We don’t mind returning to an area when the top three things are there: Location, Comfort, and HIKING! Now that we live at the beach, we look for these three things when we travel.

We can’t forget why we moved here, for the beach! What we love about the area we now live in is the ability to take long walks on the beach. And we do! I’ve written many blog posts (here is one series) about walking in the southern end of Myrtle Beach to Surfside. Nothing new under the sun, so all of our walks remain as glorious as our Lord can make this one aspect of His creation, with sunrises, sunsets, and even storms!

We have to travel to hike, although we found a nice place to hike near us in Conway. There are other places as close but the problems are seasonal. Yes, we basically have a warmer climate but with that comes bugs, snakes, rain, all things that can spoil a good hike. A friend posted this hike on her timeline, so we went to check it out! It was shorter than we typically like but we could have made the loop twice. Here is a brief slide show and then my review as posted on All Trails app:

Review posted on All-Trails which asked, “How was the trail?” We gave it five stars: fabulous! Only a few wet spots and slightly slippery boardwalk. We saw nine dogs and approximately 15 people. No other wildlife.The trails were clearly marked.” Perhaps there was no other wildlife because there were so many people and dogs. The good news is we did not feel “crowded” as you will note nobody else was in our pictures.

What was even more interesting was learning about this watershed and how Horry (pronounced, Orry, silent H) County, our county, uses this important natural resource.

Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge was established on December 1, 1997 to protect and manage diverse habitat within coastal river ecosystems and to provide wildlife-dependent recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography and environmental education. The wetland diversity on the refuge provides important habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife.”

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/waccamaw

As we were leaving, we noticed a “Coastal Carolina University” vehicle. It looked like a student was driving around and now leaving after collecting samples. We have seen them at the beach front, working with turtle habitats and more. But didn’t realize they also conduct experiments around the watershed. I didn’t pay enough attention to the posted signage about the watershed. But it is am amazing creation by God that is exploited to provide fresh water to surrounding communities. We indeed are so very blessed to have fresh water nearly all the time in the United States.

We recently experienced what it is like to NOT have fresh water. There was a water main break near our neighborhood. We did not have water from 5:30 pm until the break was repaired at 3:30 am the next morning. I was so excited to turn the water on when we woke, it was running, so I brushed my teeth and took a shower – before I read the notices to NOT do this! The water had to be boiled and all kinds of things BEFORE the water was safe. Thankfully, neither Bill, I or some of my neighbors who did the same thing experienced Montezuma’s revenge.

Little did I know as I write this on March 26, 2023, World Water Day was celebrated March 22, 1923, and every year. “Water is one of the planet’s most precious resources. World Water Day is observed each year on March 22 to promote the responsible use of water and access to safe water for everyone.”

There are many charities world wide that aim to bring fresh water to locations without water management system, watersheds or even technology to bring fresh water to its citizens. On such organization we support and would recommend is though Samaritan’s Purse.

“Wherever Samaritan’s Purse drills a well, we pray that God will use it to not only supply a dependable source of cool, clean water, but also to make it a place where people can share the Gospel and come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Using a hand-cranked drill or a truck-mounted rig, we can drill a well to serve 500 villagers for about $20 per person.” Wow, what a blessing!

“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:17

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Living-Water