Waterway veterans have long known that the man-made canal, used by the AICW to run between Little River and the Waccamaw River, may be officially known as the Pine Island Cut, but most call it the "Rock Pile" for good reason. And, that reason is, as you will read below, that rock ledges stick our from both shores of this canal along the way. The moral of this story is to stick to the mid-line if at all possible.
Also, note Captain George's good experience with TowBoat/US. These fine folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR!

Well, ok, we go through the Little River Bridge just a few minutes  after my last post. I'm behind a Fleming, who is behind a couple of  tows slowly moving a dredge and pipe rig. Fleming is advised there is  deeper water on the port side, and decides to pass. I tell him might  as well do it now, because the narrow part of The Rockpile is up  ahead a bit. I ask him to let me know what depth he sees and I follow  right behind. Everything is going fine; plenty of water. DOINK! I am  hard aground, Fleming continues on unflustered. So, for the very  first time ever, I've gone aground and can't get off! I mean we are  STUCK. Fortunately we had a rising tide, and great first time  experience with TowBoat US (Brian Cogsdell, Little River). Alls well  that ends well, no nasty prop vibes  etc. The Beatle's oldie "I  Should Have Known Better.." … can't get it out of my mind.
Of course the punch line is the tow had pulled over and tied up a  half a mile downstream….
George,
needing to break out his copy of the Stone's "High Tides and Green 
Grass"