19, 2013. To sign up to bring baked goods please call Kristina Roberts at 843-540-7650. ****************** From the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation: On November 2 at 2:00PM, the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation is hosting a dedication and reception to celebrate the unveiling of a South Carolina Historical Marker located at the County Dock. This marker has been sponsored by the South Carolina Colonial Dames and celebrates the history of our wonderful island. Our heartfelt thanks goes to the South Carolina chapter of Colonial Dames for achieving the placement of the marker. Please join us on November 2 to unveil the marker and thank the Colonial Dames. This will be an island wide event! State and local government officials will also be invited to attend. The reception following the ceremony is being provided by The DI Co-op and Marshside Mama’s. *************************** Best regards, Paula Nickels Editor, The Daufuskie Front Porch www.thedaufuskiefront porch.com

ECU Men's Golf Tied For Sixth After Day One Of Rees Jones Intercollegiate Redshirt sophomore Al Dickens tied for second at 2-under at Haig Point on Daufuskie Island, SC

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, S.C. - East Carolina's Al Dickens fired a 2-under par 70 Sunday to lead the Pirates into a tie for sixth-place after 18 holes of competition at the Rees Jones Intercollegiate being held at the Haig Point Club. Dickens is tied for second place on the par-72, 7,380-yard course layout.
As a team, the Pirates, who teed off on hole No. 10, find themselves tied with 20th-ranked South Carolina at 10-over 298. With its total, ECU is two strokes back of UNC Wilmington (+8) and seven strokes behind Charlotte and No. 43 Liberty (+3) for third place. USF (-2) occupies the top spot followed by Kennesaw State (+2) in second.
Dickens pared the first 15 holes before recording back-to-back birdies on No.7 and 8 and posting his 16th birdie on the ninth green to complete his round. It was the first subpar round of his five tournament collegiate career. Dickens ended the day tied with Kennesaw State's Chris Guglielmo and Charlotte's Raoul Menard for second two strokes back of USF's Chase Koepka.
ECU senior Eric Brady bounced back from a disappointing performance on the back nine, to shoot 1-under on the front nine and finish his day tied for 32nd at 3-over 75. He posted three birdies with five pars on his final nine holes after bogeying his opening hole and then carding a double bogey on 12 and 13. He shot a collective 2-under on the final 14 holes of his round.
Meanwhile, Pirate senior Ryan Eibner shot 4-over in his first round of the season, carding a 76. He was even through nine holes before shooting 4-over over the last nine holes. Redshirt freshman Josh Chandler ended his day with a 5-over 77 with sophomore George Kilgore posting a 7-over 79.
Playing as an individual, Jacob Hicks carded 4-over 76 to complete the first round tied with Eibner for 36th.
The Rees Jones Intercollegiate resumes on Monday with second round action, as ECU is scheduled to tee off with Charleston Southern and Georgia State in a shotgun start, beginning at 8:50 a.m. Live scoring is available on GolfStat.com.

Updates from the Daufuskie Island Newpaper. "The Front Porch"

From the Daufuskie Island Conservancy:
The Daufuskie Island Conservancy and Haig Point Environmental Committee will partner this year with the  SC Sea Grant Consortium to participate in an Annual Beach and River Sweep throughout the coastal areas of South Carolina. The event on Daufuskie will take place on Saturday, September 28th at 10:30a.m. to coincide with low tide on the beaches. Volunteers would be appreciated. We will assign clean up areas and provide supplies.
For more information and to volunteer, please contact Eileen Pojednic @ 842-6770 or email at erpojednic@aol.com. Many thanks.
*********************************
From the Daufuskie Island Elementary School:
Target is giving away money to schools just for getting votes online. We have until September 21, 2013 for people to vote for our school. Just go to www.facebook.com/target  to vote.  Once you go the Facebook site, type in Daufuskie Elementary School or 29915. Then click the VOTE button.  It is as simple as that. Please forward this to anyone who you know that will vote for us. Target is giving away $1 for every vote we get for our school. No strings attached so please vote this week and next!
********************************
From the Daufuskie Front Porch:
A heartfelt thanks to all the donors, volunteers and participants who helped make the Front Porch’s 2nd Annual 5K a great success. Congratulations to J.O Hinchey, Meaghan Loftus and Maura Egan!

Rum company on Daufuskie Island set to open early next year

Published: August 25, 2013 

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By MATT McNAB — mmcnab@beaufortgazette.com

