I am frequently reminded how unfortunate it is that tourists come to Key West and enjoy getting around on bicycles and scooters and then go home and fail completely to adapt any part of their suburban lives to using a bicycle as part of their daily transportation. And yet as this appreciative driver instinctively understands, a female cyclist in motion is a thing of beauty.
Riding a bike with a minimum of skill is a thing of elegance. 
Or it can be a thing of physical pain. The pirate shown below is hanging 8 pounds (3.7 kilograms) of water from his arm. On the other hand a longer arm could be helpful to him in other areas of his life.
Friends let friends ride scooters and cruise Key West together. Cute aren't they? And remember they are getting miles to the cup of gasoline. What would happen if they behaved like this at home?
This is my idea of the perfect wheels, sturdy sensible, a covered chain, lights and room for luggage. Across the street the tourist checking the map failed completely to walk into a car. I was hoping for a pratfall. 
Do not drag your feet as you ride a scooter or motorcycle. It looks stupid and illustrates the fact that you are an anti-science Tea Party member who doesn't understand how gyroscopes work. Plus, if you whack your foot at 25 miles an hour you will get a $30,000 bill from your health "insurance" company and you will walk with a limp for the rest of your life. I'm still limping a month after I rode my Bonneville over my ankle in Pennsylvania and I was wearing motorcycle boots at the time. 
One inflexible rule of being a Key West tourist is men always go at the front, walking, riding a tandem or cycling. Why? Ask riepe, I haven't a clue.
Some lucky bastard is getting a Badboy Burrito delivered down Whitehead Street. The best (only) burritos in town get delivered by Vespa, of course. The best for the best.
A convertible for the fearful is the next best way to see the Key West sky. My wife is still enjoying her Sebring. And I am under orders to deliver her Vespa 150 to work for her to use around town. I have been prevaricating as I enjoy riding the ET4 from time to time. 
This was the whole point of this essay. Tourists taking pictures at the Mile Marker Zero sign, the start/end of Highway One down the US East Coast. This essay was suggested by a reader after I took pictures at the Southernmost Point and watched tourists taking pictures of themselves. 
On this occasion I had a moment between dog walks downtown and I sat at the county building waiting to see who would happen along. These were the only photographers who showed up so clearly I'll need to come back during the winter. They look pretty serious so there is potential for some fun pictures this winter.
Bobskoot keeps threatening to show up in Key West with Jack riepe; I can hardly imagine Mr Fussy being dragged around the titty bars by Mr Foul. Bob is so wedded to the idea that he's sending Jack some money to help him get down here. Bob is a Corvette driver, though I don't think he's bringing his car as Jack and his arthritis wouldn't fit. 
Then the rain started and the government workers, the next privileged class to be dragged into insolvency by our homespun wild eyed clerics, discovered they had forgotten their umbrellas.
Not many scooter riders carry waterproofs, so like the improvident virgins in the Good Book they find themselves without their lamp oil at the critical moment when it is most needed. 
If you are bald and butch a little rain doesn't hurt. Get undercover and run a piece of newspaper over your head and you are ready for the wet t-shirt contest.
There was another misanthrope sitting a few feet down form me in the arcade at the court house. He was amusing himself with a book, I was taking random pictures and Cheyenne was watching the world go by. We were all happy. Except the homeless dude who shambled off grumping, presumably because we were cluttering up his living room.
Finally, a sensible person properly equipped for the forecast. 
Horrors! It dawned on me suddenly she only looks sensible from the ankles up.
Sensible people started showing up from all points of the compass.
Rain washed out my attempts to hang with the Parrotheads this past week. I was on my way Thursday and got massively washed out before work. Friday my appointment went late and so it went. So I took a commemorative picture instead.
The zero mile marker has gathered a few extra signs over the years because I guess everyone wants a piece of the action. This sign is at Whitehead and Fleming Streets, an otherwise undistinguished intersection for one very good reason. 
It's where the seat of power resides in Monroe County, the county court house, symbol of government. 
For some it is an oppressor, for others it offers shelter, so I left him to it.
As an aside Wikipedia has a picture of the other end of the road, 2300 miles away.
I expect Fort Kent, Maine is under six feet of snow by now. I wish them joy of it.
Riding a bike with a minimum of skill is a thing of elegance. Or it can be a thing of physical pain. The pirate shown below is hanging 8 pounds (3.7 kilograms) of water from his arm. On the other hand a longer arm could be helpful to him in other areas of his life.Friends let friends ride scooters and cruise Key West together. Cute aren't they? And remember they are getting miles to the cup of gasoline. What would happen if they behaved like this at home?This is my idea of the perfect wheels, sturdy sensible, a covered chain, lights and room for luggage. Across the street the tourist checking the map failed completely to walk into a car. I was hoping for a pratfall. 
