One word - golf

Hilton Head, South Carolina, is about 60 miles from where we are staying so we decided that we would stop in a pay a visit. We took our bikes in the hope that there would be biking trails as we found on Tybee Island. South Carolina is just across the Savannah River so we were quickly at the South Carolina Welcome Center.

Modest, but it had all the information.

It was at the Welcome Center that we learned that Hilton Head is honeycombed with bike trails. We picked up a couple of maps and continued down to the coast. Hilton Head couldn't be more different from Tybee Island. TI is open, kinda funky with multi-colored, pastel houses and friendly, laid-back people.  HH is all trees and lush landscaping. In fact, maybe because today was overcast, HH seemed kinda gloomy from all the overarching trees. All the buildings - houses, businesses, hotels, restaurants - are all the same color, tan. Every single one of them - tan. All the businesses are tucked behind a layer of vegetation and trees with a sign out front to tell you what is behind the trees. There were lots of cars buzzing around and everyone seems to have some place they wanted to get to in a hurry. But, there were also lots of people on bicycles.

We began our tour of the Island at Coligny Beach where there is a large parking lot where you do not have to pay to park.  The map showed a trail called the "Beach Trail" that looked like it travelled right along the ocean front.  We could not find a trail so we asked and were told that there is no specific, paved trail, you just ride along the beach! 

Entrance to Coligny Beach with chairs and swings for people to watch the world go by.

Only in Hilton Head would you have a rubber carpet to take you across the sand to the beach.

Nice hard sand.

We started out heading east, into the wind, but quickly reversed direction and could really roll along.

See, no sinking into the sand.

Lunch on drift wood.

Beach patrol car.

Huge homes along the beach.

I wonder if they don't fear hurricanes.

The beach trail is about 6 miles long and we went most of the distance.  Towards the end there is a spot on the map with an arrow that reads - "Important!!! Must go at LOW TIDE, you can only cross the Folly at low tide!!!!" We had no clue what that meant until we got to this out-flow where we had to stop, take off our socks and shoes, and wade across.

Crossing the Folly at low tide.

We left the beach and biked north, west, and south back to the parking lot at Coligny Beach, about 20 miles. Mostly what we passed were golf courses. Then, we took the car, paid the entrance fee to Sea Pines and Harbour Town ($6 for visitors), and travelled out to see the Hilton Head light so as not to disappoint my sister.

Beautiful yachts in the harbor.

HiltonHead Light.