So Anonymous thought it might be an idea to chat up a young dude living on a boat named Prodigal Son. I thought this to be no bad idea and there I went to check it out.
And there it was tied up snug next to the Western Union schooner, that small, mastless sailboat has fallen into the second life of boats around here, serving as accommodations. 
No one was on board this visit, perhaps I'll have better luck next time though I am usually in town in the afternoon and he is likely out on the water then...
And there it was tied up snug next to the Western Union schooner, that small, mastless sailboat has fallen into the second life of boats around here, serving as accommodations. No one was on board this visit, perhaps I'll have better luck next time though I am usually in town in the afternoon and he is likely out on the water then....
Weirdly enough even the functioning charter boats touting for business have taken to hanging it all out there. Conch Pearl may be the name but laundry scow appears to be the game, and I cant imagine it makes people want to join them and their underwear for a sunset sail:
The waterfront is a busy place in winter with flocks of people wandering back and forth, but in late July its too hot to attract drifting crowds. I heard a few Europeans talking, a common feature of summers in Key West, poor things they know no better than to come to the Keys in baking season:
Sailing is tricky this time of year as winds are down and thunderstorms are up, so going on the water means less sailing and more other stuff (motoring):
I've seen this trimaran around for some time and I rather like the elaborate cabin arrangement, its probably too heavy to sail well with a floating bar in the cabin but that isn't a consideration for most passengers in my experience as a charter captain:
Schooner Wharf uses their boat as an advertising prop pure and simple, and quite the eye catcher it is too:
On the subject of eye catching I wouldn't have the nerve to wander around in public looking like this but I guess they were sea scouts or some other worthy thing and it must make it easy for the scoutmaster to keep an eye on his flock. You can just see the heat pressing down on that splendid hat :
The short stretch of waterfront near Schooner Wharf is home to the key West symbol of seafaring which is the Western Union and a group of enthusiasts have taken on the task of refurbishing the boat as a floating museum ever since Historic Tours unceremoniously dumped it one day without notice.
Within living memory Western Union used this sailboat to lay telegraph cable to Havana, and if that sounds old fashioned bear in mind today there are something absurd like half a dozen phone lines to Cuba and good luck making a call.
The waterfront is a busy place in winter with flocks of people wandering back and forth, but in late July its too hot to attract drifting crowds. I heard a few Europeans talking, a common feature of summers in Key West, poor things they know no better than to come to the Keys in baking season:Sailing is tricky this time of year as winds are down and thunderstorms are up, so going on the water means less sailing and more other stuff (motoring):I've seen this trimaran around for some time and I rather like the elaborate cabin arrangement, its probably too heavy to sail well with a floating bar in the cabin but that isn't a consideration for most passengers in my experience as a charter captain:Schooner Wharf uses their boat as an advertising prop pure and simple, and quite the eye catcher it is too:On the subject of eye catching I wouldn't have the nerve to wander around in public looking like this but I guess they were sea scouts or some other worthy thing and it must make it easy for the scoutmaster to keep an eye on his flock. You can just see the heat pressing down on that splendid hat :The short stretch of waterfront near Schooner Wharf is home to the key West symbol of seafaring which is the Western Union and a group of enthusiasts have taken on the task of refurbishing the boat as a floating museum ever since Historic Tours unceremoniously dumped it one day without notice.Within living memory Western Union used this sailboat to lay telegraph cable to Havana, and if that sounds old fashioned bear in mind today there are something absurd like half a dozen phone lines to Cuba and good luck making a call. Summertime on the waterfront, flat waters and gentle breezes, and sweat springing up through the pores of your skin in a form of liquid spontaneous combustion. It has become noticeably hotter lately and I like being out and about in it as much as I can (with the proviso that a/c be available at the end of the rainbow!):
Its that time of year, even in a good year, when business slows down to a crawl in the Southernmost City, including in the cute little booths along Lazy Way Lane:
At least they are open for business again after a period when it seemed everything was going to stay shuttered on the lane over a rental dispute. It's said around town that Harbor House, the new development behind Schooner Wharf has gone bankrupt and construction has stopped for now on the old Jabour's Trailer Park property.
Its that time of year, even in a good year, when business slows down to a crawl in the Southernmost City, including in the cute little booths along Lazy Way Lane:At least they are open for business again after a period when it seemed everything was going to stay shuttered on the lane over a rental dispute. It's said around town that Harbor House, the new development behind Schooner Wharf has gone bankrupt and construction has stopped for now on the old Jabour's Trailer Park property..
The snowbird bums are Up North for the summer enjoying the refreshment of greenery and so forth, just like their housed counterparts, so the monument is uninhabited, nay it is positively deserted, abandoned:
Fire the proverbial cannon down Greene Street and all you'd end up doing at the end of July is knocking a couple of mad dog visitors off their Honda Metropolitans:
Swivel the cannon ninety degrees to the left and if you missed the scooter riders before you'd get a second chance as they cruise the urban desert of downtown Key West:
I didn't find the Prodigal Son this time around but I had a nice excuse to check out the boardwalk one more time. This blog is a great excuse to just go for a ramble.
Fire the proverbial cannon down Greene Street and all you'd end up doing at the end of July is knocking a couple of mad dog visitors off their Honda Metropolitans:Swivel the cannon ninety degrees to the left and if you missed the scooter riders before you'd get a second chance as they cruise the urban desert of downtown Key West:I didn't find the Prodigal Son this time around but I had a nice excuse to check out the boardwalk one more time. This blog is a great excuse to just go for a ramble.
5 comments:
Conch:
I was sweating just reading the blog the heat as palpable as it is... I enjoy getting to zero though this time of year, as less snowbirds exponentially increases my ability to enjoy myself... I usually opt out of the scooter rental though... Something about a 385 degree black vinyl seat under my arse somehow just doesn't do it for me...
Ha! Blameitonbuffet, that is so true. We have been recently borrowing scooters to see if we want to buy some. The first time I left it in the heat, I learned quickly to 1.) Find shade, and/or 2.) Bring a towel to over it.
Riding is something completely different than driving and unless you have the inner desire to get out on two wheels pushing you to do it, it's probably not going to work out. I get bored driving a car. Unless I am with my wife when it becomes the most wonderful thing in the world.
Very well said. I see much more when riding my bicycle than I do while driving (and more so when walking). I thought the scooters would translate well from the biking. It does and and it doesn't. I think a hybrid is in my future (a MoPed or a hub motor for the bike). I like to bike, but sometimes on long runs, I get tired (especially in the FL wind).
I really was enamoured with the Western Union while we were there. I'd love to sail on it sometime if everything ever lined up for me. She is a real feast for the eyes.
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