Dolphin watching in January at Breach Inlet on the Isle of Palms

13 Jan 2010 by Sean in Charleston Outside

Still thawing from my trip to Chicago, I thought it would be fun to head out to the beach and catch sunset yesterday.  I hadn’t been to the Isle of Palms in a while, so I decided to drive to Breach Inlet.

I’m never surprised to see bottlenose dolphins in the Lowcountry.  But it’s still fun to watch them swim along every time.

It was in the 40s yesterday.  Ordinarily, I’d find that a little chilly.  But some places in the U.S. don’t get back up to 40 until spring.  Having spent the last two weeks at my friend’s house just a few blocks down from Barack Obama’s Chicago home, I can take this Southern winter just fine.

But the colder January air keeps the beach wide open and empty.  Except for a moment when a couple walked by with their dog, the beach was all mine for the half hour I was there.

As if on cue, two dolphins made their appearance in Breach Inlet.  (In case you’re unfamiliar with the local geography, Breach Inlet separates Isle of Palms from its southern neighbor, Sullivan’s Island.)

To a degree, I enjoyed the “real” winter up north with snow and ice and scarf and gloves.  But ambling along the beach with a pair of dolphins in January ain’t half bad.