It's only natural that his post-retirement job will be to lead a new rum company on Daufuskie Island.
A 35-year resident of Kentucky and a soon-to-be-retired medical executive, Chase first came to Daufuskie in July 2012 looking for a retirement home. At 53, Chase said he wasn't ready to stop working, so he came up with the idea of opening a micro-distillery on Daufuskie.
After buying a home on the island in October, he began to think about what kind of alcohol to make. Chase briefly toyed with the idea of making bourbon, nixing that idea after declaring that "bourbon ought to be made in Kentucky." With his move to the island, he settled on a more tropical liquor "€" rum, creating the Daufuskie Island Rum Co.
In a few weeks, the company will close on the sale of property that will house a 3,500-square-foot micro distillery set to open early next year. The building, being constructed by a contractor who is also an investor in the company, will feature a 500-square-foot porch overlooking a one-acre pond on the property, where people can sit in rocking chairs and sip rum, Chase said.
An additional 10.25 acres of land on the island will eventually be home to sugar cane to be used in the making of the rum once it is fully grown, a cycle that takes about two years.
A rum company on Daufuskie would be just one of a few in the United States that are produced on an island, joining companies in Florida and Hawaii that can claim the distinction.
Chase also said the company would only use materials and ingredients made in the U.S., a desire that comes from patriotism instilled by his father, a military veteran.
Chase said he hopes to start making white rum early next year. The company already has agreements with distributors in Georgia and South Carolina and has seen local demand from restaurants and hotels. One area hotel, a Westin in Savannah, also asked Chase if they could carry souvenirs with the company's logo in their gift shop.
Next summer, a gold rum will also be available in a limited run. That rum has to be aged in barrels to give it a distinctive color and flavor.
Chase said he would consider the venture an enormous success if the company simply breaks even, with any profits gained as "icing on the cake."
He said, "189 million fifths of rum are sold in the U.S. each year. We just need a tiny bit of that to be successful."
Among the roughly 8 million people living in South Carolina and Georgia, about 89,000 identify themselves as rum drinkers, Chase said.
He's continuing to work to build a groundswell of popularity for the new rum. In two months, a Facebook page set up for the company has garnered 1,400 fans. Many of them volunteered to take the company's de facto mascot, a shot glass nicknamed "Shotty," on trips across the country, taking pictures that are then posted to the Facebook page.
"Shotty travels more than I do," Chase said. "He's on his way to Alaska now, and there are trips to San Diego and New York planned, too."
Between six and eight launch parties around the region, from Tybee Island to Hilton Head, are in the works as well, Chase said.
"There's a huge interest in the company around here," he said. "We're just going to keep this momentum going until we start producing."
Follow reporter Matt McNab at twitter.com/IPBG_Matt.
Related content:
Daufuskie Island Rum Company http://www.daufuskierum.com/
Daufuskie Island Rum Company Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/DaufuskieIslandRumCompany

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/08/25/2648863/rum-company-on-daufuskie-island.html#storylink=cpy

Ride horses on the beach and explore Daufuskie Island by horse at Melrose on the beach

843-341-2894 Melrose on the beach Equestrian Activities Beach Rides: Equine enthusiasts of all backgrounds will appreciate seeing the secluded landscapes of Daufuskie Island during an exclusive beach ride available only at Sea Grass Stables. Our knowledgeable guides will match you with your ideal island horse and lead a 1.5-3 hour tour based on your group’s experience level. Your ride will be framed with wide vistas of Calibogue Sound to the East, Hilton Head Island, SC to the North, and Tybee Island, GA to the South. Furthermore, the island’s pristine sands, twisted live oaks, tall pines, Spanish moss, wildlife, history, folklore and legend makes riding with Sea Grass Stables one of the most memorable equestrian experiences available in the Lowcountry. Wooded Trail Rides: Seeing the island on horseback is arguably the best way to experience the natural beauty that Daufuskie has to enjoy. Historic Melrose Plantation has over 15 miles of nature trails that can be tailored to a 45 minute, 1.5 or 3 hour rides so you are always exploring something new. Riding Lessons: Certified, experienced riding instructors will make schooling in the ring enjoyable for any age, experience level or riding discipline. Private and group rates are available. Pony Rides: Pony rides are a great place to start for equestrian enthusiasts ages 7 and under. Ask us for a horse treat to feed and make sure to bring your camera for that perfect photo opportunity!

HAIG POINT CLUB, SCYC TO SHARE MEMBER AMENITIES

The Haig Point Club and Community Association on Daufuskie Island and the South Carolina Yacht Club on Hilton Head have created a reciprocal agreement to share member amenities. The South Carolina Yacht Club, located in Windmill Harbour, offers a range of amenities from yachting and sailing to fine dining and special events. It is part of the network of more than 700 clubs within the Yachting Club of America. Haig Point, located on Daufuskie Island, is accessible only by boat. The private community offers a Rees Jones Signature golf course, equestrian facilities and beachfront on Calibogue Sound.

Updates from The Daufuskie Front Porch, on Daufuskie Island, S.C. 29915

Dear Front Porch Readers, Please note the following: From the Daufuskie Turtle Team: Unfortunately we have had two Loggerhead nests disturbed on Daufuskie Island this season. "Loggerhead Eggs, Hatchlings, Adults, and Carcasses are Protected by Federal and state Laws." Please report any suspicious activity immediately to any member of the Daufuskie Turtle Team.Thank you for your support! The Daufuskie Turtle Team Susan Card 843 812-7608 Holley Miles 843 540-7328 Tammy Helmuth 843 247-5941 Robin Boedeker 843 530-3209 Kathi DeLeo 603 860-0567 Butch Miles 229 886-2450 Bill DeLeo 843 341-2432 ************************* Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday from 11AM until 1PM. Located at the County Dock at the end of Haig Point Road (next to Marshside Mamas) ************************** From the First Union African Baptist Church: Vacation Bible School is returning to Daufuskie. The week of July 15-19, VBS will be held at the First Union African Baptist Church on School Road. More details to follow, but let the excitement begin. ************************** From the Daufuskie Island Fire Dept: The Daufuskie Island Fire Department is having a Kids Day at the Fire Station on Saturday, July 27 from 12:00 Noon -1:00 PM. It's for all kids island-wide to meet the firefighters and the EMS crew, run the sirens and flashing lights, try on firefighting bunker gear and get sprayed by water from 75' in the air! And all kids, their parents and grandparents, too, are invited to enjoy our complimentary lunch of "Firehouse Fidos", our special hot dog lunch with all the fixin's. So come one down! Spot, our mascot, is looking forward to seeing you! ************************** From The Daufuskie Artisan Village: Join us for an introduction and celebration of The Daufuskie Artisan Village on Friday, July 12th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the home of Milton and Sara Deitch at 94 Fuskie Lane, Bloody Point. Meet the talented artists and view their creations! Entertainment, Light Hors d'oeuvres and Silent Auction. Please join us in raising the roof and raising important funds for this community project. RSVP to Pat Beichler at bowwow@hargray.com or call 843-842-8999. ************************** For Sale: 1996 Chevy Blazer-4x4-high miles-Great dependable island truck w/ towing package $2650.Call: 843-842-9448 ************************* For Sale: Golf carts for sale, all used but with new batteries installed this spring. Yamaha 2- seat with small rear baskets, zip & snap cover and golf club straps: $1500 Club Car 4- seat cart with flip down back seat to convert to a flat bed and zip & snap cover: $3000 E-Z Go 4- seat cart with front extended bumper: $2500 Club Car 4-seat cart ... nothing special but she'll get you where you want to go: $1000 Please call Peter at 843.422.6024 for more info. *********************** Best regards, Paula Nickels Editor, The Daufuskie Front Porch www.thedaufuskiefrontporch.com

