Plotagraph: Sun Setting on Fort Moultrie

Sullivans Island and Charleston harbor are so peaceful it's hard to imagine the first shot of the Civil War was fired here when a shell fired from a 10-inch mortar burst just 100 feet above Fort Sumter, seen on the left of the horizon in this photograph.

The fort in the foreground is Fort Moultrie and the bridge in the background is the beautiful Ravenal Bridge.

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 2 drone with a GoPro Hero3+ Black and then converted to a Plotagraph. 

Middle Street

This single block is the happiest place in South Carolina. Sullivan's Island is the ultimate lowcountry beach town and Middle street is it's heart. Eat at any one of these restaurants and a good time is guaranteed. Top on my list is, of course, Poe's. But you can only eat the Amontillado burger so many days in a row before you are craving a non-burger. Hometeam BBQ across the street is a surefire BBQ hit. Taco Mamacita next door makes really tasty, eclectic tacos, too. 

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Outhouse with a View

Charleston's Fort Moultrie sits right on the beach, just outside of Charleston Harbor. I'm not sure what this little building, perched along the edge of the beach, was used for. It was probably a pillbox for observers or the entry to a supply tunnel.  I could Google it but I prefer to think it was a brick outhouse with a million dollar view. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter

Congratulations to the Patriots after a hard-fought Super Bowl battle. This fort, on Sullivan's' Island, is named after a real American Patriot, General William Moultrie. As a 46-year-old colonel in 1776, Moultrie and his men fought off British forces intent on capturing Charleston. The British fled and didn't return to South Carolina until 1780. Moultrie later became Governor of South Carolina.

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Quoth the Raven

Want the best burger of your life? Take a trip to the original Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island and you won't be disappointed. Any burger on the menu will do. For me, it's the Amontillado. Poe's burgers will match any burger you've ever had but when you throw in the atmosphere, mystique and fact that you can have sand between your toes in about two minutes, Poe's is the undisputed burger champion of the world... at least in my book.

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Only this and nothing more...

Much of the East Coast was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew last week but it sounds like Charleston managed to get by with minimal damage. Poe's Tavern lived to serve paradise on a bun another day. Sometimes, it's the little things that really matter. "Only this and nothing more..."

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Pastel Sunset

Charleston is blessed with some of the best sunsets. This one wasn't so much fiery as it was pastel. The sky was subtle as it turned everything below into gold as it sank behind downtown Charleston on the horizon. This beach is on Sullivan's Island, right next to Fort Moultrie and overlooking Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, the Ravenel Bridge and downtown.

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Sullivan's Island Shrimper

This guy knows what it's all about. Taking it easy while shrimping on Sullivan's Island as the sun sets into the water is a really, really good place to be.

I'm starting to miss summer already and it's still here.

Edit: the good people of Reddit tell me that it's more likely he's using a cast net to catch bait fish than shrimp given his location on the beach. Thanks r/Charleston!

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Poe's Gold Bug

Poe's pretty much has the best burgers, beers and atmosphere on the planet. I've been to Poe's dozens of times and I don't think I've ever seen an unhappy soul there. Ironic, then, that it is named after one of the scariest damn soldier-poets ever born! 

This tiled replica of a "Gold Bug" at the entrance pays homage to the Raven master's work by the same name. It is rumored that the "Gold Bug" was buried somewhere on Sullivan's Island when Poe was stationed there as a young soldier. Maybe it was a treasure or maybe it was a plague destined to wipe out all of mankind. Mu-ha-ha-ha-ha!

This photograph was captured with the always-awesome Sony a6300.

Update: /u/limiate tells me that it's actually buried on Gold Bug Island (which is the tiny island first tiny island on the other side of the Ben Sawyer Bridge when you are heading to Mount Pleasant from Sullivan's Island). I guess the name should have tipped me off!

Edgar Allen Poe

Poe's Tavern is one of the most unique beach bars I've ever been to... and I go there every chance I get! The entire restaurant is dedicated to Edgar Allen Poe, who was stationed on Sullivan's Island at Fort Moultrie in 1827. In fact, Poe wrote many of his famous works on Sullivan's Island. This haunting masterpiece sits above the fireplace as if Poe's ghost is emerging from the smoke. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.