Sense of adventure

When I go on vacation, I think it's important to pack a sense of adventure. As it turns out, I've needed it, even on this trip to Myrtle Beach.

Yesterday, Angie and I decided to go shopping. We left the hotel early, intending to catch the bus. Myrtle Beach has very limited bus service, but we'd researched the routes the night before and had a good idea of how to get to the Grand Costal Mall.

We knew the transfer station was a short distance from the hotel and it was a beautiful morning, so we decided to walk. At first, we went too far in one direction and had to double back to make our turn. Then we missed a slight veer in the road. That was our big mistake.

So we walked and walked and walked . . . without seeing a bus. We knew something was wrong but continued on our jaunt, laughing and talking. Eventually we came to a major corner and found a Target, Ross and TJ Maxx. Then we agreed we needed sustenance and had a delicious lunch at Chik-Fil-A. (Now I'd never eaten there and was thoroughly impressed by the service and food.)

After lunch, we checked Angie's Blackberry and discovered the location of the Walmart, and walked some more.

We never did quite make it to the mall, but we were very close and could see it from the Walmart parking lot. But we'd accomplished what we'd set out to do that morning. We both had new bathing suits, and we bought some groceries and beverages to enjoy from our balcony.

We did catch the bus back to the transfer station. We discovered we were less than half a block off course. The transfer station was across a little parking lot from where we walked in the morning. Oh, so close.

We returned to our hotel with sore legs and swollen feet. The rest of the afternoon involved the beach, books and beverages.

Angie and I both laughed because this kind of derailment happens to us. In fact, Angie recalled a trip she took where she was wandering around completely lost. (Okay, so maybe it's Angie's karma that puts us in those type of situations!)

Most importantly, we had fun, even though events didn't turn out exactly as planned. Our senses of adventure came in handy. We couldn't ask for anything more.

Of course, if we return to the mall, next time we're taking the bus.

Tina