Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts

Beach Rundown

 This is my blog view today




Yep. We are now heading home from a week at the beach. The camper is cleaned and closed and the car is packed and safety prayers have been said. We take mostly backroads and see lots of pretty farm lands. 


It was a beautiful week with all sunshine and temperatures in the upper 90’s. Leaving is sorta sad, but once we get on the road, the comforts of home kicks in and it’s nice to open the door to the house. This means we made it safe and put another memory in the books.


Nick took this photo the morning before we left


I learned the first day on the beach that I can’t fight the ocean the way I used to when I was a younger. I walked myself out about knee deep and along came a wave and swept my feet right out from under me. “Hey! That was mean!’ Needless to say I walked out with a bloody knee and a shell rash that lasted all week. It’s healed up now but left a white spot that didn’t tan.


A bird pooped on Nick and I laughed. The next day I got pooped on. Wasn’t so funny then. Ok, Yes it was. We both laughed. I heard it was good luck anyway. I wanted to go kayaking for the the first time at the campground lake and don’t know why I didn’t. Eh, maybe on the next trip in a couple months. 



It makes Nick really nervous when I do things on a whelm like this so I mentioned it a few times but didn’t pout about it. Neither one of us can swim. But I did find this little prince by the lake while we were washing some clothes at the laundry mat (or is it laundro mat?)



We enjoyed dinner by the water way with friends and family. We shopped at some outlets and walked around a brewery, but no, I didn’t get a beer, ha. The last night there, we tried a new place called Barefoot Bistro. It was a little swanky little place with a one man band and familiar foods. The people all seemed to know each other as if this was a regular hang out for locals.



I ordered the chicken pot pie and Nick got the smothered chicken with beans and potatoes. My pot pie was huge. It was all so good! I have leftovers back there in the cooler.


Well, we are now half way home and fixing to stop for a little road side picnic before we drive another 100 miles. 


Work will come early in the morning and shoes will be hard to wear.   


Tugboat

 This is my blogging view today.



It’s day three here on the beach and we have been sitting out here watching the waves and people. It’s not too crowded this week so far but more crowded than usual in the middle of August.


We sat with some beach friends earlier in the week and enjoyed some good laughs and cutting up. 


As we sit here, we can see way off in the distance about 2.5 miles at some small boats and a large barge. I think that’s what it’s called. It was a large flat vessel with a crane on it. Jack with the Shiplog blog can correct me on that. He’s a sailor man.


On August 8th a tugboat sank 30 ft deep off the coast of Myrtle Beach. They rescued three people and spent several days retrieving the 59 foot push tug from the ocean. As we sat here in the comfort of our beach chairs and umbrella, I couldn’t help but think about the hot struggles they were having out there as the pulled in the tugboat. I just hope the money was good. 



The tugboat was finally brought to shore yesterday and moved to a South Carolina shipyard. I wonder why they didn’t just leave it on the bottom of the ocean? Maybe it was the loads of fuel and oil? Maybe it was too shallow to be safe for other boats? But I’m glad no one was hurt and families were reunited. 


Later that afternoon, we cleaned up and went to one of our favorite places to eat. A place called Taco Mundo. We love sitting out on the patio over looking the inlet where there are boat docks full of fancy yachts. But this time, there was a little entertainment. We got to actually watch a reverse activity of a tugboat pushing a barge between some buoys and under a drawbridge. 




That was all the excitement for today. I don’t remember ever seeing a tugboat before.  Have you?

                                                                    

1st Beach Trip of The Year

Finally! We were able to take a beach trip. It was just a short one, but we will be going again in June for a long weekend and then a whole week in August. I wish we could go more but work happens.

With my job I had to wait until I had been there for 9 months before I could take any vacation. That’s how long the probation period is. I made it. My husbands job is 7 days a week so it’s hard for him to get days off. We will manage. 

We stopped half way down at our usual spot and grabbed some fresh garden tomatoes. They were so good. It’s hard to find good tomatoes now days. These were red juicy and sweet. We had the perfect tomato sandwiches on the beach.

