BEACH

Overnight Beach Trip

On Monday September 12^th I was one of several clients that went on an overnight beach trip to Ocean City, MD with Megan Flynn and Eric Gordon.  Upon arriving at Southport at approximately eight o’clock in the morning we loaded the van with our bags and started out on our trip.  Upon arrival at Harrison Hall we checked in and went up to a room and checked for bed bugs with the help of staff.  Our hotel had a porch with rocking chairs and it overlooked the ocean.  Each individual was given a roommate ahead of time and then assigned to a room.  We were scheduled to have a picnic on the beach but the Dough Roller provided us with a free lunch.  After eating, other clients and I spent the rest of the afternoon laying out on the beach and swimming in the ocean.  Megan went and bought buckets so she, Eric, one other client, and I could build sand castles.  For dinner we went to the Captains Table across the street from our hotel and picked from a seafood menu that was specially prepared for us.  Once our bellies were full Eric took some of us on a one dollar bus ride to the end of the boardwalk and we walked back to our hotel.  The next morning we got up and loaded for the return trip home and went to a diner for breakfast before heading back to Southport. 

In order for this trip to take place the clients participated in a car wash one Saturday in August to help pay for their hotel expenses and going out to eat.  This was suggested by Bill West who put a petition up on the soda machine in the kitchen for clients to sign if they were possibly interested.  We had to budget our money in advance so that we could afford to help pay for our hotel room.  Clients also had to be in the general residential program to qualify for this trip.  I got further proof that it is possible for me to go on a group outing overnight without my parents which would not have been possible in years past.  In conclusion, this was a very fun trip for me and I hope we can do it again sometime in the future.    

By Kris L.