You Won’t Get this Education in a Classroom
We left the dock around 5 p.m. Two moms and two dads, plus five pre-teen kids smiled, anticipating their adventure into the salt marsh. The two dads shared a Bert’s Market growler, while the moms and kids scanned the water. Five fishing rods rattled in the overhead as I came up onto a plane in a mild southwest chop.
A flood tide supported our mission of dolphin watching, a little fishing, and some beach combing. I chose the scenic route to Morris Island by the Sol Legare fishing dock, past Bowens Island, the sunken “pirate” boat, and on to Crosby’s shrimp boat dock. Cars clattered overhead as we passed under the bridge on Folly Creek.
“That’s Long Island just ahead of us” I tell nine attentive faces. I explain, from an aerial photo I’m holding, how you could almost draw a line through Long Island, Peas Island, Bowen’s Island, and Back Cole’s Island.
“Looks like they were all the same shoreline” I speculate. Dolphins spontaneously appear just off the starboard bow. Moms and kids squeal while the dads pour another glug from the growler. I turn right into 1st Sister creek. After twisting my way past several meanders, I glide into a shallow side creek. “Shark!” I yell. Heads snap to the right and catch the splash as a 3-foot bonnethead disappears. Back into the main channel, we push ahead for Morris. I put the anchor over, pay out scope, and make the anchor line off on the forward cleat. Bodies shuffle as I pass out fishing rods, attach pyramid sinkers, offer fishing instructions, and issue warnings of sharp hooks.
The boat continues to drift in the strong flood current. I pay out more scope. Finally, the anchor catches along the oyster-strewn bottom. “What makes the current?” a redheaded 8-year-old daughter asks. I seize the teaching moment, spouting off facts about gravity, the sun and moon, and the huge ellipsoid bulge of water swashing against our shoreline twice per day. Turning around from my arm-waving march forward, my enthusiasm wanes a bit as glassy-eyed kids stare toward the water. The two moms appear to hang on my words. They’re eyes say, “More, please!” I’m vindicated.
Waiting for fish to bite, attention wanders. Boat railings become monkey bars. The dads take another glug each from the growler. “I’ve got something!” shouts dad number two. Laughter follows as he drags in a red beard sponge.
“Time for beach combing”, I suggest. Treasures collected, we load up and head back toward the marina. Tomorrow’s a school day and everybody almost saw a shark.
Anton DuMars, owner of Tideline Tours, is a coastal geologist and longtime Folly resident. Visit www.tidelinetours.com and sign up to receive limited off charter offers.