Try a "Scrap Iron Cocktail" at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company on Daufuskie Island, SC 29915

The Story of Scrap Iron In the early 1900's more than 2000 black African Americans lived on Daufuskie Island. They made their living from the oyster beds that surrounded Daufuskie. Oysters were harvested, canned, and shipped all over the world. Progress came to Savannah, Georgia and factories were built along the Savannah River. The Savannah River was polluted and the pollution flowed into the oyster beds around Daufuskie. The Federal government condemned the harvesting of oysters on the Island and 2000 people were out of work in one day. The exodus began and the population dropped to around 100 people when I came to Daufuskie in the '70's. The people that stayed had to make a living another way and they all knew how to make a great corn liquor and the ladies made wines. The men would load the corn liquor in small oyster boats and row or sail it to Savannah. Sometimes it would take a day to get there. In early days they would get 5 dollars for 50 gallons, but it gave them money to pay taxes on their land. When moving their cargo to Savannah they would frequently be stopped by the revenue officers and ask what they were carrying. They learned to cover the vat of corn liquor with pieces of scrap iron and would tell the revenue officers that they were taking the scrap iron to Savannah to sell to feed the family. They told this story so much that scrap iron became the name for liquor on this beautiful island. In-honor of this we offer a drink at The Old Daufuskie Crab Company, called Scrap Iron in honor of these ingenious bootleggers. Give it a try. I hope you enjoy it! - Wick Skurry

Updates from the Daufuskie Island Front Porch News

Dear Front Porch Readers, Please note the following: From the Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday from 11AM until 1PM. Located at the County Dock at the end of Haig Point Road (next to Marshside Mamas) ************************** From the First Union African Baptist Church: Vacation Bible School is returning to Daufuskie. The week of July 15-19, VBS will be held at the First Union African Baptist Church on School Road. More details to follow, but let the excitement begin. This Sunday, please join us at the First Union African Baptist Church for a fantastic worship experience, featuring the music of Bill Alston and the preaching of Dr. Clarence Edmondson. Bible Study starts at 9:20, with the Church Service and Children's Chapel starting at 10:00 am. All are welcome! *************************** From Bloody Point Golf Club: 1st Annual Firecracker Open Shotgun Start July 3rd, 10AM Call 843.341.5566 to sign up! Join us for our 2nd Annual 4th of July Celebration!! Noon - 6:00PM, Free Admission BBQ Grill Out, Oyster Roast, Cart Parade, Face painting, Inflatables, Slide Pool Open to the Public! Cart Parade Lineup - 2:30PM, Cart Parade - 3:00PM Cart Parade Categories: Most Original, Most Daufuskie, Most Patriotic. Winners receive $50 Gift Card! *************************** From Melrose on the Beach: Pool • Picnic • Party 4th of July at Melrose on the Beach What’s more American than American Idol? Celebrate the 4th of July with American Idol Season 10 Finalist Casey Abrams We’ll Provide the Red and Blue ... You Wear the White! Join us at the Beach Club on Thursday, July 4th: • Poolside Cocktails • All-American Buffet • Live Concert with American Idol Finalist All-American Buffet Dinner featuring: $32/adult $20/children 13 and under children 5 and under free 6:00 - Poolside Cocktail Party with DJ 7:00 - Dinner RESERVATIONS REQUIRED 888-851-4971 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 7:45 - 9:00 Casey Abrams LIVE in Concert Open to the Public - No Charge Cash Bar RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED 888-851-4971 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- After Concert - Enjoy Hilton Head and Savannah fireworks from Melrose Beach Bring Your Own Blankets and Beach Chairs NO PERSONAL COOLERS ALLOWED ****************************** Best regards, Paula Nickels Editor, the Daufuskie Front Porch www.thedaufuskiefrontporch.com

More ferry services could be coming to Daufuskie Island

Posted: Jun 21, 2013 9:26 PM EST Updated: Jun 21, 2013 9:31 PM EST By Jonathan Burton - email WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, SC (WTOC) -Beaufort County's $99.4 million budget for the 2014 fiscal year includes $200,000 for ferry services, and a study that would test long term transportation options to get to and form Daufuskie Island. The proposal calls for $150,000 to go towards the operation of the current ferry service, and $50,000 will be used for the study. The ferry service currently runs twice a day, and two Saturdays a month. County officials say this proposed study will increase ferry services, which will have a positive impact on the Island's economy and property value. Many county residents, like Doug James, say this is a great idea. "Right now, folks who live on the island are handicapped by the lack of transportation," said James. "It is also hurting the sale and resale of homes over there. If I was looking to buy something over there, I wouldn't consider it because of the lack of transportation." According to the county and area real estate agents, property value on Daufuskie Island has decreased by 43 percent over the past five years. The average cost of a home in 2008 was nearly $572,000, and now it's $400,000. Some agents say there are some properties on the Island that have a listing price of just $1. "If we can find a solution to the ferry situation it will help the property values out there because more people will get out there," said Joy Nelson, spokesperson for Beaufort County. County officials are trying to recruit experts from states with successful ferry systems to come up with a lasting solution for Daufuskie Island. According to Nelson, some council members are on the fence about the budget because it also raises property taxes. Nelson says the county has not had a property tax increase in nearly five but raising taxes is one way to avoid county-wide layoffs. If the taxes are increased, those who live in house worth $100,000 will pay $11 more in taxes, and those who live in a home worth $200,000 will pay $15 more. County council is expected to vote on the budget at their upcoming meeting, which is scheduled for next Monday. Copyright 2013 WTOC. All rights reserved.

