Invitational Trip Dec 20018: Huntington Beach

We arrived at about 3pm.  I was on a work call and somehow multitasked to get Russ backed in to site 66. 

We have this site for most of the trip, but have to switch to site 98 (the first site we ever had) for the last 2 days.  Sadly, due to the work call, I didn’t get to take in the beach walk – we did keep the dogs on leash, and actually saw fellow agility friends – Felicia and Mike.

The trails are flooded from all the rain, so that is disappointing.  It informed, however, that Hunting Island cancellation was probably smart as that campground floods even worse there.

We watched the AKC finals and then turned in early, 7:50pm.  I didn’t wake up until 7am the next morning!

Wednesday
When we arrived from Florida, we noticed the freezer wasn’t cooling and thought it was because we ran out of propane on the drive up.  We thought things would freeze up overnight with the AC power, but in the morning it was worse.  With no one open yet, we walked the dogs on the beach, barely missing the 7:15 sunrise.  The beach was empty, so we were able to let the dogs run.  Gracie was attacking Cadia immediately.  She tried to bother Braddock and he’d come to me to be rescued.  Frye had to stay on leash.  Gracie enjoyed chasing birds, and Braddock and Cadia walked the top of the small dune searching for smells and things to get in to.

We returned when businesses opened at 8 and started calling for refrigerator help.  There was one service, RV rescue, that was able to come out and got the issue resolved by about 10am.  We replaced the RV fridge, which normally go in 7-10 years – ours was 12 years - with a residential fridge.  It gives us more room and we can power directly into it from the house.  The negative is that we can’t run it when we drive as there is no way to get propane to it.  But, the extra room, lower cost, and safety, was well worth switching to a residential model.

Thereafter, we rested in the RV, had lunch, and then headed out to get the dogs tired out before the rain comes tomorrow.  We hiked up to the guard shack and got them their bones.  Braddock remembered and went crazy when he got to the window – jumped up, and kept jumping up as the woman pulled out a bone for each dog.  Gracie and Frye both jumped up for their bone but took them gently and Cadia was an angel.  Braddock was definitely the difficult one. 

We took the biketrail to the entrance of Brookgreen Gardens and then realized that the gate back to the campground is always closed from that side, so we had to walk back the way we came.  Then we took the road all the way down past the fort to a back area we only walked once before – it was a road traveling through an area of grass and dirt, private, but not much to look at.  This time, however, we saw they had transformed the area into a whole new section of the RV park.  There was also a paved walkway to the beach so we walked back along the beach.  It took about 2 hours.

We then decided to get the dogs really tired, due to the rain tomorrow, so we biked Gracie and Frye back over to the new RV section, and then on second shift took Gracie and Braddock.  We have to take Gracie and Frye first since on fresh legs Gracie’s stride matches Frye’s.  Only after can we take her with Braddock so we can slow her down to his pace and stride.

I trained the dogs in obedience for their dinner and we had a simple dinner – tomato and roasted red pepper soup with feta cheese, Russ had hot dogs, and then bread with olive oil, cheese, apple, and chutney.                          

Thursday it rained and rained.  To make matters worse, I have developed a pretty serious upper respiratory infection.  The positive is that we had a 2 hour break in the rain in the morning.  We walked the beach for about an hour and this time we let Frye off lead and she did very well.  There are natural barricades (a dune and a lagoon) - she is surrounded by water so that keeps her put.  She seemed to enjoy her freedom and Gracie didn’t mess with her much.  

Then we tested out the nature trail that runs through the woods and along the lagoon.  There was one spot that was underwater but the rest of it was walkable.  There were a couple squirrel sightings.  We finished up as the rain came down – completing almost a 2 hour walk.

Dogs were sacked out in the RV and we had lunch  - nachos (cheese, corn, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, chipotle sauce, lettuce, salsa).  Then headed to run errands.

We went to Ace Hardware to get some supports for the fridge and weather-stripping to close the gaps, but what we bought was only the start of trying to solve the problem. We also made a quick stop at Publix to get a few more items we needed.  The rain continued to pour. 

