It's All Robert's Fault!

Soooooo, it's been radio silence for a few days, hasn't it.  I'm sure you're just dying to know why and what's been happening.  And why is it all Robert's fault?  (Hi Judy, yes, it's YOUR Robert I'm referring to!) 

After the big bridge incident of last Wed (in case you have already forgotten, you can read all about that here), we arrived safely at Chesapeake Campground, just off the Dismal Swamp canal. I believe this is an old, converted KOA, so immediately you know sites are close, and things might be a bit run down.  There are stables and lots and lots of ponies of all colors, as well as a decent pool and party pavilion that is available for birthday party rentals.  None of which we will utilize, I'm sure.

Then what?  Starting Thursday, we had non-stop dancing, day and night until this morning, at the Virginia State Square Dance Convention, in Virginia Beach.  We had met Soo Jin and her husband, Hall, at a dance down in The Villages, sometime during the winter.  We danced with them a few times, and really enjoyed their company, so when we found out that Soo was singing the National Anthem up in Virginia, and we were planning to be in the area at that time anyway, we decided we'd send for ribbons and attend.  We were NOT disappointed.  She's a fantastic singer, and despite only being about 5 feet tall in her heels, she can belt out the notes and in perfect pitch!

Soo is the tiny little figure in red, white and blue, behind the color guard.

Just like NC State Conventions, this one provided lots of variety of dancing styles, as well as skill levels.  Read:  there were some really, really good dancers, as well as some really, really bad ones.  Nooo, they weren't bad because they were new dancers.  THAT would be excusable!  

But, how is Robert involved?  Well, it was Robert that taught us to mess with the callers, and switch positions, do a Grand Square on the first call of a singing call, pass through on a promenade halfway, and to generally cut up and make fools of ourselves.  Apparently, we found a crowd that is just as willing, and even more so, to participate.  We also have to give credit to Robert for introducing us to hot hash, and Rod Barngrover & Bill Chesnut for really polishing our skills.  Because of them, we were able to participate in the Diehard squares both Thursday and Friday, and we outlasted 6 callers, and 2 other squares of dances!  Not too bad for couple of old farts, I'd say! We danced absolutely non-stop, and pretty much didn't break down for over an hour solid, each night.

There's Soo, again, right in the middle by herself, doing a line dance.

We even got invited into the DBD room, where pretty much, anything goes!  We successfully held our own, there, too, thank you very much, Bill, Rod & Robert! Then we got hooked up with a couple from MIT.  Yes, the college.  Ummmmmm...perhaps we should have considered their proposition a bit before we jumped in.  They wanted to do MIRROR squares.  ???  We'd never heard of it before, but we said Yes anyway.  Turns out, the MIT club gets bored with the same ole same ole, so they come up with antics of their own.  Mirror dancing involves a bit of DBD, with a lot of extra thinking.  Girls are on the left, for starters, and every call is done opposite of normal, or whatever is called.  So, all square throughs become LEFT square throughs, all waves are LEFT handed waves, we courtesy turned to the right, and so forth.  What a workout!  But it was fun and challenging!  At the end of Saturday night, you would have thought we'd be brain dead, but, oh no, we stayed for the Interlocking squares too!  Never had heard of that, either, but we did it!  We collaboratively got the setup figured out, and they said, ok, caller, call something!  While he was fiddling with his computer, looking for something to call, Robert whispered in my ear (and it came out my mouth!), "Sides face, Grand Square!"  So that's what we all did!  Daggum if it didn't pretty much work out, without anyone getting run over or stepped on in the process!  Oh my, it must have been something to see! Sorry, but we didn't think to video those shenanigans, otherwise, I'd share.

So, let's go back in time and finish up Myrtle Beach with Joe and Nancy.  They had some business to tend on Monday, so Driver took me down to Huntington Beach and Atalaya Castle.  You can follow that link to learn more about this fascinating place and Archer & Anna Huntington.  (yes, they are cousins to the Huntington's of California).

First glimpse of the outer structure

He had one of the first RV's ever built!

Those two placards generally trace the history of the couple and their lovely home by the sea.

Our guide (Warren, methinks) is the only one, and he's been serving here for 25 years.  He personally knew a lot of the island folks that lived and served here, and he was full of personal histories and stories. I sure hope someone has the foresight to record his recollections; they truly need to be preserved for posterity!

You can see the Moorish influence in the architecture and ironwork.  (We made the mistake of asking about the bars on the windows, and we were immediately corrected!)

If you ever do get the chance, it's a place well worth visiting in Myrtle Beach.  Definitely not a tourist trap, nor was it highly attended.  I guess 'cuz there's no early-bird buffet or music offered.  But there's great history and interesting stories!  And it's by the sea!

I'll leave you with one final photo before I go....it's Driver and I, in our new ride!  (Ha, ha, NOOOO, it's Joe & Nancy's Beach Buggy...we still have our wheels!)

Y'all stay safe!