Biking Week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4

Note:  If anyone cannot get the RSVP feature  to work (by clicking on "comment" at the end of this post) please call me at 815-592-5923 and I'll walk you through it.  We appreciate RSVPing for several reasons:  To know who to expect and wait a few minutes if you might be running late;  to make reservations for restaurants who require/prefer them;  and to let others know who is riding!

Monday, Jan. 30:  Meet at 2PM at Majestic Sun's front steps.  You can park across the street along #98 (Scenic Gulf Rd.) or in back of Majestic Sun.  We'll bike the sidewalk down to Sandestin and do some bayside riding, then return to Majestic Sun.  We'll head up to the Cabana Cafe in Seascape (Ariel Dunes) 3:30PM, have a Coke or a drink, and enjoy some music by Banjo Rama, starting at 4PM.  If you want to have dinner there, you can do that, too, as they play until 7PM.  (As of this posting, I'm planning to do dinner about 5PM there.)  Who's interested?
(Note:  Beautiful day for biking.  Five of us enjoyed the in's and out's of Sandestin Bayside and then some of us ended up for drinks and dinner up at Cabana Cafe, joined by some spouses and other friends.  Fun day, guys!)


Tuesday, Jan. 31:  New ride!  We'll try an early morning breakfast ride today!  Meet at 8:30AM at Majestic Sun's front steps and we'll ride down to the end of Scenic Gulf Rd.  Halfway back, we'll turn down a side road which will take us to Don Pedro's for a great breakfast!  (If you routinely eat breakfast before this time, maybe just grab a piece of fruit to hold you over so you can join us!)  After breakfast, you can choose to just ride back to Majestic and put your bike on the car and head home OR ride home from there OR do some more biking (which I plan to do.)  Your choice! 
(Note:  A little windy in spots, but a nice sunny morning for the ride!  Thanks to the Olsons, Don Pedro opened just for us!  I had read (wrong) that their other location was open at 7AM every day, not this location.  But Terri and Roger had dinner at this location last night and mentioned we'd be here this morning, so the owner came in especially for us 8 to open and serve us a delicious breakfast!)


Thursday, Feb. 2:   Meet at 11AM at Kelly Plantation (restaurant/golf club parking lot.)  Kelly is gated, but all you have to tell the guard is that you are eating at the restaurant and he'll let you in.  We'll need to do two loops to get in 10 miles (I'm diverting us off of that bumpy road section we did last time) but Kelly does not have busy streets and it's lovely.  Afterwards we dine at the golf club restaurant. 
(Note:  We were turned away from Kelly Plantation.  Seems the homeowners association is not allowing "outsiders" to ride bikes on their property, even if we do give them the lunch business afterwards.  We rode at Sandestin and it was a lovely day for riding!  P.S. to group:  By the time I got my bike all hooked up on my car, I had an emergency of sorts and had to skip lunch.  Sorry I couldn't reach you at the restaurant;  hope you weren't worried.)


Friday, Feb. 3:   Meet at 10:30AM at Clement Taylor Park (131 Calhoun Avenue, Destin) for a repeat of the Old Destin ride.  We'll ride on un-busy streets in bike lanes or along sidewalks down to the original location of Mattie Kelly's plantation, where we will see the mausoleum in which she and her husband lie at rest.   This will be a 10-11 mile ride.  Afterwards, we'll put the bikes on the cars and head over to The Florida House or AJ's or Dewey Destin's or Harborwalk, if anyone knows a good restaurant there.  Group vote!
(Note:  This ride is postponed to a future date.)