Home! 720.5 miles logged today.

Road construction

45 miles outside of Augusta traffic at a stand still

On the road again

We've given the kids 5 more mins after eating to play and then we're off.

Fuel

Ten miles out of Columbia and 60 from Augusta we have taken our first put stop not counting Carson's pee in the bottle episode an hour or so back. Now at McD to fill up on preservatives and fill the car even though we still have 1/2 tank. Gas is 3.37. Kids are climbing all over the indoor playground which will be good for us later.

Hittin the road

Sharks

Ryder and Carson used a coupon to get a sharks tooth necklace and wouldn't take it off before bed. JA said Ryder rolled around saying "Shark, shark!" all night in his sleep.

Pirates Voyage

The Pirates Voyage was very entertaining and belly filling.  It's very similar to Dixie Stampede as you enter into the waiting type area.  Pirates are singing and dancing asking for your participation while they sell you popcorn drinks, and have an area to sell pirate related wear for the kiddies.  Once in the arena the seating is just like Dixie Stampede but the stage is totally different.  This place holds around 700.  For details on how it got started click the link below.  They fed us enough food for three people per person.  You can pass on the servings as they come your way or just divide your eating and take home portions.  Carry out containers available and should be utilized.  They sing and dance during your main course and give you a little time to eat.  Eating in a short time is my strong suit so I had no problem.  They start you with a roll then potato soup.  Soon thereafter half a chicken, then pork shank (rib), then three fried butterfly shrimp with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob squeezed in there somewhere.  A triangular shaped apple turnover winds up the meal.  It was delicious but again enough for three.  The show was a lot of diving from planks and crow’s nests into the water.  Swinging from ropes and more diving from the ships on each end of the arena with canons firing during a couple of the segments utilized the huge water containment.  Each side was referred to as the beach.  The beach is where several contests took place where the sapphire side versed the crimson side.  Spirit contests, races where labs competed in water retrieval for each side, sea lions raced and two kids for each side chased ducks out of a crate across the finish line.  All competitions got the crowds on each side roaring.  All in all it was a very good show albeit expensive.  Read reviews on the show online.  Remember to use coupons, purchase tickets ahead of time.  Dress the kiddies with a bandana, foam sword, and a little pirate ink beard before you go to save you some cash.  The kids really wanted to dress as pirates but of course this was an additional charge so we passed.              

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20110609/ACADIANA04/106070345

Broadway boat ride

The Jet Boat at Broadway was on our list of to do’s.  The price on Wednesday evening was outrageous.  One of the attendants mentioned using a coupon for $30 per family.  Thursday morning I hit the registration desk to pickup the “Monster Coupon Book” widely distributed in the area and packed full of coupons.  This coupon was for the early bird special (before 5pm).  We arrived at Broadway at 10:15am to take and ride and the boat had just had an oil change and now cycling the oil thru the engine.   As we waited the attendant conversed.  He was just out of the Army and recently back from Moscow where his platoon marched in the Red Square with British troops.  First time an American(s) had done so.  This was his summer job as his girlfriend’s family owned the “Beach Rider” rides.  His plan this Fall was to return to his home state of Texas to cash in on the GI Bill.  The GI Bill can only be redeemed in the state noted as your home state at time of enlistment.  The boat driver was a native of SC and attended Clemson.  This gentleman had the very familiar SC accent that reminds me of my Step Dad Allen and one of his sons, Eddie.  He was very nice and gave us a couple of extra 360’s while in the boat due to no one being in line and Ryder saying “Again, Again!”.  Ryder, Carson, Joy, Joe, Clay and I jumped aboard and felt the 180 and 360’s the jet boat provided.  The boat could turn or spin on a dime.  These boats were made in New Zealand for their Coast Guard.  It was made to withstand 12ft waves at 50 knots.  You pick one up in Rocky Mount, NC with trailer for $110k.  This model housed a Corvette LS3 engine and has option for the LS9.  Both gentlemen were very nice and we enjoyed our conversations with each.  Back to the room for lunch then to the beach and/or pool.  Tonight is the "Pirate Voyage" dinner and show at 6pm.     

Boardwalk at the Beach

Fireworks at the beach not just from Joe and Joy but the pyrotechnic ones as well.  We all had ice cream and watched as they exploded into the dark Southeastern night sky.  

Sunset at Broadway

To the left of the sun is Wonderworks or otherwise known as the Upside Down House.  That is where we played lazer tag, navigated ropes course, played virtual air hockey just to name a few fun adventures inside.

