To Ocean Isle Beach

April 23, 2024

This morning has to be the coldest yet. It's 40 degrees at 5 am, well below the normal low for this time of year and what I can handle. I'm back in the campground laundry room to warm up and dry out a few things.

By 8 am Barry and I are packed up and on our way to dawdle for a couple hours at the Grand Strand Coffee Shop until the sun is higher in the sky. Mike isn't in as big of a hurry to leave; he is better prepared for the cold, or at least not as whiny about it as me.

Early morning writing studio at Myrtle Beach State Park

Hot breakfast at my new favorite coffee shop beats cold campground granola any day

Today's ride is the last we'll see of South Carolina. I'm ready to leave. The roads just haven't been a lot of fun to ride. The final miles here are a long touristy parade of amusement parks, OceanCreekGrandVista hotels and ReefIslandVillasBlahBlah resorts that make me appreciate the beauty of the state park even more.

This is different - the first swing bridge we've seen on this trip. It rotates 90 degrees to let ships pass and is lower to the water than a drawbridge.

As soon as we cross the state line into North Carolina the ride experience improves. Rumble strips disappear, shoulders widen out and drivers are nicer. They all hang back until they can move over to the other lane to pass me. The culture change is quite striking.

We have just 12 miles to go from the state line to our room at the Ocean Isle Inn. There is one detour around the 179 bridge over the Calabash River which is closed. Its not far to the next road that takes us through a golf course to the next bridge.

The town of Ocean Isle Beach, just four miles long on a barrier island, looks shiny and new. I had fairy-tale notions about our hotel on the shore and the prospect of another walk on the beach. Unfortunately the wind has picked up and we aren't done with the cool weather yet. Besides, the hotel has a hot tub. That'll do fine.

Crossing the Intracoastal Waterway to the Ocean Isle

We brave the wind for the half mile walk to dinner at Ocean Isle Fish Company where the fresh catch of the day is grouper. After the hot soak, dinner and wine I'm ready to pass out.

I love the fishbone logo for Ocean Isle Fish Company

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Today's ride: 45 miles (72 km)
Total: 1,188 miles (1,912 km)

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