Do not drag your feet as you ride a scooter or motorcycle. It looks stupid and illustrates the fact that you are an anti-science Tea Party member who doesn't understand how gyroscopes work. Plus, if you whack your foot at 25 miles an hour you will get a $30,000 bill from your health "insurance" company and you will walk with a limp for the rest of your life. I'm still limping a month after I rode my Bonneville over my ankle in Pennsylvania and I was wearing motorcycle boots at the time. One inflexible rule of being a Key West tourist is men always go at the front, walking, riding a tandem or cycling. Why? Ask riepe, I haven't a clue.Some lucky bastard is getting a Badboy Burrito delivered down Whitehead Street. The best (only) burritos in town get delivered by Vespa, of course. The best for the best.A convertible for the fearful is the next best way to see the Key West sky. My wife is still enjoying her Sebring. And I am under orders to deliver her Vespa 150 to work for her to use around town. I have been prevaricating as I enjoy riding the ET4 from time to time. This was the whole point of this essay. Tourists taking pictures at the Mile Marker Zero sign, the start/end of Highway One down the US East Coast. This essay was suggested by a reader after I took pictures at the Southernmost Point and watched tourists taking pictures of themselves. On this occasion I had a moment between dog walks downtown and I sat at the county building waiting to see who would happen along. These were the only photographers who showed up so clearly I'll need to come back during the winter. They look pretty serious so there is potential for some fun pictures this winter.Bobskoot keeps threatening to show up in Key West with Jack riepe; I can hardly imagine Mr Fussy being dragged around the titty bars by Mr Foul. Bob is so wedded to the idea that he's sending Jack some money to help him get down here. Bob is a Corvette driver, though I don't think he's bringing his car as Jack and his arthritis wouldn't fit. Then the rain started and the government workers, the next privileged class to be dragged into insolvency by our homespun wild eyed clerics, discovered they had forgotten their umbrellas.Not many scooter riders carry waterproofs, so like the improvident virgins in the Good Book they find themselves without their lamp oil at the critical moment when it is most needed. If you are bald and butch a little rain doesn't hurt. Get undercover and run a piece of newspaper over your head and you are ready for the wet t-shirt contest.There was another misanthrope sitting a few feet down form me in the arcade at the court house. He was amusing himself with a book, I was taking random pictures and Cheyenne was watching the world go by. We were all happy. Except the homeless dude who shambled off grumping, presumably because we were cluttering up his living room.Finally, a sensible person properly equipped for the forecast. Horrors! It dawned on me suddenly she only looks sensible from the ankles up.Sensible people started showing up from all points of the compass.Rain washed out my attempts to hang with the Parrotheads this past week. I was on my way Thursday and got massively washed out before work. Friday my appointment went late and so it went. So I took a commemorative picture instead.The zero mile marker has gathered a few extra signs over the years because I guess everyone wants a piece of the action. This sign is at Whitehead and Fleming Streets, an otherwise undistinguished intersection for one very good reason. It's where the seat of power resides in Monroe County, the county court house, symbol of government. For some it is an oppressor, for others it offers shelter, so I left him to it.As an aside Wikipedia has a picture of the other end of the road, 2300 miles away.I expect Fort Kent, Maine is under six feet of snow by now. I wish them joy of it.
16 comments:
Thanks for that last photo.
That's what I was wondering about the whole time.
jbfla
Thanks for the info.I've had tourist ask me to take a picture of them by the sign and they ended up livivng near where I do.
I am dreading the day Bobskoot and riepe show up and ask me the same favor. I will be in Ft Kent when the odd couple come knocking.
Meh, I soak up Florida rain the same way I soak up the Florida sunshine. I won't carry an umbrella or "waterproof" unless I have to (going to school w/laptop). I prefer free hands, so being stuck carrying an umbrella around for the 5-10 minutes it tends to rain isn't cool. No baggage. :)
I've walked by the mm 1 sign plenty of times and have never taken a picture for myself. Guess I'll put that on my list of things to do.
I love the rain in Key West, it refreshes everything.
Donna in New York
Interesting that the big imposing "oppressor" building you pictured is actually now devoid of "oppressors" since they built the new palatial courthouse behind it. It's mostly being used for storage space these days, while the country decides what to do with it....
Dear Sir:
Today's blog episode of "Key West Dairy" was a delightful look ar several local crossroads and a lot of interesting traffic. I look forward to renting a scooter when in town, and buzzing street corners frequented by little old ladies wearing ankle socks and pink flip-flops. I should think town would be ideal for viewing by bicycle, as the highest elevation is about 10 feet.
The time will come when I arrive in Key West, and I sincerely hope to be in the company of Dick Bregstein, Mike Cantwell, and Chris Wolfe. Bobscoot is cordially invited to join us. He can serve as the attendant for the asylum, and the primary point of contact for the bail bondsman. (At the rate my knees are going, he will have plenty of opportunity to stop and take pictures.) Bob had prior visions of turning this into a family vacation... And I thought, "he should meet my defacto family."
