Short Ride Big Memories

Joan's View

We enjoyed the view at the Pineapple Villas before leaving our Valentine abode. We rode mostly through beach areas taking in all of the vast opportunities for tourist to have fun.

At one point, while pedaling on a wide sidewalk since any shoulder was null, Tony & I both heard that sound. You know, the one that sounds like a flat. Upon closer inspection, Tony pulled out what looked like a tack, actually a cut off screw. He tossed it before we could get a picture, but he took a picture of the hole it made in our tire. Whew. He said something about being glad he uses some brand of tire.

We also saw some great signs. It looks like our son-in-law or Marla's boyfriend must have connections down here because Nick seems to be very popular. 

Only a short distance from that we found this road sign which must mean that we are on our right path. Tony took it to mean that people can easily push my button. 😝 ⇊

Coming into Panama City, we made a pit stop for food. We got off the route a bit, but found this great restaurant, Thai Basil. There we met Louie and Colleen, and sat at the table outside next to them for lunch. Louie is a regular there to drink sake. Colleen had joined him and was doing some work while enjoying some soup. Colleen is an artist and specializes in ceramics and infused glass, if I got that right. She works with companies to design tiles and such. She is a super positive person. 

Louie says that he is infamous. He spent his younger days homeless in New York as a musician, and says those were the best days of his life. He later ended up as editor of "Iron Horse" magazine, and grew it fourfold. Louie has a friend in New York who builds customized bikes and so he was intrigued with our bike taking lots of pictures for his friend. We were intrigued with Louie. He told us about Hurricane Michael and showed us videos that he personally took while hunkering down during the hurricane. He is now homeless again since Michael destroyed his apartment and boat. There is so much devastation left from Hurricane Michael and we witnessed the most we've ever seen after we left the restaurant. Louie also recommended a route for us that took us along the gulf and nice beach homes, but the effects of the hurricane were there and everywhere. The second picture down shows a car being smashed and still there from the October 10th Hurricane Michael.

We also experienced yet another bike trip first. We stopped to pay our respects for a funeral procession. 

Riding to the hotel I learned something else new. A guy in a pickup pulled up aside of us and yelled, "He's not pedaling." Now I know why Tony calls me the engine.😀

Our walk to dinner tonight was sort of different too. After figuring out which restaurants are really open again after Michael, we walked a little over 1/2 mile on sand sidewalks dodging hurricane debris.  

Back in Sidney, Marla made a day trip to water my plants and to check in on our dog, who is vacationing at the Morrow doggie resort while we are biking. Thanks Marla! 
Thanks again, Anne & Dean! 

Tony's Extras

Soon after we left the hotel, we ran into this sign at McDonalds. It looks like they are trying to steal Choice One employees. I thought I better get a picture to let Matt and Mitch know (Happy Birthday Mitch). I received a press release from Kaye today saying that Choice One once again is being recognized as one of the best places to work in the Dayton area. Congrats Choice One, you happy people. 😀 As you can see from the other picture, we got to cross another cool bridge. Check out the underside of the bridge... pretty fancy. When we were talking to Louie, he asked me, do you know what it feels like to be poor? He said I mean really poor where you are starving and not sure where your next meal will come from? He was very interresting. He said we were traveling a sane way in an insane world. Another great day of meeting and talking to good people.