Monday 14 April 2014

Just When Things Were Going So Well….

We were having a fantastic ride today on our way to Pensacola.  The weather was perfect and the roads and scenery inspiring.  Around lunchtime we pulled into 'The Gibson Inn http://www.gibsoninn.com a lovely old Floridian hotel built in 1907 in the historic town of Apalachicola.  However, the restaurant was closed and so was the bar! The receptionist was kind enough to allow us to sit on their veranda and relax in their rocking chairs, have one of my cigars and help ourselves to their free coffee.  We could see the towns courthouse across the street and as we sat watching the world go by a sheriff's departments bus full of prisoners turned up.  Under armed guard about 10 - 12 came off the bus all locked in ankle and wrist chains and dressed in bright orange boiler/jump suits and just one woman dressed in a black and white horizontal striped prisoner suit.  It was like something out of the film 'Shawshank Redemption.





After making a phone call home and finishing my cigar we continued our journey westward.

Two hours further down the road we stopped for a coffee Starbucks in Miramar Beach on Emerald Coast Parkway (HWY 98).  It's becoming a practice now that I explain to the barister how to make a 'Flat-White.'  The equal measures of steamed full fat milk and espresso coffee were made perfect for us.  Jon wanted to use the US mobile phone we have so I went to get it out of my bike pannier and that's when it all went horribly wrong!  No phone!  In fact no two phones! - The Pay As You Go we purchased in Orlando and my iPhone 5.  Now for anyone thats ever lost their smart phone you'll know it makes you feel nauseous and your heart rate goes into overdrive, mine being accelerated further by the quadruple espresso!  It's made worse when you are visitor in a foreign country, you feel like it's your lifeline gone.  I wasn't really too concerned about the US PAYG phone but it was my iPhone 5 which carries all 'my life' in it.  I had no real idea how I could have lost them.  They both go into a protective hard case when on the bike and into the pannier.  I thought I may dropped them at a fuel stop somewhere, or possibly left them on the veranda of The Gibson Inn.  We called the hotel on Jon's UK Phone and like the good news of your first born child, the receptionist Cynthia confirmed they had been handed in by a guest - the only problem was we were now 106 miles away!  So we got back on the bikes and 2 hours later I was reunited with my 'life support systems.'    It was late by now, so we decided to stay in Apalachicola for the night and fortunately for us The Gibson Inn had a twin room left.  After all the stress we needed a comforting meal and a few beers and a fine bottle of red wine which was perfectly supplied by 'The Owl Cafe' http://www.owlcafeflorida.com



14 comments:

  1. Bet you won't do that again. Of course, if that is the only mishap that happens on the trip, you are truly blessed. Don't forget your wallet, phone, keys dance.......I thought you were so good at it! ;) x

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  2. Time to download 'Find my iPhone'... it's come in handy a few times for me now... (both abroad!), you'll know exactly where it is (or was at the last point it had signal) and you can track it from any iOS device, Mac or Web Browser (log into your iCloud account to track)...

    Stephen

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  3. That could have ruined a guys day! At least it all worked out and now you've seen that 106 miles going and coming. On the brighter side I will guarantee you aren't the first biker to ride off without his/her phone. Be extra careful with your wallet........don't ask how I know that one.

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    1. Yes indeed, I'm concerned the wallet will be next! Although I did buy one at Orlando Harley that's on a chain clipped to my jeans and goes in my pocket - so hopefully not!

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    2. The ride back was different, for a start the speed! But also looking from the other direction I saw different things.

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  4. All is well that ends well. You may have had to back track, but you had your phone back and that is good.

    About the prison bus showing up.......well, welcome to the USA.......

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  5. I enjoys your tales JD. Top tip, don't wear orange. Enjoy yourselves. KBO

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    1. Glad you are enjoying it mate :-) It's going so amazing. I'm completely losing track of time. Today we have had the bikes 1 week and we've ridden nearly 1,700 miles, but it doesn't feel like it. The roads are wonderful.

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  6. Oh boy, I know the feeling of losing one's lifeline though I hadn't lost my iPhone, it was just... dead.

    But for you all turned out well at the end. I love happy ends, you know. And it will likely be the last time something like this will ever happen to you again.

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  7. Jon:

    I'm glad it was only a simple case of backtracking 106 miles. It could have been worse and not found at all. I get stressed when I leave my phone at home and not have it with me. As you say, my whole life and contacts are in there.

    I also saw some prison work gangs on my cross country ride last year. I'm not used to seeing them up here in Canada. May this be the only Hiccup you have during your trip

    bob
    A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. Cheers Bob, let's hope so. One thing for sure is that I am going to far more disciplined in checks before the departure from anywhere!

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  8. As someone said "It's not a real adventure until something goes wrong." Do make sure your iPhone is backed up Apple so if you lose it again or it dies your info is all recoverable and easily moved to the replacement phone.

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