Plan your Daufuskie Island Golf Getaway at Bloody Point

Stay at the new Osprey Inn at Bloody Point. Plan your golf trip or weekend getaway now by calling or emailing them. 843.341.5522 http://www.bloody-point.com Bloody Point Golf Club and Resort 56 Fuskie Lane Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, 29915 Phone: Eagle's Nest Restaurant & Reservations: 843.341.5522 Pro Shop, General Store, & Administration: 843.341.5566 Membership Office: 843.341.5505 Email: info@bloodypointgolf.com

Marge Agins Low Country Photographs

Marge Agins catches a sunset.

Updates from the Daufuskie Island Front Porch Newspaper

Dear Front Porch Readers, Please note the following: Daufuskie Farmers' Market Every Saturday from 11AM until 1PM. Located at the County Dock at the end of Haig Point Road (next to Marshside Mamas) ************************* From the Daufuskie Island Foundation: You are invited to celebrate the 37th Annual Daufuskie Day Celebration JUNE 22, 2013 Contact Ervin Simmons 912-660-0500 or Amelia Stevens 843-384-9941 for details. ************************* From the Daufuskie Turtle Team: We had an exciting day Sunday (May 9th). About 12:15 in the afternoon a Loggerhead crawled ashore and nested. Thank you again for your support in reporting this event and your cooperation on the beach observing this event. There were a total of 118 eggs laid. Best regards, Paula Nickels Editor, The Daufuskie Front Porch www.thedaufuskiefrontporch.com

Daufuskie Island resort could face legal action after workers disturb nesting ground

By MATT McNAB — mmcnab@beaufortgazette.com A Daufuskie Island resort could face legal action after a miscommunication led to the disturbance of a nesting ground for an endangered bird species. Maintenance workers at the Melrose on the Beach resort disturbed a rookery for wood storks and other birds while clearing brush last month. While the brush-clearing didn't actually damage the rookery -- located on two small islands in a lagoon near the resort buildings -- the incursion into the area may have interrupted the bird's nesting, according to Catherine Tillman, the resort's communications director. Tillman said some wood storks left the area, exposing several nests to the elements, which could cause eggs not to hatch. The incident occurred a day after the resort issued a statement saying it was committed to protecting the rookery. Tillman said the resort's owner, the Pelorus Group,and managing partner JT Bramlette were "sick that this has happened" and were working with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a management plan for the area. The resort still might face legal action. Morgan Wolf, a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, visited the rookery May 31 to survey the impact of the brush-clearing. She said it's not yet clear how much the brush-clearing affected nesting. "We're going to mine through the data and see how the eggs were affected and if they were in the nests," she said. "It's not clear yet whether the storks were incubating eggs or not, but at this point in time biologically, it's likely that they were." Wolf said she would turn over the results of her preliminary investigation to the Fish and Wildlife Service's law enforcement division. The division and the U.S. Justice Department will decide whether to pursue legal action. The resort could be fined or required to correct the problem, Wolf said. Despite the mishap, Daufuskie Island Conservancy president Laura Winholt said she was "convinced JT (Bramlette) is committed to protecting the rookery" after the conservancy met with him Wednesday. "I cannot reinforce enough how horrible JT felt," Winholt said. "It appears to just be a very unfortunate miscommunication and an error. They seem committed to taking future steps to protect the rookery." Winholt said the conservancy and resort have a presentation planned June 12, which will take place after Bramlette meets with DNR and the Fish and Wildlife Service. DNR biologist Christy Hand, who investigated the impact the brush-clearing had on the rookery with Wolf, will discuss the rookery during the event. In December, resort workers damaged the rookery while landscaping nearby, but an investigation by the Beaufort County Code Enforcement Office determined the removal of vegetation there was legal. There were no state or federal sanctions in that case because birds were not present when the vegetation was removed. At the time, Bramlette was not in charge of the resort, Tillman said. Instead, an equity partner who had since moved on to a property in Atlanta, was in charge. She added that Bramlette "wants to protect the rookery" from further harm. "We completely understand why locals were upset and the passion they have for the area," she said. "We are looking forward to collaborating with them to protect this beautiful area." Related content Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/06/06/2532240/daufuskie-island-resort-could.html#storylink=cpy

Updates from the Front Porch News on Daufuskie Island, SC 29915

Dear Front Porch Readers, Please note the following: From Bloody Point: We invite you to join us at our Grand Opening Weekend!!! May 24th, 25th, and 26th Oyster Roast, 18-Hole Shotgun Start, Live Music, and more! All are welcome! For schedule of events and more information, call 843.341.5505. ********************************** Farmers’ Market-Grand Opening! Saturday, May 25th (Memorial Day weekend) 11:00-1:00 at the County Dock ********************************** SAVE THE DATE! The Daufuskie Community Farm welcomes their new neighbors The Daufuskie Artisan Village With an introduction and celebration of support! Sunday, May 26th, 3:00-5:00PM At the Melrose Sportsman’s Lodge Meet the talented artist and view their creations! Enjoy live entertainment, cash bar, light appetizers and a silent auction, Please join us to raise funds for this great community project! RSVP to Pat Beichler at bowwow@hargray.com ******************************* From the Daufuskie Island Foundation: SAVE THE DATE You are invited to celebrate: 37th Annual Daufuskie Day Sat. JUNE 22, 2013 *Boat Rides from Savannah GA & Hilton Head (tickets will be sold in Sav. & Hilton Head) *Island Tours (narrated by natives of the Island) *Vendors selling Daufuskie Deviled crabs & other Gullah enriched foods (VENDORS WELCOME for small fee) *Program consisting of Gullah Storytelling, Music, Raffles etc…. “A Day of Culture” Contact Ervin Simmons 912-660-0500 or Amelia Stevens 843-384-9941 for further details. Best regards, Paula Nickels Editor, The Daufuskie Front Porch www.thedaufuskiefrontporch.com

