It was gray flat morning, sunshine obscured by heavy cloud cover, a poor day for photography, so I wandered out of the house with the camera and thought to go wander out over the waters between Cudjoe (pronounced as spelled: Kud-joe) Key and Summerland on the old Flagler bridge. Cormorants I am told lack oil in their feathers and they tend to absorb water so from time to time, in between fishing expeditions, they have to hang their wings out to dry. They are said to be able to dive to 70 feet (20 meters) in pursuit of fish, and as absurd as they may look at rest they are quite capable birds in their habitat:
The Flagler bridges have survived nicely since they were built, solidly, in 1912 or thereabouts and these days they are used as fishing piers. Fishing is an activity that casts mono filament line to the wind, where it occasionally gets caught of power lines running alongside the bridges:
But not everyone fishes from bridges:
The paradox of weather in the Keys is that a day like this that looks cold and damp and even snow laden is actually a hot muggy morning, still air warmed to 80 degrees (27C), laying flat over everything:
The authorities cut a slice out of the center of the bridges, if they are lower than the 1982 Highway replacement, to allow tall boats to fit through. I cannot help but wonder why they could not have put in a small arch and made these bridges part of the bicycle path that connects a few of these islands together. The notion of a bike trail all the way through has been on the books for years and makes no progress in a world dominated by automobiles. A wild eyed radical like me thinks the Keys would be ideal for light electric rail single cars running silently every fifteen minutes carrying commuters quietly and easily to and from Marathon and Key West. But a bike path is beyond speculation, never mind a return to rail.
Looking east toward Summerland Key, the metropolis of post office and shops between Big Pine and Key West huddled round Mile Marker 25:
The round blue barrels are trash cans. My buddy Robert on his own imitative placed these industrial by-products on Boca Chica Beach for use as trash receptacles years ago. The county seems to have noticed and now they are everywhere, and emptied by public works to help keep the Keys clean. Or, almost:
It wouldn't be so hard to actually use the trash cans, you'd think:
Perhaps the hot muggy fall air confuses the brain.
It was gray flat morning, sunshine obscured by heavy cloud cover, a poor day for photography, so I wandered out of the house with the camera and thought to go wander out over the waters between Cudjoe (pronounced as spelled: Kud-joe) Key and Summerland on the old Flagler bridge. Cormorants I am told lack oil in their feathers and they tend to absorb water so from time to time, in between fishing expeditions, they have to hang their wings out to dry. They are said to be able to dive to 70 feet (20 meters) in pursuit of fish, and as absurd as they may look at rest they are quite capable birds in their habitat:
The Flagler bridges have survived nicely since they were built, solidly, in 1912 or thereabouts and these days they are used as fishing piers. Fishing is an activity that casts mono filament line to the wind, where it occasionally gets caught of power lines running alongside the bridges: 
But not everyone fishes from bridges: 
The round blue barrels are trash cans. My buddy Robert on his own imitative placed these industrial by-products on Boca Chica Beach for use as trash receptacles years ago. The county seems to have noticed and now they are everywhere, and emptied by public works to help keep the Keys clean. Or, almost: 
5 comments:
Mr Conchscooter:
That last picture intrigues me. Is someone trying to dispose of that Bonnie ? It appears that only the front end managed to get into the barrel. Could you go and fetch it for me ? I could use it on my visit. thanks
You're too rational. It's a shame to just waste those bridges
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
It is a bit ironic to me that you would post some pictures of birds this morning. I had to visit a client on my way in to work this morning. I took a short break and while I was stopped I noticed a bunch of birds chatting and arguing with each other this morning.
I stopped to watch them for awhile and enjoyed their talking and arguing. I would not have noticed it all If I had driven the car today.
That's what happens when you try to make your pictures interesting. Some canadian smart aleck sees a bargain down south and swoops in to snap it up. It's got abrand new (CHEAP) american sold rear tyre too.
CPA1234 (Jim), thats why we ride. The ride is the fun. I would no sooner pull the Nissan out and drive it around looking for pictures, than I would share anight with quantrill's ghost ina cemetery.
Mr Conchscooter:
We in Canada are used to paying higher prices for the sake of other benefits. It's the Canadian Way to be gouged by the manufacturers. It's word association. USA = cheap bargains. That's why our border crossings are so busy with long line-ups. People going to the "states" to purchase more bargains.
When I noticed the discarded Bonnie I got excited . . .
here are the prices from our local dealer
http://motorcyclesource.com/
luv
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
ps: I also took pictures of some cranes last Saturday. take a look at my header photo before I rotate it.
Dear Sir:
The Flagler bridges... The visions they invoke. The day will come when rail will again be king in the U.S. There is notrhing quite so elegant, nor soothing, as travel by train.
Sort of like messing about in boats.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
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