Day 135 - With The Bradshaws in N. Myrtle Beach, SC

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Am I the only one who watched all of the college football championship game until the last 10 minutes, and then fell asleep? I slept well last evening, and was up ready to go when the wake up call came at 6. Went downstairs for breakfast, read the paper, bathed, packed, and ready to leave around 8. Every thing is dry, and I wrapped the gear with a tarp to try to keep it that way. The morning was cold, around 30-32, but no precipitation. My goal today is to get to Jack and Patsy Bradshaw's condo in N. Myrtle Beach.......about 26-28 miles north.

The Grand Strand, as this area is called, consists of several small towns, Myrtle Beach being the largest. I walked through Garden City, then Surfside, and soon was in Myrtle Beach. I'm seeing lots of small boats with camouflage netting.....I assume these are duck hunters heading to one of the marshy areas around here. I also see lots of the Live Oak trees in this area. As I get to Myrtle beach I change roads from Hwy 17 Business to Ocean Blvd which runs through downtown Myrtle Beach. Almost all of the traffic stays on 17, so I have a nice several mile walk, with bike lane, and no traffic. 100 yds or so to my right is the Atlantic Ocean, but I didn't go there......saving that for next week. The surf is rough, and the only people I see are a few scattered walkers on the beach. Very much unlike several months ago when I was standing on the beach at Dana Point, CA.

Ocean Blvd is mostly deserted, and many of the businesses along the strip are still closed for winter. I passed the large, wooden, roller coaster that has been here for as long as I can remember. Jack calls and said they are on the way to find me and discuss plans for today. They soon pulled up, and it was nice seeing them again. Jack and I grew up together, and haven't seen each other for many years. We decided they would go back home, and meet me when I got closer to N. Myrtle Beach. Jack wants to walk a while, and wants the weather to warm up a little first. They left and I continued downtown. I saw the Bowery, a famous landmark which is where the C&W group Alabama launched their career. I also passed a vacant lot where the famous Pavilion and also the small amusement area, once stood.

As oft happens, some bright, well intending soul, got an idea to do away with both landmarks for bigger and grander things. But what they did was take away the heart and soul of Myrtle Beach. I remember riding down the Pacific Coast Highway in CA several months ago and seeing those small towns that still look the way I remembered them on TV many years ago. Myrtle Beach could have done the same thing. As the day warmed, ice was melting and falling off the ledges of the tall hotels in downtown. I had a phone call from Ed Bixler, a friend from Wachovia who helped plan the trip across CA, and also a call from Bobby Taylor.......I met him and his wife at the Visitor's Center in Vicksburg, MS. Just checking to make sure I was ok in this cold weather. I also had a call from a reporter at TV station WMBF in Myrtle Beach. They wanted to come out and interview me about the walk. And they did, and it was on the local news here today, and I think there is a link to the interview and I'll put it on the blog soon.

About 315, I met Jack along Hwy 17. There were still about 8 miles to go, and he would walk that with me. Because of the heavy traffic, and lack of shoulders on the road, we decided to load the cart in their car, and walk without it......good decision. The final 8 miles turned out to be more like 10, but we finally reached their house around 630. (I think Jack has potential to be a walkingman!) Patsy had hot, homemade, vegetable soup ready, and bar-b-ques made with R.O's sauce (you have to be from Gastonia to understand that.) We ate, talked, watched a little TV, and I washed a few clothes. Soon it was time to work on the blog, and soon after that, lights out. It's been a long day, about 28 or so miles, but a good day to be a walkingman. Tomorrow I'll cross into the last state on the journey, North Carolina.

FYI: Several times a year, N. Myrtle Beach (formerly Ocean Drive), hosts an event called S.O.S. It's a gathering devoted to a dance called the shag. A unique event, and happening here this weekend. But the walkingman has to keep moving in order to catch that stagecoach in Emerald Isle next weekend. But you can read about S.O.S here.

About the pictures:
Jack and Patsy Bradshaw, and Ginger........good friends and hosts;
The Bowery, launching pad for C&W group, Alabama;
I know that's salt water I'm smelling.