Daufuskie Island Adult Tennis Championships crowns division winners

By staff reports — sports@islandpacket.com John Chrsyt of Bluffton successfully defended his age 65 singles title and Ellen Leboeuf of Hilton Head Island won two titles Sunday on the final day of play at the seventh annual Daufuskie Island Adult Tennis Championship. Chryst defeated Richard Shipman in three sets to retain his title. "I played the game I wanted to play today," said Chryst, who also won the age 65 title in 2012. "It feels great to be able to win the title again this year." Lebouef defeated Melissa Duff in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, in her singles final. And then she won her women's doubles match by default when Janet Paduzzi of Hilton Head Island, one of her doubles opponents, injured her leg earlier in the day. "I got really nervous but then I settled down," said Leboeuf, a financial planner who moved to Hilton Head Island last year. "I kept hitting deep to her backhand to keep away from her strong forehand. My serve was good too. And when my serve is good, it's all good." Another of the seven winners determined on Sunday was Richard Silver of Daufuskie Island,who teamed with Hilton Head Island resident Kris Kelly, to take the age 45 doubles. "This is special," said the 66-year-old Silver. "Imagine that. I had to wait until I was in my sixties to win something in the 45 division." Daufuskie Island Adult Tennis Championship Sunday Results Men's 65 Singles finals John Chryst, Bluffton def. Richard Shipman, Concord, N.C., 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 Women's 3.5 Singles final Johanna Newman, Mooresville, N.C., def. Janet Peduzzi, Hilton Head Island, 3-6, 1-2 (retired injury) Women's 4.0 Doubles final Pam Bautista, Hilton Head Island/Carol Kraus, Hilton Head Island def. Gerri Howe, Daufuskie Island/Joanne Loftus, Daufuskie Island 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2). Women's 4.0 Singles final Ellen Leboeuf, Hilton Head Island def. Melissa Duff, Florence 6-3, 6-3 Women's 3.5 Doubles final Cecilia Halseth, Hilton Head Island/Ellen Leboeuf, Hilton Head Island def. Michele Gula, Hilton Head Island/Janet Peduzzi, Hilton Head Island, injury (Peduzzi injury) Mixed 8.0 Doubles final Patrick Child, Hilton Head Island/Tonnye Stapp, Bluffton def. John Christensen, Hardeeville/Denise Raquet, Hilton Head Island 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 Men's 45 Doubles final Richard Silver, Daufuskie Island/Kris Kelley, Daufuskie Island def. Richard Kraus, Hilton Head Island/Charles Steedley, Bluffton 6-0, 6-0. Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/04/29/2482284/daufuskie-island-adult-tennis.html#storylink=cpy

An update from the Daufuskie Front Porch

From the Daufuskie Island Council There will be a meeting at Mary Fields School on February 1st at 1:30 PM. Representatives from the S.C. Department of Recreation and Tourism, Beaufort County officials and DI Parks and Recreation Committee will be attending. The meeting will address Daufuskie's RELT grant. **************************************** From the First Union Baptist Church: Praying for your team to win the Super Bowl? Why not start your day out at church? You are invited to attend worship service at the First Union African Baptist Church on Daufuskie on Sunday, February 3. Bible study starts at 9:20, and worship starts at 10:00 am. *************************************** From the Daufuskie Island Conservancy: The Daufuskie Island Conservancy Presents "Waterways Excursion on the Tammy Jane" Monday, February 11, 2013 from 1:00-3:30PM leaving the Dock at Hudson's Seafood Restaurant, 1 Hudson Rd. off of Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head. Cruise around Pinckney National Wildlife Refuge on the Skull and Mackay Creeks. Open to first 25 with paid reservations. Conservancy members: $35 and Non-Members: $60.00. For reservations email Yvonne Clemons at yclemons@columbus.rr.com. Checks made out to the Daufuskie Island Conservancy or cash may be put in the Haig Point Mansion cubby of Yvonne Clemons. SAVE THE DATE: Daufuskie Island Conservancy- Earth Day 2013 Event, "Celebrating the Lowcountry...Naturally" on Tuesday, April 16th from 5:30pm-9:00pm at the Haig Point Clubhouse. Includes: Cocktails, Appetizers, Dinner, Silent Auction and Presentation by Naturalist, Photographer and Author of "South Carolina's Lowcountry...Naturally" Marvin Bouknight. More information to follow. *************************************** From Bloody Point: Join us this Sunday, February 3rd, for a Superbowl Sunday Funday!! We will be offering a $12 All-You-Can-Eat Buffet, beginning at 5pm. The buffet menu includes a Taco Bar (hard and soft tacos), chips, salsa, and guacamole, wings, meatballs, and fried chicken sliders. We will also have $12 Bottomless Mimosas and $2.50 PBR Tall Boys All Day, as well as $12 Buckets of Domestic Beer (including Budweiser, Bud Light, Yuengling, Coors Light, and Miller Light) during the game. The dining room will be transformed into a fun viewing lounge, with projector and couches. Reservations not necessary. Best regards, Paula Nickels Editor, The Daufuskie Front Porch www.thedaufuskiefrontporch.com

