Cheyenne is slowing down a lot this time of year, the heat has turned on suddenly and though the humidity remains low, temperatures in the upper 80's are the norm, rain is a distant memory, and walking the backwoods is just not much fun for my Labrador.
I took these pictures downtown, under the weird Tiki hut shelter across the street from harpoon Harry's, a place that used to be occupied by the residentially challenged and that is now posted with a very severe "No Loitering" sign. Being as how I have a home, shower regularly and was simply giving my dog a chance to rest in the shade, I figured a little harmless loitering would be okay. 
This guy across the street was suffering the heat too, it seemed like, though the shade was retreating rapidly across his toes. One of the odd things about Key West's population of street people is that they ebb and flow with the seasons. In summer they retreat Up North, how I don't know though I expect the Greyhound bus to Miami is one way out. 
I saw these kids come out of Maun's Market, now known as New Market, in the background, and they got on their scooter, pulled a u-turn and headed toward Duval. I snapped their picture out of some sentimental memory of my own youth in Italy riding mopeds legally at age 14, and what a useful tool a 50cc motor is to a teenager. Or an adult in Key West.
Harpoon Harry's was getting a fresh coat of paint. Warm work for sure. Harpoon Harry's used to be nothing more than a breakfast and lunch diner but like everything else in the boom years the diner concept expanded.
I took these pictures downtown, under the weird Tiki hut shelter across the street from harpoon Harry's, a place that used to be occupied by the residentially challenged and that is now posted with a very severe "No Loitering" sign. Being as how I have a home, shower regularly and was simply giving my dog a chance to rest in the shade, I figured a little harmless loitering would be okay. 
This guy across the street was suffering the heat too, it seemed like, though the shade was retreating rapidly across his toes. One of the odd things about Key West's population of street people is that they ebb and flow with the seasons. In summer they retreat Up North, how I don't know though I expect the Greyhound bus to Miami is one way out. 
I saw these kids come out of Maun's Market, now known as New Market, in the background, and they got on their scooter, pulled a u-turn and headed toward Duval. I snapped their picture out of some sentimental memory of my own youth in Italy riding mopeds legally at age 14, and what a useful tool a 50cc motor is to a teenager. Or an adult in Key West. 
Harpoon Harry's was getting a fresh coat of paint. Warm work for sure. Harpoon Harry's used to be nothing more than a breakfast and lunch diner but like everything else in the boom years the diner concept expanded. 
As I work nights I don't eat breakfast out much anymore- breakfast time is bedtime for me, but I sometimes miss the good cheer and eggs at Harpoon Harry's.
9 comments:
Something about all this makes me want to come out and hang out in Key West for awhile. Not a long while. But a while.
A week, maybe. But not now. In the winter, when there isn't much light up here.
It's not Alaska.
Chuck on Fleming.
If you had had a woman like that on the back of your scooter in your youth it wouldn't be a sentimental memory;>
I have this absurd notion from time to time that I might like to live in Alaska's expansiveness then I check out Bill Hess's blog and I see snow and darkness and heavy clothing and all the babes at the coffee shop (fully dressed) aren't pull enough to make me think I could manage to live there. better to live in the Keys and read about Alaska, for me.
At the age of 53 a girl like that would confuse me, at age 14 I'd have run off the road in despair.
You're right. At 14 fear, fascination and disbelief would all merge into a paralysis leading to despair. Of course, Riepe was handling such women at six on the back of his tricycle.
Dear Conch:
This ios an abbreviated comment for the new format.
That woman on the scooter is thinking about sitting on my.....
JR/TR
I wish you had mentioned 806, my favorite address on Caroline.
My favorite as well. I go every visit to KW.
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