A SoWal Wow Weekend

This was a terrific South Walton weekend. I started it with the Seaside Market on Saturday morning. The air was crisp, the sun warm, the sky brilliant blue and the market was buzzing with activity. Bought some sprouts (Chandra's Moonlight Micro Farm) to eat with home made lunches this week and some seeds to plant that I hope will provide tomato slices for lunches in the future. Bought milk from Ocheesee Creamery because their milk is good and cold and local and the photos of the dairy cows pasted on their table get me every time. You can see it in their eyes that the cows, Ocheesee "employees", are happy.

Today, with lots of birds chirping loudly and the cheering crowds of the Seaside marathon as background noise, I spent most the morning sitting on the veranda finishing an interesting novel, "Makers" by Cory Doctorow. The marathon and the birds seemed like a pleasant harbinger of Springs pending arrival. For a few hours every year, the marathon closes down 30a while runners take over the road. I have never understood running for the fun of running but the participants and their roadside fans seem to have a good time here year after year and the background noise is pleasant enough. It was funny but the birds seemed to get a little louder, almost competing for airtime, as the sounds of the race passed by.

Once the racers were gone and the book finished, finding every excuse not to go inside I stayed out as long as I could washing the cars, tending the plants, staring into space, whatever. Then I talked Bruce into taking a bike ride to the beach. Draper Lake was boldly pouring clear red tinted fresh water into the gulf and the colors were remarkable to see. Stark white sand, blue blue sky, and stripes of red, turquoise and deep blue water. People who are new to the area are often alarmed at the spectacle but it's all quite natural and good. Photos don't capture the beauty with any real accuracy. It is something to see in person. More on coastal dune lakes.

On the ride back we went to Ballyhoo's restaurant on 30A and shared a burger, fries and beer. The sandwich was really good and we are all about reasonably priced places to eat on 30a so good and reasonable will end this recollection of simple moments of a good weekend.

Cheers!