Group seeks to disband DI Council by Chris Kardish of Bluffton Today

By CHRIS KARDISH 843-815-0800, Ext. 13 chris.kardish@blufftontoday.com A little-known group of non-resident Daufuskie Island homeowners wants to dissolve the Daufuskie Island Council, arguing it’s not legally valid and the advisory body didn’t fully review other choices before supporting a new tax to improve ferry service. The Community Preservation Zone Association (CPZA) asked the Beaufort County Council for a slot on its agenda in a letter dated Jan. 3 to push for replacing the elected board with an appointed group that’s officially enshrined in Daufuskie Island Code. But the group did not respond to requests for comment sent to an email address provided in its letter and even people with ties to the island — from leaders to natives who left it for better opportunities but still maintain property — know little about who’s heading the group or how to reach it. Aaron Crosby, acting vice chairman of the Daufuskie Island Council, said the effort underscores lingering resentment from non-resident property owners who would’ve shouldered most of the new tax burden, but he noted those constituents are free to run and vote in Island Council elections if they feel they’re being shut out of the decision-making process. “If someone chooses not to participate, that’s their own individual choice, but it was specifically established to allow for everyone to participate,” he said. “That wasn’t done by accident.” The tiny island community southwest of Hilton Head rejected a tax increase of up to 16.5 mills 64 to 44 in a November vote that excluded the wealthy golf community Haig Point because its residents already pay for their own private ferry service — a point of contention among opponents, which included many non-resident property owners. A County Council analysis of the parcels in the affected district showed 97 percent of future revenue from the tax measure would have come from non-residents. Supporters argued the tax district would help leverage grant opportunities and prove the area’s seriousness about launching a regional system eventually connecting Savannah with Daufuskie and other Beaufort County stops. Crosby takes exception to arguments that Daufuskie leaders didn’t vet other options, pointing to years-long debates that turned up possibilities about greater Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority involvement but no money to study it. “It’s a comment that’s made by folks who haven’t been engaged in a process that they were always allowed to be a part of,” Crosby said. Beyond its ferry critique, the CPZA asserts that the island council isn’t legally valid because it’s not chartered under law, though County Attorney Josh Gruber said that argument doesn’t hold water because the council acts purely as an advisory group with no legal authority. “The fact of the matter is that they (the CPZA) have just as much influence and input to County Council — who is the only body that can make decisions affecting Daufuskie Island — as the DIC does and, therefore, their argument that this DIC should immediately be disbanded is without any merit,” Gruber said. Stu Rodman, vice chairman of the County Council, said he sent a message to the CPZA asking it to hold off until after the special election to replace state Rep. Weston Newton, whose District 9 County Council seat includes Daufuskie. “Essentially, I told them I don’t think council is going to do anything until they have someone there, so just hang loose,” Rodman said, adding he received no response. Attempts by Bluffton Today to reach the only name associated with the group in its letter, Pamela Simmons, through non-resident property owners and Daufuskie natives were unsuccessful.

