Myrtle Beach Adventure

There it  was, touchdown in Myrtle Beach, which is a resort town in South Carolina. But why? Because an old friend was being consecrated in the Orthodox Anglican Church and I flew out to support him. He's a good man and's had an interesting life.

art

Naval enlisted, went back in with a commission, did mysterious, arcane things, left to become a DC lawyer, left that to be a priest in the Anglican Continuing Church and's now a bishop. Well done, perhaps a movement from dark to light?

South Carolina bought the London Eye

Regardless, we set up at the Hampton Broadway, which is a hotel in a kind of ersatz boardwalk tourist development a mile or so from the actual beach, complete with artificial lake and everything else. I'd imagine the Broadway's an intolerable, heaving nightmare in season but it was pretty much empty this week, which was fine. 

Typical light house street scene

Stroll around around the little thematic shopping zones and wonder at the glory of it all as you ask, "Why is there a Japanese steakhouse in 'New England Village'?" Puzzled, swing by the Key West "Hangout," ask yourself why it's empty and how can they afford to keep this place running.

what a beautiful bridge

Baffled, take rum meets rum meets fruit juice solace at Margarataville before falling back to an RV at the hotel, life is good. The next day, go to your pal's consecration at a small mission church a few blocks away and feel genuinely blessed by the experience.

Morning after

No kidding, what a good exeat and our party was curiously military, one of the recently retired padres had had the honor of celebrating the Mass in Saddam's former palace. I'd say that was braggable.

consecration

And now? Back in the great state of Texas, which is a country in itself, and a good one. Off topic though it seems relevant, somehow. Never, ever, ever, ever give up. I say that most seriously.

Your Old Friend,

LSP

South London Pikers

South London Pike

I used to live in South London, a very, very, very long time ago, in what the English romantically call a "Tower Block", in a place not so far from Peckham. Hipsters live in Peckham now, strangely. Regardless, last week I overcame the psychic barrier that is the Thames and travelled South of the River to Lewisham.

Looking South

Before I knew it I'd RV'd with some old friends, climbed into a "motor" and was speeding(ish) towards Catford. We stopped on the edge of a tranquil pond as the sun was setting and the fish were starting to jump; country life, right there in the metroplex. Beautiful; a couple of rods later and we were casting for Pike and they were striking -- on my friend's lure anyway.

R with Pike

Thanks, R, for the rod and reel action.

Fish on.

LSP