V3 – “Show” and Tell

The reason we went south in the first place was for Rick’s annual trade show, which is held every July in Myrtle Beach.

Rick created a software program to help well drillers manage their business “from estimate through completion of state well compliance logs.” (Let me say all I know about wells is that I probably need one at the cottage.)

I am his willing helper, snagging and holding potential clients and telling them about the program. When I get a break I walk around.

There are lots of trucks.

LOTS of trucks.
This is NOT a PBS trade show. Let’s just say that instead of getting cool swag like DVDs, CDs, autographed books and stuffed animals related to PBS shows you get… well, inflated plastic balls shaped like pumps (I guess you could use it as a beach ball) and ball point pens.

But there are several folks I’ve met I like very much, including Chauncey, one of Rick’s star-users!

But when I left the show… well, that was a different matter!

Early morning at the beach is very quiet.

But then -- playtime!

There is nothing I love more than diving head first into a swelling ocean wave – the force pushes your legs out behind you, buoyant and fluid. I felt like a mermaid, one extended water-creature, moving at one with the sea.

The water is so very warm, and so is the air – so much so that when surfacing, there is no temperature difference! (But we were lucky; not nearly so humid as at other times we’ve been!)

Rick is a "run and leaper," riding the perfect wave!

I smile all the time when I’m there!

I also finished two books, Pattie (Harrison/Clapton) Boyd’s “Wonderful Tonight,” about her life with George Harrison and Eric Clapton and a delightful novel – The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, which was recommended by Laura at Maude and Mozart and just wonderful.

And of course there were walks on the beach, here looking toward the pier…

And beneath.
Messages in the sand…
That were sadly washed away – not unlike the way things in “real life” are washed away.

There was shelling (those are part of my souvenir packet!)…

Admiring sand castles…
And the colors of the beach – toys…
Colorful umbrellas…

Dashing flags.

Even the colors of the sand and seagrass bring their own calm, though seconds away are the shrieks of laugher as young children dance in the sand.

Dining out was fun too – we especially liked Dirty Don’s.

With a beautiful walk afterwards -- even the evening has its colors.

Leaving the beach was difficult indeed!

But I did get some time in at an outdoor shopping mall, with a wonderful carousel…

And lots of great signs!
Even our little "mom-and-pop" motel, one block from the beach, is colorful.

On Wednesday morning we hit the road for North Carolina… more on that next time!

Remember, anyone commenting on any of the posts marked “V” (This is “V3”) might be chosen to receive my vacation souvenir packet with items from West Virginia, Myrtle Beach, and Banner Elk, North Carolina! Comment on one post or all, to increase your odds!

The packet includes two types of note cards, some rustic color pencils, mini-flipflops that you can use as an ornament or embellishment, a deck of souvenir cards and some shells (not pictured), hand picked up from Myrtle Beach!