Carolina Opry - best show in Myrtle Beach!

We enjoyed another lovely sunrise over the Atlantic this morning.

It was such a nice day that we decided to get the bikes out of the van and ride down the boardwalk to the 2nd Ave. Pier.  When we got the bikes out, we discovered that Paul's back tire was totally flat - it had been fine when we put it away last Sat.  He fixed it and off we went.

We had taken our books along, so sat down to read for a bit.

I went down to the beach for a walk, and spotted this cute little dragon fly sitting in a shell - I think he liked the pearly shine.

When we went to go on our way, low and behold, the same tire was flat as a pancake!  :-(  The tires are pretty well worn out, and we wonder if the steel in the tires is puncturing the tubes.  It was a long walk back.

We had planned to ride to Broadway at the Beach (an area near us with lots of shops and restaurants and entertainment venues), so after lunch we drove up.  There must have been an earthquake cause this building was right upside down!

There are very ugly carp in the lake in the middle, and on the bridges there are places where you can get fish food out of a machine.  The carp all gather near the feeding areas and beg.

There are some sculptures there as well, and this is my favorite.

This lovely mocking bird was kind enough to pose for me.

This afternoon we went for a walk on the beach - it's a nice flat one for skimming.

This is the place we are staying this week - we're on the 10th floor in the right tower.

Tonight we went to my absolute favorite show in Myrtle Beach (or anywhere for that matter!), and we had seats front and center.  Yes!!!

I was disappointed that the man who has emceed the show for years is no longer there, but this young man, Nathan Herron, a former American Idol contestant, and an amazing singer, has taken over that position.  I think he must have studied videos of Steve, because he did everything just the same - mannerisms, expressions, etc. 

It's true!  Now we know!  Calvin Gilmour really exists!   He is the chairman/CEO, executive producer and director of The Carolina Opry, and started it in May, 1986.  But in all the years we have been going, we had never seen him.  Tonight, we did - he sang twice.

Rita Gumm has been with the Carolina Opry since it began in May 1986.

These guys - they call themselves "All That" - are such good dancers!  They sort of like clog or something.  I just love watching them!

There are 2 guys(musicians) who are also comedians - this is one of them.  They are very good, and there is a lot of comedy in their shows.

Eric Gumm - married to Rita Gumm is one of the comedians.  It's kind of hard to take him seriously!

Christie Templeton is also one of my favorites - here, she was singing a Patsy Cline song from the fifties.  I got to talk to her after the show.  :-)

Another fifties song - loved it!

Rita Gumm again singing Amazing Grace - amazingly!  There were 3 gospel songs in the show tonight.

I think I've figured out partly why I like this show so much better than the one at the Alabama theater.  Partly because it's sort of countryish, the people are just regular, there's not a lot of glitz and glamour.  They are really good musicians, but it's not so "showy" or something.  And not so loud.  Anyway, I just really like it!  And now it's nearly 12:30 again, and I'm off to bed.