Friday - Eric is in my room at 440am. Just 5 mins before my alarm is to go off. He is excited about leaving for the beach. We put everything in the car - and we are off into the darkness.
We arrive in Panama City at approx 11am. We are at the golf course. We drove thru lots of rain on the way down, but here its sunny - and cool because of the rain from the night before. We easily
wrap up the front 9 and order our first beer - just before it begins to rain. We get a raincheck to finish the game the next day - nice! We are happy and content that things worked out so perfectly. The bartendress looks over and asks us if we would like another - without a doubt. The rain ends as we get to know a local course regular who befriends us under the guise of selling us a dozen golf balls. We ask if the course is playable - absolutely, this kinda rain happens daily.
We are on the course for the back 9 in seconds as we chug our beer.
We are back on the road heading for the beach, lunch and more intoxicants - well before the second group is even in town. They meet us for a second pitcher as we get aquainted with the rest of the rag tag beach fest crew.
We check in and tally up the total for the weekend. It only comes to a fantastic $65 per person for the entire weekend for the room. I really like going on vacation with Kris Sheets. Things just seem to flow... We then shower up and head out for the evening. We cant be out too late because most of the crew needs to be up at 4am. So drinking quickly seems to be of the essence. We have 3 jagerbombs each and 2 pitchers of beer before it is even 8pm. I take a nice walk down the beach as the sun sets and meet the rest of the crew in the back patio of the hotel for the acoustical magic of the crews own
Jeff Morgan. We cap off the evening with 8 or so songs as several people on the balcony of the hotel compliment and place their requests. Jack and Coke ease us into the night as it is abruptly ended by the snapping of the E-string.
Saturday - The fishermen awoke, the weather channel was on, and the preparation for the battle at sea was on. Just like last year, I giggled and joked at the early morning antics of the crew as I wished them off and fell asunder... Only to awaken several hours later (1pm) to the weather channel and the call of the Breakfast Buffet at the All American Diner. The weather was rainy so the free golf game did not take place, and the rush to the beach was not necessary. Hunger was the first call. And eat we did - like kings. After the brunch buffet - it is onto the local pawn shop down the road for the famed E-string. We have secured the location of this needed item from the helpful staff of the diner. Exactly where they said it was, we walk in and immediately see guitars. Within minutes we have a full set of strings for $6 (no tax cuz they liked us I guess). Back to the hotel, in the swimsuit and into the ocean. There is light rain that comes and goes as there are many people on the beach and in the water. I cant remember the last time I swam in the ocean while the cool summer rain danced on the surface. I make many attempts over the next 2 hours to body surf. Either Im not wide enuff, not fat enuff, or just dont get it. But it was fun trying. Beach volleyball is underway as I am coming out of the water. I join a 2-man set w/Jesse/Josh/Mehlun from TN. We play for a couple of hours - and yes even in the rain. Again, I cant remember ever playing beach volleyball in the summer rain. And in the middle of the game, we even had to stop for a couple of minutes because it rained so hard. We laughed at each other - being out in the elements - so comfortable. A shower and naptime - before the fisherman got home. And the drinking began once again. Dinner, more drinking and across the street to the Karaoke bar. I got to sing 4 songs, break up a fight, and close the bar down. Back to hotel, a shower and a change of clothes, I take a stroll down the beach as the sun rises. One of the things I truly enjoy on my beach vacations. Its gonna be a nice day. Off to bed...
Sunday - Its fantastically beautiful outside. So beautiful that Eric leaves the room at 830 for the ocean. The rest of us get up about 10am and see that there is a whole different world out there. Beer drinking commences as we get ready for the beach. Kris secures the room until 5pm for only $10 more each. We head to the pool, worship the sun, with many beers in hand. The only reason we leave is because food is prolly a good idea as we pack up and head back home. Man, I love the beach.
A friend of mine and his family were directly affected by the storm:
