On the way, we made a stop at Vereen Gardens, right on the border of North and South Carolina. There’s a grove of trees there with oyster shells hanging from their limbs. We picked up a few shells ourselves and left a little tribute in memory of Ninja. It was one of those picture-perfect days—blue skies, cool breeze, and just the right temperature.

Next stop: flounder sandwich secured. Then I crossed the lot to the Waterfront Seafood Shack Market, and grabbed shrimp, scallops, and crab cakes—planning to grill the shrimp and scallops tonight.

The drive back was peaceful. I took the business route and while there was a little congestion near Atlantic Beach, most of the traffic was light. Tourists were minimal, a lot of locals seem to have cleared out, and several businesses had already closed up for the weekend. I can hear the rumble of bikes rolling into town, the volume slowly rising—but so far, it looks like a lighter-than-usual crowd for Memorial Day Friday here in Myrtle Beach. Time will tell.