Vacation 2011, Part 2: Myrtle Beach

Day 1, Saturday

We arrived in Myrtle around 1:30pm. The weather was cloudy, and rain had sprinkled down in some areas as we drove east on 501. We checked into our resort, the Springmaid Beach Resort. Saturday was a cloudy day and chilly night. We stopped by Broadway for a few to walk around and buy some pralines for my grandma. Then we headed down to the new boardwalk and had some drink's at the Landshark Bar & Grill (Jimmy Buffett's newest addition to his arsenal). We picked up a pizza from Domino's then went back to the hotel around 2:30am.

Day 2, Sunday

I woke up to the sound of the waves around 7:30am. Not much rest, I know. I threw on my sandals and walked down to the car to grab something. Stopping by the edge of the parking lot on my way back to watch the sun dangling over the water. We then went down and had the awesome breakfast buffet and checked out some of the other pools.

Rachael and I did some mini golfing, and she won the first round! Ahh. We did some shopping at the touristy beach shops until the sun came out. We raced back to the hotel and hurried down to the pool. The sun came and went for about a half hour before coming out for a solid three hours. Rachael got to do some body surfing which was fun to watch! We jumped around in the waves for awhile, took some pics at the pier, and then it was time for the mini-golf rematch. The rematch ended in a 45-45 tie! We used our free $20 worth of tokens at the resort arcade and Rachael hit the jackpot, winning like 500 tickets! She won a ton of candy.

We then made our way over to Murrell's Inlet to have one of the more unimpressive dinners that I've had at Creek Ratz. But still a wonderful night!

Day 3, Monday

We finished up some shopping and stopped by the Surfside Holiday Inn to drop some belongings off to Vicki Davis, whom I used to work with here at the Hilton Columbus. We had a quick rubber-match at Cancun Lagoon, with Rachael winning the final round and going home as champ. We had to make one more quick stop at Broadway to get the pralines, then set out on our way up I-95 towards Virginia.

Myrtle '10, The drive back to Ohio: Detours, staying w/ family, and a new radiator

(Photo: Shell station at Exit 55, I-77 N through Statesville)
So I've been back in Ohio for about a week now. Definitely missing the coastal lifestyle already. Sitting here on our deck right now and the trees, dead leaves, and other units look lovely (we really do have a great view off of the balcony) but already missing the 843.

I've been meaning to write more about the trip but with the new job all last week and this crazy weekend, I have not got to it. The worst scenario possible played out on our way back. Just east of Conway my car started overheating. We pulled off and I noticed major leakage going on. But it didn't seem like coolant to me so I figured the radiator's just sweating in the heat. We let it cool off, and decide to take SR 9 north instead of 501.

The Escape was doing great until Lake View, SC, (population a grand total of 790 in 2000....)where she overheated again and needed assistance from the small-town half drunk-on-a-Monday-afternoon police officer (the town's only cop) and a barely in-business old style service station. Exhale.. love the south. After we checked her out there, we made it exactly 200 miles to Statesville before endless problems ranging from the overheating to serious smoke, and from loud rattling under the hood to oil sensors going off. An NC trooper made sure I could make it to a Shell station just up 77, and we left her there over night.

Now I really had no idea how or what we were going to do. And the kicker was that I had something slightly important to make it back for at 8am here in Columbus. Like, a new job? Yeah, thankfully new job was very understanding and helpful in getting some peace of mind back that night. That's when my cousins D.R. and Kim, who live in Mooresville, came to our rescue. They took us in and she showed us Davidson the next day while treating us to lunch. We don't get to see them enough! $620 later and 30 miles of towing, the Escape got a new radiator and thermostat. Back on the road by 6pm on Tuesday, and we didn't get in until 1am.

Now all's been good. No more overheating, but I should probably be looking into new vehicle options. New job, new apartment, why not a new car, right? And what the hell happened in South Bend yesterday? Michigan beats us right at the end of the game for the second year in a row? Oh well, I'm not worried. Crist was out for most of the first half and we have a coach who's still learning the ND ropes, adjusting to the stadium, and getting to know our opponents.

Myrtle '10, Day 2: From a lifeguard chair on the coast of SC

Currently sittin in my guard chair out front of the Landmark. So strange. Literally decided last minute to take a trip down here. Friday morn blew by, then we were like 'yep..let's go,' so here we are. And here I am once again in the shadow of the building that I did a lot of growing up in over the summers. Lightning strikes out over the sea are looking great tonight. Its strange looking over my shoulder, thinking everything I've become and some of the most important people in my life are all due to that hotel.

I've always said my hearts buried here in the sand somewhere. I know this city, Surfside, Garden City, and Murrell's Inlet better than I know Columbus still. Its where I became who I am today, and I'll always claim it as a home. Coolest lightning strike yet.. Just south of the pier. A cool wind just hit me too, coinciding with the lightning? Hmmm. Getting chilly. The waves are still rough. Capping well out beyond the breaks.

Today, we had plenty of sun and beer. Dinner down in the inlet at Creek Ratz, then some mini golf. My partner in crime is asleep back at the hotel. This is a paradise to a lot of people, but as I've said many times its a home to this guy. I can't spend the last night w/out some quality time here in the chair. Watching and listening to the waves and seeing hotel room lights shut off one after another. This is where I belong. I owe everything I am to this couple mile stretch of sand.

Thunder. Something must be working its way up the coast. I'll ride it out tonight as long as I can. Then back across Ocean Blvd to the hotel. So right now I'll put the phone away and spend the rest of this amazing MB night with the ocean and this storm.

This trip, and these last few hours in the chair, have brought on a lot of thinking. Back to Ohio tomorrow so I can start the new job on Tuesday. Will write more on the trip when I'm back in Columbus. Hope where ever you are, you are as at peace as I am right now.

From a guard chair in Myrtle, goodnight.