Returning home from the beach

On the beach behind Kingfisher Inn

We had the last of the eggs and ham in breakfast burritos as we finished packing to leave the Kingfisher Inn. We stripped the beds, putting the linens and towels in the bathtub as directed. We loaded the dishwasher and started the cleaning cycle. Rex and I brought luggage carts from the first up to our third floor room so we could load our luggage to take to the cars. We did our best to clean the room the best we could although, without a vacuum, we were unable to clean the sand that we tracked into the room on our feet.

The condo office doesn’t open until 8:30 am but we put our keys in the dropbox and left the parking lot by 8 am. Although the trip would be slightly longer, we decided to return home via the West Virginia Turnpike to avoid driving through larger cities with the Labor Day weekend coming up. We topped off the gas tank at the Walmart so we could avoid stopping once underway. Rex and Natalie made a detour to Harrelson’s Seafood Market where we got our shrimp earlier in the week. Rex wanted to bring a bunch of shrimp back home for a shrimp boil.

We followed exactly the same path that we used for the trip south on Saturday. We even stopped for lunch at the same exit in Ashboro, NC, as Saturday except we ate at the Arby’s Restaurant. The Wendy’s Restaurant at that exit was disappointing on Saturday.

The weather was very hot so we didn’t leave the air conditioned car very much other than lunch and rest area bathroom and stretch breaks. Our EZ-Pass got us through the West Virginia Turnpike tolls quickly and without charge. When in Huntington, we made a quick stop at the Sam’s Club in South Point, Ohio to stock up on salads for the week ahead. We got pizza slices and large soft drinks from the café at Sam’s. It is hard to pass up a meal for $5.

While at Sam's Club we topped off the tank.  We would have made it about 30 miles from home on the gas that we bought at Garden City this morning but we wanted to take advantage of the better prices before we left.

We arrived back home before 9 pm and unpacked most things before heading to bed. Tomorrow would be a day of laundry, cleaning and putting gear away and resting some after the 11 hour trip.

We were glad that we made the trip to the area but were confident that we had spent enough time there to do what we needed to do. Additionally, it is doubtful that we would return to the Myrtle Beach area in the foreseeable future. Other than really good seafood restaurants, there didn’t seem to be a lot of things to do in the area that appeal to Mary & I. The trip to get to Myrtle Beach takes 10 to 11 hours of driving and we can be in Florida in 12 hours. The area on Florida’s Nature Coast, around Homosassa has lots of outdoor activities that appeal to us and is mostly I-75. The only negative for the trip to Florida is that we frequently go through Atlanta traffic.

Fishing at Pawley's Island

Breakfast was cold cereal and yogurt from Kroger. Rex and I gathered our fishing gear into his Highlander and left Kingfisher Inn at 8:30

We got bait at Pawley’s Island Seafood Market. Rex remembered that we could get shrimp, squid and cut bait at the market. However, the market only sells shrimp for bait now. The young Russian man working the counter informed us that they only sell shrimp that didn’t sell or were dropped on the floor for the market. Rex bought three small packets of frozen shrimp.

Fishing at Pawleys Island

We drove through a residential area on Pawley’s Island passing people fishing from bridges and access points along the way. We parked at the Pawley's Island Parking Lot South where there was plenty of fishing access in the canal available portable toilets. As we were locating a place to fish and place our folding chairs, a man fishing nearby offered us his spot and gave us some advice on fishing the canal. He invited us to share a charter boat with him on Wednesday, but we were already making plans to drive back home by then. 

Red drum from Pawleys Island

Fishing wasn’t great in the canal but we hoped that things would change as we neared high tide at 11 am. Crabs stole our shrimp bait nearly as fast as we could replenish our hooks. We were nearly ready to give up around 11 am when I caught a small fish that we cut up and used as bait. A second small fish was used the same way. We seemed to be getting bites on the cut bait but were unable to catch anything. I started casting a gold colored spoon hoping that would avoid the crabs and possibly entice a larger fish to take the lure. Around noon, I had a strong strike and a good fight from a fish. My old spinning reel wasn’t working especially well so I was wondering if I could land the fish at all. I eventually caught the 25 inch red drum that was released as soon as I removed the lure. The fish would have been good to eat but we had dinner plans already and no feasible way to get the fish back home on Wednesday.

While we were out fishing, Mary and Natalie went back to Brookgreen Gardens to see some of the area that we missed on Sunday.  The day got hot so they didn't stay long but checked out some of the beach shops near the condo to get T-shirts for Rex and Natalie's grandkids.

Back at the Kingfisher Inn, Rex and I rinsed our fishing gear at the outdoor shower by the pool then showered and cleaned up at the room. We relaxed with Mary and Natalie before leaving for dinner. On our drives south, we had seen the Hanser House and checked the online reviews. We were satisfied with the strong positive ratings and made that our choice. Mary had made dinner reservations for us but was really no need since plenty of tables were available when we arrived a little after 6 pm. Like our other meals in the area, we avoided the big all-you-can-eat buffets in favor of small, locally owned restaurants with good food and service.

In the top bunk

My creole shrimp from Lee’s Inlet Kitchen was so good that Rex and I both had it this evening. Everyone was happy with the meal. When we returned to the condo, we went to one of the beach stands for after dinner drinks. Afterward, we changed at the room then took a two hour walk along the beach getting back to the condo in the dark at nearly 10 pm.

We packed a few things then headed for bed. Our bunk beds were very comfortable once we were in bed but I will not miss climbing up to the top bunk.