Day 133 - Georgetown, SC

Sunday, January 9, 2011

I know for sure now that it's salt water I'm smelling! I hung around McDonald's last evening until 8 or so, and then headed to the place where I decided to camp. I was a little surprised that it wasn't so very cold, actually pretty reasonable. I set up the tent and soon had the gear and myself inside. The blog was done for the day, so read the paper a while and then lights out for the night. A train track was near by, and one came by before I was asleep, but that's the only one I heard all night. I was awake by 5 or so, and had everything packed when the wake up call came at 6. There's a McDonald's nearby, so I'll go there and sit in the warm until light enough to start walking......assuming they open at 6. Wrong, 7. There was a store across the street that had a restaurant, so I went over there instead and had breakfast. I finally started walking around 8.

This is the coldest morning so far in the trip. Not sure of the temperature, but kept the coat on all day.....a first. Business 521 soon became Hwy 521, a 4 lane, divided, road. Not much shoulder, but not much traffic. I'm headed to Georgetown, 18 miles East. After a couple of hours, Alt 17 merged with 521, and I'll be on 17 much of the remainder of the trip. Laura Lawler called....they have left Myrtle Beach, coming to find the walkingman. After a couple more miles, their car appeared ahead. Just as they pulled up, another car stopped and the guy inside introduced himself as Eddie Goins. He lived down the road, and when I passed their house his wife saw me and told him to go check if I was ok. I told him the story, gave him a card, and he gave me some money for the trip. Eddie said he would "check out" the blog.

It was nice seeing Laura, Brion, and their daughter, Ana......first time I've seen her, except in a picture. Where did she get that red hair? We must have talked almost an hour....about work, the walk, and most everything else. When it was time for them to head back toward Charlotte, Laura asked to walk a short way pushing Ana in her stroller. Brion went up the road a way, and Laura, Ana, and I walked. I showed Ana how to warm her hands by putting them together and blowing into them......she liked that, but not sure she ever got it exactly right. They were going to drive back to Charlotte on Hwy 521, which goes all the way there. I hope they saw Cooper's Country Store and had time to stop and look around. Great to see them, and nice for them to drive out of their way to find me.

If the name Lawler rings familiar, they are related (through marriage) to Kim Lawler, who lives in Milsap, TX, and allowed me to stay 2 nights in their home. While Laura and Brion were still with me, a young couple stopped and handed me some money for the trip. Didn't get their names, but they said they would read the blog. Nice couple, and generous gesture. I still had a few miles to Georgetown, and along the way found a Yamaha collapsible boat paddle. Still in the bag, unopened, price tag indicated $17. I have a boat, so can use it....one of the better finds. I also found an almost new baseball cap. When I was entering Georgetown, gave it to a guy along the way.

When I came into Georgetown, still wasn't sure whether I was going to keep going, or stay in town for the night. I stopped at McDonald's, and asked some of the workers where I could watch the football game. One immediately answered a nearby sport's bar, so I decided to go there. I asked another guy what was ahead of me for the next 6-8 miles on Hwy 17. Nothing until I get to Pauley's Island was his answer. So, I decided to stay in town and watch the 4:00 ballgame. It was still a little early, so I walked around downtown, took a few pictures, and looked around for a camp site. A local guy told me there was a park at one end of town, and that was a possibility. I also saw a couple of other grassy areas that were possibilities. My plan....go watch the game, stop by McDonald's afterward and do computer stuff, then set up camp.

On the way to the sport's bar, I passed a motel with cheap rates and wi-fi. Why not a warm room, wi-fi, ballgame, and bath? So, I stopped in and got a room. I had not eaten since breakfast, so decided to walk about a block down the street and get a pizza. A young girl was in the lobby, and she said she was the woman's daughter who checked me in. I asked if she like pizza, and what kind, and she did.....pepperoni. So I order a half and half, went and picked it up, and got a big smile out of that girl. The wi-fi in the room was weak, or almost non-existent, so I'm going to the lobby after the game and use it there. This isn't the first time I've had this problem at motels....usually the smaller ones. They should do better than this, or not advertise the service.

So tomorrow, on toward Myrtle Beach. It's 35 miles, so should be there on Tuesday. Soon after that I'll be in NC. If all goes well and as planned, I'll be in Emerald Island either Saturday or Sunday, January 22/23. But there's weather on the way, so that could affect the plan.

About the pictures:
Laura, Brion, and Ana Lawler......friends and former co-worker at Wachovia;
Ana getting ready to take a walk with the walkingman;
Eddie Goins, Georgetown good Samaritan.