The temperatures were in the high 70s and 80’s with a cool breeze. We did some walking and relaxing. I got in the ocean about knee deep. The water was cold but not too bad. We also walked a mile down the shore to visit my brother in law that lives at the next campground over from the one we stay at. It was a surprise since he did not know we were coming down. I grabbed an ice cream cone from the camping store to eat on the way back to our place.

It was also our 28th anniversary and we enjoyed some good food and fun. We are still so much in love. I can not imagine doing life with out this man. He spoils me. We rarely argue, and when we do, it turns into laughs. Through the years, we got good at understanding each others sarcasm and never stopped being each others boyfriend and girlfriend.

We paid for an extra night so we did not have to worry about signing out before noon on our leaving day. We spent the morning on the beach. Nick snapped a photo of me enjoy my coffee as I stood in the water one more time. 

Later we had another tomato sandwich and left for home. It was a fun time and I can’t wait until we do it again next month. 


Rain

I have been at the beach all this week. It is absolutely my favorite place to be. However, I have never been here in the Winter but I think I would enjoy it just the same. I feel like I am away from the bad things in the world when I am down here. The internet is bad and half the time the cable goes out but that gives me a chance to reflect on the nature around me. 



The days have been hot and sunny but we fight the pop up showers that come around 2:00 each afternoon and last about 15 minutes. One afternoon, Nicks brother and his girlfriend came to spend time with us on the beach. It was sunny one minute and all of a sudden it came a down pour. Everyone huddled under their beach umbrellas until it passed, but not me. I mean, we had on our swim suits so why not just get wet? I stepped out from under the umbrellas and played in the rain. Needless to say, they stayed dry and I looked like a wet rat the rest of the day. Ha. 

We went walking down the beach one day and we could see the rain in the horizon. It looked like we were walking right into the storm but we could tell it was moving West and away. It was a beautiful sight. We would also sat on the sunny beach and watch the rain bans move across the ocean. It was amazing. 



There was one day, so far,  that was a wash out. There was no lighting or thunder but we could hear the rain pounding on the roof. It was raining so hard, you could not see out. We could hear the strong winds flip a few awnings from other campers. We never leave our awning out for this reason. The weather is so unpredictable at the beach. So we stayed in and watched lifetime movies until the rain tapered off that evening just in time for us to go out to dinner. That night it was clear and we took our chairs out to the beach and sat under the stars and talked about life. 



We have a few more days down here before it’s back to the real world. It looks like it will be sunny from here out. 




Let’s Talk About Camping

It’s that time of year again where I start getting excited about the beach and camping. We will head down to the coast sometime in March to Summer-ize our camper. We will hook it up, flush the lines and stock it with linens. We usually wait until after we move our clocks up an hour so we can enjoy more daylight in the afternoons.

Right now we have a 34 ft Puma Camper with a large slide, two bedrooms and full bath. We love it but we are thinking about selling it for something else. I want a front kitchen with stand alone table and chairs and he wants a back bathroom and two recliners instead of a single sofa like we have now. 
We plan to stay within 28 to 34 ft. depending on the layout. But all this will not happen until at least after this year. 

We keep our camper down at the beach because we love the campground we stay at and do not want the hassle of pulling it with down there and back several times a year. We are 200 miles away. 

BUT I WANT...a small camper to keep at home to use for a weekender at other campgrounds around here or the mountains a time or two. Then I start selfishly thinking about myself and what I like. I like small cozy places, so when I think of tiny campers, I start dreaming of one. I mean, if it’s pretty outside, we never say inside the camper anyway except to sleep. We set up chairs outside to enjoy our day. Nick would do a pop up camper but he is not interested in hearing my other ideas. Below are a few for example. But again they are just some of the fun dreams in my head. 

I love these little Scamps.


I have never been Tent Camping but if I did, I would want it to be like this.


However, I do have a SUV so this would work perfect for me.
I would love to get all the cozy figured out.


And to be on the safe side incase of bad weather, is always a way to combine both the suv and tent.