For supper, dinner if you want to be politically correct, we made our way to Landry's Restaurant at Broadway.  I have the Seafood Grill with grilled fish, grilled shrimp, seared scallops, rice, and grilled veggies.  Others had the Broiled seafood platter and shrimp.  A gentleman outside the restaurant was creating flowers, hats, dogs, cats, etc out of the long narrow balloons for donations.  Ryder asked for a gun and he provided one for each made from two balloons.  We stood and watched him for a while and were amazed at the different requests and designs.

A small castle on top of a mountain surrounded by lava.

Wednesday after lunch we hit the beach.  The waves were the largest and most continuous of any trip to the beach I've been on.  Very few people were more than 20-30 yards out.  No break in the waves whatsoever. It was fun but the waves were relentless.  We stayed around two hours then back to the pool for a bit.  

Running on empty

Wednesday morning the boys slept in due to the late night Tuesday.  Hung around the condo eating, talking and organizing photos.  Hit the pool by 10am but the boys didn't play long before they were out.  They slept for an hour and a half in the pool chairs before we woke them for lunch.  After lunch and some R&R we are now departing for the beach and to crash into the multitude of waves.  

Finished the day with a round of putt putt.

Preservation Station

Two Bengal Tigers and one Royal White Tiger. They visit this location fours hours a day. The animals are rotated from their large facility about 17 miles from here.

After supper entertainment II

After supper entertainment

Barefoot Landing

Supper: Grilled Tilapia, grilled shrimp, crabcake, black beans and rice.

New friends

The boys met a little girl and her brother on the beach. They played and played in the continuos barrage of waves. I could hear Ryder telling tales. He told the little girl, 9 from TN as well, his grandaddy was a farmer and we were country folk. That was just the beginning. They moved to the lazy river then the covered pool. We have yet to identify their parents.

Afternoon at the beach

High tide is just after noon with low tide around 5:30pm. The kids are at one of the three pools with Anita and Joy, Clay napping in the room, Joe gone to the Nike outlet and JA and I on the beach. At least for now.

Cool Whip?

Kids battled to finish their bowl of cool whip to see who had the winning number at th bottom.

NASCAR Speedtrack

Hit the go carts at opening this morning after just hangin out in the room.

Sunrise

Elvis in SC

Carson and Ryder really enjoyed several Elvis tunes. Ryder made a special request for CC Rider. During the, song the impersonator had Ryder walk over by him and swing his arm in the air. They both had a blast.

Beach Chair

Ryder in his new beach chair.

Shark!

Upside Down House

Virtual Air Hockey

Upside Down House

Condo

LongBayResort on Ocean Blvd

Morning coffee

Joe having his morning coffee. Looks like a great morning for a walk in the beach. High of 88 today, partly cloudly and 30% of showers.

Ever seen one of these?

Boardwalk

Supper at Joe's Crab Shack on the Boardwalk.

Fun in the pool

Carson and Ryder met Douglas on Saturday.  They played shark and volleyball in the pool both days.  We are saving the beach for after lunch.

Helicopter pic

Breakfast

After some calorie burning on the beach, breakfast with Oy's famous pinwheels, biscuits, eggs and juice.

AM stroll

The beach is beautiful this morning.

Balcony view

By the pool

After the beach we hit the pool where Carson, Ryder and I played volleyball with another little boy for an hour. Out of the pool and into the lazy river for all three if us. Now it's time for some grub. Back to the room.

On the beach

Temp is great and water refreshing.

Parking

Just traversed up 10 levels to the top parking area. Easy on totin luggage, no elevators. Can't wait to see our view from the room.

Distance

After arriving, having lunch and looking around it's time to check-in.

Temp: it's a breezy and very pleasant 83 degrees. This is s nice break from the upper 90's in Savannah, TN

Just arrived in Myrtle Beach minutes away from condo. Ryder said "This is paradise! JoJo said we would find some showgirls".

Just passed the crash site. Some type of vehicle ran off the interstate into the trees. Could barely even see it.

Liftoff

The helicopter just lifted off. This is strange. People have taken to the shade on the side of the interstate, carload of teenage girls dancing and people hundreds of yards from their cars.

Sent from Jeff's iPhone

Patiently waiting

Delay

Serious accident just outside of Florence, SC. The police stopped all traffic to allow the helicopter to land. You can see the dot(helicopter) just above the overpass. People are out of their vehicles talking, walking and watching. Hope they are ok.

We are now in SC. Will be passing thru Gamecock country (Columbia) in the next hour and a half.

Insanity saver

The Redbox may truly keep us sane. Used the app to locate the nearest one following breakfast.

Breakfast at HIE