Saturday, August 4, 2007

The Not Virtual Working Vacation

With this post, I'll feel fairly up to date on my blogging. Myrtle Beach is both work and play for us every year, as we head down for the Mid Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee Convention. (There might be a link somewhere, but you don't really want it, do you?!) In between classes, the trade show, other convention type commitments, we hang out with Mark's aunt and uncle, and my brother inlaw, his girlfriend, and some of her family. (Yep. Drilling tends to be very much a family business.)
We had two highlights this year. The first, was Saturday night at the House of Blues. The company my brother inlaw and his girlfriend's brother work for had the main area for their guests only, and the house band put on quite a show. I wish I had pictures, but I was too busy sharing the fleece zip-up Mark went to purchase for me from their gift shop with our almost niece. Seeing Auntie and Uncle snuggled up and bobbing along to the hits from their dating years was special.

The other highlight was the little cruise we went on, en masse. Rover Tours puts on a great event, if you're ever near Georgetown, SC, which is less than an hour from Myrtle Beach, if you aren't caravaning with nine other people, none of whom eat or potty on the same schedule.


While our hosts paid for the tickets for our brood, we took in the sights at the docks. Auntie's mom was along, and she has a thing for pelicans. They truly were nonplussed by humans, and it was a treat to see them so up close and personal!





The mate on our boat was a wealth of information. He was a local, with a degree in history, and if he didn't double major in marine biology too, he's surely earned an honorary degree there. We heard stories about the places we passed on our way to the island where we collected shells on the beach for nearly an hour, and on the way back, the same guy wheeled out what I know as a food service cart, loaded with shells and such, and I learned that what I've always called a conch is a whelk. Mark found three good specimens, and one is about as close to perfect as it gets. I picked up a starfish we thought was dead, but when his little tentacles wiggled, I walked him out into the bay and hoped for the best.






On the way back, we got as close to the lighthouse as one gets. It seems the government isn't too big on tourists in and around lighthouses anymore. Pity. I've climbed a couple. The views are remarkable, and the historic structures are treasures I'd like to see and touch. However, I suppose that all that live and in person touching doesn't do much to preserve the lighthouses, so I respect the restrictions.




We also saw some turtles and young birds in the water around the Barefoot shopping area. Mark always enjoys feeding the fish, turtles, birds and whatever else comes to the surface for the little brown pellets you can buy there on the walkway. I had the devil of a time getting a shot that didn't have too much glare from the sun, wasn't half under the dock, etc. Those little fellas swim fairly fast!

Not bad for a working vacation, eh? Of course, I didn't have anyone take a photo of me knitting in the workshops, but trust me, I did just that. Sock #1's toe decreases were done almost entirely in a contract workshop...

8 comments:

Delusional Knitter said...

Lovely pictures, love the turtle!!

Bubblesknits said...

Wow! Those shells are great! You hardly ever find whole shells like that down here.

BTW, if that starfish had wiggled in MY hands, you'd have heard me squeal miles and miles away. LOL

Sue J. said...

It sounds as though you had a marvelous time. I am so glad. If that's a working vacation, sign me up. I've always wanted to visit the Carolina's. Thanks for the beautiful pictures.

vegasangelbrat said...

Love the pic's and that lighthouse one really does me in..I'd like to trade spots with the pelican..think he would mind..lol
Glad you had a great time!

Anonymous said...

It looks like you two did have a lovely time, in spite of your pain. I'm SO jealous of your bag - that really is adorable!

Virtuous said...

OOhh I so didn't like the House of Blues when I went. I was actually disappointed it was just a chain restaurant w/o any blues music playing!!

LOL @ "none of whom eat or potty on the same schedule"

I have never been in a lighthouse before and the view of that one is nice! Perfect blue sky!

LOL @ you knitting up in workshops!! Too funny! I am too conscious of folks staring at me while I knit if I am the only one! :op I love the knitting guild meetings b/c everyone is doing it and I never feel guilt there about it! Haha! ;o)

NH Knitting Mama said...

This trip is right up my alley! Great pics, and the shells are fantastic.

Devonshire said...

Sounds like you had a great 'working' vacation. Love the turtle and pelican photos. I don't think I have ever seen a pelican up close. Too bad about the light houses....

Happy to have you home!