Sandpiper photo gallery
Hillsborough River State Park
San Antonio
Earth Day: Boyd Hill
Oldsmar Days
Walk of the Tiger: Bradenton Beach
Kumquat walk: Dade City
Kumquat Festival participants enjoy kumquats and the pastry spread provided by Joan Jarrett and Jack Thiele before heading out on Joan’s tour of charming Dade City. In addition to the Florida Hold ’Em contest with prizes for a dozen participants, the Sandpipers held a raffle to raise funds for Haitian relief. Major award winners Jim Lawrence and Carolin Booth are shown.
12Ks of Christmas: St. Petersburg
While touring the St. Petersburg Jungle, the event participants walked the 12Ks of Christmas. At each kilometer, they were stamped with a picture of the appropriate gift and enjoyed a treat at the stop. Goodies included Gummi Worms (Calling Birds), Egg Nog (Maids a Milking) and pretzel sticks (drummer drumming). Afterwards, our host, Eric Anderson, gave a tour of the Sacred Lands and spoke of the history of the area and the many people who lived there.
2009 holiday dinner
Sandpipers enjoyed a terrific night of camaraderie, good food, and delicious libations at the holiday party. Attendees participated in a challenging game of Christmas Carol trivia and a rousing round of Christmas bingo. Prizes, fun, and friendship were the order of the night.
Walk Around Florida 2009
Walk Around Florida XX was a spectacular volkssporting weekend. Volunteer support from the Happy Wanderers, Mid-Florida Milers and Suncoast Sandpipers ensured very successful walk events: 60 walked in Celebration on Friday evening, 112 enjoyed Kelly Park Saturday morning, 96 strolled through Winter Garden on Saturday afternoon and 128 participated in the Sunday Festival of the Masters walk. On the social side, the Mid-Florida Milers prepared delicous lunches for 80 at the beautiful Kelly Park, the Sandpipers hosted a lively spectacular mixer and art auction that brought in over $600 for the Welcome Home Celebration to be held at the Orlando Veterans Medical Facility, and the Black Angus Steak House presented perfect dinners for 70 on Saturday evening. Mike Lanpher, the Mid-Florida Miler host, thanks everyone who participated in making the WAF twenty year anniversary so successful.
Witches of Withlacoochee: Withlacoochee River Park
Octoberfest 2009: Indian Rocks Beach
Despite incessant rain, over 20 determined walkers showed up at the Indian Rocks Beach Historical Museum to do the September 12 Oktoberfest event. Everyone ended up having a great, if wet time, enjoying the museum's attractions, the moderate temperature, and the Largo nature preserves. Afterwards, the chef, Jim Lawrence, put the sausages on the grill to serve along with homemade German potato salad, braised red cabbage and Joan Jarrett’s made from scratch apple strudel. Even in the darkest hours, some fun can be found.