Author Roger Pinckney is the high priest of Daufuskie Island

Reefer Madness by Stratton Lawrence Charleston City Paper

Kids could learn a lot about biology just by looking in the pool at the Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa. Metamorphosis, for example. Next to the weeds that sprout from cracks in the cement, an abundance of aquatic larvae swim freely in the algae-green water, waiting for the day when they'll grow wings and take to the air. Once in flight, the dragonflies and mosquitoes will have quite the view. The pool sits alongside one of the Atlantic's most beautiful and remote beaches. And there's not a soul in sight. Roger Pinckney lives in the only full-time occupied house at the resort, a "Don't Tread On Me" flag hanging defiantly outside the front door. It's one of three dozen cottages that line the beach. The neighborhood is serene and quiet, a pastel-colored ghost town by the sea. But the lack of neighbors doesn't bother Pinckney; it keeps the rent down, and he'd prefer that the Yankees visit for a day, take his colorful island tour, and then head back to wherever the hell it is they came from. The author, who published his most recent book Reefer Moon last July, is an icon on Daufuskie Island. His logo — a combination of a palmetto tree and a marijuana leaf — is prolific around the island's cozy Freeport Marina, where the teenage workers wear his T-shirts and hats and joke with the author when he shows up to load tourists off the boat and onto his wildly colored school bus. For some time, Pinckney has been the scourge of developers; once, he claims that he was even arrested for protesting efforts by Halliburton to create an enclave for Saudi oil barons on the island, complete with a 50-acre canal and marina dug into the swampy interior. But Pinckney isn't the only thing that Daufuskie's developers have to worry about. In the battle against developers and Yankees, Pinckney has voodoo practitioner Dr. Buzzard on his side. Kaitlyn Iserman Kaitlyn Iserman The Right Side of the River Look to the right outside Pinckney's beachside home and you'll see the lights of Savannah across a dozen miles of marsh. Turn your head left and there's what Pinckney calls "Hilton Hell." He only goes over there when absolutely necessary. Like when he's out of whiskey. White men first came to Daufuskie in 1710 but were quickly killed off by the native Yemassees. The settlers returned in force, and by 1723, farming began, first indigo, then Sea Island cotton. In danger of losing their workforce to the mainland after the Civil War, the plantation owners split their real estate and gave their former slaves four-acre plots to farm and subsist on. Isolated as they were, the Gullah culture thrived on Daufuskie with as many as 1,500 African Americans living on the island in the early days of the 20th century. When the boll weevil struck the cotton fields, those that could stayed on to work at the island's thriving oyster cannery. But the shellfish beds collapsed in the late '50s as a result of pollution from Savannah's waterfront industries, effectively drying up Daufuskie's job market and further driving away the locals. The last straw came with the Yankee immigrants, whose elaborate island homes sent property values up and the tax bills soaring. Only a few Gullah families remain on the island today. Pinckney first came here as a toddler after his father, also a Beaufort County coroner, raised the poles through the marsh to bring electricity to the island. Given a dinghy by his father at age 10, Pinckney spent his childhood exploring Calibogue Sound's hammock islands, sleeping in fish camp shacks, and tromping through the swamps. Now 64 years old, Pinckney returned here 12 years ago after a life that found him in Iowa earning a doctorate in writing, standing behind a pulpit as a small-town preacher, and courting a procession of wives and lovers over the course of 30 years in northern Minnesota, where he settled to hunt and raise children after his car broke down on the way to Alaska. Back home with the warm salt air blowing across his porch, Pinckney's happy. He'll soon marry his fourth wife, Amy, a pretty blond Texan with a sugary demeanor. He affectionately calls her "Miss Biscuits." Amy recently moved to Daufuskie with her two sons, now among the 18 students at the island's elementary school. Recently, Pinckney says, an osprey built a nest on the service tower on top of the school, which caused internet service to go down. Most days, Pinckney splits his time between writing and giving tours of Daufuskie. He says that the island is "the only place in the world where nothing normal ever happens." reefer2.jpg Reefer Moon is the first in a three-part series of novels he's writing. He also regularly publishes stories in Orion and Sporting Classics magazines. By lunchtime during warmer months, Pinckney's typically got a microphone in hand, spouting off well-oiled one-liners to bus loads of day-trippers searching for the "real Daufuskie." On these tours, the houses reclaimed by the forest are called "green developments," while the tour guide notes that the high ground gets "very high around sundown on a Saturday night." Under the author's spell, the tourists certainly get what they've come for. Pinckney knows his home well, publishing a collection of "love story" essays about the island called The Right Side of the River. (The rest of the U.S. is on "the wrong side.") Pinckney's tours visit the praise room behind the First Union African Baptist Church, which the author claims is "the birthplace of rock 'n' roll," and his passengers hear about the time the island's chickens went berserk after eating psilocybin mushrooms off the dung of free-roaming cows. Pinckney is as Gullah as a pale-skin can be, and he's unapologetic in his disdain for the white men who only have dollar signs in their eyes. "I figure I'll leave here in one of two ways — handcuffs or feet first," he quips. "You can talk about God's justice and [Dr.] Buzzard's curse, but the real tragedy of Daufuskie is the Gullah people and the loss of their homeland. It's a loss to them and it's a loss to us." The Truth Behind the Story Yancey Yarboro grows tomatoes on Daufuskie. It doesn't make much sense anymore, what with having to ferry Mexican laborers over to work the field and carry crates of tomatoes back, but it's his home, and he's not leaving. Belly deep in his whiskey bottle, Yarboro looks out one night to see a band of drunken well-to-dos giddily yapping in the moonlight along the golf course that cuts through the woods by his family's property. One woman catches his eye and clings to his soul, and he spends the next year chasing and loving Susan Drake, only to discover that her pig-faced, coke-snorting husband is the developer trying to market Daufuskie as the "Martha's Vineyard of the South." Or so goes the plot of Reefer Moon, which Pinckney casually pitches and then eagerly signs at the end of his tours. It's billed as a novel, but it was clearly inspired by real people and real events. The inspiration for Susan Drake still lives on Daufuskie, although not with Pinckney. In the book, apart from his romantic troubles, Yancey finds himself embroiled in a scheme to smuggle a load of marijuana into the U.S. via a shrimp boat. "There's not a thing in that book that didn't actually happen to somebody, but it didn't always happen in quite the same order or to the same person," Pinckney says. "As a writer of fiction, I never think that I have to make anything up, because the truth is an astounding thing, and you can't improve upon it, except by maybe massaging it a little bit and arranging it," explains the author, who spent nearly a decade penning the 200-page Reefer Moon before completing it. "I worked on it in my spare time, and I didn't have much. I thought I was done, and then realized my style had changed and had to deal with chapters I'd written seven or eight years before and go back and rewrite. It was a pain in the ass." Released last July, Reefer Moon is Pinckney's sixth book, and it may be the one that makes him famous. Published by the Evening Post Publishing Company, the story rights were recently sold to a Hollywood film agency, an experience so full of paperwork and clauses that Pinckney nearly lost his cool during the discussions. Roger Pinckney claims that Dr. Buzzard has hurt development on Daufuskie - Stratton Lawrence Stratton Lawrence Roger Pinckney claims that Dr. Buzzard has hurt development on Daufuskie "I'm damn glad they didn't ever invent choke-a-phones, because I was fixing to choke somebody right through the damn wire," he smirks, half-jokingly. "If they ever show that movie on an oil rig on Mars, than my great-great-grandson will get 47 cents." In the meantime, Pinckney is still working on the tales of Yancey Yarboro. Next in line is Blow the Man Down, which Pinckney calls a "cocaine and sex" story. And after that, there's Mullet Manifesto. Although Pinckney makes the majority of his living writing magazine articles and giving tours, he considers his books an annuity that keeps on paying into the future. His first, Blue Roots, explores Gullah voodoo and folk magic. Its publication cost him his preacher job but paid off his child support. "Most women are jealous of the laptop," he says about the difficulty of balancing romance with the daily compulsion to write. That's not to mention the isolation that comes with living on a farm on the Canadian border or a muggy island accessible only by boat. He and Miss Biscuits agreed that they'd reassess their location once her boys outgrow the island's elementary school. Still, it's hard to imagine Pinckney living anywhere but Daufuskie, where, as he fondly says, "the fast food has fins, fur, or feathers." When confusion gets the best of Yancey Yarboro, he turns to Gator Brown, the resident Gullah witch doctor. Pinckney has his own share of Gator Browns, including a woman named Angel in Savannah, who sent him a bag of roots to carry with him in the graveyards on his tours. "What's it do?" he asked. "It do what it needs," she replied. Pinckney believes in the power of goofer dust, a magical powder that is largely made of graveyard dirt, and the ability of dried toads and buried statues to affect the weather or bring fortune. On his tours, he claims that the series of failures by Daufuskie Island developers is due to a curse by Dr. Buzzard, the patriarch of Gullah voodoo practitioners. According to the author, Buzzard placed it after the graves of his ancestors were dug up on the island to build a real estate office. Pinckney also claims that voodoo caused one developer to have a heart attack. On his Daufuskie Island tours, Roger Pinckney talks about the influence of voodoo on the island's residents; the eyeball pictured below wards off evil - Kaitlyn Iserman Kaitlyn Iserman On his Daufuskie Island tours, Roger Pinckney talks about the influence of voodoo on the island's residents; the eyeball pictured below wards off evil The tour rolls past a massive condo complex situated next to the most pristine, developable beachfront on the East Coast. Like the area where Pinckney lives, the place has seen better days. Weeds grow up the walls at the Melrose Inn at Daufuskie Resort, recently a posh enclave and vacation haven. A quick ride around the dirt roads cutting through Daufuskie shows the extent of voodoo's influence on the local culture. Eyes are painted on trees, and windowsills are painted indigo blue in order to ward off the Slip Skin Hag, a demon spirit roaming the island that's said to attack people in their sleep. The hag is also known to have sex with men while they slumber. The homesteads and double-wide trailers in the woods are the Daufuskie that Pinckney loves. Before moving to the resort with Miss Biscuits, he lived in a 600-square foot shack. Inside, it was "three steps to the pisser, five steps to the stove," he fondly recalls. For Pinckney, the most joyful day of the year comes in June when large numbers of the Gullah community return for Daufuskie Day. Gullah from Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Beaufort return to their home island to eat boiled shrimp, deviled crabs, and conch fritters by the county dock until sundown. It's the antithesis of the world he fears Daufuskie would become if folks like him let their guards down and let the developers have their way with their gated communities and golf courses. "If you want a secure lifestyle, Daufuskie Island is probably the most secure place you can go in America. We've got 14 miles of deep blue water and everyone on that public ferry has to sign their name. Anybody that comes on a private boat will be noticed. And yet, within this totally secure environment, somebody has to put up a gate?" he asks, bemoaning one development. He despises manicured lawns and electric golf carts and bemoans the "Fortune 500 executives who are used to everything right now." On an early summer Monday night, Pinckney and his friend, fellow author and former S.C. Department of Natural Resources game warden Ben Moïse, swap stories over tumblers of Jim Beam about their trips hunting big game in southern Africa. Piles of deer antlers lay around the living room, amidst photographs and other evidence of a life spent close to the land. It's impossible to hear Pinckney's stories — complete with a throaty laugh that emanates from behind a salty gray beard and a big, toothy smile — and not think about Ernest Hemingway. Without prompting, Pinckney broaches the subject. "People try to compare me with Hemingway because we both have beards and four wives, but the similarities stop there," he claims, half convincingly, as the conversation moves on to the time he went scouting peasant hunting grounds on LSD, watching the birds leave rainbows of bright color across the sky as they took flight. Kaitlyn Iserman Kaitlyn Iserman The next morning, the authors sign their respective books (Moïse's Ramblings of a Lowcountry Game Warden recounts his years tracking hunting and fishing law violators), prompting Pinckney to joke that it's "the first ever book signing with a policeman and a drug smuggler." Between Pinckney's constant stream of anecdotes and his passion for his island home, the writer easily endears himself to anyone holding him in conversation. At once both a hermit and a family man, reminiscent of a Lowcountry Edward Abbey with his fiery disdain for the trappings of the modern world, Pinckney's characters come alive because they're rooted in truth. "I'm not an artist. I'm a craftsman, like a carpenter or a builder," he explains. "I consider myself a functional person because I've got to produce. If I don't produce, I can't keep the lights on. If it's art, I'll let other people decide that." At press time, the Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa awaited word on the details of a bankruptcy auction for its assets, where it will likely sell for a fraction of its perceived value just a few years ago. In 2010, Daufuskie Island is like a half-finished novel that has been put aside because it might be better to burn the half that's written rather than complete the book. But those pages, their prose growing more poignant by the minute, are already tattered and gathering mildew in the ocean air. Just the way that Roger Pinckney likes it.

