Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort

October 15, 16, 17th

October 15th we spent the day between laying on the beach and the hotel Tiki Bar. On the beach when the sun shone and in the bar when the periodic showers came down. Deceived by the cool breeze off the Gulf we burnt our previously covered ivory white hides to a cinder. I guess that's why they have cases of sunscreen for sale in the hotel. (What's worse is that I've packed around a big jug of it in my front pannier for miles and left it in the room instead of using it on our bods!!) Rather than using aloe vera to sooth the pain we used Margarita's and found that they work better.

October 16th we visited the public library and caught up on the blog. On the way back to the hotel we dropped in at "Emma's Too" a small restaurant and had a great lunch. At the restaurant we met with two new friends, Greg and Detra Callahan. Crazy, but almost what I thought to be a mirror image of Deby and I. Greg and Detra were very close to the same age, had two kids the same ages as our two boys, and had just relocated to Panama City Beach from Denver just as Deby and I had relocated from Saskatoon to Grand Forks. Greg had recently retired from his 22 year career with the Federal Prison system just as I had recently retired from the Saskatoon Police Service. Detra had a part time job, just as Deby is going to get a part time job (in his dreams!!). It was uncanny.

We had a long and enjoyable conversation with Greg and Detra and then went on our way. Greg said he would be by our hotel later and take us to a bike shop to get some parts that we required. We ended up having a nice afternoon together. Greg not only gave us a ride to the bike shop, but also gave us a tour of Hwy 30A that we had missed yesterday. It truly was a beautiful drive through beach side communities of Seaside and Grayton Beach (There are many more beach side communities than just Seaside and Grayton, each having it's own distinct architecture, but we can't remember all the names). If you remember the Jim Carey movie "The Truman Show," it was shot in one of these communities.

Greg said to us at one point, that for him, something was going to come from meeting us and that in all likelihood, Detra was going to have to pay for it. We all laughed.

October 17th I did bicycle maintenance in the morning. Had to oil and work the brakes on the bikes due to salt corrosion. The salt in the air while riding around the Gulf has been a little tough on the metal parts which come into contact with each other.

In the afternoon Greg took us for a tour of Panama City along the coastal drive. Stately old houses and marinas full of beautiful boats. Thanks Greg and Detra for the company, the conversation, the information and the mini immersion into the area. Look forward to seeing you again sometime.

Tomorrow we ride!