Mucho Aloha Ya'll, notes from the Rogue

Jellies; no extra charge.  8/10

   Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  My buddy Thom calls it Ocean City on steroids.  We did a drive by downtown.  He's right.  But, this vacation was not about the clubs, it was about WeWaxSation (relax son!).  Thom's condo was incredible.  The hospitality Thom and his wife Barbara provided was awesome.  Lisa and I are still missing it.  A sure sign of a respite that met all requirements.  The waves...much like Maryland has had all summer... perfect for the 8'8" Orion Thom set me up with.  Knee to thigh with jellies mixed in.  Loved it.  Even the rides were relaxing.  Local surf shop Surf City coined the down south stoke perfectly: "Mucho Aloha Y'all."  The shop's surf guru Choue (Chow).  Cool name, cool dude.  Put it best, "three languages slaughtered in one phrase!"

Southern cookin'.  NC/SC border, Tabor City, NC.  8/9

View from condo balcony.

Happy to be beachin' it.

Peelin' back the onion...Stoke.  Mucho Aloha Y'all.  8/11

Thom put on some imposing ribs.  Just couldn't be beat.

We raved about 'em all night.  The wine choices - 

outstanding. His wife's daughter, Kory, made me an award

winning Birthday Turtle Cheesecake.  Seriously, she won a

bake-off at Campbell's soup where her Mom works.  The 

recipe was kept safe...still under lock and key in Thom's

household. 

   JB.  Always been a fan.  Margaritaville.  Commercial.  Touristy.  Fun.  Our bartenders were social. and we enjoyed an evening on Broadway (at the Beach).

More surf.  8/12

Conch, Grouper and Beer,  Nice.

Ya get down to Myrtle beach, try to make the trip to Charleston, SC.  Idyllic. Lots of food.  Lots of southern architecture.  Lots of history.  

Entrance to Charles Town.  

Oskar Blues testing the Repeal.

Toast of the Civil War

Ft. Sumter, 8/13.

South Carolina.  The start of Secession.  The border of southern hospitality.  True hospitality and a waterman's paradise.

Sunset on the Santee. 

Murrells Inlet.  Full of Dogs and Cats.

The last morning out.  8/14.  Waves were waist plus.  Clean.  Lisa and I

sleeping in from trip back from Charleston, the seafood pot and beer at
Dead Dog, and a hard fought round of mini-golf.  Cell alert rings. Text from
Thom.  Swell best it's been all year. "Get yo ass out here." I dragged it. No
coffee boost.  Did not disappoint.  Smooooth, easy rolling. We were out 

until almost 1pm.  Thom a good hour longer than  me (and he ran in the
AM first).   We surfed until tanked.  Now that's Stoke.

Thom, lookin' cooool.  8/14

The ride home sucks.  But, we took our time.  Kids would'a sliced their wrists waitin' for us.  That's why we go it alone from time to time.

Should'a stayed here!

Tobacco - south's cash crop.

End of the line state... Cheasapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, VA.  8/15

   The beer of the week was a northern brewery's beer;  Yuengling's Black and Tan.  A smooth blend of their Porter and Lager.  Tastes of coffee and caramel combine into a rich, malty finish with just enough of a hop background to satisfy.  Pours a very dark brown with a one finger head.  Plenty of carbonation.  I like this one.  Always have.   Had a six waiting in the 'frig of our condo when we arrived.  In fact, I'm havin' one now. Thom...can't say "Thanks" enough brah!  Rated it a solid B. The trip, an A+!

We liked. 8/16