As long as I live, I will never forget our trip out to Sliver Island. It’s not really called “Sliver Island”…but that’s what I call it. It’s actually called Little Tybee, but because the part we explored was only about twenty five steps wide, I decided to call it Sliver Island instead.
Obviously, because it’s an island, you can only reach it by boat. And while the very thought of being able to go somewhere that was uninhabited, unattached, unplugged, and unbelievably beautiful instantly intrigued me, it also sort of scared me. For starters, I’m kind of a worry-wart. Okay, I’m a full-blown worry-wart. And I’m not the best swimmer either. (When I was a child, the swim instructors at the YMCA actually handed me back to my parents and said, “Sorry. She doesn’t float.”) So traveling anywhere by boat is guaranteed to raise my anxiety level a couple of notches. That being said, I knew I’d regret not going if I chickened out, so I put on my game face (or maybe I should say my “game brain”?) and hopped in Captain Rene’s boat like it wasn’t nothin’ but a thang. And even though my anxiety level was initially slightly higher than normal when we pushed away from Fisherman’s Walk, the trip turned out to be quite an amazing after all.
On the way out, we saw TONS of dolphins. Some even came right up and under the boat! We saw Osprey, and their huge nest. We saw sunlight dancing on top of the waves, and lush green marsh grasses wiggling in the wind.
(Me and Mom, pointing at dolphins)
It was an fascinating ride, and I really did enjoy it.
Once we got out to the island, we jumped out of the boat and started scavenging for souvenirs. I immediately found the biggest sand dollar I had ever seen outside of a shell shop. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world!
And as for the island itself, well, I will never forget standing out there on that little sliver of sand, below a sky full of swirly, silver-lined clouds- all drifting and shifting wherever the wind decided they should go. The sea crashing on one side of me, and miles of winding salt marsh on the other.
Simply. Spectacular.
A giant tree had washed ashore, and I could not take my eyes off it.
It a bizarre and beautiful sight, and seeing it there reminded me of how unique and small we all really are. I must have spent twenty minutes studying its gnarled roots and daydreaming about its history.
Where did it come from?
How did it end up in the sea?
Did it float here, or did it travel along the sea floor all this way?
I wondered if it would be there the next time I visited Sliver Island. I wondered if I’d ever have the chance to visit Sliver Island again. (?) I sure hope so. It’s definitely the kind of place that fills you up, and makes you think.
And any place that makes it impossible for one to stop smiling is definitely worth a temporary spell of heightened anxiety, don’t ya think?
Wanna see the video we shot that day?
(Make sure you hit the “expand” button in the lower right hand corner of the player, if you want a closer view of the dolphins!)
Wanna visit Sliver Island?
Visit Captain Rene at SundialCharters.net!
David
Layla,
I just happened upon your website as I was researching Little Tybee Island, and I wanted to thank you for a fantastic, enjoyable post about the island. The video is especially well done, as is the photography.
I was born and raised in Savannah, GA. I’ve been to Little Tybee a thousand times from every direction. I’ve seen every nook and cranny. In fact, my email address is named after a tiny island right up against Little Tybee (you probably pulled into Buck Hammock Creek to get onto Little Tybee). So why am I researching a place I have been to so many times? I am writing a book that includes a trip there. I needed to refresh my memory. As a refresher, your post beat everything else out there.
Thank you.
David Humphries
Rene Heidt
Dear Layla,
We are still taking out good folks as a result of your blog, i would love to put your video with your husbands music on our website. But all i have is a corrupted file. Is there any way that you can send me a copy so that i can put in on my website and facebook and give you and your husband credit. I hope that when you come back to Tybee Island, you will come visit us.
Thank you So Much,
Rene
tracyo
How beautiful!! Thanks for your video!
Kerry Rossow
Your description and the photography make me dream of another trip to the beach! Nothing calms the soul like sand and sea, huh? (Especially now that we are in “back to school” mode!)
Many Thanks!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com
Layla
Totally! We’re heading back to Tybee in September and I can’t wait to “see the sea” again! 😀
Sarah
Lovely post. I live in Savannah- easy to take your home town for granted. Thanks for reminding me how lucky I am that I live here. 🙂
Sarah