Finding Forrest

A couple of evenings ago, I watched “Forrest Gump”. Of course I had seen it before, several times, but this time it had special meaning for me. Much of it was filmed here in the Beaufort area, at places I recognize. At least, I recognize them now. Before, I believed what the movie said.

The movie is set in Alabama, but evidently film-making at the time was easier here, thanks in part, I’m sure to Pat Conroy. I can point out the house where “The Great Santani” was filmed. I hear the tour guides talking about “The Prince of Tides” too, but mostly they are saying what a pain Barbra Streisand was.

But “Forrest Gump” was kind of all over the place, according to a booklet that explains Beaufort’s movie settings. For instance, I never doubted it when he said he crossed the Mississippi three times, but after reading the booklet I could plainly see it was the Beaufort River, and the bridge is the same one I cross, either on foot or in a car, several times a week.

Facebook friends know full well that I am in love with the nearby town of Port Royal. That’s where the shrimp boat scenes were shot.

A close friend of my nephew’s owned the house where Bubba’s family lived and where he was buried. The friend’s wife was a stand-in for Sally Field and in one scene, with her back to the camera, it actually is her instead of Sally.

And speaking of stand-ins, nearby Fripp Island, which is now an exclusive gated community, was Viet Nam. I thought at first Hunting Island State Park might have been the site, because it is lush with tropical vegetation, but apparently at the time, Fripp was even shaggier.

And when Forrest made his fortunes from shrimp, he donated a medical center, which is actually the University of South Carolina at Beaufort Performing Arts Center. I walk past it frequently on the way to one of my favorite restaurants.

There are lots of other sites in the area, but these are the ones familiar to me, and why I enjoyed “Forrest Gump” more the third or maybe fourth time I saw it.

Kind of like being back in Hendricks County and watching “Hoosiers”.

Pigeon Point

I thought I should say a few words about Pigeon Point, especially since I just learned that Martha, who has lived here for years longer than I have didn’t know where it was, and Hal, although he knew its location, has not been there in years. He still remembers it was a rough waterfront area.

Others, who are familiar with Pigeon Point, cannot understand why I like it so much.

That, I understand, because, frankly, there isn’t much there. Not a tourist spot. And that’s why I like it.

I have no objection to tourists in town; in fact I am glad to see them as they represent income for the area. But Pigeon Point is kind of like a cozy little secret, except on weekends when the fishing boats overrun it.

Around here, a point is a tip of land sticking out into the river, or a creek, or maybe just a marsh, but usually where a boat can be launched. THE Point in Beaufort is an area of fantastic, historic homes, the original McMansions, and that’s what the tourists come to see. I walk there frequently. But when I want to relax and just enjoy being here, I drive a little bit farther and go to Pigeon Point.

As I said, there isn’t much there. A boat launch, pier, a crabbing dock and a bench. Recently the town added a swing facing the river. This is all on the beautiful Beaufort River, where there is often a lot of boat traffic, which is fun to watch. Occasionally there are dolphins and as noted earlier, I love to see them and rarely get a photograph. Some birds, though not as many as at the Wetlands.

Other people are often there to eat their lunches and enjoy the peace and beauty of the place. The other day the swing and crabbing dock were occupied but I wanted the bench anyway as it is closer to the water, where I can sometimes watch little scenarios play out.

There’s a commercial fisherman in a small boat who puts in with his catch and often sells some of it to the leisure fishermen on the pier who haven’t been having much luck.

Just across the river is MCAS–Marine Corps Air Station–a lesser known military installation. Planes take off over the river, or come in for landings, usually four in a group. Makes for great watching.

In bad weather I just don’t go there, but otherwise there is almost always a nice breeze blowing.

In short, I go there because it just soothes my soul.