May 29, Myrtle Beach, SC

We left Georgetown just as the overnight rain was clearing and headed north.

Leaving Georgetown early

Our trip today was through some beautiful marshes with cypress trees growing at the edge of the waterway (in salt water) and then through dense forests with no homes in sight for miles.



Along the watereway at MM 373 we saw the Osprey Marina advertising diesel at $2.54, the lowest price we have seen this year. We were full ($3.00 at M&M Seafood) so we did not stop but will make a note to stop on the way south.

Small boats with families in the Intercoastal.

Large home on a bluff in Myrtle Beach.
Lots of condominium projects along the waterway, too.

Gondolas take golfers from the parking lot over the Intercoastal to the golf club. Must be the only access and may be cheaper than building a road.

The barrier island south of Myrtle Beach is known as the "Grand Strand' and is a family resort area and golf mecca. Myrtle Beach has the largest collection of golf courses per capita of anywhere in the USA. The area also a large number of miniature golf courses with stucco figures (tacky but fun) and lots of shirt shops for the tourists. There are almost 30 miles of accessible beaches. Myrtle Beach is also known as 'Branson - east' because of the number of entertainers that have put facilities here. Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show (featuring a real buffalo stampede) is rated a GEM by AAA and we even saw a Greg Norman restaurant along the waterway. Another GEM is the 9,000 acre Brookgreen Gardens with more than 725 sculptures showcased in landscape settings and garden rooms of the 35 acre Huntington Sculpture Garden. We do not have a car so we will save the exploring, gardens, shows and golf for another time. Could easily spend a few days here.

Approaching Myrtle Beach Yacht Club at the end of the basin.
Must be 300 boats here.

This is a very large basin with a lighthouse out front.

Tonight we are staying at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, a very large facility with all the services. Lots of activity on the Intercoastal Waterway as this is the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend. We are happy to be in the marina and out of the boat traffic.