Day 42 - November 9, 2024

A long drive today from Kitty Hawk, NC to Myrtle beach, SC. We were just nicely on the road when we went past a turtle just sitting in the middle of the road. So, we turned around and I picked it up and moved it of to the side of the road where there was water. Along the way we stopped for some photos of some old, abandoned houses, and a cotton field. We also stopped at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.

Mattamuskeet Lake is the largest lake in North Carolina at 40,000 acres. But not the deepest. It averages only 2 to 3 feet deep. In the early 1900s someone thought it might be a good idea to drain the lake in order to farm the land under it. They built a giant pumping station with a chimney made to look like the Bodie Island Lighthouse. When they failed to drain the lake, they turned the pumping station into a hunting lodge. Today they are in the beginning stages of restoring the lodge.

Next, we went past an old hotel with a great name, some cotton bales and more old houses. Once we reached South Carolina, Verna found another new boyfriend. I think her choices in men could be better!

Day 43 - November 10, 2024

“Atlantic on Fire”. We are on the 18th floor of a 22-story high rise, facing the Atlantic Ocean. The sunrise was stunning!

The apartment is small but very nice. We look up and down the beach and out to the ocean. We have been going hard for a long time, so we just decided to stay in today and relax. I took a few shots from the balcony and then this evening I took a very short walk and got a few shouts of the buildings along the beach and our building. Verna is on the balcony waving at me. The last shot is a mini golf across the street taken from our hallway.

Day 44 - November 11, 2024

What? Two quiet days in a row. Again, today we took it easy for most of the day. Late in the afternoon we went for a little drive and got a few shots of some lovely homes, then in the evening some night shots of our resort, some of the other hotels in the area and a couple homes. Also, the mandatory Ferris Wheel shot.

Day 45 - November 12, 2024

Today started with a sunrise and, a passing shrimp boat. Then we were off to Murrell’s Inlet. This is a large inlet off the Atlantic with quite a history, including Blackbeard (the pirate) (https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/article/a-history-buffs-guide-to-murrells-inlet).

Then we went to Brookgreen Gardens. This 9,000-acre garden also hosts the largest sculpture collection in the US. Beautiful! Next, we were off to Huntington Beach State Park. Here I spent a couple of hours shooting birds. Some of the birds seen here are: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-Coloured Heron, White Ibis, and Wood Storks. It was quite an interesting day.

Day 46 - November 13, 2024

Today we took a drive around the neighbourhood. Well, a little further than that. First stop, Carolina Forest. A lovely “master planned” community with over 50% of the land is green space. Every home backs to a park, green space or forest. Here you can get a nice 1,600 sq. ft. bungalow in the mid $300s.

Next stop, Conway. One of the oldest towns in South Carolina, Conway has a nice little riverwalk. Then down the highway to Georgetown. Another very old town, founded in 1729. Another very pretty riverwalk, downtown buildings from the mid 1700s and old homes. One of them was built in 1732 and is still standing! We watched several small sailing vessels being manned by some young sailing students. And a sunset. Then back to Myrtle Beach and our condo where we had a beautiful, moonlit ocean view.

Day 47 - November 14, 2024

We have been extremely fortunate so far with only two days of poor weather. Today was the third. It started out cloudy and cool and deteriorated from there. So, we just stayed in. I managed to complete my mandatory education class for 2024 online. Around 4:00 we decided to take in a show and chose #LegendsMyrtleBeach. Good choice. Donna, “the world’s best usher” (and her friend) showed us to our seats in a beautiful theatre.

The show consisted of tribute acts to Marilyn Monroe, Diana Ross, Martina McBride, The Blues Brothers and of course, Elvis. They were all outstanding and we enjoyed a wonderful show.

Day 48 - November 15, 2024

It’s funny how things work. We have been here a week and have seen virtually nothing offshore from our 18th floor unit.  Until today. After one shot of the cloudy morning from our balcony (weird ocean, no waves), we start the day by going north to North Myrtle Beach and a walk on the beach.

Next, we head off to Socastee Swing Bridge Park to watch the swing bridge (duh!). The back to 2nd Ave. Pier in Myrtle Beach for a walk on the pier before heading back to our condo. What do we see there? Not one, not two, but three fishing boats (shrimp boats I think). They were making large circles along our coast with, literally, thousand of sea birds following. I can’t imagine how dirty those boats are.

Then we look and we have a full moon rising above the clouds on the horizon. What a beautiful evening with the moon, the ocean, the boats and the beach. As the sun was setting it created some cool, long shadows. Tomorrow, we are off to Hilton Head Island.