The powers that be, decided that internet access at the beach was no longer necessary after about Thursday. Somehow we lost access and everyone was to lazy to even look for the router or care anymore about the outside world. I ran alright, but you didn’t miss much. I would have blogged about my blister or how the sand made my runs so much harder and slower, or how the moisture made my sore toes rub against my shoes, or how that one time I stepped into the water and had to run 6 miles home with salt water shoes....However, I would like to say, that the first day I ran on asphalt once I was back again at the farm, I ran a mile at 7:48 without even noticing. Those country roads deep in the heart of soybean and cotton fields make for beautiful, lonely running. At the end of the week, I guess sand made for good resistance training – also my knees never felt better. At this juncture, my Aunt wishes me to distinguish between Myrtle Beach, and Cherry Grove (North Myrtle Beach) which is 15 miles from Myrtle Beach proper. We stayed in Cherry Grove–which apparently isn’t the even the trashiest part of the beach. What do I know, I grew up in California. That said, the beaches in the Carolinas are far superior to any on the Pacific Coast as far as I’m concerned (aside from some very pretty, but unswim-able, places in Oregon and Washington State). However, I do prefer kayaking to surfing. So don’t accuse me of recommending this place for surfers. It’s for families, young people, and anyone who love fried shrimp (or you could say who ‘jes luvs frahyed shri-Ump) and swimmun (swimming). Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m about as white trash as anybody else and so being here reacquaints me with my roots. But while I poke fun at the South, it is also the fountain from whence my loud-mouthed, know-it-all, story-loving, story writing-self was sprung. So as far as trash....takes one to know one I guess. It was a great week. I loved that porch with white rockers looking over the beach. I loved the air. I loved how much my kids loved playing with their cousins. I loved the fresh farmers market food, and never ending swimming, and walks with my sis. I now weigh 500 pounds and have melanoma, but it was worth it. I’m in the Atlanta Airport right now headed to Providence Rhode Island where I’ll meet my sister again for a week on Martha’s Vineyard before heading to Newport for the Music Festival on the weekend. Last year I went to Nantucket to visit a cousin. I’ve been told that M.V. is pretty cool. We’ll just have to see about that, shall we? | 