I tried to find a place to take the dogs swimming, but that didn’t work out.  For future reference it is called WagnSplash located in Charleston.  We thought about taking them to Bass Pro Shops, but Russ’s repair on the fridge was taking longer so we ended up just taking the dogs to Home Depot while where we looked for anchors for the fridge – finding nothing to help us.   The dogs did get milkbones, and a cheeseburger from Wendy’s on the way home.  Dinner was simple – just some gouda cheese, apple, and bread snacks.  

Friday was not much better as far as weather was concerned.  Although not raining, the wind was brutal.  It wasn’t as bad in the morning so we were able to walk the dogs on the beach.  We let them all run free together again.  Frye and Gracie love to push the limits of going over the dunes, and yet Braddock has been relatively good about that, just walking the edges but staying in sight.  Cadia got on a smell and started digging up a dune so we had to stop her.  Given the overcast, the sunrise was pretty much non-existent but I did get some good shots of some fierce waves in the ocean.

Yoda ears in the wind

We returned back for breakfast – oatmeal – and then headed out for another walk with the dogs.  This time we parked at the entrance of the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail, where the trees sheltered us from the wind.  We walked the whole trail ending at the beach parking lot – took a picture from the overlook to Sandpiper Pond – which looks much bigger than a pond – more like a huge lagoon.  Even the “lagoon” was rough – it would have been impossible to kayak – if we had decided to brave the alligators (and we won’t). 

We walked back to the truck by road and then had lunch at the RV.  Then the crazy decisions came – I was adamant that I’d spend some time sitting on the beach while Russ continued to search for materials to help secure the fridge.  I had no idea when I crossed the dune just how fierce the wind would be – over 30MPH winds.  But, with Russ already gone, I placed my chair – which almost blew away a few times- in a location of hard-packed sand to minimize the sandstorm that was taking over the beach.  It was 63 degrees, but felt like it was freezing with all that wind.  The wind was so loud you couldn’t hear the ocean.  Needless to say, it was not an enjoyable experience, but the best one that could be had under the conditions. 

When Russ came back to get me he exclaimed, “honey, how could you sit out here this whole time.”  And then laughing at my determination he said, “I have to get a picture of this.”

There was no way to walk the dogs on the beach – the sand storm would have killed them, so instead we walked towards the guard shack and got them their bones – this time we had to make Braddock sit and stay away from the window to protect that poor woman trying to give 4 dogs milkbones from a small window.  While walking over the causeway the wind caught us a few times knocking us off balance, especially the greyhound whose foot fell into the rocks a couple of times and we were scared she hurt it – came up limping once.

At 3pm we headed out for the night of lights at Brookgreen Gardens.  I was on a work call, yet again, so we didn’t get to start walking until 4.  First we took some pictures of the dog statues, the Great Dane and the Greyhound. 

Then, we went to our favorite places, continuing to circle back to them as the sunlight dimmed so we could how it all looked with the candles and lights. – here are our favorites in order: 

The Live Oaks, Diana’s Pond, The boy with dogs, and the lady at the waterfall

The only disappointment is that the wind prevented the candles from staying lit so we did not get the full experience of the ambience around the gardens.  We ended the night visiting the 6:15pm tree lighting ceremony – more lights than the Rockefeller tree complete with a choir.

Saturday we had to check out of site 66.  We left for the beach a little earlier to give the dogs plenty of time to run around.  There was a small cloud bank, but otherwise the sunrise was breathtaking – the best one we had here.  We walked up towards the North Beach per usual.

Had breakfast of Oatmeal again, and then prepared the RV to move to site 98.  We had hoped that the people coming to 66 would cancel, but the cards were not in our favor.  And sadly, what we thought would be an easy move – wasn’t!  Someone across from 98 parked a car on the side of the road right where we needed to navigate the truck to back in.  We had the campground host help us back in, as we had to inch the RV back bit by bit, and yet Russ still had the truck and RV at some scary angles.  I didn’t think we’d make it in the site.  But, after extraordinary effort, we finally were able to set up – luckily the site was level so that made things easier.

We walked the dogs on Sandpiper Pond Trail again, but left directly from the campsite as opposed to driving to the entrance.  This time when we reached the end we walked back along the beach, and it was nice to walk the beach that time of day with the sun high in the air and the ocean a brilliant blue.  The dogs had to stay on leash though as everyone is out at this time.

