Pssst...wanna see a pic of Larry kissing Larry?
Maybe you should ask your buddy to see if the new owners don't mind giving you occassional access. When an oceanfront property sells here I just knock on the door and tell the new owner that I had always been granted access by the previous owner, (or previous two owners if I think it will help my cause) and wanted to introduce myself in the hope that they won't mind doing the same. (I sometimes have had success doing this in spots where I didn't have access previously.)