I would also like to run into my illegitimate son, Shannon Baker (Buddha), who rides a Harley in Texas.
Your role in this will be to send the police to conflicting addresses when the complaints come in, giving us a critical few seconds to hit the road. We are going to need the name of a relatively cheap, clean motel, with great air conditioning, that is reasonably close to a decent bar, and a strip joint of some repute.
Please do two special blog episodes for me. The first should be called: "Relatively cheap, clean motels, with great air conditioning, that are reasonably close to a decent bar, and a strip joint of some repute." The second can be: "Bars Where Performance Artists Wag Their Shaved Patooties Six Inches Over Your Over-Priced Drink."
Quite frankly, I think the second of these will be a big hit with a lot of your readers... Especially Bobscoot, who has the reputation of being a wildman when left to his own devices.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
The thought of a meeting with Mr Fussy and Mr Foul meeting you in Key West is both enticing and frightening at the same time. Perhaps me, Mr Geek, can possibly horn in on the event as well. However, I have invented and incurred my own form of financial distress, that being the pleasure of paying for a good chunk of a wedding recently, and therefore the prospects of joining in on the trip are somewhat remote. Do you think Mr Fussy could help me out as well? The exchange rate with Canada could make it easier for him.
Jimbo
I love the irony of the comment about having one's foot under a motorcycle "...looks stupid and illustrates the fact that you are an anti-science Tea Party member who doesn't understand how gyroscopes work..." with "... I rode my Bonneville over my ankle in Pennsylvania..."
I wrote about the Freeman Justice Center on February 17th 2009, among other essays, and the fact that the old courthouse is now empty awaiting judgement day doesn't alter the fact that Mile marker Zero was put at Fleming and Whitehead because counties measure their miles from the courthouse.
Thanks to those that catch the irony in my comments, having a dry sense of humor in a nation that likes to be hit over the head by jokes is tiresome, so I welcome Mr Geek to the noisome crowd of anti christs who want to wallow in Key West's hedonism ( hint: hedonism is another self mocking ironic word I have added to tomorrow's post about the botanical garden).I need to revivie my essay about being an Ironist.
Mr Conchscooter:
today I was more than a little confused. I was staring at that last photo wondering how KW could have been the Northern Terminus when it should have been the southern terminus.
You don't know how it sends shivers down my spine to know how loved I am and I appreciate the opportunity to house-sit and take Cheyenne on walks while you are away on vacation which would be triggered by the sight of one big and one skinny rider making that right turn on mile marker 29 towards your stilted house with the Bonneville parked securely below.
I can't wait to see Jack pedalling around on a manual bicycle, that alone would be worth the price of admission. Too bad you will be in Ft Kent trying to escape your self-invited guests.
I think the real MadMan is that accountant in Kansas who acts so prim and proper, but drop him in a town where no-one recoqnizes him and he will turn into a Mr Jeckle .
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
And that I think sums it all up. Bob and Jack ripping up Key West while trying to restrain CPAJim while my dog is turned into a wolf.
The witness protection program is all that stands between me and destruction.
I wish more cities were designed so that one could use a bike to get around.
Indeed. And there I am choosing to live outside city limits...
timberland boots, soccer shoes, nike roshe, asics running shoes, oakley, juicy couture outlet, beats by dre, new balance, jimmy choo shoes, vans, north face outlet, instyler, mcm handbags, abercrombie and fitch, baseball bats, hollister, karen millen, gucci, lancel, bottega veneta, valentino shoes, louboutin, reebok shoes, north face outlet, converse outlet, hollister, herve leger, juicy couture outlet, ralph lauren, ferragamo shoes, insanity workout, ghd, nike air max, mont blanc, chi flat iron, nfl jerseys, toms shoes, supra shoes, mac cosmetics, converse, babyliss, wedding dresses, celine handbags, ray ban, vans shoes, nike air max, montre pas cher, soccer jerseys, p90x workout, birkin bag
louboutin pas cher, nike air max, ray ban sunglasses, prada handbags, michael kors, coach outlet, coach outlet, nike free, replica watches, kate spade outlet, uggs on sale, louboutin shoes, longchamp outlet, longchamp, burberry, polo ralph lauren outlet, tory burch outlet, nike air max, louboutin, ralph lauren pas cher, louis vuitton, christian louboutin outlet, chanel handbags, prada outlet, tiffany jewelry, ray ban sunglasses, kate spade handbags, sac longchamp, nike outlet, air max, gucci outlet, air jordan pas cher, louboutin outlet, nike roshe run, replica watches, nike free, longchamp pas cher, jordan shoes, polo ralph lauren outlet, tiffany and co, cheap oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, ugg boots, replica handbags, longchamp outlet, ugg boots
Post a Comment