On the Road Again!

We've been on the road -- this time down South! Our first destination was Cleveland, but I'm saving that for another post. The next day we ended up at Myrtle Beach.

We have gone there for six or seven years for Rick's trade show. Trade show photos are boring. The beach, on the other hand, is another thing altogether!

We have stayed at the Sun-Fun, a little mom-and-pop motel about a block from the beach, for almost as long as we've visited Myrtle. They could use a bit of an interior upgrade, but it's close to the water, less expensive than the waterside condos, has a pool and the owners are very nice. And who spends time in the room?

We cross over the street and pass the condos -- this is the view we face -- the beach, as wide and as far as anyone can see!

Rows of umbrellas and beach chairs are available for rent, bright and colorful against the sand and sky.

We opt for our own chairs and towels! Then it's time to people-watch, catch some rays and swim.

I love the people watching, especially the kids. There's always the one who is scared of the water -- for five or ten minutes, then is diving with the best of them. Or the one who just sits and soaks up the cool water from the breakers.

There are lots of "future engineers" creating castles from sand and shells.

And then there are the diggers and sculptors, who create sand art while burying their buddy!

The new site on the beach was a Ferris wheel, which added a nice curve to row of vertical buildings.

Walking the beach is always fun! (Don't you wonder how many pictures of a traveler are in other people's photos? At the beach, it may well be your behind!)

Rick was a "shell-skipper..."

...while I loved burying my toes in the sand, waiting for that cool breaker to wash over them.

I could watch the water all day, and listen to the waves crash against the shore.

Even though it was calmer than our past visits (and far cooler than I expected, though it still was a nice 90-something!), swimming and jumping the waves in the ocean is wonderful.

The ocean is healing for me, and I've been experiencing a great deal of stress lately. I'll write more about the healing power of the ocean in another post, but I do have to say it works miracles!

Of course, I would be a bad blogger not to include the obligatory food photo -- indeed, our dinner at Soho restaurant, walking distance from our motel, was delicious. I chose the crab-stuffed shrimp and really, it was unbelievably delicious and beautifully presented.

Even the mood lighting was right, as we dined on the porch, a warm but not stifling breeze passing by.

Happiness. Just happiness. I could have stayed there forever.

But that said, it was time to travel again! Where to next?