The.first thing people start thinking about when you mention camping in tents, cars or mini campers is “where do you use the bathroom?”. Well, I’m only thinking as far a just a night stay somewhere and I know how to squat in the woods, but in all seriousness, they do make porta potties.


But if you really want to rough it...There are always the DIY way.


So see, I’m easy to please.
All my husband has to do is say “let’s go camping outdoors” and I could come up with some cheap ideas.
Don’t get me wrong though. I like luxury, but I’m also poor.

Oh wait.... I just thought of something...
I have one of these screen house tents in my attic right now. 

(Source

Maybe I can get Nick to do some back yard camping this summer.
Just maybe. 


Long Week at The Beach

We decided to take a long beach trip. I needed the getaway after losing my job. I did a lot of thinking and even put a plan in place. I will share that in another post.

We spent twelve days away this time. We would have stayed longer but we have a doctor appointment and a wedding to attend this week. I think this was one of the best trips we have had. It was nice not having to log into work or worry about making up the work load when I get home.

The weather was nice with temperatures hovering in the 70’s. We spent a lot of time relaxing on the beach, long walks and dipping our toes in the ocean. I even got my tan back. However, some days were rather chilly and windy, but we still enjoyed the outdoors all the same.


I tried to read a book. I’m a slow reader and can’t have any distractions. I made it to chapter four. I just couldn’t do it. I felt like I was missing too much around me when I had my nose in a book. People were letting their dogs play on the beach and we watched the fishermen fish from the surf all day. I have decided that if I ever move to the beach, I’m gonna take up that sport. 

I got to pet a crab. They will usually run, but this one wanted a back rub. Enjoy the video.


We also watched the shrimp boat at work all day. I love when they pull in the nets and all the birds start flocking the docks. You will often see dolphins putting on a show as they follow behind. 


There was a yard sale at the campground on Saturday morning. It was one of the coldest days, So we got up early, bundled up and headed out for an early walk up to the event. I didn’t buy anything because I didn’t see anything I couldn’t live without. However, I did return with a warm coffee. 


We had a few nice dinners and I finally got my hands on some steamed oysters one night at a little oyster bar near the campground. We met up with my brother in law and niece. Later we headed down to the pier for social time with some of the locals. We were in by 10pm. 


This will probably be our last beach trip for the year. We now have the camper winterized and ready to be stored away for the Winter. We will bring it back out in the Spring. Now it’s time to start preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. 

Vacay Wrap Up

Just wanted to wrap up my beach trip with some show and tell photos. As I said in a previous post. It was one of the best weeks we have had in a long time. I didn’t have any issues with my inner ear problem, no camper problems, there was no rain, and a lot of family and friends came together for a day of fun. But all and all we enjoy our time together. Just the two of us. It was no paradise island, cabana boys (but my husband made a pretty good personal one). We did not stay in no fancy hotel or have room service. We walked mostly barefoot in the sand and the temperatures were in the 90’s during the day and 70's and 80’s at night. We enjoyed our hammocks I purchased before we went. They were new and only 6.00 each from Curt's Outlet store in the mall.


While on our morning walk around the campground, there was a gentleman selling some garden produce. He had the best tomatoes we have had this year. They were perfect. Every day we would eat a tomato sandwich with chips on the beach. I never got tired of them. We also purchased a cantaloupe the was very good. And of course, I had to use the shell for a breakfast bowl one morning. 


A couple nights we stayed in and ate a simple such as this salad and grilled baked potato. We didn’t even miss the meat!


We visited our favorite hamburger place one night called Hamburger Joe's and made a trip to McAllister's Deli one evening. But the place we loved the best was Taco Mundo. We always get Mexican food at least once a week no matter if we are home or on vacation. We absolutely love Mexican food. Taco Mundo sits on the water way in Barefoot Landing. 


We love eating on the patio and enjoying the view. I had the Black Bean Nachos and Nick had a crab taco and a shrimp taco. The nachos plate was huge so he helped me out on that. Just look at that pile! Best ever!


