Myrtle Beach State Park, SC
I wrote this entry in a notebook and inputted at a later time.
It doesn’t get much better than this. A cloudless, sunny morning, a chair, the beach, and the sweet music of the ocean’s waves. I’m sitting 15 feet in front of the foam yo-yo, a school of seagulls move close and fly away. I hope they don’t drop anything on me.
Last night started off with some trepidation. I was unsure if the whole camping thing was right. All of the kids and people running around, and then me. But, as I laid in the tent, all of that went away. I felt at peace laying outside listening to the sounds. When all of the fireworks, and cars, and the hammer of tent stakes went away, it was there. The lapping waves of the ocean. I had a sound machine with me, but I left it in the car. It had nothing on Mother Nature.
I laid in the tent, it was 10:00 and I wasn’t tired. I couldn’t do a whole lot without anything more than a flashlight. If I’m going to camp, I’ll need to invest in a few things. So, I put my hands behind my head, fidgeted in the sleeping bag, listened and thought. My decision felt right. My decision to head out on this trip. My decision to camp. Life was good.
At 4:30 AM or so I woke up. I was a bit cold. I put on a long sleeve T and sweat pants. As I laid there, tying to go back to sleep, the only sounds were my breathing and the ocean. Stillness filled the air and peace filled me. Lying in that tent, with my eyes to the sky, I felt like an explorer or traveler from back in the day. The hotel thing would’ve been easy, but I’m learning that this journey is all about experiences. This is one I’m glad I stuck to. I will camp some more along the way.
From the sounds of the ocean at night to where I am sitting now, there is just something incredible about the water. I grew up on the water and I think I will always need to be around it. I may not need to live on it, but I will need to know I can go there whenever I want.
Time to boogie. I could sit here and write all day, but I have to work at a soup kitchen down the way in Myrtle and I need to be there by 9. Then, it’s off to Charleston to see my cousin Kevin and his wife Cathy.
Enjoy the day.