Naturally Kiawah - Kiawah Conservancy

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The Trails That Bind Us by Joan Collar Kiawah means many things to many people, but one of the things that makes Kiawah so special to all of us is its unsurpassed natural beauty. There are the wonderful live oaks with their outstretched arms laden with Spanish moss, the rustling palmettos, the wax myrtle, the holly, the magnolia, the pine, the cedar, to mention some of the trees. There are the many grasses including sweet grass, spartina and sea oats. There is the sweet, pungent smell of the pluff mud in the ever-changing tidal marshes filled with oysters, clams, crabs, shrimp and fish. In and around the lagoons, there are fish, birds and alligators. The wilderness areas have an abundance of deer, bobcats and other wildlife. The beautiful Atlantic Ocean and the Kiawah River astound us with their many shore birds, dolphins and myriad sea shells. And lest we forget, one of the loveliest, unspoiled beaches in the world borders our southern shores. We are truly blessed to have all of this surrounding us on a daily basis. As most of us know, one of the best ways to see all of this beauty is by bike. We have more than 20 miles of bike trails on Kiawah. Most of the trails are on the Island itself and are managed by the Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA). Our newest, and very popular trail, is the one going to Freshsfields Village, managed by the Town of Kiawah Island. As these 20-plus miles of bike trails wend around the Island, you travel under canopies of trees, through unique neighborhoods, into unspoiled maritime forests, over wooden bridges, down beach boardwalks, by lagoons and to three towers where you can stop and savor the incredible views. These towers are the Marsh View Tower on Marsh Hawk Lane that overlooks the Kiawah River, the Marsh Island Park Tower off of Governors Drive that overlooks the tidal marshes and hummocks and the Blue Heron Pond Tower in The Preserve that overlooks Blue Heron Pond. (The Marsh View Tower is presently closed for structural repairs. No word yet as to when it will be reopened.) As one travels these bike trails there are also a few benches, including memorial benches, scattered around for those who wish to stop and enjoy the moment or, heaven forbid, to rest. A special feature here on Kiawah is the opportunity to bike along the 10-mile stretch of hard-packed sand of the Kiawah Island beach. This, of course, is a bonus and not included in the aforementioned 20 miles of bike trails. There is an opportunity for everyone to become active in the maintenance of these trails. There is a program called Adopt-a- Trail. Although most people are courteous and mindful of not throwing garbage along the trails, there are some violators. Volunteers with this program assume responsibility for monitoring small sections of the trails and clearing trash and debris. Please call Dave Achey at 843-768-2315 extension 252 to volunteer in this endeavor. Dave is KICA’s Land Management Director and the keeper of the bike trails. We thank him for maintaining our wonderful bike trails. He asks us to be observant trail travelers and report any missing plaques and trail obstructions. In subsequent issues of Naturally Kiawah, we shall take you on various bike trips around the Island. We hope to take you on a journey not yet traveled by you or if you have been there, you will enjoy reliving the wonderful adventure. Please share with us any unique adventures you have had along our Kiawah bikeways. Until our next adventure in Naturally Kiawah, happy biking! n 14
“To see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.” William Blake by Sophia McAllister It is 7:00pm and the conditions are perfect. It is dusk when I push my kayak away from shore at the Kiawah River bridge. The red hues of the sunset color the barely moving water. I paddle under the bridge and head past Mingo Point for Captain Sam’s Inlet located at the western-most part of the Island. The section of river from slightly north of the bridge to the Inlet is narrow and winding. Looking toward land, house lights wink through the leaves of the trees in the maritime forest. Across from land is the marsh teeming with an abundance of plants and animals that feed, breed and shelter there. Creeks run through the spartina and around marsh islands. Oyster beds abound along the shoreline and in the creeks. Fiddler crabs aerate the mud. I continue my leisurely paddle. The squawk of a heron precedes her liftoff into the air. Gulls circle shallow pools among the spartina. An eagle watches from a dead pine tree. Finally, the full moon rises above the trees to the east and there is light! Light that casts shadows and makes the water on my paddle sparkle. As I approach the Inlet, I hear the telltale snuffle of a dolphin. The moon is now high in the sky and by its light, I see a large pod of dolphins swim past me, some within a couple of feet. Magical! And magical is how to describe the view of our Island home from the waters that surround us. It gives us a different perspective from that of the inland paths, trails and roads. Out on the water, we are in the open with little to obstruct our view of land and marsh. The vantage point is unique, natural and ungroomed, mostly untouched by the hand of man and in constant motion. Going east from the Kiawah River bridge, the river broadens and runs relatively straight until it meets the Stono River. The dock at Rhett’s Bluff is a convenient launching spot for exploring that area of the river where there are broad marshlands, tiny creeks and small marsh islands on both sides. At the eastern point of Kiawah, the Kiawah River meets the Stono River. Close by is Bass Creek. The entrance to the Stono River from Bass Creek can also be accessed from the dock at Cinder Creek. From there, Bass Creek snakes in all directions before joining the Stono River very close to the Atlantic. Bear right and you see the 151 acres of Little Bear Island undeveloped and protected by a conservation easement. The Stono River empties into the Atlantic and once past the breakers, the view is of the 10 miles of pristine sandy beach running the length of Kiawah. The beach welcomes many of our migrating birds as well as those that live here full time. There are sea shells and other evidence of the existence of many sea creatures living in the ocean waters off our shore. Loggerhead turtles arrive each spring to lay their eggs in the sand. Manatees have been sighted. Beyond the beach, the dunes provide home, food and shelter to plants and land animals. Paddling east to west along the beach, we arrive at Captain Sam’s Spit at the end of which is the Inlet that brings us full circle back to the Kiawah River. Whether you circumnavigate the island in a day or go out for short trips, the experience will provide a greater appreciation for our habitat and the flora and fauna we share it with. n Photographs courtesy of Pamela Cohen, Joan Collar and Justin Core. 15
Page 1 and 2: Naturally Kiawah WINTER/SPRING 2011
Page 3 and 4: The Editor’s Desk STAFF Donna Win
Page 5 and 6: Lasting Impressions by Donna Windha
Page 7 and 8: Alan D. Wilson Female surf scoter (
Page 9 and 10: Is That Baby Animal Abandoned? by S
Page 11 and 12: Come Blow Your Horn and dance to th
Page 13 and 14: “A light broke in upon my soul it
Page 15: What Gives? by Maureen Dabruzzi “
Page 19 and 20: Painted Bunting Gala Guests at the
Page 21 and 22: Craig Weaver Kiawah Island Communit
Page 23 and 24: Willet Mr. & Mrs. Herbert B. Ailes
Page 25 and 26: Foundations and Grants Alliance Ber
Page 27 and 28: Cover Contest When the Conservancy

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