Moving Day

Yesterday was Mardi's niece Gabriella's birthday.  Today it's Mardi's brother Steve's.  All the best to both.

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This morning we checked out of the Oceanfront resort and moved across the street to the South Beach resort.  Long story short - when I used our expiring credits to book the South Beach resort, I wasn't aware that there was a brand new resort across the street.  Their website didn't list it.

When I tried to add our two free nights there was nothing available at South Beach.  But the vacation counselor asked if we would like to stay at the Oceanside.   If I'd only known, we might have been able to stay there for the whole seven days.  Oh well.  This resort is beautiful as well, and has some small pools, and it's just a short walk or drive across the street to the other resort to enjoy their pools and the beach.

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In between stops we headed to Brookgreen Gardens.  It's a former plantation that has statuary everywhere.

First stop, lunch.  Lobster roll and a glass of wine each - $120 Cdn.

Then it was off for a long walk.

The lady of the plantation was a sculptress and a lot of her creations are featured, as well as dozens of others around the extensive property.

We only saw part of it.  But the tickets are good for the week.  So we'll be back.

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Tomorrow we'll try a game of golf.  

Stay well.

Pool Time

 Today was a relax day.  Other than booking a golf game for Tuesday we spent our time during the day at the beach and the pool.

Proof that I got my feet wet in the ocean.

Actually, got wet up to the knees!

Then we headed to the pool where we soaked for an hour or so.

Then it was time for a drink.

Mardi gets her excitement from the hot sauce on her chicken nuggets and goes for the Bud Light.  I don't fancy the hot sauce, so I took my hit with a Back Country Mary.  Included a meat stick, pickles and BBQ flavour.  Interesting!

This is an ideal site for a beach/pool getaway.  And they have a couple of these chairs for the disabled.  So anyone can have a good time.  We'll be back!

As we headed through the parking garage we came across our first live Cybertruck.

Pretty big and ugly!

When you get close to the vehicle the exterior lights come on and an owl in the interior gives you the eye.

That's enough excitement for one day!

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So, it was back to losing at Skip-Bo.  Thank goodness there is rye to take away the pain.

Stay well.

Myrtle Beach

 It may have been the excitement of leaving on our trip, but I forgot to mention two important birthdays yesterday.  To my friends Al Addis and Ron King, belated birthday wishes!

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Another beautiful day for a drive.  We didn't see any signs of the recent storm on our trip, but two North Carolina interstates that head west from I-77 were both closed.

For quite a few years I golfed at Myrtle Beach with Lyle Tweedle, Jim Barlow and Larry van Berkel, and we enjoyed a game at The Witch Golf Course each year.  

Mardi and I had rain checks from our last visit there over four years ago so we intended to use them on this trip.  

The website said that the course was closing at the end of this month so, to make sure we could golf, I made The Witch our first stop.  But, it looks like they advanced the schedule - the housing development has already started.

Sadly, Lyle, Jim and Larry have all passed, and now The Witch has joined them, along with our rain checks.

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Our resort was opened in April.  It's lovely.  

We have a view of the ocean and the pool.

Very nice!

For dinner we headed next door to Damon's.

Good food.

Tomorrow is a beach and pool day.  We'll also visit the pier in the picture below.

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Stay well my friends.

Reporting From Bland, Virginia

 It was a beautiful day for a drive and light traffic all the way.  There was only one car ahead of us in the Nexus line and the conversation, when we drove up, went like this:

- Anything to declare?

- We each bought a bottle at the Duty Free.

- Have a good day.

- Thank you sir!

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The fall colours have just started on this (south) side of Lake Erie.  Should be much better on our return.

Had a moment of nostalgia when we stopped at the West Virginia Welcome Center.

But, the wimp was driving up and down the hill.  At Trillium Hill I cut the grass going sideways on a slope like that!

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We encountered no driving issues on the trip, but had trouble finding a motel that had rooms.  Hadn't considered that a lot of them are full of folks who don't have anywhere to live right now.

We finally found a motel that had two rooms left.  The lady at registration said that quite a few rooms are filled with construction workers who are cleaning up after the storm.

She lost five trees in her yard during the storm, but her house was spared.

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The good news I guess, is that we are an hour closer to South Carolina than I expected.  And as I write this, the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, with water, is having its desired result.  

Stay well.  We are.

A Fine Day

 As planned, we headed to MontHill Golf Course today.  The weather was fantastic.

It was our first time in a while and has it ever improved!  A fair number of trees removed and the course itself was in awesome condition - better than any other courses we have played this year.  And the price was very reaonable.

And I tied scores with my partner.

Are those Moe Norman watches on her arm?  Moe used to wear two watches but they both just told the time.  Mardi has one for the golf course yardage and the other is a fitbit.

After golf we all headed to the Erie Beach Hotel.

A great group!

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Now, it's time to finish packing for our trip.

Stay well.

Time Off

 Great day for working outside, which was good because the mower is back 😀.  So, the grass got cut for the first time in a week and a half.

Cut it all and then raked the cut hay.  Filled the wagon with the cuttings from the front lawn alone (alone in this case also means that I didn't rake anywhere else - the areas that the customers can't see won't hurt them).

While I was cutting out back I had to stop and take this picture.  It reminded me of the tulip fields in Holland.  Nice memory.

So my job jar is temporarily empty and I'm free to head to golf and the Erie Beach Hotel with Mardi tomorrow and then Myrtle Beach on Friday.  Looking forward to golfing with my sweetheart.

The CAA doesn't have any road closure info so I guess that we will be stopping at the State Welcome Centers to see what their situation is.

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Stay well.

 Mardi and I headed for Thundering Waters Golf Club today, for our first game together since Florida.  The course is unique and beautiful and we love playing it.

Things started out well, and after 8 holes I was 6 up.  However, once she got me lulled to sleep Mardi put on the pressure and ended up winning by two holes and three strokes.  Nasty woman!

We had coffee before the game and lunch after in the golf club's cafe.  Huge and tasty burger!

Talked to the chef for a bit.  He spends six months running the kitchen at the club and then six months in Nicaragua running his 9 bed hotel.  Interesting guy!

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Yancy sent me this shot of Rowan and her "girls".

What a doll!   Thanks Yancy!

With my orange shirt I could have joined her for the picture too. 

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Meanwhile, Kathryn and Anna and Kimi are spending a month in Collingwood..........

..........enjoying the view.

Have fun kids!

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Watched the Vice-Presidential debates tonight.  J.D. Vance lied and didn't answer the tough questions, but Walz looked like he had been hit by a truck and lost the debate in my opinion.  Nice guy, but disappointing.  Hope the Democrats recover.

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Stay well folks.