Daufuskie Island Council Elections

There will be a Candidate’s Forum on Saturday, Feb 2nd 1:00-3:00 at Mary Field School. The election will be on Saturday, Feb 9th 9:00 – 3:00 at Mary Field School. Ballots will be available on Sunday, January 27th at www.daufuskieislandcouncil.org, at the fire station, the Haig Point Mansion and at the Eagle’s Nest.

New ferry added to the Bloody Point fleet--Direct to Savannah

Daufuskie’s newest ferry option gives you so much more! Bloody Point Club and Resort is making Daufuskie accessible from Savannah. While the Bloody Point Eagle – a 16 passenger “jet” boat put in to service last month - has been doing a fine job of transporting members and resort guests from Savannah Bend Marina, in 30 minutes or less, the Club wants you to know about their newest addition to the fleet. Welcome “Birdie” a lovely Parker equipped with radar for night runs (can you say dinner in Savannah?) and room for ten passengers. Luggage is secured on the spacious aft deck and the Bimini cover (not shown) will keep passengers who choose to sit outside shaded and dry. Birdie” was in the water at Savannah Bend yesterday and is ready to fly! Thanks for this update from Andy Mason who is a real estate agent with Daufuskie Island Properties Realty. He is making all of your DI property needs a reality. Give Daufuskie Properties Realty a call to learn more about the life style that is uniquely Daufuskie.