Charleston Day 2

September 22, 2013

After breakfast, we gathered at 8:45 am to review the activities for the day.  Our 30 mile biking day takes us to Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms on the Atlantic coast with a stop at Fort Moultrie.  At 9:00 am we began the ride by cycling from the Inn to the Arthur Ravenal Jr. bridge over the Cooper River to Sullivan’s Island where we biked through Mount Pleasant village. The Ravenal bridge is very spectacular with the suspension cables and a high ascent to the apex of the bridge roadway.  From here we had great views of the Charlestown harbor and the route we would be covering today.   In front us was Patriots Point and the Naval and Maritime Museum with the Yorktown aircraft carrier part of that museum.

Mount Pleasant village has streets with Spanish moss covered, large live oaks that form a canopy over the streets.  Further along the route we cycled over the bridge that links Sullivan’s to the Isle of Palms.  Fortunately, the bridges had bike lanes. As we neared the bridge that connects Sullivan’s Island with the Isle of Palms, there were beautiful sites of the grasses being blown by the breeze and boats anchored near residences.  We bikes over the bridge and entered the Isle of Palms with a lot of unique homes along the ocean front road.  Here we stopped for lunch at Coconut Joe’s and relaxed with beautiful views of the Atlantic. 

After lunch, we cycled back thru Sullivan’s Island to Fort Moultrie, which played key roles in both the Revolutionary and Civil wars.  In fact, the fort was utilized during the second World War.  The fort, or actually a series of forts, was built to protect the city of Charleston.  The first fort was built of palmetto logs and was attached by British warships on June 28k 1776, near the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.  The soft palmetto logs did not crack under bombardment, but absorbed the shot with some cannon balls actually bouncing off the walls.  Charleston was saved and the fort was named for the battle commander, William Moultrie. 

Sullivan’s Island is a barrier island with a long military history of protecting the harbor from invaders.  Remnants of this military history can be found in the “bunker homes” that are former fortifications now renovated as single family residences.  From Fort Moultrie, we retraced our ride back to the Ansonborough Inn. 

Dinner this evening was on our own and we made reservations at the Fleet Landing Restaurant located overlooking the Charleston harbor.  We had seafood – group and flounder – which was outstanding.  The views of the harbor and sailing vessels were spectacular.

Here are some pictures from today's activities:

View of Charleston from Ravenal bridge

Bev approaching the bridge apex

At the top

Looking toward Sullivan's Island in the far distance

Spanish moss draped, Live oak lined Atlantic Ave in Mt. Pleasant

Grass near Isle of Palms bridge

Boats near Isle of Palms bridge

Riding into Isle of Palms

At Coconut Joe's

Atlantic shoreline at Coconut Joe's

Group lunch at Coconut Joe's

A bunker home

Fort Moultrie

View to Fort Sumpter from Fort Moultrie

Civil war cannons

Suspension cables on Ravenal bridge

Return to the bridge apex

Harbor view from Fleet Landing Restaurant

Sailing vessel passing Fleet Landing Restaurant