How far would you bike for a cheeseburger in Paradise?
Our internet is out again today, so it’s back to my favorite office away from home: Paradise Cafe. There was a guy finishing up a cheeseburger who was either a serious bike rider or seriously fashion-challenged. Turns out the man in the neon green bike shirt had ridden his bicycle from North Myrtle Beach to Holden Beach to enjoy a cheeseburger in Paradise. After a quick call to authorities to confirm there had been no bicycle-escapes from the local looney hatch, we sat down with cyclist Gary Akens for a minute to get the rest of the story.
Most people back-off on their exercise routine a little while they are on vacation. Not the case with Gary Akens, from Anderson, who is vacationing at North Myrtle Beach this week with family. Exercise is not only part of his everyday life, but also a big part of his vacation. Yesterday he took a 16 mile walk. Today he headed north on his bike in 90+ degree weather and peddled 3 hours to Holden Beach. He says he’ll probably take tomorrow off, but strike out for parts unknown on the bike again tomorrow.
Turns out that he rides his bike, walks or runs about 80 miles each week. This little jaunt to Holden Beach will take up 70 miles of his 80 miles, so he will definitely go over his quota this week. Mr Akens suffered a heart attack 3 years ago. His doctor tells him that his exercise routine is probably the reason he is alive today.
Why did Mr Akens choose Holden Beach? He says he used to come here 40 years ago while stationed in Fayetteville. He camped out on the east end of Holden Beach. He had been scuba diving at the wreck of the blockade runner (the boat, not the hotel) years ago and wondered if you could still see it. You can, by the way, still see a little of the wreck at low tide from the east end of the Beach. (FYI, click this link if you want to know a little more about the confederate blockade runner, SS Pevensey.)
So what does one eat at the half way point of a 70 mile bike ride? Duh, a cheeseburger in Paradise. I noticed he didn’t eat his fries. A lesson for us all.
