 A
Waterman's View
By
Captain
Michael (Mike) Neal
Exploring
the waters and islands of Skidaway Narrows
I love discovering new places. Sometimes, this means
exploring an area I think I know and looking at it a bit more
closely. I’ve recently been spending a lot of time exploring
Skidaway Narrows, part of the ICW near Isle of Hope and Skidaway
Island.
This area is a perfect example of how history and
nature are so entwined here in Coastal Georgia. The marshes, creeks
and rivers are filled with oysters, mussels, crabs, and fish. This
bountiful harvest of seafood served as sustenance for the Timucua
Indians, who lived here over 4,000 years before European settlers
arrived.
There are a number of middens, or shell mounds, on
Skidaway Island and Isle of Hope; archaeologists (and probably lots
of local kids) have explored these, which help to tell the tales of
the early peoples of our coast. Some of the shell mounds are unique
ceremonial shell rings, while others were simply a place to throw
out the “trash.” One of the best ways we can learn more about the
early cultures and people of our area is to study these prehistoric
sites.
As we boat and kayak through our waterways, it
becomes easier to imagine the lifestyle the Native Americans must
have had in this area, as well as that of the first settlers who
came here with Oglethorpe.
Skidaway Narrows is a protected path that leads to
the Savannah River, and to the city of Savannah. Knowing the city
needed to be protected, Oglethorpe sent a group of colonists to the
northern tip of Skidaway Island and gave a section of Isle of Hope
(that we know as Wormsloe) to Noble Jones to guard this southern
approach to Savannah. The ancestors of Noble Jones still have a home
at Wormsloe, and the state of Georgia has the surrounding area
protected as a historical site.
Pigeon Island, just down the way from Skidaway
Narrows boat ramp, is part of the Wormsloe Historical Site. It is
home to a nesting pair of bald eagles. I love to paddle my kayak
past it and look for these majestic birds. Another bird of prey
common to our area is the osprey. There is no shortage of bird life
on the Georgia coast.
Skidaway Island has a rich history, filled with the
legacy of plantations, civil war batteries, black freedmen, and
bootlegging. There are many stories of how man used the waterways
and the island itself. If you visit Skidaway State Park, you can
walk trails to visit the site of the earthen batteries, and the site
of one of the old stills used in the bootlegging days. Today we have
the Skidaway Institute and the MECA Aquarium guarding the waterways.
The institute is world-renown for research on the marshes, coast and
oceans. The aquarium allows us to observe river and ocean
inhabitants in a warm, dry environment.
Just off Skidaway Narrows, along Burnside Island, is
Moon River. This waterway inspired Johnny Mercer, who had a home
overlooking it, to write the song by the same name. It may not be a
mile wide, but it is great place to cross in style when wandering it
in a kayak or boat with a friend.
You can access this waterway by boat or kayak using
the Rodney J. Hall Boat Ramp, located off Diamond Causeway before
the drawbridge leading to Skidaway Island. You can also explore this
area by visiting Skidaway State Park and Wormsloe Historical Site.
Enjoy and I’ll see you on the water.
Captain Michael (Mike) Neal, owner/operator of Bull
River Cruises, boater, and naturalist, has been exploring the waters
of Coastal Georgia for the past 10 years. You can contact Mike at Bullrivercruises@aol.com.
|
