Just Add Water

Cathy Lewis Lupton and others swimming at Foot of the Road, Lowland, 1977.

         As a kid growing up on Goose Creek Island, a garden sprinkler was our version of an above ground pool.  The creek was our in ground pool.  All of us from the Island had our favorite swimming holes.  At the end of every road, we were sure to find plenty of cool water to have a blissful day in the summertime.
     Recent postings to the Goose Creek Island Album have generated a number of comments about swimming in the surrounding waters of the Island.  Many have commented about swimming at the Hobucken Bridge, on the shore near R.E. Mayo's fish house.  I can remember Alisa Lee (daughter of Nelson and Dorothy Lee) and myself, jumping off into "the canal" from her daddy's trawler that was tied up there.  We would swim back to the boat or the dock, use a rope to pull ourselves up and do it again.  Of course, when the Texasgulf barge was coming or other boats, we promptly got out until they passed.
      Although the island didn't have any wide, sandy beaches, we had our fair share of swimming holes to accommodate.  Several "hot spots" to take a dip on the Island have been identified as Doll's Creek, Foot-of-the-Road, the Ponderosa Campground, at the Bridge, The Hole or taking the boat out to Boar Creek. While I am quite sure there are many other places, we islanders weren't never really picky about where we went swimming. I don't think we really gave it much thought about how clean the water was, we just found a spot and jumped in.
     Many of us learned our first strokes of swimming at our own little swimming holes. Encounters with the ever abundant jellyfish or mishappenings with water moccasins occured frequently.  Some of the older folks have even remarked about going swimming after long, hot days working in tobacco. The younger generation have commented on riding their bikes down the many boat ramps or riding off the docks and pulling them back up, all to do again and again.

      As you can imagine, a trip to the creek was like a day trip with a splash.  Sitting on the docks, getting a tan, drinking RC Colas, and watching the world go by with your friends have peppered our memories.  As our minds travel back those dreamy summer afternoons being covered head to toe with the cool waters of the creek, the summertime and swimming holes offered us unfettered freedom from the day to day routine.   
     Lifelong friendships were created at the creek.  Those days at the creek floating on an inner tube, resting on your back, viewing the world from the bottom up are etched into each of hearts. If you get the chance, take drive down to the creek and take in the vast views of the river, creek, and sound. Share your memories with your children.  At the creek, you could "do a lot" or you could "do nothing"....but you could do it all at the creek.