After dinner we walked our meal off in the shopping area of Barefoot Landing. We had a lot of laughs visiting some of the novelty shops. I thought this bubble bath was a hoot (or toot). Luckily I didn’t make my own bubble bath after eating all those black bean nachos!


Here I am barely dressed (sorry). I was sporting this free tank top gifted to me in a give-away by Low Tide Ocean Products. I had a lot of fun wearing this over my bikini or with shorts. 


Ignore the cellulite and baby faces on my knees and focus on how cute this shirt is! But it’s not the shirt that is so great about this company.

Low Tides Ocean Products makes beach chairs from plastic collected from the beaches of Haiti and the Yucatan Peninsula. Wow, talk about trash to treasure! They are the most adorable beach chairs that are stylish durable and people can feel good knowing that when they purchase one of these chairs, they helped clean the ocean.


Read their story HERE
LowTides_Process_3
I was not asked or compensated to write about or review this product 
(or restaurants mentioned in this post).

I am not affiliated with Low Tides Ocean Products. 
I just love what they are doing and how darn cute their chairs are


Beach Rules

Growing up, the only rules on the beach I remember were, no thong bikinis, and no glass bottles. 

Things have surely changed. I see a lot of glass bottles. I also see a lot of thong bikinis. Girls (and some guys) do not leave much to the imagination now days. Some girls look to be as young as twelve showing everything God gave them with no shame or modesty. Where are their parents anyway? 

Through the years there have been new rules for our beach here in South Carolina. 

No Pets can be on the beach between during the summer months except before 8 am and after 5 pm. I think this a good rule. No one wants to have to listen to dogs barking or dodging dog poop all day. This also protects children from getting bit by someones dog that “never bites”.

No drinking allowed on the beach. This is the most unbroken rule and never enforced unless someone gets out of hand. 

No bikes are allowed between 8 am and 5 pm. 

No tents or canopies are allowed.

This is what the beach looks like at 7:30 am,


Umbrellas can not be open until 8:00 am. All umbrellas have to be placed behind the lifeguard stand. Everyone gets up early and rushes out to reserve a spot on the beach as it gets crowded quick. The first blue umbrella with the striped chairs you see are ours. Nick makes sure he is in line with the others. This is also the high tide line. The day begins.

By noon, this is what the beach looks like. It’s has been crazy crowded this week.


No matter where you set up, there is always that one family that will put there chairs right slap dab on top of ya and either using fowl language or smoking. Never fails. We just bite out tongue and wait for them to go back in. 

All and all, its has been nice here so far. It’s bright and sunny each day and the water feels great. We ran into some friends and made new ones. 
I love playing in the waves and wish I had a surf board. Ha. I haven’t heard of any jelly fish stings or shark bites so far and hope it stays that way.


Picture Post- Beach

I am home from vacation. We had a great time. I dread going back to work. I will have a load of work to make up from being gone all week. I have unpacked and all of the laundry is done. I am exhausted, so this is going to be what I call a "picture post" of some photos I took this past week because I simply do not have a train of thought right now.

Enjoy while I pout. 


The beach was very crowded. We were out at 8 am each morning to get a spot. People would still come on and sit up right against us crowding our space. This would annoy me. Especially if they were smokers or had filthy language.



Here is nice shot of our camper. No one ever occupied the camp spot in front of us all week. That was pretty nice.



My late father in law made us this sign years ago when we first started camping. The Ice cream represents the ice cream company that my husbands grandfather owned in town.(before my time). 
It has our city and state painted on it as a conversation starter. (Edited for privacy).




The ocean ate my sunglasses. So before we left, I ran into the store for this new pair.




I was brave this past week and sported my bikinis. 



Sunday morning, I could see the sun breaking through the clouds and could not resist the chance for a good photo. You can see the rain bans moving in. However, we never saw rain all week.



More sun beams over the dunes.



Remember in a previous post where I mentioned we were not taking the daughter? Well, she ended up getting her boyfriend to bring her down on the last day. After they played around a while, We enjoyed a nice dinner and gave him a tour of the campground while we all had an ice cream cone.

