Floods And Alarums

The unfortunate part about being swept by a tropical storm is that after it has passed you by some other underserving resident is in line to get swamped. That is the case with Tropical Storm Elsa now strengthening they say and moving on to the west coast of Florida where people are preparing according to people who know these things. In Key West you learn to cope with inconvenience:

Key West got its share of flooding, the usual streets where floods occur, no less annoying for being habitually flooded during "weather events." In the photo below, taken at Indigenous Park near the waterfront the electrical box on the left side of the picture is raised for the very reason illustrated by the flood waters of Tropical Storm Elsa's downpours.

It was windy in gusts but after the rain moved on people were out doing the usual after being cooped up indoors.

It's not often you get to surf in Key West as the reef tamps down the largest ocean waves. Some days the wind just pushes enough water to create an unusual scene off Higgs Beach:

The entrance to the pier was under water so I stayed on the drier land as i had several hours more work to do and doing it in wet shoes and socks did not appeal. However it was obvious, even from the yoga platform that the White Street Pier was getting pounded.

Smarter folks than I brought boots designed to wade floods:

Streets were closed but that didn't stop people from liberally spraying the underside of their cars with corrosive salt water:

I walked a couple of blocks back to my car and drove back to work to take more calls from people wondering if the Keys were evacuated- No- or of the highway was open -Yes- but when I saw video from the weather people I understood why the rest of the world thinks its worse than it was. Shock! Horror! Weather Drama!

Meanwhile the mails were getting through as normal, and the letter carrier when I stopped by to congratulate him on his perseverance smiled because we both knew people who think they have survived a tropical weather event have just been through some heavy rain and wind. Letters aren't delivered during true hurricanes, and life doesn't just go back to normal after the storm blows over.

I did not feel this lighthearted after Hurricane Irma hit the Keys in 2017. My first few pictures after Internet was somewhat restored: Irma and Higgs Beach.

In 2005 before smart phones or widespread digital cameras Hurricane Wilma flooded Key West horribly and in 2017 Hurricane Wilma blew 140 mph winds into the islands. Not much fun as I wrote then:

Irma exhaustion.

Higgs Park turned into a wading pool. There was a dog running around in the dog park too just as a reminder that outside the world of television, life is pretty normal here:

You'd think chickens would get wiped out but it is just a  passing misery for them. They all popped out quite happily after Hurricane Irma blew through town. They are survivors: 

All those preparations sometimes miss some detail. The hurricane drama spared this abandoned trash can which sat stoically through the devastation of a rain storm:

Businesses on Front Street were ready with sandbags because Front Street floods all the time when high tides and heavy rain coincide.

Not a post apocalyptic scene, just daily living in Key West. Just another golf cart leading a slow speed guided tour down a street:

A Windy Day

Fun on a windy day at White Street Pier. 

White Street Pier

When the north winds blow the shrimp boats duck south of Key West, and anchor in the smooth waters in the lee (downwind of) the island.  When you look at them head on they look like water buffalo grazing, with their shrimp net booms stuck out to the side to steady the boats at anchor.

With a cool fresh breeze blowing and bright sunshine this weekend was a perfect time to hang out at Higgs Beach and work on your tan.

Or to chase fish on the White Street Pier. 

I'm not sure the fish stood a chance with a pier full of fishing desperadoes.  

It was a great place to spend a lunch break away from the office.

And there was even one intrepid sailor sailing in the breeze, a wind strong enough to require but one sail to move smartly with the main furled.

There was fascinating stuff everywhere around the pier.

I sat with my back to the northeast wind and played with my camera  and soaked up some sun.

Not many masks in evidence but I wore mine. Though vaccinated I don't want to spread anything.

I was keeping the Vespa (for sale) at the police station and enjoying running it to "keep it fresh" for the new owner whoever he may be. He says he owns a pizza shop. We shall see if he comes through.

Heaven Sent Cold Weather

To say overnight temperatures below sixty degrees indicate cold weather generates sarcasm and ridicule but as I never tire of explaining cold in the Keys is different.

Not only are people not used to cool temperatures, cold weather here is frequently accompanied by strong winds and a great deal of numbing humidity.

People who think of themselves as being hardy and tough will express surprise if they find themselves in Key West on a 55 degree day. Oh, they say, it does actually feel a lot colder than it does at home in these temperatures.  Yes, I say not being given to patience, look around and see cold water and strong winds. Feels colder than you expect? Science. Actually I don't know why it feels colder than it is in winter around here but I guess its like blowing on a cup of tea to cool it down or something. Not that I ever did anything so gauche. My mother had seven different kinds of fits if I put my elbows on the table or blew on my excessively hot food. Anyway it feels cold around here when it's cold.

Then there is the lack of protective clothing. The small dog above was out wearing a coat that needed adjusting in the arctic blast over the White Street Pier.

The aircraft was probably bringing people previously yanked out of snowdrifts who were about to get out of the plane and imagine themselves in a tropical paradise.

Not quite but the forecast is set to improve inasmuch as daytime highs should hit 70 under bright sunny skies putting an end one hopes to an excessively long damp hot humid nasty brutish summer.

I am not known to complain about the heat but this year summer was long and ferocious and I am glad to feel cold for a few days while walking Rusty. Really, I am.

The shrimp fleet takes cover south of Key West when strong north winds are forecast and we have had those winds for a bit now. 

The other day our cellphone went all warbly and weird as winds gusted more and more ferociously. To make phone calls we went downstairs to the van to use the cellphone booster which helps us get a signal on the road. It was excellent.

By the weekend days will be 80 degrees again and nights will be around 70 and things will be back to winter normal, clear skies, few clouds and lots of pleasant days ahead.

For now we hang on and ride out the cold. 

And enjoy winter as it should be enjoyed.