We had salads for lunch and then Russ and I went to Harrelson’s seafood market to get 1.29 LBS of grouper cut into 2 pieces.  It was our favorite last time.  We almost got the snapper, but decided to pass.  While we’d like to get more grouper, it is $22 a pound so we have to be practical.

We did our evening walk to the guardshack to get the dogs their bones.  This time Gracie was in the mix with Braddock, pulling her way around the curve trying to get to the window.  A man was at the post this time.  We made Braddock sit and I gave him the bone.  Grace and Frye jumped on the window.  Cadia waited patiently.  The view with the setting sun over the causeway was breathtaking – I wish I had of taken my phone to get a picture. 

We returned at 5:30 – I worked the dogs for their dinner – some obedience outside – and then Russ started a fire and grilled burgers for dinner.  Felicia and Mike joined us at about 6:30 and we sat outside and chatted until 9.  We talked dogs, training, retirement plans, and RV trips. 

Sunday started of cold – 37 degrees – the coldest yet.  We left close to sunrise and it was the clearest sunrise we had against a very still ocean.  We walked all the way up to the north beach until we reached the sign where dogs were no longer allowed.  There was a booming sound – not sure where it was coming from – but it was scaring Cadia so badly that we had to keep her on leash. 

I fixed an omelet and chevre cheese bread for breakfast and then Russ and I headed to the beach to catch up on journal writing.

We walked our favorite trail – the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail – and walked back along the beach.  It was a beautiful day on the beach.  Then Felicia and Mike met us for a bikeride up to Murrell’s Inslet for lunch.  Russ drove the car since he had errands to run afterwards.  We went to Graham’s Landing – which was voted #1 in Murrell’s Inslet – and it was good.  I liked the food, but the view wasn’t as good as The Claw where we normally each – which overlooks the marsh boardwalk.  We ordered the fried green tomato appetizer and split the blackened scallop wrap.  On the way home, Russ picked up another .5lb of grouper and red snapper since we can’t get it at home.  He also got de-wormer for the dogs – the fleas are really starting to get on our nerves.  Never had this problem before.

Russ’s errand took forever so I took my chair to the beach and started making some vacation plans.  I tentatively have us in a place back here in April.  We just have to decide where we want to go and what we want to do – either Carova, Huntington Beach, Cape Hatteras.  If we do Carova, we won’t do Maine – too expensive to do both, and I think I want to still do Maine since Cadia has now turned 12. 

We walked the dogs up to the guardshack, and Gracie was pulling with her Daddy again.  Gracie and Frye jumped up on the window, and I made Braddock stay in a sit.  He still broke and jumped up on the window.

We enjoyed beautiful views from the causeway as the sun set.  We walked to the new section to see site 167, which is what I have reserved for April.  Then returned, made a fire, and grilled the grouper – with mashed sweet potato and coleslaw.  Felicia joined us for the fire and then Russ and I stayed out until the last embers burned out – about 9pm.

Monday – our last day here, and the most beautiful morning walk on the beach.  We headed out early so we could let the dogs off.  We saw a dolphin swimming near shore where the waves were breaking just before sunrise. 

There were some boomers in the background so Cadia started to run back and Russ had to catch her and keep her on leash.  We walked to the area that marked the line where no dogs are allowed, captured a picture – a rebel Cadia sitting on the no-dog side of the line – enjoyed the sunrise, and headed back along the beach.

Russ and I then sat on the beach to finish this journal writing here.  We will do one final walk with the dogs on the Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail, and then head to Yemessee, SC – our least favorite place.  We really want to get home, but the kitchen and floor renovations are not complete.

There wasn’t much open to eat on Christmas Eve, so we headed to a place in Waterboro, SC  called Castillos Pizzeria.  The margarita pizza was very good, but the “works” had too many canned mushrooms.  Russ regretted that choice.  We had a cheese bread appetizer that we enjoyed, and split the 16 inch pizza among all 4 of us.  Mom and dad split the tiramisu.  Only a $30 meal, and very tasty.