Here they are being silly on the barrel train that runs around the campground all day. 


I’ll end here with a little Scripture I found to add to one of my photos. I thought it fit perfect with the scenery. 





Vacation Week

Nick and I have been at the beach all week. I have been wanting to do some blogging and I’ve tried my best to keep up with everyones new post. The internet is terrible here and as soon as I try to sit down with my iPad, it goes out. I have data but I limit the use.

We have started each day with a cup of coffee and breakfast. At 8am we head down to the sand and set out our umbrellas and chairs as the beach fills up fast with the crowd.


Despite the weather saying rain all week, we have not seen any rain. It’s been up to 100 degrees and the sun is hot. Once our chairs are set up, we head back to the camper to put on our tennis shoes and go for a three or four mile walk around the camp ground.

We have met some really nice people this week on the beach. It seems just about everyone is from around the same area as we are. We have met 3 preachers, and 4 school teachers. We even talked to some Canadians and spent 15 minutes explaining to them what “Grits” were. They have never even heard of grits. We advised them to go to the breakfast place in the campground and order a bowl. 

One afternoon we met up with my brother in law for his birthday dinner at a Japanese restaurant. We enjoyed watching the chef prepare our food. I had shrimp and chicken and Nick had the shrimp and steak. 




We had enough food left over that we heated it up on the grill the next night for dinner on the picnic table.

After we ate we walked off our dinner at the outlet mall nearby. In one of the court yards they had a seating area with these fun egg shaped chairs. I think they are actually called “plop chairs”. I do not know why, but I loved these chairs that were also light weight and moveable. I would love to have a set of these in my yard.  
Nick took a photo of me sitting in one. You can see his shadow. Ha.


If anyone can find these chairs on the internet anywhere, let me know. 

Now we are headed back out to the sand to soak up some more sun, make more friends and people watch.

Oh and one more thing. I saw a Guinea pig on a boogie board yesterday, I kid you not. I did not have my camera with me at the time but I hope to see it again today and will be sure to get a photo so people will believe me.

Hang ten


TBB Asks- Vacation

OH my! July is already here! That means half the year is over! Yikes! But hey, Summer just started right?

Speaking of Summer, The first Monday of each month, the ladies of "The Blended Blog" host a linkup with fun themed questions and answers to write about and share. This is month it's all about Summer! So, I have decided to join in on the fun. 

The theme for July is "Vacation".
This will be my first "TBB Ask post". Enjoy.


1. Will you go on Summer vacation this year?
You betcha! Unfortunately, My job does not allow me but ten days a year in which I can only take one whole week at a time. I spread out five of the days and make long weekends. Then I take a whole week later in the summer.

2. Do nothing but relax or pack it all in vacation?
I'd say we do noting but relax. We will set up our chairs and umbrella on the beach and sit from sun up to sun down, relaxing, talking and making new friends. The only thing I pack in is the snacks!


3. What month do you like to vacation?
August is the month we take or week long vacation. We like this month because there are no crowds from the holidays. Also it gives us something to look forward to all summer.

4. Cruise: Yes or No?
No. I would love to go on a cruise one day but the husband is not a fan of being out on the waters. Hopefully, one day he will change is mind.

5. Favorite vacation tradition?
Our vacation tradition is heading out to this hamburger joint that we love so much. We have to make a visit every trip. (I mean unless you call setting up camp a tradition?).

6. Most memorable vacation?
I will say the most memorable vacation was our first time taking our daughter to the beach. It was so fun dressing her in those little cute swim suits and watching my husband play with her in the water. This is also when she took her first steps.

7. Pack light or pack it all?
I try to pack light. I can put a whole week in a small 22 inch suitcase. Even then, I rarely wear everything I take (but then there are shoes).

8. Hotel, Condo, House?
We own a Camper. We like having our own bed. 


9. Favorite thing to eat on vacation?
I love to eat some good crab legs or grill out. But nothing beats a good tomato sandwich on the beach.

10. Warm or cold destination?
A. Warm of course! I am miserable in the cold.


Happy Monday!